Mary and Joseph Beside the Baby Jesus in the Mangerby CBPepper
2:11Luke 2:11
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
On the appointed day the promised Saviour was born in Bethlehem, the city of David, as Christ the Lord. He is the Son of God, Messiah, Redeemer and divine King in David's line, who veiled his glory to come as a frail, helpless infant of poor parentage, laid in a manger because there was no room in the inn. By night the glory of the Lord shone around shepherds keeping their flocks where David had kept his, and the angel quieted their fear with good tidings and the sign of the child wrapped in swaddling clothes. The news was given to those humble, praying, longing shepherds rather than to priests, rulers and learned men, who were proud, self-satisfied and world-engrossed and expected a mighty temporal prince to make them rich and great. His birth is good news of great joy for all people, not Israel only but Gentiles to the ends of the earth, for he came to a fallen world to redeem humanity by giving himself a ransom for sin, to break Satan's power and set captives free, though Satan was alarmed at a rival and stirred Herod to try to destroy the infant King.
Words, Place and Circumstances
The angel's word declares that on that very day, at the appointed time, the long-promised Saviour was born in the city of David, which is Bethlehem, and names him Christ the Lord, glad news of great joy for all people in a fallen world because God has sent the Redeemer. It is the birth of the Messiah, the Saviour and Christ the Lord, announced first to watching shepherds who had been praying for the promised Saviour and King. His coming threatens Satan's rule, for Satan sees in him the rival who may contest his power and overthrow his kingdom, yet his humble birth does not itself prove his mission; his character does.
His titles proclaim him Saviour, Messiah, Christ and Lord, the Son of God, Redeemer and Lamb of God, born of the seed of Abraham and of David's line to whom the morning and evening temple sacrifice daily pointed. He is the divine King and Ruler in David's line, the promised ruler whose reign is won through suffering and not by unobstructed passage, bearing divine authority and commission to oppose Satan's rule and save humanity, with heaven publicly attesting who the newborn is. He came as an infant of poor parentage with divinity clothed in humanity and majesty joined with lowliness, heralded by angel and heavenly chorus as King, and his work is to redeem the world and not Israel only. He is to be recognized through God's prophetic word rather than outward attraction, for earthly riches, honor and greatness cannot save.
He was born without worldly grandeur or display, appearing as a frail, helpless infant in humble surroundings, in a stable and laid in a manger because there was no room in the inn, his divine glory and majesty veiled by humanity. Though so lowly, his birth was honored above other births, for God honored it with angels who announced it, accompanied their testimony with heavenly light and glory, and worshiped and glorified him as the Son of God come to accomplish redemption and bring through his death peace, happiness and everlasting life. His birth fulfilled prophecy but not the expectation of a worldly prince arriving in royal splendor, and the influential and learned remained unaware of it.
The announcement was made by night to humble shepherds keeping watch over their flocks on the hills and plains around Bethlehem, in the fields where the boy David had led his flock, who were talking together of the promised Saviour and praying earnestly for the coming of the King to David's throne. The angel of the Lord came upon them with the glory of the Lord shining round about them, and they were sore afraid at the lighted heavens, but he quieted their terror and told them not to fear, for he brought good tidings of great joy for all people that the Saviour, Christ the Lord, was born that day in the city of David. The news came to humble workers in their ordinary employment, doing the heralding work that was the honored privilege of men because none among men would do it. The angels who gave it were enshrouded in light like pure white clouds, and after the word the whole plain was lighted up by the hosts of God singing in praise, worshiping him.
The angel gave the sign by which to find him, the child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, and in tender regard for human weakness gave the shepherds time to become accustomed to the divine radiance, preparing them to recognize their Saviour in poverty and humiliation though their minds were filled with visions of glory, power, exaltation and triumph. That brilliant illumination of the heavens by the heavenly host heralding his advent on the plains of Bethlehem was observed from afar in the East at the same time. When the light faded and the angels returned to heaven, a luminous star lingered in the heavens, in reality a distant cluster of flaming angels appearing like a star, and the Spirit of God moved the wise men who had not been privileged to hear the proclamation to the shepherds to look upon that beautiful star never before seen as the sign of the advent of Messiah and to seek him. So God revealed Christ to the shepherds by word in the manner that could best reach them where they were, different from the manner he used to reveal Christ to the Magi through a star, with signs and wonders in the heavens also given to those searching men of the East.
Hearers and Their Responses
The glad announcement was sent not to priests and rulers, to Jerusalem with its appointed explainers of the sacred writings, or to the learned interpreters of prophecy, but to humble shepherds keeping their flocks by night on the hills around Bethlehem. Those men were good men who were talking together of the promised Saviour, praying earnestly for His coming and longing to behold the Unseen, while the people called to carry sacred light to the world were indifferent and unprepared to welcome heaven's embassy. From Jerusalem to the whole land the hearts entrusted with truth were selfish and world-engrossed, without heart to receive the testimony, feeling no need of greater piety and separated from God by wicked works, though the nearness of His coming had been told to Zacharias and the birth and mission of the forerunner had been spread abroad. Angels therefore did the heralding work that was the honored privilege of men because none among men would do it, and the shepherds joyfully received what the professed expositors refused.
The leaders knew the Saviour was soon to come, yet they expected a mighty king and temporal prince who would reign openly on David's throne in royal splendor and make them rich and great. They were too proud to think of the Messiah as a helpless child of poor parentage, and that hope of power and earthly greatness blinded them to the humble manner of His first coming with divinity clothed in humanity and majesty joined with lowliness. What prophecy had declared did not match their hopes, so many failed to recognize Him when He appeared as a frail infant in a stable and manger with His glory veiled.
Even the listening shepherds had filled their minds with visions of glory and thought the Deliverer had come with power, exaltation and triumph. In tender regard for human weakness the angel quieted their fear, told them not to fear, prepared them to recognize their Saviour in poverty and humiliation, told them how to find Him by the sign of the child wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger, and gave them time to become accustomed to the divine radiance before the whole plain was lighted by the praising hosts. They believed, received, worshiped the newborn King proclaimed by the angel and chorus, found Him as announced, and spread the news.
That report of the angels' visit was carried to Jerusalem, where priests, elders and rabbis knew of the birth and could have found Jesus in Bethlehem and led the wise men to Him. Instead they treated the message as unworthy of notice and with contempt, refused to investigate or to go to Bethlehem to see whether these things were so, and led the people to regard interest in Jesus as fanatical excitement. Pride and envy closed the door against the light, because crediting ignorant shepherds and uncircumcised Gentiles would disprove their claim to be exponents of God's truth and admit God had passed them by to speak to others. This refusal was the beginning of rejection, with pride and stubbornness growing into settled hatred that closed the door to themselves, while God was opening the door to the Gentiles.
The shepherds of Bethlehem and the Eastern magi received the truth because they heeded the light given them. The unusual star that signaled His birth moved the wise men to seek the Promised One, and their search, worship and costly gifts honored Jesus as the promised Messiah, heavenly King, divine teacher and newborn Prince, the immeasurable gift of God to the world. Proud and unbelieving religious leaders failed to recognize their visitation, though His mission to restore Israel was to bring salvation to the Gentiles and to the ends of the earth until the world is filled with knowledge of the Lord's glory.
His coming was the greatest event of the ages, bringing joy that thrilled all heaven. All heaven recognized His advent and watched with intense interest, with signs and wonders in the heavens and the angel host appearing on the hills of Bethlehem to announce Him and praise God. Yet His nation made no preparation to receive Him, and leaders and people of the city showed no expectation of Him though He came to bear suffering as an offering for sin.
Saving Mission and Conflict
He came to a fallen world to accomplish redemption, to save and recover humanity, bringing peace, happiness and everlasting life through his death, giving himself as ransom and offering for sin, with God in Christ reconciling the world to himself. Though born without worldly grandeur in a stable and laid in a manger, his birth was honored by God, with angels announcing it to shepherds, accompanying their testimony with heavenly light and glory, and worshiping and glorifying him. His birth is good news of great joy for all people, showing the fallen world is not left to hopeless ruin. He redeems the world and not Israel only, bringing salvation to the Gentiles and to the ends of the earth as divine light to every person and filling the world with knowledge of the Lord's glory.
He came with divine authority and commission to oppose Satan's rule and save humanity, heaven publicly attesting by the announcement to the shepherds who the newborn was. He came bringing the light of heaven as Redeemer of mankind to limit the power of Satan and set the captive free, to break Satan's power and redeem humanity as his own, to win people to his kingdom, and to begin God's work of making peace between sinners and their Maker. His coming threatened Satan's rule and authority, for Satan saw Christ as the rival who would contest his power and overthrow his throne and kingdom. Satan was alarmed, sought to prevent his work, assailed him from infancy with himself and the forces of evil, and stirred Herod to try to destroy and kill the infant King, while God protected the infant Saviour's life.
His humble birth does not itself testify to his mission; his character does. His lowly earthly surroundings and veiled glory show he came without worldly display, and people are to recognize and accept him through the testimony of God's prophetic word, not through outward attraction, for earthly riches, honor and greatness cannot save. Though promised ruler in David's line, his reign is won through suffering and not by unobstructed passage through the world. He took human nature, exchanged heavenly majesty for a manger and came without royal display, lived among ordinary people and worked as a carpenter, and would bear suffering as an offering for sin, be rejected, die on the cross, rise and return triumphantly to his Father.
Prophecy and Future Glory
The birth fulfills the prophecies of his coming and heaven's purpose, for when the appointed time came the promised Saviour, Messiah, Christ the Lord, Redeemer and Lamb of God was born that day in the city of David. He was born of the seed of Abraham and of David's line, the one to whom the morning and evening sacrifice in the temple daily pointed, not as a worldly prince arriving in royal splendor but as a frail infant in humble surroundings with his divine glory veiled by humanity. The good news was intended for all people and brings great joy, yet it was first sent by bright messengers from the throne of light to humble shepherds keeping watch by night over their flocks in the fields where the boy David had led his flock. Those shepherds were good men talking together of the promised Saviour and praying earnestly for his coming, for the coming of the King to David's throne, and to them the angel declared the birth while influential and learned people, priests and rulers who knew he was soon to come, remained unaware because they were proud, selfish, world-engrossed, without heart to receive him and expecting a mighty king who would make them rich and great.
The shepherds were told where to find him so they could worship him, and Christ by that birth came to break Satan's power and redeem humanity as his own. Signs and wonders in the heavens were also given to the searching wise men of the East who were seeking Christ, so that all heaven recognized his advent both over the hills of Bethlehem and afar. That heavenly attendance at his first coming proves his second coming will not be wanting in glory, for he comes to triumph.
The announcement on the hills and plains of Bethlehem was proclaimed by a mighty heavenly angel, the Captain of the Lord's host. That same mighty messenger later descended to the tomb to release the Son of God, rolled away the stone and called Jesus forth, thus linking the announcement of his birth with his resurrection and victory over death.
Proclaiming and Applying Message
The announcement that the promised Saviour, Christ the Lord, was born in David's city is good news of great joy for all people and provides the model for the message to carry to churches and to the world. That model is to preach Christ crucified for the sins of the whole world and to present Him as the sinless Saviour, letting His light shine without condemning or judging. The message of His birth is precious, and His coming is tied to the ransom given for the human race, with God in Christ reconciling the world to Himself and Father and Son united in mind and purpose. The gospel so announced is glad tidings that Christ has made people His own, having bought them with a price beyond computation, a salvation God presents to all and gives to those who believe.
Its setting belongs to the nighttime watch when angels from heaven came to shepherds watching their flocks on the plains of Bethlehem while they worked. That encounter shows heaven is near to people in ordinary occupations and that humanity remains an object of heaven's care. Christ was revealed to the shepherds in the manner that could best reach them where they were, different from the manner used to reveal Him to the Magi through a star. As God worked at Bethlehem through Christ, so He can work through His ministers and shed His light and glory.
The story of Bethlehem shows the depth of God's sympathy for the humblest and lowliest. Jesus the Saviour and Son of God entered human life in humility and poverty, sharing the doubts and needs of ordinary people, living among them and working as a carpenter. Through this humiliation He sanctified every part of human life and taught people to live for God in their daily work. His example calls people to humility rather than pride and display. The Babe of Bethlehem so born is the hope of the world and a personal Saviour, and the story of His birth helps teach children the truths of salvation.
God honored Joseph and Mary in an especial manner by entrusting them with the responsible charge and sacred trust of the infant Saviour whose birth angels heralded to the shepherds. He directed the course of Joseph to preserve the life of the infant Saviour against destruction. That infant was born in Bethlehem as the world's Redeemer to be an offering for sin, fulfilling the prophets' predictions and heaven's purpose, and He pledged Himself to accomplish full salvation for every son and daughter of Adam. His sacrifice was sufficient and consistent with the justice and honor of God's holy law, the innocent suffering for the guilty, a truth calling for complete gratitude. The gift of salvation may yet be rejected, but those who reject it are responsible for that choice.
On the appointed day the promised Saviour was born in Bethlehem, the city of David, as Christ the Lord. He is the Son of God, Messiah, Redeemer and divine King in David's line, who veiled his glory to come as a frail, helpless infant of poor parentage, laid in a manger because there was no room in the inn. By night the glory of the Lord shone around shepherds keeping their flocks where David had kept his, and the angel quieted their fear with good tidings and the sign of the child wrapped in swaddling clothes. The news was given to those humble, praying, longing shepherds rather than to priests, rulers and learned men, who were proud, self-satisfied and world-engrossed and expected a mighty temporal prince to make them rich and great. His birth is good news of great joy for all people, not Israel only but Gentiles to the ends of the earth, for he came to a fallen world to redeem humanity by giving himself a ransom for sin, to break Satan's power and set captives free, though Satan was alarmed at a rival and stirred Herod to try to destroy the infant King.
Words, Place and Circumstances
The angel's word declares that on that very day, at the appointed time, the long-promised Saviour was born in the city of David, which is Bethlehem, and names him Christ the Lord, glad news of great joy for all people in a fallen world because God has sent the Redeemer. It is the birth of the Messiah, the Saviour and Christ the Lord, announced first to watching shepherds who had been praying for the promised Saviour and King. His coming threatens Satan's rule, for Satan sees in him the rival who may contest his power and overthrow his kingdom, yet his humble birth does not itself prove his mission; his character does.
His titles proclaim him Saviour, Messiah, Christ and Lord, the Son of God, Redeemer and Lamb of God, born of the seed of Abraham and of David's line to whom the morning and evening temple sacrifice daily pointed. He is the divine King and Ruler in David's line, the promised ruler whose reign is won through suffering and not by unobstructed passage, bearing divine authority and commission to oppose Satan's rule and save humanity, with heaven publicly attesting who the newborn is. He came as an infant of poor parentage with divinity clothed in humanity and majesty joined with lowliness, heralded by angel and heavenly chorus as King, and his work is to redeem the world and not Israel only. He is to be recognized through God's prophetic word rather than outward attraction, for earthly riches, honor and greatness cannot save.
He was born without worldly grandeur or display, appearing as a frail, helpless infant in humble surroundings, in a stable and laid in a manger because there was no room in the inn, his divine glory and majesty veiled by humanity. Though so lowly, his birth was honored above other births, for God honored it with angels who announced it, accompanied their testimony with heavenly light and glory, and worshiped and glorified him as the Son of God come to accomplish redemption and bring through his death peace, happiness and everlasting life. His birth fulfilled prophecy but not the expectation of a worldly prince arriving in royal splendor, and the influential and learned remained unaware of it.
The announcement was made by night to humble shepherds keeping watch over their flocks on the hills and plains around Bethlehem, in the fields where the boy David had led his flock, who were talking together of the promised Saviour and praying earnestly for the coming of the King to David's throne. The angel of the Lord came upon them with the glory of the Lord shining round about them, and they were sore afraid at the lighted heavens, but he quieted their terror and told them not to fear, for he brought good tidings of great joy for all people that the Saviour, Christ the Lord, was born that day in the city of David. The news came to humble workers in their ordinary employment, doing the heralding work that was the honored privilege of men because none among men would do it. The angels who gave it were enshrouded in light like pure white clouds, and after the word the whole plain was lighted up by the hosts of God singing in praise, worshiping him.
The angel gave the sign by which to find him, the child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, and in tender regard for human weakness gave the shepherds time to become accustomed to the divine radiance, preparing them to recognize their Saviour in poverty and humiliation though their minds were filled with visions of glory, power, exaltation and triumph. That brilliant illumination of the heavens by the heavenly host heralding his advent on the plains of Bethlehem was observed from afar in the East at the same time. When the light faded and the angels returned to heaven, a luminous star lingered in the heavens, in reality a distant cluster of flaming angels appearing like a star, and the Spirit of God moved the wise men who had not been privileged to hear the proclamation to the shepherds to look upon that beautiful star never before seen as the sign of the advent of Messiah and to seek him. So God revealed Christ to the shepherds by word in the manner that could best reach them where they were, different from the manner he used to reveal Christ to the Magi through a star, with signs and wonders in the heavens also given to those searching men of the East.
Hearers and Their Responses
The glad announcement was sent not to priests and rulers, to Jerusalem with its appointed explainers of the sacred writings, or to the learned interpreters of prophecy, but to humble shepherds keeping their flocks by night on the hills around Bethlehem. Those men were good men who were talking together of the promised Saviour, praying earnestly for His coming and longing to behold the Unseen, while the people called to carry sacred light to the world were indifferent and unprepared to welcome heaven's embassy. From Jerusalem to the whole land the hearts entrusted with truth were selfish and world-engrossed, without heart to receive the testimony, feeling no need of greater piety and separated from God by wicked works, though the nearness of His coming had been told to Zacharias and the birth and mission of the forerunner had been spread abroad. Angels therefore did the heralding work that was the honored privilege of men because none among men would do it, and the shepherds joyfully received what the professed expositors refused.
The leaders knew the Saviour was soon to come, yet they expected a mighty king and temporal prince who would reign openly on David's throne in royal splendor and make them rich and great. They were too proud to think of the Messiah as a helpless child of poor parentage, and that hope of power and earthly greatness blinded them to the humble manner of His first coming with divinity clothed in humanity and majesty joined with lowliness. What prophecy had declared did not match their hopes, so many failed to recognize Him when He appeared as a frail infant in a stable and manger with His glory veiled.
Even the listening shepherds had filled their minds with visions of glory and thought the Deliverer had come with power, exaltation and triumph. In tender regard for human weakness the angel quieted their fear, told them not to fear, prepared them to recognize their Saviour in poverty and humiliation, told them how to find Him by the sign of the child wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger, and gave them time to become accustomed to the divine radiance before the whole plain was lighted by the praising hosts. They believed, received, worshiped the newborn King proclaimed by the angel and chorus, found Him as announced, and spread the news.
That report of the angels' visit was carried to Jerusalem, where priests, elders and rabbis knew of the birth and could have found Jesus in Bethlehem and led the wise men to Him. Instead they treated the message as unworthy of notice and with contempt, refused to investigate or to go to Bethlehem to see whether these things were so, and led the people to regard interest in Jesus as fanatical excitement. Pride and envy closed the door against the light, because crediting ignorant shepherds and uncircumcised Gentiles would disprove their claim to be exponents of God's truth and admit God had passed them by to speak to others. This refusal was the beginning of rejection, with pride and stubbornness growing into settled hatred that closed the door to themselves, while God was opening the door to the Gentiles.
The shepherds of Bethlehem and the Eastern magi received the truth because they heeded the light given them. The unusual star that signaled His birth moved the wise men to seek the Promised One, and their search, worship and costly gifts honored Jesus as the promised Messiah, heavenly King, divine teacher and newborn Prince, the immeasurable gift of God to the world. Proud and unbelieving religious leaders failed to recognize their visitation, though His mission to restore Israel was to bring salvation to the Gentiles and to the ends of the earth until the world is filled with knowledge of the Lord's glory.
His coming was the greatest event of the ages, bringing joy that thrilled all heaven. All heaven recognized His advent and watched with intense interest, with signs and wonders in the heavens and the angel host appearing on the hills of Bethlehem to announce Him and praise God. Yet His nation made no preparation to receive Him, and leaders and people of the city showed no expectation of Him though He came to bear suffering as an offering for sin.
Saving Mission and Conflict
He came to a fallen world to accomplish redemption, to save and recover humanity, bringing peace, happiness and everlasting life through his death, giving himself as ransom and offering for sin, with God in Christ reconciling the world to himself. Though born without worldly grandeur in a stable and laid in a manger, his birth was honored by God, with angels announcing it to shepherds, accompanying their testimony with heavenly light and glory, and worshiping and glorifying him. His birth is good news of great joy for all people, showing the fallen world is not left to hopeless ruin. He redeems the world and not Israel only, bringing salvation to the Gentiles and to the ends of the earth as divine light to every person and filling the world with knowledge of the Lord's glory.
He came with divine authority and commission to oppose Satan's rule and save humanity, heaven publicly attesting by the announcement to the shepherds who the newborn was. He came bringing the light of heaven as Redeemer of mankind to limit the power of Satan and set the captive free, to break Satan's power and redeem humanity as his own, to win people to his kingdom, and to begin God's work of making peace between sinners and their Maker. His coming threatened Satan's rule and authority, for Satan saw Christ as the rival who would contest his power and overthrow his throne and kingdom. Satan was alarmed, sought to prevent his work, assailed him from infancy with himself and the forces of evil, and stirred Herod to try to destroy and kill the infant King, while God protected the infant Saviour's life.
His humble birth does not itself testify to his mission; his character does. His lowly earthly surroundings and veiled glory show he came without worldly display, and people are to recognize and accept him through the testimony of God's prophetic word, not through outward attraction, for earthly riches, honor and greatness cannot save. Though promised ruler in David's line, his reign is won through suffering and not by unobstructed passage through the world. He took human nature, exchanged heavenly majesty for a manger and came without royal display, lived among ordinary people and worked as a carpenter, and would bear suffering as an offering for sin, be rejected, die on the cross, rise and return triumphantly to his Father.
Prophecy and Future Glory
The birth fulfills the prophecies of his coming and heaven's purpose, for when the appointed time came the promised Saviour, Messiah, Christ the Lord, Redeemer and Lamb of God was born that day in the city of David. He was born of the seed of Abraham and of David's line, the one to whom the morning and evening sacrifice in the temple daily pointed, not as a worldly prince arriving in royal splendor but as a frail infant in humble surroundings with his divine glory veiled by humanity. The good news was intended for all people and brings great joy, yet it was first sent by bright messengers from the throne of light to humble shepherds keeping watch by night over their flocks in the fields where the boy David had led his flock. Those shepherds were good men talking together of the promised Saviour and praying earnestly for his coming, for the coming of the King to David's throne, and to them the angel declared the birth while influential and learned people, priests and rulers who knew he was soon to come, remained unaware because they were proud, selfish, world-engrossed, without heart to receive him and expecting a mighty king who would make them rich and great.
The shepherds were told where to find him so they could worship him, and Christ by that birth came to break Satan's power and redeem humanity as his own. Signs and wonders in the heavens were also given to the searching wise men of the East who were seeking Christ, so that all heaven recognized his advent both over the hills of Bethlehem and afar. That heavenly attendance at his first coming proves his second coming will not be wanting in glory, for he comes to triumph.
The announcement on the hills and plains of Bethlehem was proclaimed by a mighty heavenly angel, the Captain of the Lord's host. That same mighty messenger later descended to the tomb to release the Son of God, rolled away the stone and called Jesus forth, thus linking the announcement of his birth with his resurrection and victory over death.
Proclaiming and Applying Message
The announcement that the promised Saviour, Christ the Lord, was born in David's city is good news of great joy for all people and provides the model for the message to carry to churches and to the world. That model is to preach Christ crucified for the sins of the whole world and to present Him as the sinless Saviour, letting His light shine without condemning or judging. The message of His birth is precious, and His coming is tied to the ransom given for the human race, with God in Christ reconciling the world to Himself and Father and Son united in mind and purpose. The gospel so announced is glad tidings that Christ has made people His own, having bought them with a price beyond computation, a salvation God presents to all and gives to those who believe.
Its setting belongs to the nighttime watch when angels from heaven came to shepherds watching their flocks on the plains of Bethlehem while they worked. That encounter shows heaven is near to people in ordinary occupations and that humanity remains an object of heaven's care. Christ was revealed to the shepherds in the manner that could best reach them where they were, different from the manner used to reveal Him to the Magi through a star. As God worked at Bethlehem through Christ, so He can work through His ministers and shed His light and glory.
The story of Bethlehem shows the depth of God's sympathy for the humblest and lowliest. Jesus the Saviour and Son of God entered human life in humility and poverty, sharing the doubts and needs of ordinary people, living among them and working as a carpenter. Through this humiliation He sanctified every part of human life and taught people to live for God in their daily work. His example calls people to humility rather than pride and display. The Babe of Bethlehem so born is the hope of the world and a personal Saviour, and the story of His birth helps teach children the truths of salvation.
God honored Joseph and Mary in an especial manner by entrusting them with the responsible charge and sacred trust of the infant Saviour whose birth angels heralded to the shepherds. He directed the course of Joseph to preserve the life of the infant Saviour against destruction. That infant was born in Bethlehem as the world's Redeemer to be an offering for sin, fulfilling the prophets' predictions and heaven's purpose, and He pledged Himself to accomplish full salvation for every son and daughter of Adam. His sacrifice was sufficient and consistent with the justice and honor of God's holy law, the innocent suffering for the guilty, a truth calling for complete gratitude. The gift of salvation may yet be rejected, but those who reject it are responsible for that choice.