Book of Luke See page on original site
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S t o r y o f t h e B i r t h o f J e s u s
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Luke 2: 1 to 20 ( King James Version )
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| And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. |
| v. 2 [And] this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. |
| v. 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. |
| v. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) |
| v. 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. |
| v. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. |
| v. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. |
| v. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. |
| v. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. |
| v.10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. |
| v.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. |
| v. 12 And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. |
| v.13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, |
| v.14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. |
| v.15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. |
| v.16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. |
| v.17 And when they had seen [it], they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. |
| v.18 And all they that heard [it] wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. |
| v.19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered [them] in her heart. |
| v.20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. |
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| Text Quoted in Spirit of Prophecy |
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| God moves in his own way in preparing men to be laborers together with him. The value of men and women is not to be estimated by the class of labor they perform. It is fixed by the Lord Jesus, who paid the same price for every soul. In charity, in simplicity, and integrity, all who have Christ formed within, the hope of glory, are workers together with God. They are God’s husbandry; they are God’s building. The heart in which the love of Christ abides, will constantly manifest more and more refinement, for the spring of the life is love to God and man. This is Christianity. This is “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” [ Luke 2:14.] This is the carrying out of God’s purpose. Divine harmony, worthy of the wisdom and mercy which God has manifested to men! True Christian growth tends upward to the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. True culture, real refinement of thought and manners, is better obtained through the lessons in the school of Christ, than through the most labored, pains-taking effort to observe forms and set rules, when the heart is not under the holy discipline of the Spirit of God. { GW92 315.1 } |
Christian Courtesy.—The heart in which the love of Christ abides, will constantly manifest more and more refinement, for the spring of the life is love to God and man. This is Christianity. This is “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” [ Luke 2:14.] This is the carrying out of God’s purpose. Divine harmony, worthy of the wisdom and mercy which God has manifested to men! True Christian growth tends upward to the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. True culture, real refinement of thought and manners, is better obtained through the lessons in the school of Christ, than through the most labored, pains-taking effort to observe forms and set rules, when the heart is not under the holy discipline of the Spirit of God. { CE 200.1 } |
| There is no evidence that Christ is expected, and no preparation for the Prince of life. In amazement the celestial messenger is about to return to heaven with the shameful tidings, when he discovers a group of shepherds who are watching their flocks by night, and, as they gaze into the starry heavens, are contemplating the prophecy of a Messiah to come to earth, and longing for the advent of the world’s Redeemer. Here is a company that is prepared to receive the heavenly message. And suddenly the angel of the Lord appears, declaring the good tidings of great joy. Celestial glory floods all the plain, an innumerable company of angels is revealed, and as if the joy were too great for one messenger to bring from heaven, a multitude of voices break forth in the anthem which all the nations of the saved shall one day sing: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:14. { GC 314.2} |
| When Christ was born in Bethlehem, the angels of God appeared to the shepherds, who were watching their flocks by night, and gave divine credentials of the authority of the newborn babe. Satan knew that One had come to the earth with a divine commission to dispute his authority. He heard the angel declare: “... Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord...” ( Luke 2:10, 11). { AG 162.3}
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| All heaven was interested in the great event of Christ’s advent to earth. Heavenly messengers came to make known the birth of the long-promised, long-expected Saviour to the humble shepherds who were watching their flocks by night on the plains of Bethlehem. The first manifestation that attracted the notice of the shepherds at the birth of the Saviour, was a radiant light in the starry heavens, which filled them with wonder and admiration.... The astonished shepherds could scarcely comprehend the precious message borne to them by the angels, and when the radiant light had passed away, they said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child” ( Luke 2:15-17).... { TDG 360.3}
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