Reading
Read Micah 5:2
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But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.
Read Luke 2:1–7
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At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 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. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.
And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
Reflection Questions
- Read through these promises and how God fulfilled them in Jesus:
- OT Prophecy: Genesis 3:15 | Galatians 4:4–7 | Isaiah 9:2 | Isaiah 53:10–11 | Isaiah 53:4 | Isaiah 61:1–4
- NT Fulfillment: Romans 5:6–8 | Colossians 2:13–15 | Matthew 4:12–17 | John 1:4–5; 12:46 | Romans 5:1–2 | Matthew 8:14–17 | Luke 4:16–21
- Knowing that God fulfills all his promises, what does that teach us about who he is?
- Take a minute to reflect on and remember what God has done in your life. What promises has God already fulfilled in your life?
- It seems that God has been orchestrating this story all along in order to fulfill this prophecy. Even if Mary and Joseph didn’t completely understand, they still were obedient and trusted God when things didn’t make sense.
- Is there a situation you can think of where you were obedient and when you look back, you realize
that it was God that was orchestrating things when it didn’t make sense? - What are some similarities to this story and your own life? What are some situations or directions that
have been given that might not make sense? - What would it look like to still trust God and be obedient in this situation?