325.    THE BIRTH OF JESUS

"That holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God"

This lesson records the most momentous event in history thus far. The birth of the Son of God brought to a climax the promises made that a redeemer would be provided. Here was the one who would bring the blessings of God to all nations. The earth that had been cursed as a result of sin would ultimately be glorified and man restored to favour with God.

Our aim in this lesson is to see how prophecy was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus, and to ponder the humble circumstances surrounding his birth.

Matthew 1; Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-10

THE WORD MADE FLESH.

God's design from the beginning was to fill the earth with His honour and glory. This was stated at the outset when He promised men dominion over all things. Sin marred these initial intentions and brought death into the world (Rom. 5:12). But God purposed to destroy sin and provide fallen man with a saviour. This was made known in the condemnation of the serpent € the seed of the woman "shall bruise thy head" (Gen. 3:15). Also, the provision of "coats of skins" as a covering for sin was in itself a prophecy of Jesus € "the lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Gen. 3:21; Rev. 13:8).

The Old Testament is filled with the message of Messiah and the New Testament confirms this promise. Thus the whole of Scripture unites in him.

From the earliest times we find that particular men's lives are so adapted by God that they are in themselves parables of Messiah (e.g. Joseph). Moses gave the Law, which in its enactments and ritual declared that a Saviour was coming. And so much was his life like Jesus', that God declared that He would raise up a prophet like unto Moses (Deut. 18:18; Acts 3:23).

Prior to the Law, Jesus' coming was contained in the promises made to the fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They were told that in their seed all nations would be blessed and their seed would inherit the land forever (Gen. 13:15-16). Later David was promised a son, who would also be Son of God. Not only was he to be the Saviour, but King, ruling upon the David's throne in Jerusalem forever (2 Sam. 7:12-16). The Psalms and the Prophets elaborate the promises and provide more details of the life and mission of Messiah. (See Lesson 3.) The gospels record the good news or gospel of the Saviour-King, but, in order to identify him at his birth, reference is made to his descent from Abraham and David (Matt. 1:1; Lk. 1:32-33, 54-55, 69-73).

GABRIEL VISITS MARY (Luke 1:26-38).

Six months after Gabriel had appeared to Zacharias, he was sent by God to Nazareth to Mary. Nazareth was situated in despised Galilee on the edge of a steep cliff that rose precipitously above the plain Esdraelon. Mary was a virgin espoused to Joseph, of the tribe of Judah. Scripture had plainly stated that Messiah would be both the Son of God and Son of David (2 Sam. 7:12-16). Moreover, the child would be conceived of God, for Isaiah had prophesied that a virgin should conceive and bear a son, whose name should therefore be "Immanuel", or "God with us" (Isa. 7:14). Later in the Prophecy of Immanuel (Isa. 7-12) significant words of promise are found: "For unto us a son is born, unto us a child is given" (9:6). In this way God provided one who would have the capacity to com pletely overcome the power of sin. Divine Sonship, therefore, made sinlessness possible but not inevitable. God would thus be the saviour of man and glory and honour would redound to Him.

Faithful women in Israel knew that Messiah would be "born of a woman" and hoped that they would be chosen for the honour. Gabriel appeared to Mary alone and saluted her, "Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women" (v.28). But Mary was perplexed and wondered in what way she was blessed above other women. As she wondered, the angel explained why: "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus".

In order to further identify her honour as the "handmaid of the Lord" (v.38) and mother of Messiah, Gabriel revealed the future mission of her son. He would be son of God and son of David and would rule over the tribes of Jacob from Jerusalem (vv.32-33). These were familiar words and they made it quite clear that she would be the mother of Messiah. But she still did not understand how this could be, seeing she was not a married woman. She did not realise how literally Messiah would be "the Son of the Highest". Gabriel explained that the special power of God, the Holy Spirit, would come upon her, and in this miraculous way she would conceive and hence the holy child would be the Son of God (v.35).

Imagine how Mary's mind would have reeled as she strove to appreciate the magnitude of her honour. Prophecies would pass through her mind as she came to the realisation that she was to play a most important role in the divine purpose. To provide her with reason for belief, Gabriel made mention of Elisabeth's conception in her old age and then declared that, "with God nothing shall be impossible" (v.37). These were significant words, for they were first spoken by an angel to Sarah when she doubted whether she would conceive according to the promise (Gen. 18:14). Mary replied, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word". This statement of acceptance, following the Angel's explanation that the child should be conceived out of wedlock, seems to show that she appreciated that she would have to bear the taunt of unfaithfulness.

Gabriel left her alone with tumultuous thoughts. With the growing realisation of the honour and responsibility had come an intense desire to place herself in the hand of God. It also awakened a desire to confide in some understanding heart. But to whom could she go? Elisabeth, her elderly cousin, was rejoicing in the prospect of bearing a son. So Mary departed hastily for the hill country of Judea and there the two enlightened women of Israel spoke of the power of God, and meditated upon the great work God was about to do through the messenger and the Saviour (vv.39-55). After three months Mary returned home. Joseph was confronted with the dilemma of the situation. He was torn between his own self-honour that could not bear further association, and his love for her; and he decided to put her away secretly to avoid public disgrace (Matt. 1:19). His troubled sleep was invaded by an heavenly visitor: "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit". The divine message would do more than restore harmony and love, it would call forth from Joseph a profound reverence and bring out all the manly instincts to help and protect her in the difficult days ahead.

NAME AND MISSION (Matthew 1:21).

Joseph was also told that the child's name would be "Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins". Jesus is compounded of two words, "Yahweh" and "salvation". "Jesus" is the Greek equivalent of "Joshua" (cf. Acts 7:45; Heb. 4:8), or "Jehoshua" (Num. 13:16). Thus he was to have the name of that illustrious Israelite, whose mission nonetheless but typified his! Joshua caused the people to inherit the land. Similarly, God was in Christ, enabling him to destroy the enemy of sin. Thus the way to an eternal inheritance in the Lord has been opened to those who believe in him (Isa. 49:6; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Acts 2:38).

THE SAVIOUR IS BORN (Luke 2:1-7).

The decree of Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken in Israel with a view to future taxation had set the whole countryside in motion. The decree required that everyone should go to his ancestral home for registration. Thus Joseph and Mary were faced with a long and perilous journey at a critical time. Mary would almost certainly know, as the scribes knew, that Messiah was to be born at Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2; Jn. 7:42). How would the prophecy be fulfilled? The explanation came in a wonderful way € she must go to Bethlehem at the precise time that she should give birth to her son in compliance with what appeared to be a legal necessity of purely human origin! How profound are the ways of God. Truly He rules in the Kingdom of men. How sure is the Word.

The long journey south was slow and arduous. Mary was conscious of the nearness of the great event which had occupied her thoughts and prayers constantly during the past months. But, alas, when they arrived at Bethlehem accommodation could not be found and the time when she should bring forth drew near. There was no room in the inn. Mary's condition must have been obvious to many of the residents of Bethlehem. Yet none provided a home to receive her. It was a symbol of the advent of Messiah who "came to his own and his own received him not" (Jn. 1:11). A stable with its musty animal odours was all that was forthcoming. There Mary brought forth her firstborn son.

There in the darkness of the night a tiny cry mingled with the noises of the asses and camels. In the city in which God had chosen to anoint David king of Israel, David's greater Son was born!

Mary laid him in a manger. There in the humblest of circumstances, a rude stable, Jesus, now glorified and exalted, commenced his life € "He hath . . . exalted them of low degree" (Lk. 1:52). "God has chosen the weak things to confound the things that are mighty, and the base things of the world, and the things which are despised, to bring to nought the things that are" (1 Cor. 1:27). Even so, today, the Truth, and those who adhere to it, are despised. But the day shall soon come when they shall be exalted! "Who hath despised the day of small things?" (Zech. 4:10). This is the lesson of the stable.

THE SHEPHERDS IN THE FIELD (Luke 2:8-20).

That night the angel of the Lord appeared in glory to shepherds in the fields nearby. Their fears were unwarranted, especially in view of the joyous news for men that the angel had come to announce. The angel said, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (v. 10-11). In these words the essence of some important Messianic prophecies is contained.

• The words "is born" come from Isaiah 9:6.
• "Saviour" fulfils God's declarations of His intention to provide salvation through his servant (Isa.45:21; 49:6; 53:11-12).
• "which is Christ" or Messiah seems to hearken back to Psa. 2:2-7, where God states that His begotten Son will be the Anointed.
• "The Lord" echoes Psa. 110:1, in which David acknowledges that his son is also his Lord.

Later, following the Lord's resurrection, Peter pieced together from the Psalms the new name of salvation into which men must be baptised for the remission of sin € the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:34-38).

As a sign of the truth of his words, the angel told the shepherds that they would find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. It was then that the heavens lit up with the glory of an angelic host and rang with praise to God. The significance of the birth of the Son of the Highest was revealed in their words, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill toward men". In these words is contained instruction. Man must first glorify God, if he would receive "peace and goodwill". God is glorified when we submit to His will in repentance, confession and baptism. Then He grants peace and joy, through the remission of sins (cf. Rom. 4:20; 5:1). The shepherds went to Bethlehem and found things exactly as the angels had said. They repeated the words of the angels to the wonder of all present and returned to their flocks with the praises of God on their lips.

LESSONS FOR US:

• The Scriptural prophecies of Christ's first coming were all fulfilled literally, and so we can place confidence in those relating to his second coming.
• God chose Mary for the honour of being the mother of His Son. From early youth she had acquired a love of God and developed a
  faith which enabled her to guide her son in all God's ways.
• By a wondrous control of the highest human institutions God enabled Micah's prophecy regarding the Messiah's birth at Bethlehem to be fulfilled.
• Jesus, the highest, was born in the humblest of places. The lesson for us is that the proud ways of flesh matter nothing. If we humble ourselves, God will be pleased to show mercy to us.

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"Life of Jesus" (M. Purkis) € Chapter 1

"Nazareth Revisited" (R. Roberts) € Chapters 6, 7, 8

"The Story of the Bible" (H.P. Mansfield) € Vol. 8, Nos. 1, 2

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. What lessons can be learned from the circumstances of the birth of Jesus?
2. What was said by the angels to the shepherds when Jesus was born?
3. What is the significance of these words?
4. What is the significance of the name, "Lord Jesus Christ"?
5. Micah declared that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. How was this remarkable prophecy fulfilled?
6. What was Mary's reaction to the words of Gabriel?

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. In what way did the birth of Jesus confirm the Old Testament?
2. Briefly outline the events surrounding the birth of Jesus.
3. Write an essay on the characters of Mary and Joseph as revealed up to the birth of Jesus.