Luke 2:1-20
The Christmas story has been shared for almost 2000 years. The sacrifice of Mary and Joseph, the birth of Jesus, and the bad decision-making of an innkeeper all work together to bring us the greatest birth narrative ever told. This week, in our focus on the Christmas story, one would imagine that if the Son of God was entering the world, great care would be taken to prepare a place for his birth. One would also assume that the whole world would be on point, waiting to receive this child. Neither of these two things happened. With no fanfare or great celebration, Jesus was born.
In our time, we will explore the ancient registration that took Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and consider the role of shepherds in this incarnation story. The events of this night changed the world forever, and studying the people engaged in its unfolding will help us discern our own connection to the greater story.