STATION 4

JESUS is Born - Luke 2 v 1-7

The Birth of Jesus

1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.

6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child. A son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

WHAT NEXT? 

It’s a great story, but so what? 

What difference does a nice story about a baby born 2,000 years ago make in my life today? 

Christmas, the story of Jesus’ birth, is only the start of the story. That baby didn’t stay a baby. He grew up.  

At 30 years of age, Jesus began his ministry. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, he healed people, delivered people, forgave people. He taught people about the kingdom of God – in other words, what it looked like to live under God’s rule. He gave people hope, freedom and purpose. (If you’re not familiar with Jesus’ ministry you can read about it in the Bible, in the book of Mark). 

At his birth, the angels announced that his arrival was “good news”, and it truly was! 

But Jesus challenged the way people saw things. More to the point, he challenged the way the religious leaders of the time saw things, and they didn’t like that! So they had him executed – put to death by hanging on a cross.  

But the story doesn’t end there.  

While Jesus was born as a fully human baby, he was also fully divine and was sent to earth for a divine purpose. 

Three days after his death, Jesus was resurrected. His miraculous resurrection broke the power of death and sin. Sin is the thing that keeps us separated from God. Sin is when we try and live under our own rule rather than God’s. Sin is what brought sickness, oppression and hopelessness into the world.  

So what now? 

We are all invited to be part of God’s kingdom and to experience the “good news” not only of Jesus’ birth, but of his life, death and resurrection.  

Belonging to God’s kingdom involves a decision made by faith to turn from living for ourselves, to living with God as our king.  

If you would like to make this decision or would like to find out some more about what the birth of a baby 2,000 years ago can mean for your life today, please contact us, either by email – info@hcsa.co.nz, or by phoning our office on 834 7000.

May God richly bless you this Christmas.