“[The history of Christ’s birth] is written for us that we might learn to take to heart this picture, how our dear Lord Jesus was born on earth in such poverty, and that we might never forget it, especially since we learn from the sermon of the angel that it was for our good.

For here we see the great and wonderful work of God, that for the sake of poor, wretched humanity He lets His only begotten Son take upon Him human nature and become true man,

and as such endure all weakness and misery, nay take upon Him even our sins, though without sin in Himself,

and become a sacrifice for them, in order that we might learn to thank and praise God for this great benefit,

that we poor, wretched, nay even condemned men, today attain to such great honor of becoming one flesh and blood with the Son of God.

For the very eternal Son of the eternal Father, through whom heaven and earth were created out of nothing, He, as we hear, became man, was born into the world like us, except that in Him there never was any sin.

Therefore we may now boast that God has become our brother, nay our flesh and blood.

This great honor was conferred, not upon the angels, but upon us men. And although the angels are more glorious creatures than we are, yet God has honored us more highly, and come nearer to us than to the angels, since He became not an angel, but man.

Now if we men would properly thinking of this, and heartily believe it, this inexpressible grace and benefit of our heavenly Father would cause us great joy, and impel us to thank God from our hearts, to love Him, and willingly to submit to His will.”

– Martin Luther, First Sermon for Christmas: Concerning the History of Christ’s Birth in Bethlehem