Jesus Born in
Bethlehem
Luke 2:1–7
1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. 2This
first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3So
everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.
4And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is
called Bethlehem†,
because he was of the house and family line of David, 5to be
registered along with Mary, who was
engaged to him and was pregnant. 6While they were there, it happened
that the days were completed for her to give birth. 7Then she gave
birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped
Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a manger—because there was no room† for them at the inn.[1]
The Birth and Childhood of Jesus
The Gospels of Mark and John contain no information about the birth
and childhood of Jesus. If not for Matthew and Luke, we would know nothing
about Him until He launched His public ministry at about 30 years of age. But
thanks to these two Gospel writers, we know several important things about
Jesus’ early life.
Matthew and Luke tell us that Jesus was
born in Bethlehem of Judea in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy; that He
was circumcised and presented as an infant in the temple in Jerusalem in
accordance with Jewish law; that wise men from the east visited Him in
Bethlehem when He was about two years old; that Jesus and His family fled to
Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod the Great; that He and His family eventually
settled in Nazareth of Galilee; and that Jesus was discovered in the temple in
Jerusalem when He was 12 years old, discussing the Jewish law with the learned
religious teachers.
When Was
Jesus Born?
Most scholars believe Jesus was born
around 6 to 4 b.c. How can this
be, since our calendar supposedly reckons time beginning at a.d. 1 as the year of His birth? (a.d. is the abbreviation for the Latin
phrase anno Domini, meaning “in the year of our Lord.”)
The simple answer is that the calendar we
use today (the Gregorian calendar) was systemized and recalculated in the 1500s
by Pope Gregory. This refiguring pushed some early years of the a.d. period back into the b.c. period.
How can we be certain that Jesus was born
in the 6 to 4 b.c. period? It had
to be no later than 4 b.c. because
Jesus was born “in the days of King Herod” (Matt. 2:1). We know from secular
history that Herod the Great died in 4 b.c.[1]
About this time Caesar Augustus, the Roman emperor, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the nation. (This census was taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
Everyone was required to return to his ancestral home for this registration. And because Joseph was a member of the royal line, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, King David's ancient home—journeying there from the Galilean village of Nazareth. He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was obviously pregnant by this time.
And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born; and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.
- God is
... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are
... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- In light of the promises of Luke 1:30-35, how might Mary feel as she waits delivery in a stable? How does this tie into God's plan (Micah 5:2)?
- I will ...
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
- How did God take your "hopeless situation" and use it for good? What does that teach you?
- You can
... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others
by social media links at the bottom of this.
The government forced Joseph to make a long trip just to pay his taxes. His fiancée, who had to go with him, was about to have a baby. Joseph and Mary were both descendants of David. (The Old Testament is filled with prophecies that the Messiah would be born in David's royal line [see, for example, Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 33:15; Ezekiel 37:24; Hosea 3:5]). But when they arrived in Bethlehem, they couldn't even find a place to stay. When we do God's will, we are not guaranteed a comfortable life. But we are promised that everything, even our discomfort, has meaning in God's plan.
Augustus's decree went out in God's perfect timing and according to God's perfect plan to bring his Son into the world. God controls all history. By the decree of Emperor Augustus, Jesus was born in the very town prophesied for his birth (Micah 5:2), even though his parents did not live there.
More than a Baby
This mention of the manger is the basis for the traditional belief that Jesus was born in a stable. Stables were often caves with feeding troughs (mangers) carved into the rock walls. Although our first picture of Jesus is as a baby in a manger, it must not be our last. The Christ-child in the manger has been made into a beautiful Christmas scene, but we cannot leave him there. This tiny, helpless baby lived an amazing life, died for us, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and will come back to this earth as King of kings. Christ will rule the world and judge all people according to their decisions about him. Do you still picture Jesus as a baby in a manger—or is he your Lord? Make sure you don't underestimate Jesus. Let him grow up in your life.
The blanket that Mary wrapped Jesus in actually was strips of cloth. These were used to keep a baby warm and give the baby a sense of security. The clothes were believed to protect the internal organs. The custom of wrapping infants this way continues to be practiced in many Mideastern countries.
Hope Broken into Your World // Christ Brings Life May 29, 2022 Glenn Robb
https://vimeo.com/715090366
Letter from Jesus about Christmas
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again.
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.
7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families
8.. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name..
9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.
Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :
I LOVE YOU,
JESUS
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I am making a conscious effort to wish everyone aMerryChristmasThis year...My way of saying that I am celebrating the birth ofJesus Christ--I am asking my buddies, if you agree with me, to please do the same. And if you'll pass this on to your buddies, maybe we can prevent one more American tradition from being lost in the sea of "Political Correctness"
MayGodBlessYouAll.
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Fort Faith: The Bible doesn't tell us when Christ was born
by Barrett Vanlandingham
Whether you think Christmas should be celebrated as a religious holiday or a secular one, you've got to admit, if you're a Christ follower, it's pretty exciting that much of the world actually thinks about Jesus during December! But in all of my studies, I have never found a scripture in the Bible that tells me to celebrate Christ's birth on December 25 or any other day. The fact is no one knows when Jesus was born.
So, I have to ask the question, "What authority do we have to celebrate the birth of Christ?" This question has been a matter of debate among many in the Christian faith for generations.
Biblically speaking, the only event Christians are commanded to remember in the New Testament is the death of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23-26), which we do on the first day of the week during the Lord's Supper.
In the Old Testament, the Feast of Purim in the book of Esther was not authorized by God, but was certainly an event that all good Jewish people (Jesus was a Jew) celebrated to remember the time when Jews got relief from their enemies (Esther 9:22). In fact, so much is written about Purim it wouldn't be a stretch to conclude Esther was written to explain the origin of that Jewish feast.
I don't really know anyone who thinks Jesus was born December 25. But I can't help but feel a great amount ofjoy when I think about the very special gift of Jesus. The angels must have felt the same way! Luke 2:13-14 says that as soon as the angels heard about a Savior being born, they praised God and said, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Then after the shepherds saw the baby Jesus in Bethlehem, they spread the word about the child, and glorified and praised God.
In Matthew 2, the wise men were overjoyed at the sight of the star in the sky that marked the place where the child was. Then, when they arrived, they bowed down and worshiped him. and presented him with gifts.
So, while I would not feel comfortable binding on others the idea that Christmas is a religious holiday or more sacred than other days in some way (ref: Romans 14:5). I would also not say that Christians should ignore this great opportunity to go back to that awesome time in history when our Savior came to dwell among us. After all, aren't Christians supposed to make the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:16)?
I can't deny it. My family loves the tradition of Christmas trees, Santa, reindeer, and sleigh full of toys for good girls and boys. But hey, if the stores, media, and people around the globe want to jump on board once a year to celebrate the arrival of the Christ child, I'll take it! And Til enjoy it! After all, don't you think our world could use a good shot of Jesus at least once a year from some of the most unlikely places? Have a blessed Day.
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