The Birth of Jesus Christ
Table of Contents
Title Page
The Birth of Jesus Christ.
By
Roy Daniel
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6.
Contents.
Born Foretold.
Born Hated.
Born to Die.
Born Loved.
Born King.
Born God.
Born Man.
Born to Rise.
Born to Save.
Chap 1. Born Foretold.
Jesus fulfilled numerous prophecies in his lifetime, but several related specifically to His birth. For instance, Micah 5:2-5 foretold Bethlehem as His birthplace, and Isaiah 7:14 predicted His virgin conception. The star guiding the wise men might even have fulfilled Num 24:17. His lineage, was foretold from Eve (Gen 3:15) through Abraham (Gen 22:18, Gen 3:16), Judah (Gen 49:10), and David (Jer 23:05, Is 11:10). Other births, like Josiah’s (1 Kings 13:02), Isaac’s (Gen 17:19), Moses’s (Acts 7:17), Samson’s (Judges 13:03), Samuel’s (1 Sam 1:17), and John the Baptist’s (Luke 1:13), were also foretold.
What sets Jesus apart is the unique nature of His birth – i.e. God becoming man (1 Tim 3:16) via a virgin birth (Is 7:14)– and also what Christ came to do as the God-man. The child born in Bethlehem, was not just foretold, but was from everlasting (not just to everlasting) i.e He was God with us (Matt 1:23).
Micah 5: 5 Though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Ps 90: 02 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Chap 2. Born Hated.
We like sweet scenes of a peaceful baby Jesus. However, Jesus was similar to Moses (Deu 18:15 Act 3:22) in that at the time of His Birth many babies were killed (Math 2: 16). What many miss is that Satan knew the narrowing criteria for the lineage of the savior. From a child of Eve to a child of Israel to Judah to David. In Revelation, we see He was ready at the birth of Jesus to kill him (Rev 12:04). Herod was a finger of Satan (John 8: 44). Lucifer did not wait for Calvary to attempt to kill Jesus, His servants were willing to attempt child slaughter as soon as He was born.
Matthew 2:16 “Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.”
Rev 12: 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Bonus: Herod as a descendant of Esau fulfilled a 1000-year prophecy (Gen 25: 23, Gen 27: 40)
Chap 3. Born to Die.
The Jews at the time of Jesus’ birth were waiting for a messiah who would rule like David and free them from their oppressors. They did not understand the concept of the suffering servant (Is 52,53) who would be rejected by his people (John 1: 11) and die for the sins of mankind (Heb 2: 9). Jesus was born to die. Mary was told that a sword would pierce her soul.
Luke 2:35 Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
She later stood near when her baby was crucified as an adult (John 19: 26). At that time many religious people’s hearts were revealed as actually being children of Satan. They had many rules and said they followed God, but they did not love Him for they killed His son. It is said of the birth of Jesus that the wise men’s gift of myrrh (used to embalm bodies) and the fact he was wrapped in swaddling clothes (Luke 2: 12) were symbolic of his death, but even Solomon talked of being a baby in swaddling clothes. The main thing is the same Old Testament that foretold the birth of Jesus, also prophesied of his death. He came to die! God prepared a body (Heb 10:05) and wrapped the greatest gift in history in the form of a baby i.e. see Is9:6… unto us a son is given… Joh_4:10
Chap 4. Born Loved.
Jesus was not only honored by singing angels (Luk 2: 10-14) and wise men (Mat 2: 11), wondered at by shepherds, and loved by his mother, but he was always loved by God. The Father not only loved him on earth (Math 17:05) but always loved him (John 17: 24). If we do not love him we do not know God (1Co 16:22, 1Jn 4:8). If he remains a stranger in the manger to us then we do not know God (1Jn 4:8). There was an old man who was ready to die after he saw this baby (Luk 2: 29-30). His whole life had worth not because of any personal material achievements but because of a baby. In the manger was heaven’s greatest joy.
Chap 5. Born King.
Math 2: 2 Saying. Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
The Magi or wise men were historically the Persian kingmakers of the East. What many do not realize is that the Roman Empire was not the only great empire at the time of Jesus. There was still a huge equally large empire to the East. Daniel, who lived several hundred years before the birth of Jesus was an honorary magi and the people who tried to kill Daniel were not Magi, but governors. The kingmakers of the East called Jesus king of the Jews at His Birth (Mat 2: 02). The Romans called him king at His death (Joh 19: 19). His own people rejected him (Joh 1: 11). Is He the king of your heart? If you reject his word, adding or taking away from it, you reject him as king. Even if an angel adds to the gospel it would be accursed (Gal 1: 09). You cannot accept Jesus while changing who He is, what He loves, what He hates, and what He said (Mar 8:38). That is like kissing someone passionately because they have the same name as your wife. There is a person behind the name we cannot change. Jesus was born the Eternal king (Heb 1: 08).
2Co 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him..
Chap 6. Born God.
Jesus received worship as a baby (Mat 2: 2) and as an adult (Mat 28:9) and in heaven and eternally. Only God may be worshipped (Ex 20:1-3). Christ was foretold as being from everlasting (Mic 5) (not just to everlasting i.e. i.e. He did not become God, but was always God) (1 Tim 3:16).
Mat 1: 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is. God with us.
John the Baptist said Jesus came after him but John was physically born 6 months before him (Joh 1: 30), Jesus said he was before Abraham (Joh 8: 58) even though he came thousands of years after Abraham.
Joh 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
He called himself the I am which is a term for God the Father (Ex 3: 14) meaning God is always the same and never changes in essence. Jesus did not become God! He is God. Christ referred to himself as being the Son of man in Daniel 7. Son of God is a common term for angels, humans, even Adam (Luke 3: 38), but the term son of man is of God Himself. Danl 7:13-14, 13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. Isaiah saw Jesus’ glory (Joh 12: 41) and we see in Is 6 that this was God the Father’s glory. Jesus stated that he was one with the Father (Joh 10: 30), equal to the Father (Phil 2: 06) and that those who had seen Him had seen the Father (Joh 14:09).
Chap 7. Born Man.
Jesus was not only born fully God but Born fully man.
Hebrews 10:5-7 Wherefore when he cometh into the world,… a body hast thou prepared me…
Interestingly, the first man Adam represented all mankind (Rom 5: 12). We are all born sinners and face eternal death I because of Adam’s sins which we have added to our rebellion. When we compare ourselves to mortal men we may feel morally good, but after death we will not be Judged by a man. The Universe has a problem bigger than itself. Compared to God who is perfect, good, and pure we deserve eternal punishment for our rebellion against an infinite Holy God. Our good works do not change this. Could a baby answer a problem the entire material creation cannot. Enter the all- sufficient God-man.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.
When Jesus became a man He became a second Adam of sorts representing Mankind like Adam did. He lived a perfect life as a human and died for our sins. He rose again the third day and ascended to heaven. The greatest problem mankind could not answer met its match on a tiny hill called Golgotha (i.e. Calvary). When Jesus died, He said it is finished (Joh 19: 30). After 4000 years what no man, scientist, empire, GOFUNDME or galaxies combined could do was done. A way of escape through a message called the gospel was made open. Now we can come to God through a man, as that man is God. The answer was God became a baby to fix the problem Himself. The amazing thing is while Jesus. was leaning on His mother, drinking milk as a human child, every star was leaning on Him as the God of the Universe. Because He is fully man, he had human blood that could be shed, He could die as a man facing the curse and penalty of our sin, and He can empathize with us as He knows what it feels to be rejected, suffer loss, feel tired, cold, and even death. (Heb 4: 14-16)
Chap 8. Born to Rise.
The Old Testament foretells the birth of Jesus (Mic 5: 2), the life of Jesus, and the death of Jesus (Is 53). It also speaks of the resurrection (Ps 16: 8-11, Ps 49: 13-15, Ps71:20, Is 26: 19-20, Is 53: 10-11), ascension (Ps 68: 18, Eph 4: 8-10), Pentecost (Joel 2:28-32), 1000 years reign, and much more. If He was born to die He was born to rise. Interestingly He was called the day spring from on high (Luke 1: 78). This is not a water spring, but a dawn. Like a sunset Jesus died, like a sunrise He rose bringing light to the world. He can bring light into your dark heart. The fact is death could not hold Him. The baby was born to conquer death (Luke 20: 36). He would not rise and die again like a Lazurus, but rise never more to die (Rom 6: 9).
Acts 2: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Chap 9. Born to Save.
Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth – Charles Wesley
There was no room for Jesus at the inn, Do you have room for Him in your heart? If He is nothing to you, you will give him no room. If your inn is empty you might give him room merely as you need the income. But if He is God to you you will empty your room and give Him your bed. Who is the stranger in the manger to you and what is your response?