In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone went to their own town to register. 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. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 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. (Luke 2:1-7)
Devotional
The birth of this King—our Savior—was not in some royal, flashy setting. The scene for the birth of Jesus was small and humble, in the dirt of a manger. He entered into the mess of our world to be with us in our messes, rejection, and shame. What other king would do this for us? From the beginning, Jesus’ desire was to be with us and for us.
