The world's celebration of Christmas has stripped the profound significance from the biblical accounts of Jesus Christ's birth, reducing them to mere lyrics for songs and trivialized portrayals. These passages, found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, are often overlooked or avoided due to their association with worldly traditions, yet they hold great importance as part of God's inspired Word. They deserve deeper consideration beyond the commercialized depictions. Luke, a masterful historian and literary writer, presents the birth of Jesus Christ with concise and artistic storytelling. In Luke 1, the angel, likely Gabriel, announces to Mary that she has found favor with God and is blessed among women to bear His Son. Luke emphasizes that the glory belongs to God for bestowing this grace upon her, not to Mary herself. She, though specially prepared for this honor, was an ordinary Jewess of David's line, and her favor came from God's graciousness. Mary, described as thoughtful and wise, was perplexed by the angel's words but remained composed, keeping these matters in her heart with patience. The angel quotes Messianic prophecies from Isaiah, informing Mary that the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son named Jesus, meaning Savior, and also called Immanuel, meaning God with us. Similarly, in Matthew's account, an angel appears to Joseph in a dream, confirming that Mary's Child, conceived by the Holy Spirit, will be named Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins, and He will be God with us. Joseph, depicted as kind, humble, and obedient, accepts the angel's message without complaint and complies fully, despite the potential shame and disruption to his life. God, in His sovereignty, chose Mary and Joseph as the ideal couple to raise His Son, both exemplifying submission to His will. Despite the upheaval caused by His intervention, they selflessly yielded to His plan, ready to follow His guidance.

The birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, as recounted in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, presents a vivid and glorious narrative of earth's most significant event. These accounts detail a divine impregnation and birth, potential scandal, angelic announcements, visions, dreams, magi with regal gifts, a murderous king, and a mysterious guiding star, rendering any embellishment unnecessary. An angel, likely Gabriel, visited Mary and Joseph separately to proclaim the human advent of Immanuel, God with Us, into their lives. They learned that this divine Being would be born of Mary, with Joseph, as her betrothed, taking on the role of the Child's human father. They were instructed to name Him Jesus, akin to the Hebrew name Joshua, meaning savior. Both Mary and Joseph accepted this immense responsibility with humility and without complaint, ensuring that Jesus would be in good hands. Later, Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem for a tax registration decreed by Caesar Augustus, likely around the fall harvest, near the end of September or early October in 4 BC, coinciding with the Feast of Trumpets. Due to the timing and the influx of people for the fall holy days, there was no room for them in the inn. Bethlehem, close to Jerusalem, was likely overcrowded with travelers, forcing the couple to find shelter in a grotto or cave, possibly used for housing animals. There, Jesus was laid in a manger, a trough for animals, which, with cleaning and fresh straw, provided a basic shelter. The swaddling cloths mentioned were customary strips of cloth used to wrap a child, not indicative of poverty, but a common practice of the time. Luke describes the announcement of the Messiah's birth to nearby shepherds, occurring in September or early October, as shepherds would not have been in the fields at night during the rainy winter months. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared with shocking brilliance, causing great fear among the shepherds. The angel reassured them, proclaiming good tidings of great joy, evangelizing the news that the way of salvation was opening to all people, especially to common folk like these shepherds. The angel declared that a Savior, Christ the Lord, was born that day in the city of David, linking Jesus' birth to Old Testament prophecies and intimating that this Child was God born as a human. Immediately following, a multitude of the heavenly host appeared, praising God with a hymn of glory to the Most High and peace on earth among those of His good pleasure. Their presence and song underscored the monumental importance of this event, reflecting their joy at this significant step in God's purpose. The angels' message highlighted that true peace begins with the birth of God's Son in Bethlehem, extending especially to those with whom He finds favor.