It is interesting to read the Christmas story outside of December. Some observations come more easier outside "the season."
The "Heavenly host" is literally a heavenly army! Heaven was rejoicing at the birth of Jesus. The shepherds caught some of the overflow of heaven's delight.
"This will be a sign to you. . ." implies they were supposed to go looking. "Everyone marveled . . ." implies that the shepherds were quick to tell people about Jesus. These are two great responses -- Seek and Tell.
Joseph and Mary marveled at Simeon's words because he so clearly identified their baby as the Jewish messiah! His use of the Scriptures is impressive.
When Jesus was in the temple explaining why he missed the car ride home, his parents did not understand what he was saying -- the first of many times.
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I'll add this because it was in my Moses study a couple of months ago. The "oneness" of the Bible is amazing. Jesus' concecration to the Lord was how the Jewish people remembered/celebrated God's deliverence from Egypt. Christ would offer a way out of sin's slavery once and for all.
Exodus 13:11 "After the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he promised on oath to you and your forefathers, 12 you are to give over to the LORD the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. 13 Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons. 14 "In days to come, when your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' say to him, 'With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in Egypt, both man and animal. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.' 16 And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand."
Why did they bring sacrifices? Had they done something wrong? Back the time of Moses for more ceremony. The birds (instead of a lamb)tell us how poor they were. Christ would provide a perfect sacrifice once and for all.
Lev 12:1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Say to the Israelites: 'A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. 3 On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. 4 Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. 5 If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding.
6 " 'When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. 7 He shall offer them before the LORD to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood.
" 'These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. 8 If she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.' "
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