The Birth of the Savior (Christmas)

u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2u003eIntroductionu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennFor the past three weeks, we have taken a look at the foretelling of Christ in both Old Testament prophecy and in New Testament scripture.  On this, the last Sunday of the year, we are celebrating the birth of Christmas.  I hope all of you are having a wonderful Christmas and I thank all of you for stopping by to read or listen to today’s lesson.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2u003eBirth of the Savioru003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennOur lesson opens with scripture that is very familiar to believers.  We are told that u003cemu003e“it came to pass” u003c/emu003ethat a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that u003cemu003e“all the world”u003c/emu003e was to be registered (v.1).  Now, this decree did not mean that the whole world had to literally take part in this census but the regions that were under Roman authority had to take part in this census.  Therefore, those living in the land of Judea were required to take part in this census because Judea was a province of Rome.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eO little town of Bethlehemu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennLet us notice that Luke mentions that everyone was required to register to his own city (v.3) – where they or their family originated.  So, the census decree required Joseph to travel u003cemu003ewith Maryu003c/emu003e from Nazareth, a city of Galilee, to u003cemu003eBethlehemu003c/emu003e so that they could register (vss.4-5).  Now, this brings up a very interesting point that I actually made in our lesson last week.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennScripture makes it very clear for the reader that glances at scripture as to why Joseph had to go to Bethlehem in order to register.  Scripture tells us that he had to go to Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David.  Yet, why did Mary have to go with Joseph to Bethlehem?  Did it have anything to do with the fact that they were engaged to be married?  Answer:  absolutely not.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennIf you recall u003ca href=u0022https://newfoundfaith.org/gods-promise-of-a-savior/u0022 data-type=u0022postu0022 data-id=u002210080u0022u003eour lesson last weeku003c/au003e, we took a look at the lineage of Mary as it is recorded in u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+3%3A23-38u0026amp;version=ERVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eLuke 3:23-38u003c/au003e.  The opening of the lineage shown in this passage of scripture is a bit misleading because it reads as the lineage of Joseph, u003cemu003ethe son u003c/emu003eof Heli.  However, if we look at the genealogy shown to us in Matthew’s gospel, we will see a difference in the lineage.  In that lineage, we are told that Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+1%3A16u0026amp;version=ERVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 1:16u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, have Matthew and Luke messed up and taken down Joseph’s lineage incorrectly?  Absolutely not.  The fact of the matter is that Joseph was the son Jacob, not Heli.  So, who is Heli?  Heli was the father of u003cemu003eMaryu003c/emu003e, not Joseph.  In those days, it was more common for the lineage of the wife to be referred to under the name of the husband which is why Luke used Joseph’s name rather than Mary’s name.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, why did Mary need to return to Bethlehem?  What is the significance that we find in her lineage?  Mary returned to Bethlehem because, like Joseph, she was of the house and lineage of David.  We see through her lineage that her connection to David is through David’s son, Nathan.  Nathan was the third son born through David and Bathsheba (technically the fourth since the first died as an infant); he was a direct younger brother to Solomon.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, now we know u003cemu003ewhy u003c/emu003eboth Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem.  While they were there, we know how the story goes: Mary gave birth to Jesus,  wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn (vss.6-7).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennJesus’ birth in Bethlehem fulfilled the prophecy found in u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah+5%3A2-5u0026amp;version=ERVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMicah 5:2-5u003c/au003e.  The prophecy stated that though Bethlehem Ephrathah was little among the thousands of Judah, one would come forth to the Lord, the one to be Ruler in Israel.  The prophecy spoke of the birth of the Savior – the Messiah – God’s only begotten Son.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eRejoicing at the birth of the Savioru003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennAs the telling of Jesus’ birth continues, we are told that in that u003cemu003esame countryu003c/emu003e, there were shepherds living out in the fields that were keeping watch over their flock by night (v.8).  As they were overlooking their flock, an angel of the Lord stood before them and told them of the Savior’s birth in the city of David (vss.9-11).  This is the second time in our scripture today that we see mention of the city of David – the city of David is Bethlehem.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennScripture shows us one of the most joyful sights that we see in scripture – the rejoicing of the angels at the birth of Christ.  We are told that u003cemu003esuddenlyu003c/emu003e there was with this angel a u003cemu003emultitude u003c/emu003eof the heavenly host praising God and shouting, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill, toward men (vss.13-14)!”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThe writer of Hebrews wrote about the angels rejoicing at the birth of Christ and I want to share that scripture with you today.  The reason I want to share this scripture with you today is because u003cemu003eeveryone u003c/emu003eought to be rejoicing at the birth of the Savior rather than a few.  Again, it is very saddening to me that the Lord/Christ is not recognized on the days that we have u003cemu003edesignated u003c/emu003eto be our u003cemu003e‘holy days’u003c/emu003e.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennIn u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1%3A1-14u0026amp;version=ERVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eHebrews 1:1-14u003c/au003e, the writer wrote, “to which of the angels did He (God) ever say:  “You are My Son, today I have begotten You”? and again “I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son”?nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWhat do you think the writer of Hebrews was pointing out here?  Clearly the writer states that God never said to any of the angels you are My Son, u003cemu003ebegotten u003c/emu003eof Me.  I think what is very interesting about this point is that in the book of Job, the angels are actually referred to as the “sons of God” (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1%3A6u0026amp;version=ERVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJob 1:6u003c/au003e).  Even more interesting in that verse from the book of Job is that Satan is referenced in that scripture with the “sons” of God.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennTo be “begotten” means to produce or to procreate as the father.  Now, here’s the thing, we u003cemu003eknow u003c/emu003efor a fact that God u003cemu003ecreated u003c/emu003ethe angels.  The angels are heavenly beings, they are in heaven and they serve the Lord.  Though they are heavenly beings, the difference between the angels and the Son is that the angels are not u003cemu003eof u003c/emu003e- or like – God.  God the Son, was not u003cemu003ecreated u003c/emu003eby God — He u003cemu003eis u003c/emu003eGod (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gen.+10%3A30u0026amp;version=ERVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eGen. 10:30u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennGod is three u003cemu003edistinct u003c/emu003epersons – The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We should understand that there is no hierarchy between the three distinct persons; each is equal to the other and has their distinct roles.  The Son, in u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1%3A1-3u0026amp;version=ERVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eHebrews 1:1-3u003c/au003e, is described as “being the brightness of u003cemu003eHisu003c/emu003e glory and the express image of His person.”  The Son, the writer wrote, “having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, though Christ was born in the world in u003cemu003e‘human form’ u003c/emu003ethe angels they still rejoiced.  They rejoiced because Christ is God, their creator, in the flesh.  They also rejoiced because they knew the reason as to u003cemu003ewhy u003c/emu003ethe Son was given.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eThe Savior was bornu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennIn my opinion, the reason why the date that Jesus was born is not mentioned in scripture is because the date u003cemu003edoes not matteru003c/emu003e when it comes to having faith in Him.  Do you really think knowing exactly when Jesus was born would make a difference in your choosing to have faith  in Him or not?nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWhen we look back at our lesson, the last thing on the shepherd’s minds was the u003cemu003edate u003c/emu003eof Jesus’ birth.  The shepherds heard the good tidings from the angel and then they said among themselves, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us (v.15).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennGuess what, God has made known His only begotten Son to the world through the witness of the apostles and others that lived at that time.  God has made known His only begotten Son to the world through all of those who join in the ministry of the Great Commission.  So, those living today must answer, have they come to see and u003cemu003elearn u003c/emu003eof what has come to pass in the life of Christ?  You see, this is the part that is most important – do you believe?nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennIn Psalm 34:8, David said u003cemu003etaste and see u003c/emu003ethat the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him.  David, in other words, was simply saying to give the Lord a try.  If there is anything that we should take away from the lesson today is that we should be like the shepherds and u003cemu003emove u003c/emu003eto see (to learn) what the Lord has shown and made known to us.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e