The Birth of Jesus
Today we continue our reading of the Christmas story. We will look at the book of Matthew 1:18-25 before we continue with the gospel of Luke.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
We read in Matthew what we discussed yesterday. Joseph took Mary as his wife. He was going to put her away privately, but the angel of the Lord told Joseph the truth of Mary’s conception and Joseph believed. He took Mary as his wife and had no intimate relations with her as her husband until after Jesus was born.
And we must read these words regarding Jesus’ birth in the book of John 1:1-5 and 14.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
As we look at each gospel of the Bible we see a different emphasis on Jesus in the beginning chapters. The gospel of Mark does not go into detail of Jesus’ birth. The gospel of Luke gives great detail of Jesus’ birth but not of the wise men coming. The gospel of Matthew gives a different emphasis of Jesus with the emphasis on lineage and on Joseph’s handling of the whole situation and then on the coming of the wise men.
Now let’s look at the gospel of Luke again in 2:1-7.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the lineage of David)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child,
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
There has been much discussion by people about there being no room at the inn and about Jesus being so poor that he was born in a stable. Sermons have been preached about the poverty of Mary and Joseph and Jesus being born in a lowly setting to emphasize his poor life. There was never anything poor about Jesus. He was born in a manger because all the rooms were taken. There was a crowd of people in the city that evening. Everyone had to come to pay their taxes. And I am sure that Mary and Joseph were late in arriving because of her condition. More than likely, they had to go slower than other people.
Jesus was a king born in a manger, among the very animals that he had created. I believe the animals recognized their master, even though he was wrapped in the flesh of a human baby. The whole earth knew that their master had come to the earth. The ones who didn’t recognize it were the people. There were a few who did because they had been waiting for Messiah. They knew in their spirit that He was the One.
He’s coming again. Will we recognize Him? Will we be prepared in our spirits to receive Him? Will there be room in our hearts for Him? Are you ready? He’s coming again.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
We read in Matthew what we discussed yesterday. Joseph took Mary as his wife. He was going to put her away privately, but the angel of the Lord told Joseph the truth of Mary’s conception and Joseph believed. He took Mary as his wife and had no intimate relations with her as her husband until after Jesus was born.
And we must read these words regarding Jesus’ birth in the book of John 1:1-5 and 14.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
As we look at each gospel of the Bible we see a different emphasis on Jesus in the beginning chapters. The gospel of Mark does not go into detail of Jesus’ birth. The gospel of Luke gives great detail of Jesus’ birth but not of the wise men coming. The gospel of Matthew gives a different emphasis of Jesus with the emphasis on lineage and on Joseph’s handling of the whole situation and then on the coming of the wise men.
Now let’s look at the gospel of Luke again in 2:1-7.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the lineage of David)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child,
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
There has been much discussion by people about there being no room at the inn and about Jesus being so poor that he was born in a stable. Sermons have been preached about the poverty of Mary and Joseph and Jesus being born in a lowly setting to emphasize his poor life. There was never anything poor about Jesus. He was born in a manger because all the rooms were taken. There was a crowd of people in the city that evening. Everyone had to come to pay their taxes. And I am sure that Mary and Joseph were late in arriving because of her condition. More than likely, they had to go slower than other people.
Jesus was a king born in a manger, among the very animals that he had created. I believe the animals recognized their master, even though he was wrapped in the flesh of a human baby. The whole earth knew that their master had come to the earth. The ones who didn’t recognize it were the people. There were a few who did because they had been waiting for Messiah. They knew in their spirit that He was the One.
He’s coming again. Will we recognize Him? Will we be prepared in our spirits to receive Him? Will there be room in our hearts for Him? Are you ready? He’s coming again.
posted by Rev. Kialeen Potterton @ 8:49 PM
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