Luke 2:1-7 NIV

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Isaiah 9:2, 6, 7 NIV

2 The people walking in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

a light has dawned.

6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the LORD Almighty

will accomplish this.

Reflect:

For Mary and Joseph, all that had been promised came true as they welcomed the birth of baby Jesus. God fulfilled His word given to them. But even much more than just Mary and Joseph, the arrival of Jesus fulfilled God’s promises to His people, recorded by Isaiah six hundred years prior! In this history-changing moment, a new reality of God involved and with His people was beginning.  This is what the people of God were longing, dreaming, and hoping for since the days of Isaiah’s prophecies. The fulfillment of God’s promises through Jesus Christ was truly a light dawning during a time of deep darkness and silence.

Respond:

As verse 7 in Isaiah 6 ends, it was truly “the zeal of the Lord Almighty” which accomplished and fulfilled all that was promised. In God’s fierce loyalty and care, He has come and He has made Himself known to us as Emmanuel, God with us.  The response of God’s people was and is an unshakable trust and faith in God, a new and powerful way to live.  Today we can pray for our lives to be even more shaped by this response so we can live out of this unshakable trust and faith.  May our faith in Christ deepen like never before!