The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

The Birth of Jesus (Continued)

The timetable that God works to is very precise. The prophecy of  Daniel was always in view and from the birth, in a little over 33 years, on 10^th Nisan, Jesus King/Messiah has to enter Jerusalem in fulfilment of Zechariah’s prophecy (Zech.9:9 cf. Matt.21:5). But this meant that there was much to accomplish before then. It included the      necessity for the Son of David to be born in Bethlehem (David’s city). But Joseph and Mary are in Nazareth – how can Joseph be motivated to take a difficult journey with his pregnant wife to another town for the birth? A convergence of events was used by God to bring about the birth in the required location – a census carried out on behalf of Rome. This has been anticipated by the Lord, for while Mary is of the line of David, and qualifies her son to be a son of David, and king of the house of David (remember Jesus is seed of the woman (Joseph is not His father)), Joseph is also of David’s line. This compelled    Joseph to attend at the registry in Bethlehem. It is while they are there that Jesus was born establishing the connection with his ancestor David.

Such an event, which could easily be ignored by the world, could not be ignored by heaven. A heavenly choir was dispatched to sing of the event. It was attended by a light show that was energized by the   Shekinah itself. And a message was delivered to the shepherds who were attending to the sheep and lambs that were destined for the Temple. “… the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”” (Luke 2:10–14).

They would not have known but in one generation the need for lambs for Temple sacrifice would be extinguished—for the Lamb of God will have died and forever after forgiveness will be through His sacrifice, not that of substitutionary animals in the Temple.

Next Time : The Redemption of the Christ Child