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Christmas · Year C

Christmas Dawn

December 25, 2027

The Adoration of the Shepherds, Andrea Mantegna
The Adoration of the Shepherds, Andrea Mantegna, shortly after 1450The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Mary kneels over the child in a rocky landscape while Joseph sleeps and two rough shepherds hurry in to worship.So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.Andrea MantegnaA painter of Padua and Mantua, one of the great masters of the early Italian Renaissance.The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkThe Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, one of the largest art museums in the world.The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 2:(1-14) 15-20Lk 2:(1-14) 15-20
EpistleTitus 3:4-7Ti 3:4-7
Old TestamentIsa. 62:10-12Is 62:10-12
PsalterPs. 98Ps 98

Overview & Insights

“Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened.” (Luke 2:15)

With this scene, the fulfillment of the angel Gabriel’s announcements (1:11–20, 26–37) is complete. Both John and Jesus have been unexpectedly conceived, celebrated in prophetic songs, and born in remarkable circumstances. Each is already revealed as having a central role in God’s plan of salvation, but the angel’s words now emphasize that the good news is centered on the Messiah rather than on his forerunner.

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Take it further: Luke 2:(1-14) 15-20

Commentary

Working Preacher: Luke 2:[1-7] 8-20Working Preacher: Lk 2:[1-7] 8-20 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary exegesis on the shepherds as the first to hear and share the good news.

CEP: Luke 2:1-14 [15-20]CEP: Lk 2:1-14 [15-20] Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary on the shepherds' response of seeking and telling.

Enduring Word: Luke 2Enduring Word: Lk 2 Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse by verse evangelical notes on the shepherds' visit and Mary's response.

Precept Austin: Luke 2 CommentaryPrecept Austin: Lk 2 Commentary Precept Austin

Verse level study helps on the shepherds finding the child as told.

BibleHub: Luke 2:15 CommentariesBibleHub: Lk 2:15 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentaries on the shepherds' journey and report.

Bible Study: Christmas Day II Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church

Anglican study on the shepherds and the hope of light breaking into unlikely places.

Background & Word Study

BibleHub Interlinear: Luke 2:15BibleHub Interlinear: Lk 2:15 BibleHub

Greek text with parsing for the shepherds' decision to go and see.

BibleProject: Luke 1-9 OverviewBibleProject: Lk 1-9 Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of the first half of Luke, including the shepherds' visit.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Luke 2Catena: Lk 2 Catena

Patristic comment chain on the shepherds as witnesses to the newborn Christ.

Worship & Prayers

The Lectionary Page: Christmas Day II The Lectionary Page

Anglican collect and the full set of readings for the Nativity Proper II.

Podcast

Working Preacher: Brainwave 330, Christmas Day Working Preacher

Luther Seminary faculty discuss Isaiah 62:6-12, Titus 3:4-7, and Luke 2:8-20.

Art & Music

Vanderbilt: Nativity Proper II Art & Texts Vanderbilt

Curated public domain artwork keyed to this set of Christmas readings.

Study Hub

Textweek: Luke 2Textweek: Lk 2 Textweek

Classic study hub gathering commentary, art, and worship links for the passage.

Questions preachers ask

What do the shepherds do?

They hurry to find Mary, Joseph, and the child in the manger, then return glorifying and praising God; on the eighth day the child is named Jesus, as the angel had said.

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