BIRTH OF JESUS Dr. Tom
Berry
God's Preparations
It is
probable that most of the worlds six billion plus people are now
involved in preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is true
that many preparations have little or nothing to do with His birth,
but the reason for their preparation has as its basis the birth of
Jesus some 2000 years ago.
Some are preparing to travel and visit loved
ones. Some are preparing to host their loved ones who will be
visiting. Food lists are being drawn up. Beds are being made ready.
Greeting cards are being addressed. Gifts are being purchased.
Candies are being made. Homes are being decorated. Parties are being
planned and yes, Churches are making special preparations to
celebrate the birth of Jesus.
It is also true that the heavenly Father of Jesus
made many preparations for His earthly birth.
God Prepared Prophetically
God had revealed that the promised Christ would
be "the seed of a woman" (Genesis 3:15); a descendant of Abraham
(Genesis 12:3); Isaac (Genesis 17:19) and Jacob (Genesis 28:14); of
the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10); and the family of David (2 Samuel
7:16; Psalm 89:34-37). His mother would be a virgin (Isaiah 7:14)
the city of His birth would be Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) and the time of
His presentation to Israel would be 483 years after the edict of
Cyrus to rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25).
"But when the fullness of the time was come,
God sent forth His son, born of a woman, born under the law…"
Galatians 4:4
God Prepared A Forerunner for Jesus
Isaiah had spoken of John the Baptist, "The
voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of
the Lord…" Isaiah 40:3
The prophet Malachi added these words, "Behold,
I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me;
and the LORD, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; even
the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight…" Malachi 3:1
God chose an aged priest named Zacharias and his
wife, Elizabeth to be the parents of John. They had long passed the
human ability to bear children when Zacharias was chosen by lot to
minister in the holy place. While there the angel of the Lord
appeared and said: "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your
prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and
you shall call his name John… He will also go before him in
the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to
the children, and the disobedient to
the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared
for the Lord." Luke 1:13, 17
Zacharias responded to this message with
unbelief. We suppose he reasoned that he prayed for years to have a
son and his prayers were not answered when he was humanly able. How
could they be answered now? From our vantage point we can understand
that Zacharias and Elizabeth had been ready for decades
but God was not ready until the time came for Jesus to be born. The
deadness of human ability to conceive children is no problem to God.
He had already given the supreme illustration of that with Abraham
and Sarah. But for his unbelief Zacharias was struck dumb until John
was born.
John became the messenger that went before Jesus
and a great host was prepared to receive Jesus as their promised
Christ.
God Prepared A Virgin Mother
Isaiah prophesied "Therefore the Lord Himself
will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a
son, and she will call His name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14) Matthew states that
this verse was fulfilled by the conception of Mary by the Holy
Spirit and gives the meaning of Immanuel, "God with us". Jesus was
the union of deity with humanity. Can we understand this? No. As
Paul wrote, "And without controversy great is the mystery of
godliness: God was manifest in the flesh…"
1 Timothy 3:16. It is best that we simply accept
those words spoken by the angel Gabriel to Mary, "The Holy Spirit
will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow
you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son
of God." Luke 1:35
The more we think about Mary’s response the more
we understand what a godly young lady she was. We know not her
academic training but her response leaves no doubt about her humble
submission to God’s will and her willingness to suffer any
consequences as a result of obeying God. "Be it unto me according
to thy word." Mary said this knowing that she would face shame,
scorn, and rejection for being found pregnant without a husband. Her
espoused husband, Joseph, would also most likely annul their
espousal.
Mary had heard that her cousin Elizabeth had
conceived. She departed Nazereth of Gallilee and journeyed far south
to the hill country of Hebron for a visit that would last three
months. We can assume that she felt a roller coaster of emotions as
she traveled, but as soon as she greeted Elizabeth she received
confirmation that she enjoyed blessing from God. "Blessed are
you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb…" Luke
1:42-45. In response, Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior…" Mary returned to
Nazereth leaving her destiny in the hands of God.
God Prepared A Willing Stepfather
"Mary…was found with child of the Holy
Spirit." (Matthew 1:18) As soon as Joseph knew he began making plans to sever
his espousal to Mary privately. What changed his mind?
I offer one thought as a conjecture. After
considering all the preparations God made for the birth of Jesus, I
am certain that on one Sabbath while Joseph was pondering his course
of action he sat in the synagogue and heard this prophecy lesson for
the day, "Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and
she will call His name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14
Assuredly true was the dream vision Joseph had in
which the angel of the Lord appeared and said, "Joseph, son of
David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which
has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit." Matthew
1:20
There is great
importance in Joseph taking Mary in marriage. Although Mary was a
descendant of David she was not of the royal line. Joseph was, and
by taking Mary in marriage he bestowed upon Jesus the legal right to
the throne of David. God sent the angel of the Lord to prepare
Joseph to do this.
God Prepared A Necessity For Joseph & Mary to
Return to Bethlehem
The prophet Micah had foretold that the
Messiah/Christ would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) But Joseph and
Mary were settled in Nazereth. How was this prophecy going to be
fulfilled?
Solomon had written long before "The king’s
heart is in the hands of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he
turns it wherever He wishes" Proverbs 21:1 The supreme
ruler in those days was Caesar Augustus. He made a decree that all
the world should be taxed and everyone must return to the city of
their ancestors to register.
Joseph and Mary had no choice. Although she was
great with child she must mount a donkey and make the long journey
to Bethlehem. The night they arrived, Jesus was born.
God Prepared A Star For The Wise Men
The star that suddenly appeared to the wise men
has been a perplexing mystery. Some have given naturalistic
suggestions such as a conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn
in the constellation of Pisces. Others have suggested Halley’s Comet
or the super nova of a previously faint star. Many have despaired
that there is an answer:
The star first led them from east to west; next
led them from north to south; then vanished, reappeared, and stood
over the very house where Jesus was born.
All these
actions by a star add up to a supernatural phenomenon. It helps to
understand that the Greek word for star is aster and can refer to
"any luminous, non-terrestrial body other than the sun and moon." In
our New Testament the words aster and astron are used 28 times but
only five times do they refer to a literal star. The wise men were
right in calling it "His star." It was most likely the Shechinah
glory of God. This is the glory by which God has shown His presence
to men. This is how God appeared to Abraham (Genesis 15:12-18); to
Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-5); to the Israelites as they
left Egypt (Exodus 14:19-26); to Israel at Mt Sinai (Exodus 34:5-9)
and filled the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle and Solomon’s Temple
(Exodus 40:34-38; 1 Kings 8:10-13). It appears the shepherds also
beheld this glorious manifestation. "The glory of the Lord shone
round about them: and they were sore afraid." Luke 2:8,9.
The wise men (magi) were looking for the birth of
the King of the Jews. They probably had access to the writings of
prophets who were classified "magi". Balaam prophesied "…there
shall come a Star out of Jacob…" Numbers 24:17 Daniel had given
a timetable to the presentation of the King (Daniel 9:24-27). When
they saw "His star" they made all haste to follow so they could
worship Him Who was born King of the Jews. Their lavish gifts
financed Joseph and Mary’s exile in Egypt.
God Prepared An Angel Choir For The Shepherds
We can understand God preparing a star for the
wise men. They were respected, knowledgeable, influential, wealthy
and they were seeking. But, why would God send an angel choir to
shepherds? They were looked upon as poor and ignorant. Surely God
wants us to know that Jesus came to be a Savior to all people…the
lowly as well as the noble. Besides, Jesus is "the Lamb of God Who
takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). He is also "the good
Shepherd…(who) lays down His life for the sheep." (John 10:11).
And so, in the midst of the blazing glory of God
these angels sang, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth
peace among men with whom He is pleased." (Luke 2:14 N.A.S.B.)
These shepherds went immediately to see the baby Jesus. After they
left they told everyone they saw about the things they had seen and
heard.
God Prepared a Way for the Good News to be Shared
with the World
Was Jesus born just so that we could ring the
bells on Christmas day and remember how the angels sang? No, His
birth was "good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all
people." Luke 2:10).
Was it coincidence that Israel had been
dispersed throughout the nations and established synagogues in every
city "where the Old Testament scriptures were read and preached
every Sabbath" (Acts 15:21)?…or that Alexander had first
conquered what was called "the inhabited earth" and left behind a
language that was understood by almost everyone?…or that the Roman
Empire arose to break down borders between nations; build roads for
easy travel and provide a peace that allowed a rapid spread of the
gospel of Christ?
No, God prepared for the birth of Jesus and for
the gospel story to be shared with the world.
Copyright © 2002 Thomas E Berry
Copyright © 2008 Truth Helpers Inc.
|