The Christ Child.

The Christ Child, also known as Divine Infant, Baby Jesus, Infant Jesus, the Divine Child, Child Jesus, the Holy Child .

The Christ Child is known by various names across different cultures and traditions. Here are some alternative names for the Divine Infant:

Baby Jesus: A tender and endearing term emphasizing His humble birth.

Infant Jesus: Highlighting His infancy and vulnerability.

Holy Child: Recognizing His sacred nature and divine origin.

Divino Niño (Spanish): Literally translates to “Divine Child.”

Santo Niño (Spanish): Meaning “Holy Child” or “Saintly Child.”

These names evoke reverence and remind us of the miraculous event when God became flesh to bring salvation to humanity.

The depiction of the Nativity story recounts in beautiful detail the sacred events found in the Bible about Jesus’s birth over 2,000 years ago. Journey with Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

Before the angels came, the shepherds were resting quietly under the starry sky.

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,
keeping watch over their flocks at night." (Luke 2:8)

Tending flocks and growing crops formed the basis of the Palestinian economy. Sheep raised on the hillsides around Bethlehem may well have been destined for temple sacrifices in Jerusalem, only six miles to the north.

Some of Israel's great heroes were shepherds -- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. Psalm 23 compares God's care to that of a Good Shepherd. In the first century, it seems, shepherds -- specifically, hireling shepherds -- don't command much respect. Nevertheless, these shepherds seem like devout men, even though they are from a despised class.

They live most of the year outside, away from the townspeople. They are constantly with their sheep, since the sheep are vulnerable to all kinds of trouble. The shepherds make sure that the sheep are safe from wandering off and injuring themselves, as well as from dangers from thieves and wolves.

The angels appear to the shepherds and give them good news. Now the shepherds have a choice.

"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.' So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger." (Luke 2:15-17)

They hurry to Bethlehem. Where do you find a manger? In a stable, of course. Perhaps they split up to survey the whole town and quickly check out the stables in this village until they find one with a baby sleeping in it. Then perhaps one whistles to signal that the manger and baby have been found.

They gather and meet the Family. I am sure they kneel before the child in worship. And then they share with Mary and Joseph their story of the angelic visitation. It was as the angel told them months before.

"When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them." (Luke 2:18)

Now they go and tell others what the angels have told them, just like the villagers did after the remarkable birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:65). The angel's announcement of "a savior, Christ the Lord" is spoken of throughout the area, resulting in amazement in the hearers. The word is out; the Messiah is born! We must pay attention to the fact that there were no wise men at the timing of the shepherds.

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:19)

If you are Mary, you have much to think about. Consider what she has to make sense of:

The announcement of the birth by Gabriel (Luke 1:26-38);

Joseph's dream of an angel (Matthew 1:20-22);

Zechariah's vision in the temple (Luke 1:5-25) that she heard about from Elizabeth;

Elizabeth's prophecy (Luke 1:39-46);

Mary's own prophetic praise in the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-56);

Zechariah's prophecy when John the Baptist was born (Luke 1:57-79), which she may have been present to hear; and
The shepherd's story of the angelic glory and tidings of good news (Luke 2:8-14).

"The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." (Luke 2:20)

The final scene in this passage is the shepherds climbing back up the hill to where their flocks lie. The angel had told them what to expect and that's just the way they found it. We leave them glorifying and praising God.

God brings Good News to the poor and humble. The shepherds, sometimes despised by their countrymen, are the first recipients of the Good News of Jesus' birth. Since God is no respecter of persons, we aren't to show favoritism either.

Appropriate responses to this Good News include "great joy" (Luke 2:10), praise (Luke 2:13-14, 20), curiosity to confirm its truth (Luke 2:15-16), amazement (Luke 2:18), telling others (Luke 2:17), and thoughtful meditation (Luke 2:19). Nowhere do we see unbelief.

The biblical accounts point to the fall of the year as the most likely time of Jesus' birth, based on the conception and birth of John the Baptist.

Since Elizabeth (John's mother) was in her sixth month of pregnancy when Jesus was conceived (Luke 1:24-36), we can determine the approximate time of year Jesus was born if we know when John was born. John's father, Zacharias, was a priest serving in the Jerusalem temple during the course of Abijah (Luke 1:5). Historical calculations indicate this course of service corresponded to June 13-19 in that year (The Companion Bible, 1974, Appendix 179, p. 200).

It was during this time of temple service that Zacharias learned that he and his wife Elizabeth would have a child (Luke 1:8-13). After he completed his service and traveled home, Elizabeth conceived (Luke 1:23-24). Assuming John's conception took place near the end of June, adding nine months brings us to the end of March as the most likely time for John's birth.

Adding another six months (the difference in ages between John and Jesus) brings us to the end of September as the likely time of Jesus' birth.