Focus Passage: Luke 2:1-20 (NASB)
1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all *I.e. the Roman empirethe inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while *Gr KyreniosQuirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is *I.e. MessiahChrist the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men *Lit of good pleasure; or of good willwith whom He is pleased.”
15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
Read Luke 2:1-20 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!
While Jesus came into the world to die for all people, while reading this verse, I was surprised to find this idea shared at this point in Jesus’ birth story. Up to that point, the Jews were eagerly expecting a messiah to show up and to overthrow the Roman Empire’s rule in their nation – and this by definition would make the messiah they were looking for a messiah for the Jews.
However, in our passage, right near the beginning of the angel’s message to the shepherds, the angel frames the Messiah that was arriving onto the scene. The angel introduces himself by saying, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.” (v. 10)
The angel says this good news will be for all the people. Sure this could mean all the Jews from all social classes, but it could simply mean all the people who have ever lived. It could mean everyone who has ever been a part of the human race throughout all points in history.
It is important for us to define who Jesus came to be. If Jesus came to be a Messiah for only the Jews, then it would be important for anyone who wants to take part in the Messiah’s mission to become Jewish – but this is not the case.
Jesus came as a result of the promise God gave to Adam and Eve, and as a promise God gave to Abraham – and both of these Biblical heroes lived before the Jewish nation was formed. Jesus did come through the Jewish nation, and He was a Jewish Messiah, but His role and mission was much greater than His human parent’s nationality. Jesus came with God’s nationality as a representative for all people.
This leads us to that big idea that the angel shares in verse 10: “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.” And “all the people” includes you and me because Jesus came as a Messiah for all nations and nationalities!
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
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