Bahan Alkitab: Luke 2: 1-20
Tanggal: 20/12/2020
Ringkasan:
After Mary and Joseph were married, they left Nazareth and took a long journey south. At that time, Israel belonged to the Roman Empire. The Emperor Augustus wanted to make a count of all his people to make sure that they all paid their taxes, so the people had to go back to their hometowns to be counted. Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem the land of King David, Joseph’s ancestor.
When they finally got there, Mary and Joseph found the town crowded with people. all the houses and rooms were so full that they couldn’t find a place to stay. Joseph must have been anxious as he searched for a room for them. it was almost time for Mary to give birth to the baby she was carrying.
Finally the tired pair settled down in an animal stable. Here, Mary gave birth to her first child, a son. After wrapping the new-born baby in strips of linen cloth, like good mothers in Bible times did to their newborn babies, Mary carefully placed the child in a manger, a feed box for the animals, because there was no other place for the baby to sleep.
In the fields near Bethlehem, shepherds were taking care of their animals when a brilliant light suddenly shone all around them. it was an amazing sight, Ang angel of the Lord appeared out of the brightness and spoke kindly to the terrified shepherds. “Don’t be scared,” the angel assured them. “I have come with great news. Today, in Bethlehem, the savior has been born. He is Christ the Lord. you will know you have found him when you find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly the sky was filled with heavenly beings. They praised God and spoke of peace on earth. Then the angels left the sky and returned to heaven.
The shepherd knew that the message had come from the Lord, so they left the fields and hurried to Bethlehem to find the baby. When they found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger, they knew that this tiny child was Christ the Lord, the long-promised saviour.
Astonished at what they had seen and heard, the shepherd hurried away and told everyone about the bright angels, the message from God, the good news of the Savior birth and the manger in Bethlehem. Everyone was amazed and surprised when they heard the news, and the shepherds praised God for his greatness and goodness.
Let us thank God for sending his very own Son to earth so that his people from all over world could have their sins forgiven.
This is the best gift of all !
Ayat Hafalan:
1 John 4:14 B
The Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world