NATIVITY By Mike Herron

from any earthly strength by the strips of cloth. ‘ So great the babe, so lowly its condition.’ 5 His mission of peace, the presence of justice and universal healing, is announced in worshipful song. Those on whom his favor rests should not be thought of in an exclusive, Jewish national sense ‘but in an inclusive way: In the birth of this child, God’s mercy has fallen on the whole world.’ 6 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ‘ These shepherds do not speak doubtfully, “Let us go see whether it be so or not;” but with assurance, Let us go see this thing which is come to pass.’ 7 It is significant that Luke describes them as finding Mary and Joseph giving more importance to the mother than her husband. The shepherds become the first evangelists of the New Testament as they spread the word about the nameless child who has such high credentials. The Shepherd’s testimony must have spread quickly throughout the region. Amazing grace flowed from an amazing God. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Mary ponders (sunballousa) everything. This is an old Greek word for placing things together for comparison. Luke is