JESUS' BIRTH

Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son. They shall call his name Immanuel;" which is, being interpreted, "God with us." Matthew 1:22-23. This "prophecy" comes from Matthew's reading of Isaiah 7:14, which reads: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

Peter was watching, fascinated, as Jesus bent down to wash His disciples' feet. This was unusual, even strange, to see a teacher washing His followers' feet. Peter had observed Jesus rising during supper to remove His outer garment and wrap a towel around His waist. Peter well knew this was an act customarily performed by slaves or servants. In that day, whenever guests were invited to a home, the lowliest household slave or servant washed the guests' feet. John 1:27 and Luke 7:44 refer to this custom.

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. For God sent forth his Son into the world, not for him to judge the world, but for the world to be saved through him. He that exercises faith in him is not to be judged. He that does not exercise faith has been judged already, because he has not exercised faith in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. John 3:16-18

Ask of me, that I may give nations as your inheritance And the ends of the earth as your own possession. You will break them with an iron scepter, As though a potter’s vessel you will dash them to pieces." And now, O kings, exercise insight; Let yourselves be corrected, O judges of the earth. Serve Jehovah with fearAnd be joyful with trembling. Kiss the son, that He may not become incensed And YOU may not perish [from] the way, For his anger flares up easily. Happy are all those taking refuge in him. 2:8-12

Remember, Jesus' followers recognized that he had existed as a spirit creature before his Father and God sent him to the earth. John 8:23, 58

But the birth of Jesus Christ was in this way. During the time his mother Mary was promised in marriage to Joseph, she was found to be pregnant by holy spirit before they were united. However, Joseph her husband, because he was righteous and did not want to make her a public spectacle, intended to divorce her secretly. But after he had thought these things over, look! Jehovah’s angel appeared to him in a dream, saying: "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife home, for that which has been begotten in her is by holy spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you must call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this actually came about for that to be fulfilled which was spoken by Jehovah through his prophet, saying: "Look! The virgin will become pregnant and will give birth to a son, and they will call his name Im·man´u·el," which means, when translated, "With Us Is God." Then Joseph woke up from his sleep and did as the angel of Jehovah had directed him, and he took his wife home. But he had no intercourse with her until she gave birth to a son; and he called his name Jesus. Matthew 1:18-25

Bethlehem But Mary said to the angel: "How is this to be, since I am having no intercourse with a man?" In answer the angel said to her: "Holy spirit will come upon you, from the power of the Most High will overshadow you. For that reason also what is born will be called holy, God’s Son. And, look! Elizabeth your relative has also herself conceived a son, in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her, the so-called barren woman; because with God no declaration will be an impossibility." Then Mary said: "Look! Jehovah’s slave girl! May it take place with me according to your declaration." At that the angel departed from her. Luke 1:34-38

Well, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant in her womb leaped; and Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit, and she called out with a loud cry and said: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! For, look! as the sound of your greeting fell upon my ears, the infant in my womb leapedwith great gladness. Happy too is she that believed, because there will be a complete performance of those things spoken to her from Jehovah's angel." And Mary said: "My soul magnifies Jehovah, and my spirit cannot keep from being overjoyed at God my Savior; Luke 1:41-47

Remember the purpose of these Biblical accounts. Of the four Gospel records, Matthew's and Luke's are the only two that tell of Jesus' birth and childhood. The word "gospel" means "good news." Both men had the same message that Jesus is the promised Messiah, or Christ; that he died for mankind's sins; and that he was resurrected to heaven. Two writers had markedly different backgrounds. Luke 1:1-3. Not surprisingly, their accounts differ. But the two do not, contradict each other. They complement each other, dove tailing nicely to form a more complete picture.

Jesus' Birth in Bethlehem

Matthew and Luke both record an inspiring miracle concerning the birth of Jesus, he was born of a virgin. Matthew shows that this miracle fulfilled a prophecy uttered centuries before by Isaiah. Isa 7:14; Mt 1:22, 23. Luke explains that Jesus was born in Bethlehem because a registration instituted by Caesar forced Joseph and Mary to travel there. That Jesus was born in Bethlehem was significant. Centuries earlier, the prophet Micah had foretold that the Messiah would be from this seemingly insignificant town near Jerusalem. Mic 5:2

The night of Jesus' birth has become famous as the basis for Nativity scenes. However, the real story is quite different from the one often depicted. Historian Luke, who tells us of the census that brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, also tells us of the shepherds' spending that important night out-of-doors with their flocks. These two circumstances have led many Bible searchers to conclude that Jesus could not have been born during December. They point out the unlikelihood of Caesar's forcing the volatile Jews to trek to their home cities during the cold and rainy season, which could further enrage a rebellious people. It's very unlikely, shepherds would have been living out-of-doors with their flocks in such inclement weather. Lu 2:8-14

Jehovah chose to announce the birth of his Son, not to the educated and religious leaders of the day, but to laborers living out-of-doors. The scribes and Pharisees had little to do with shepherds, whose irregular hours kept them from observing some details of the oral law. But God favored these humble, faithful men with a great honor a delegation of angels informed them that the Messiah, whom God's people had been awaiting for thousands of years, had just been born in Bethlehem. It was these men, and not "three kings" so often represented in Nativity scenes, who visited Mary and Joseph and beheld this innocent baby lying in a manger. Luke 2:15-20

God favors the humble who love him repent and have zeal in seeing the fulfillment of his purposes, about a month after the child's birth, Joseph and Mary present him at the temple in obedience to the Mosaic Law, they make an offering there of "a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons." Lu 2:22-24..The Law actually called for a ram, but it allowed for this less expensive option in cases of poverty. Lev 12:1-8. Jehovah God, the Sovereign of the universe, chose, not a wealthy family, but a poor one as the household in which his beloved, only-begotten Son would be raised. "Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from GOD to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary." Mary Jesus' mother is of the Judah lineage. Luke 1:26,27

At the temple, two other faithful, humble worshipers are favored by Jehovah. One is Anna, an 84-year-old widow who is "never missing from the temple." Luke 2:36, 37. Another is a faithful elderly man named Simeon. Both are thrilled with the privilege God has granted them before they die, laying eyes on the one who would be the promised Messiah. Simeon utters a prophecy over the child. It is a prophecy filled with hope but tinged with mourning. He foretells that this young mother, Mary, will one day be pierced with grief over her beloved son. Luke 2:25-35

Simeon's prophecy is a grim reminder that this innocent child will become an object of hatred. Even while he is still an infant, this hatred is already at work. Matthew's account details how this is so. A number of months have passed, and Joseph, Mary, and Jesus are now living in a house in Bethlehem. They receive an unexpected visitfrom a number of foreigners. Matthew does not specify how many men came, nor does he call them "wise men," much less "three kings." He uses the Greek word ma'goi, which means "astrologers." The reader given a clue, evil is at work, for astrology is an art that God's Word condemns also faithful Jews scrupulously avoided. De 18:10-12; Isa 47:13, 14

These astrologers have followed a star from the east and are bearing gifts for "the one born king of the Jews." Mt 2:2. But the star does not lead them to Bethlehem. It draws them to Jerusalem to Herod the Great. No man in the world holds such means and motive to harm young Jesus. This ambitious, murderous man killed several of his own family. Disturbed to hear of the birth of a future "king of the Jews," he tells the astrologers to find that one in Bethlehem.

As they go, something strange happens. The "star" that led them to travel to Jerusalem seems to move! Mt 2:1-9. Now, whether this was an actual light in the sky or simply a vision, we do not know. But we do know that this "star" was not from God. With sinister precision, it leads these pagan worshipers right to Jesus..a child vulnerable and helpless, protected only by a poor carpenter and his wife.

The astrologers, likely would have reported back to the vengeful monarch, leading to the child's destruction. But God intervenes through a dream and sends them back home by another route. The "star," then, was a device of God's enemy Satan, who would go to any lengths to harm the Messiah. Mt 2:9-12. Still, Satan does not give up. His pawn in the matter, King Herod, orders that all infants in Bethlehem under two years of age be killed. But Satan cannot win a battle against Jehovah. Matthew notes that God had long ago foreseen even this vicious slaughter of innocent children. Jehovah countered Satan again, warning Joseph through an angel to flee to Egypt for safety. Mt 2:13-23; 13:55, 56.

The Birth of Christ

Many are surprised to find that the accounts are actually harmonious and accurate, Despite some people's bold assertions to the contrary. They are surprised to learn that some events were foretold hundreds of years in advance. And they are surprised that some key elements in the Gospels differ markedly from portrayals in traditional Nativity and x/mas stories and crèches.

Gospel narratives: Little thought is given, for instance, to Jesus' Father, not Joseph, but Jehovah God. Imagine his feelings upon entrusting his beloved Son to Joseph and Mary for them to raise him and provide for him. Imagine the heavenly Father's agony in letting his Son grow up in a world in which a hate-filled king would plot his murder even when he was a mere child! It was profound love for mankind that moved Jehovah to make this sacrifice. Joh 3:16. The real Jesus is often lost in x/mas celebrations. Why, there is no record that he ever even told the disciples his date of birth; nor is there any indication that his followers celebrated his birthday.

It was not Jesus' birth but his death, and its history-making significance. Lu 22:19, 20. More than 60 years after his execution, Jesus revealed himself in vision to the apostle John. He treads too the winepress of the anger of the wrath of God the Almighty. And upon his outer garment, even upon his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. Revelation 19:11-16

As Ruler of God's heavenly Kingdom, we should get to know Jesus for he will reign as the King foretold for 1,000 year's a future event.

And I did not see a temple in it, for Jehovah God the Almighty is its temple, also the Lamb [is]. And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God lighted it up, and its lamp was the Lamb. And the nations will walk by means of its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. And its gates will not be closed at all by day, for night will not exist there. And they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But anything not sacred and anyone that carries on a disgusting thing and a lie will in no way enter into it; only those written in the Lamb’s scroll of life [will]. Revelation 21:23-27