(Luke 2:1-7)….. And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
God made a promise that a Redeemer would one day come, and this Redeemer would come as the Savior of sinners. Every sacrifice, every ritual of Jewish worship, everything God did was moving steadily toward the moment when the Lamb of God would enter this world and pay the price for man’s sin in order to give him salvation. In the birth of Jesus, the power of God was on parade before the eyes of men.
- The Power Of God’s Grace
Shepherds were outcasts by society as vile, filthy, defiled, and were considered unfit to participate in any worship of God, yet they were chosen by Almighty God to hear the first birth announcement. For these shepherds are not your everyday run of the mill shepherds. These shepherds were watching over the lambs used for the sacrifices in the Temple. How appropriate that the very men who raised the lambs for the Temple sacrifices were the first to meet the Lamb of God.
- The Power Of God’s Glory
The pure praise of the angels who also praised God at Creation (Job 38:7). They praised Him because they were created to do so, but we should praise Him because of who He is and what He has done for our souls. If they can praise Him for what they can see God do, then we should praise Him for what He has done in our hearts (Psalm 40:1-2).
- The Power Of God’s Gift
The shepherds came and were forever changed by their meeting with Jesus. They came out of curiosity and left rejoicing in the glory of eternal life. They came wondering what they would find, and they left witnessing about the One who had found them. The power of God in changing lives is glorious, (2 Corinthians 5:17).