1. Luke dates Jesus’ birth in relation to world history. He uses several historical markers in his gospel. (i.e. 1:5; 3:1)

2. Jesus was born in a place where animals were kept and His first “crib” was an animal feeding trough.

3. He was bound in strips of cloth, as was the practice of some in that day to protect the newborn’s limbs, to give them security and to keep them warm. These strips of cloth were a foreshadowing of His burial, as was the gift of myrrh brought later by the Magi. (Cp. John 19:39,40)

4. The first announcement of Jesus’ birth was to shepherds who were quite possibly tending the sacrificial lambs which would be used at the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus was called by John the Baptist, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

5. The announcement to the shepherds referred to Jesus’ purpose (Savior) and His person (Christ the Lord-the Messiah who is God).

6. “The Second Person in God, the Son, became human Himself: was born into the world as an actual man—a real man of a particular height, with hair of a particular color, speaking a particular5 language, weighing so many [pounds]. The Eternal Being, who knows everything, and who created the whole universe, became not only a man, but (before that) a baby, and before that a [fetus] inside a Woman’s body. If you want to get the hang of it, think of how you would like to become a slug or a crab. (C. S. Lewis)

7. The mention of Bethlehem and the line of David would reference several Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah (Isaiah 9:6,7; 11:1; 2Samuel 7:14; Micah 5:2).

8. “On that first Christmas morning, the world must have seemed a hard place to Mary. At the end of a weary journey there was ‘no room at the inn.’ The only shelter offered to her was the ‘lowly cattle shed.’ I find this a great mystery and a great wonder….God has been here on this planet in person. What we are celebrating…is not the feast of jolly old Father Christmas or good King Wenceslaus, or a beautiful fairy-tale We are celebrating the visit of God. How marvelous!” (J. B. Phillips)