John Calvin Commentary Luke 2:16

"And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger." — Luke 2:16 (ASV)

And found Mary. This was a revolting sight and was sufficient in itself to cause an aversion to Christ. For what could be more improbable than to believe that he was the King of the whole people, who was deemed unworthy to be ranked with the lowest of the multitude, or to expect the restoration of the kingdom and salvation from him, whose poverty and need were so great that he was thrown into a stable?

Yet Luke writes that none of these things prevented the shepherds from admiring and praising God. The glory of God was so fully before their eyes, and reverence for his Word was so deeply impressed upon their minds, that the elevation of their faith easily rose above all that appeared mean or despicable in Christ.¹⁶⁷

And the only reason our faith is either hindered or driven from its proper course by very minor obstacles is that we do not look steadfastly enough to God and are easily tossed to and fro, (Ephesians 4:14). If this one thought—that we have a certain and faithful testimony from heaven—were to entirely occupy our minds, it would be a sufficiently strong and firm support against every kind of temptation and will sufficiently protect us against any minor offense that might be taken.

¹⁶⁷ In the French copy he adds: “En sorte que cela ne les empesche point de recognoistre la hautesse de sa maiste divine.” — “So that it does not hinder them from acknowledging the height of his divine majesty.”.” — “So that it does not hinder them from acknowledging the height of his divine majesty.”