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“Light of the world so clear and bight,
Please enter our homes this Christmas night;
Re-light our souls so tenderly,
That we may grow to be like Thee. -Anonymous
The Divine Plan of God
His genealogy links Him (Jesus) to the son of King David and the Son of Abraham. This lineage binds Him to fulfill God’s unconditional eternal covenants. These two major covenants consist of land, a kingdom, a throne, and the people of Israel forever as noted in Matthew 1:1
His title is connected to the days of Daniel the prophet as the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14, and Revelation 1:12-13). As the anointed One from heaven, Jesus is the Messiah for the entire human race and Israel. Luke 1.
His announcement concerning His birth by the messager angel Gabriel was six months after the announcement of the forerunner of His ministry, John the Baptist. It would be John’s voice crying out of the wilderness that would break the 400 years silence of God’s speaking to Israel through the mouth of its last prophet Malachi.
Mary lived in Nazareth, a town in Galilee. Galileans were looked down on by the Jews in Jerusalem as inferior people. Nazarenes were despised by the rest of the Jews, but it was this village that God sent Gabriel to Mary. Gabriel announced first that Mary, who was to be married to a man named Joseph, would be with child and that she would give birth to a Son. Luke 1:31
The Son’s name would be Yeshua [Jesus] means, “the Lord saves.” This very name is the complement of the Old Covenant Y’Hoshua [Joshua], who led Israel out of the desert experience into a new land and new Life.
His job description as recorded by Gabriel to Mary is that He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest. [v.32] The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His Kingdom will never end.
His throne, house, and Kingdom are found in the promise of David in 2 Samuel 7:16.
The divine plan of God in the initial advent of Jesus into the earth would as recorded by God’s message, the Holy Spirit will come upon Mary, and the power of the Highest will overshadow her. This very same supernatural creative power of the Creator would eclipse Mary in the same manner as the Cloud of the Shekinah-glory had rested on the Tabernacle of Israel in the Desert.
Mary would become so overwhelmed with this angelic announcement that she would sing the praise of worship to God, thanking Him for favoring her, a humble maid of Israel. She praises God for resisting the haughty, the proud, and the self-righteous, and for aiding the poor, the lowly, the humble sinners. She exalts God because He fulfills the promises He made to the fathers and their sons.
Joseph, a righteous man who would like his wife-to-be, needed divine intervention for him to understand and deal with Mary’s pregnancy. The angel of God explained the supernatural circumstances of Mary’s situation and he was assured by the angel that he still could take Mary as his future wife. The name of their Son Jesus was repeated by the angel to Joseph, as it was to Mary, that their Son will save His people from their sins.
Jesus was born during the reign of Caesar Augustus. Many contend that His birth occurred in the late 5 BC or early 4 BC, while the actual month is uncertain. Jesus was just as His parents were of the lineage of David, thus their legal inheritance rested in David’s city of Bethlehem during the time of Roman taxation and census. The prophet Micah 700 years earlier, predicted that Jesus’ birthplace would be Bethlehem.
It was under these historical events that Luke notes that, While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. Luke 2:6-7
The King of kings and the Lord of lords would enter into the world wrapped with strips of cloth as a mummy was wrapped for burial. There were no trappings of fame; royalty, no signs of wealth, power, or social status of importance. His literal resting place was to be a cradle in the manger that was to hold food for cattle.
God’s anointed Manna from Heaven [the Bread of Life] would finally descend to save and redeem all humanity, in a manger. Historians note that Mary’s place of origin Nazareth of Galilee was well known to have provided some of the very finest grain and fish, [the staple of the Jewish diet].
Well, it now is without any debate or questioning, something Great has come out of Nazareth, [John 1:46] as He continues to provide both physical and spiritual food to both Israel and all nations now and for all eternity.
Proclaiming His Death and His Return
There is no clear direct command of our Lord and King for any of His faithful followers to celebrate His birth [Christmas] or His resurrection [Easter]. The spiritual implications of both traditional Holidays are worthy times of celebration for each believer and non-believer alike.
The Master does invite those who are united with Him through His bodily death, burial, and resurrection, to celebrate as often as you delight, to partake in the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Him. He says, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until His second Advent. 1 Corinthians 11:24-26
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Under most Christmas trees on December 25, there will be many gifts.
On Calvary’s tree, there was only one gift but it included all others-
God’s gift of His only begotten Son. -Anonymous
Research and Study materials used:
Blog concept was inspired by the Holy Spirit during my early morning devotion and solitude. Historical data and theological findings were reviewed and gleaned from my survey of The Words and Works of Jesus Christ, J. Dwight Pentecost.
Grace and Peace
Brother Alonzo