MERRY CHRISTMAS! And happy first day of the twelve days of Christmas!
As a preface to my blog entry today, I want to mention, as a reminder, that the evening and the morning were how days were established - so if Jesus was born in the evening, it would technically (for us) be Christmas Eve. We begin each new calendar day at midnight. They begin theirs at sundown.
The Birth of Jesus Christ – Matthew 1:18-25
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
The Birth of Jesus Christ – Luke 2:1-7
2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn
Isaiah 9:6-7 (prophecy written over 700 years before Jesus was born)
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Isaiah's ministry was from 740 - 701 B C, and was centered in Jerusalem, so his prophecy was written during that time - likely in Jerusalem or nearby.
There is so much we do not know - but we do know Jesus' birth was prophesied over 700 years before he was born. What an amazing miracle birth! And what an amazing God that he would humble himself and come to us in human form so we could relate to him, but even more importantly, to be the Lamb of God who would sacrifice himself for the sins of the world.
And the name he was given was Yeshua, which means Salvation.
We don't know the actual date of Yeshua's birth, but he definitely deserves to be celebrated for coming. Happy birthday, Yeshua ha Mashiach. Thank you for coming to a very broken world to bring us salvation.
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