Adoration of the Shepherds painting by Domenico Zampiere, 1610

Jesus Christ is Born

Join us today for the birth of Jesus and meet the Angels and the Shepherds who have a lot to share. Uniting your heart with the Angel’s Gloria and the Shepherd’s praises will help you receive more JOY and peace.

Looking for More JOY and Peace?  Join our Trek to Bethlehem

Welcome to Advent JOY Podcast #6, based on my book The Joy Of Advent: Journey With The People, Events And Prayers At The First Coming Of Jesus Christ.  Today, we return to the book of Luke. There we join Blessed Mary and Joseph on their 80-mile journey to Bethlehem. When they arrive, they find it crowded with people, who like Mary and Joseph, had come at the command of Caesar Augustus.

Join us today for these points:

No Home for the Creator of Creation (Luke 2: 1-7)

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• Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, in the City of David, as prophesied by the Old Testament prophet Micah over 700 years earlier and recorded in Micah 5: 1-3.
  
• Emperor Caesar Augustus, a master bookkeeper and statistician, likely wanted to keep track of his subjects and kingdom by public enrollment.
  
• Joseph had to go to Bethlehem, as he was a descendant of King David. Mary went along too – she may have been required to register, or Joseph wanted her with him.
  
• Bishop Fulton J. Sheen explains: Joseph “searched in vain for a place where He, to Whom heaven and earth belonged, might be born. Could the Creator not find a home in creation? …  A stable would be the last place in the world where one would have looked for Him. Divinity is always where one least expects to find it. (Life of Christ, 1958, p. 13-24.
  
• Jesus, God Incarnate and the Savior of the World was born and then tightly wrapped in bands of cloth by his mother, Mary, and laid in a manger where animals ate.
  

The Good News (Luke 2: 8-11)

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• The angel’s message of “Good News” is summarized (v. 10-11): “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the
  
• We can say with assurance that Jesus is our Savior, who delivers us from sin and makes us right with God. He is our Messiah, the anointed one who will reign as KING forever.
  

The Fields Outside of Bethlehem (Luke 2: 12-20)

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• Amazingly, God chooses shepherds—the little, the lowly, the less important of the world (1 Corinthians 1: 28), but also calls himself a shepherd (e.g., “I am the Good Shepherd,” John 10:11). In Ezekiel 34:12-16, God describes himself as one who “shepherds right.” He tends sheep, rescues them, leads them, gives them rest, brings back the lost, binds up the injured, and heals the sick.
  
• Jesus is our Shepherd: If at times you feel “lowly,” please know that Christ is YOUR Savior and Shepherd. He came for you! You are His little lamb, and He loves you.
  
• Some shepherds around Jerusalem took care of the temple lambs used in the temple sacrifices. Shepherds would wrap lambs born without blemish in swaddling cloths and place them away from the others  (e.g., Leviticus 4-5). Amazingly, the shepherds caring for the temple lambs used for sin offerings would be the first to recognize Jesus Christ, who came as our sin offering forever!
  

The Angel’s Gloria and the Shepherds Praises (Luke 2: 14-20)

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• We find two beautiful choruses in Luke 2:14-20. First, there’s the Angel’s “Gloria” (v. 14), which is so-called because the first word in  St. Jerome’s Latin translation is “Gloria.”
  
• This song of the angels proclaims peace to a world that needs peace as we do now. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; the peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27, NABRE). The only place of true peace is in Jesus; today, we must remind ourselves of this. We can join the angels in praise: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward all.”
  
• The second chorus includes the shepherds’ praises (v. 20). They praised God for the good news from the angel and the song of the heavenly host of angels. From them, we learn that praising God for His goodness is a wonderful way to evangelize and get other’s attention on our Savior.
  

Mary Treasured and Pondered God’s Words (Luke 2: 19)

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• Mary “treasured and pondered” these things in her heart.
  
• She gives an example for us in treasuring, pondering, and delighting in the things God has revealed, especially because we have God’s Word in Scripture.
  

Personal Reflection & Application

Try to put yourself in the scenes with Mary, Jesus, the angels, and the shepherds. Then in prayer:

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2. Praise God for sending Jesus, like the angels and shepherds did.
   
3. Make a “manger” for Jesus in your heart by inviting Him to be your Savior and Lord?
   
4. Receive the true joy and peace that Jesus offers? Just ask and take time to receive.
   
5. Treasure God’s Word in your heart like Mary did? Ask Jesus to help you do this. Start by reading Luke 2.
   

Related Posts – The Seven-Part Series ~ A Joyful Advent Journey

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  A Joyful Advent Journey #1 ~ The JOY of Zechariah: God Answers Prayer  You will meet Zechariah, Elizabeth, the Blessed Virgin and…
  
  
• A Joyful Advent Journey #2  ~ The Annunciation & Nothing is Impossible with God.  Join Gabriel as He visits Mary and reminds us that nothing is impossible with God…
  
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  A Joyful Advent Journey #3 ~ The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth & Sharing Joy  We travel with Mary down the 90-mile road from Nazareth to the Hill Country…
  
  
• A Joyful Advent Journey #4 ~ The Birth of John the Baptist & Joyous Benedictus Prayer   Zechariah teaches us to seek God in stillness. His son John is born;his muteness leaves and he sings the joyous Benedictus prayer.
  
• A Joyful Advent Journey #5 ~ Joseph Takes Mary for His Wife & Joyously Accepts God’s Plans! Joseph shows us how God can help us most when we exchange our plans for His!
  
• A Joyful Advent Journey #6~ Jesus Christ is Born – Join the Chorus of Angels & Shepherds   You will receive more joy and peace as you too worship the Savior.
  
• A Joyful Advent Journey #7 ~ The Presentation: Anna & Simeon Show the Way to Consolation & Joy  Recognize the Savior, praise Him and receive His Joy and consolation.
  

Links

Cup of JOY & Free Materials. A Cup of Joy small group study accompanies each podcast series. All materials are FREE. Read more on hosting a CUP of JOY Women or Cup of JOY Gathering small group.

For bookmarks or prayer points from A Joyful Advent Journey Podcast, go to: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.

Check out more podcasts here!

Click here for the Advent book: The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.

Other Joy Books by Karen.

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