Sunday: Joseph’s Dream — Matthew 1:18-25
In a dream an angel told Joseph that Mary’s condition was not caused by a man, but through the Holy Spirit (v. 20). The Child Mary carried in her womb was a unique Child, for He would be a Son whom Joseph should name Jesus, for He would save His people from their sins. Joseph must have remembered the promises of God to provide salvation through the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-37). The unnamed angel also told Joseph that this was in keeping with God’s eternal plan, for the Prophet Isaiah had declared 700 years before that the virgin will be with Child (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14). Joseph obediently took Mary into his home.
Monday: Jesus is Born — Luke 2:1-7
Jesus’ birth was very lowly. There was no motel room for His birth; He came into the world amidst livestock; His first bed was a feeding trough. His heavenly Father could have provided a luxury suite, but instead He chose the poorest conditions. Yet, He humbled Himself to reach even the lowest of society. His first visitors were humble shepherds; He would be the Great Shepherd who one day would lay down His very life for the sheep.
Tuesday: Heavenly Serenade — Luke 2:8-14
Faithful shepherds tend to their flocks, and are particularly attentive at birthing time. Their lives are given to protecting and providing for the sheep. But this group of shepherds were presented with such a great announcement by the choir of heaven that they immediately rushed to a Bethlehem stable. The corrupt world of violence and deceit were all forgotten at hearing the melodious refrain, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (v. 14). God could have called well-armed soldiers to protect the King, but He chose men with shepherd’s hearts to watch the heavenly Lamb—the Shepherd of all shepherds.
Wednesday: Shepherds in Bethlehem — Luke 2:15-20
It wasn’t the intent of the Heavenly Father to keep the news of His son’s birth a big secret, but it is clear that God was primarily interested in informing mostly the common people. The shepherds shared the story far and wide, but their primary audience wouldn’t have been the civil or military authorities. Their listeners weren’t kings and generals, but just wonderful, ordinary people with regular live-a-day lives. Jesus never spent much time trying to convince politicians and scholars of the truth; in fact, they were primarily the ones who contended against Him. By contrast, Mary, Jesus’ mother, was silent. Her job as mother continued past the pregnancy and birth—all the way to the foot of her son’s cross.
Thursday: Presented in the Temple — Luke 2:21-24
Neither Mary nor her son needed these purifications: she was virginal, and He was the Holy One. Yet, had Mary not gone through the days of purification according to the law, she could not have appeared in the public worship of the Most High. She would have been considered as an apostate from the faith of the Israel of God; and had Jesus not been circumcised and publicly presented in the temple, he could not have been permitted to enter either synagogue or temple, and no Jew would have heard him preach, or had any connection with him.
Friday: Elderly Simeon — Luke 2:25-35
Sensitive to the Holy Spirit, into the temple. Perhaps he was thinking of Malachi 3:1, “The Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple.” The soul of Simeon delighted in this messenger of the covenant. Now the prophecy was to be fulfilled; and the Holy Spirit, who dwelt in the soul of this righteous man, directed him to go and see its accomplishment.
Saturday: Anna, the Prophetess — Luke 2:36-39
What do you suppose this devout widow would say was the finest moment of her life? Nothing compares to seeing Jesus!