2017 Christmas Eve #WORDOFWONDER

2017 Christmas Eve #WORDOFWONDER

Posted by Chad Langdon on Sunday, December 24, 2017

Luke 2:1-20

NLT

[2] (1) At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (2) (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) (3) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. (4) And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. (5) He took with him Mary, his fiancé, who was now obviously pregnant. (6) And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. (7) She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. (8) That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. (9) Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, (10) but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. (11) The Savior-yes, the Messiah, the Lord-has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! (12) And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” (13) Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others-the armies of heaven-praising God and saying, (14) “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” (15) When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” (16) They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. (17) After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. (18) All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, (19) but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. (20) The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

NRSV

[2] (1) In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. (2) This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. (3) All went to their own towns to be registered. (4) Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. (5) He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. (6) While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. (7) And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (8) In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. (9) Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. (10) But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see-I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: (11) to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. (12) This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” (13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, (14) “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” (15) When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” (16) So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. (17) When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; (18) and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. (19) But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. (20) The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.