The Birth Announcement

Luke 2:11 – This very day in David's town your Savior was born — Christ the Lord! (GNB)

Thirteen years ago, when our first child was born, we had a special birth announcement printed on parchment paper. We did this so that we could notify our family and friends that we had a daughter. We worded the announcement to indicate that God had given us a new life to care for. In our announcement we also gave our daughter's name, details of her birth, and the reason for choosing her name.

When we think of birth announcements we are reminded that God announced the birth of Jesus to Mary, his mother, using an angel to relay this important message. God also used angels to announce to shepherds tending their sheep: "This very day in David's town your Saviour was born — Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11)

God did not send a printed announcement of Jesus' birth like we did for our daughter's birth. There were no printing presses or computers, so God sent the angels as messengers.

Our family and friends were excited to receive the news of the birth of our first child. They wanted to see this baby, so they came to visit us. They brought gifts. The wise men were also excited about the birth of Jesus, and "when they saw the star they were overjoyed." (Matthew 2:10) They hurried to visit him and brought him gifts.

Let us stop and take time to reread the story of Jesus' birth this year in Luke 2:1-20 and Matthew 2:1-12. Perhaps we will be just as excited as the wise men.

Prayer: Loving God, we know that Jesus is our Saviour because you told us this when you announced his birth long ago to the shepherds. Thank you for sending Jesus to earth as a gift to us. Amen.

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