#1416. Luke 2:1–7 - The humble birth of Jesus (25/12/25)

Matt Beaney
2 minutes ago
4 min read

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional as we continue our Christmas series.

Happy Christmas! From Luke 2:1–7, we reflect on the humble birth of the King of Kings and how we can faithfully respond to this.

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‘In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 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)

From Luke’s narrative we learn a number of very important lessons:

1. God’s providence works through and is over human plans

‘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.’ (Luke 2:1-3)

Behind Caesar’s political decision stands the hand of God. The most powerful man in the Roman Empire unknowingly serves the purposes of the true King. Human governments act, but God overrules. His plans are never hindered or threatened.

For Mary and Joseph, this decree came at the most inconvenient time imaginable. Mary was heavily pregnant, the journey was long, and the situation was far from ideal. Yet God’s timing often stretches our faith so that we learn deeper trust through obedient endurance. God’s timings and plans are not always comfortable and deep lessons are learned through hard obedience.

God’s providence is often uncomfortable, but always perfect.

2. God keeps His promises

‘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.’ (Luke 2:4-5)

Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem, the city of David, because he belonged to David’s line. This seemingly mundane administrative trip fulfils centuries-old prophecy:

‘“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”’ (Micah 5:2)

Caesar thought he was organising his empire. God was organising the birthplace of His Son.

God uses rulers - whether righteous or wicked - to bring about His purposes. No decree, no government decision, and no circumstance is outside His sovereign reach. The Messiah would come from Bethlehem because God had said so.

He always keeps His promises.

3. Jesus was born, lived and died in humility to enrich us

‘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 2:6-7)

Mary gives birth to her firstborn son and lays Him in a manger - a feeding trough - because no guest room was available.

Luke highlights the poverty and humility of Jesus’ arrival. The eternal Son of God stepped into human history not in privilege or prestige but in obscurity and need.

Here are a few lessons we learn from His humble birth:

God understands poverty and hardship. Jesus was born and raised in modest circumstances.
God’s provision is enough, even when it isn’t what we would have chosen.
Sometimes the ‘guest room’ isn’t available. God often works through the “manger moments” - those situations that feel below what we hoped for.
God values the lowly. Luke’s Gospel consistently shows God’s heart for the poor, overlooked, and humble.

The One who was infinitely rich became poor so that we might share in His eternal riches.

Response

Are your present circumstances not what you would have chosen? Put your trust afresh in God’s wise and loving providence.
Are you waiting for God to keep His promises? Remember Bethlehem - He is always at work, even when you cannot see it.
Are you living through ‘manger-moment’ - things that feel humble, small, or disappointing? Embrace where God has placed you, and make the most of what He has provided.

This Christmas Day, we worship the God who entered the world in poverty, lived in humility, and died as a despised criminal for our salvation. Let us remember why He came:

‘For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.’ (2 Corinthians 8:9)

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