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Nativity
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"And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger..." [Luke 2:7]
The Virgin gently lays in the manger the Holy Child, God in the flesh come to save us. His earthly guardian, Joseph, looks on, as the angels who had sung, "Glory to God in the highest!" now watch in awe. A star overhead marks the place of His birth: a stable that He shares with cattle. A lamb and shepherd's staff [which forms the vertical beam of the stable] remind us of the shepherds to whom the Christmas message was first proclaimed. A cross behind the head of the infant Savior declares His later words: "For this purpose I came into the world." [John 18:37] And, the descending beam of light from above portrays the presence of God the Father, who "so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son." [John 3:16]
In Luther's words, Welcome to earth, Thou noble Guest, in Whom this sinful world is blest!
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