Jesus is Born, Matthew 1:24-25, Luke 2:1-15, John 1:14
Matt 1:24 And Joseph [a]awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 [b] but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son1; and he called His name Jesus2.
Luke 2:1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar3 Augustus, that a census be taken of all [a]the inhabited earth4. 2 [b]This was the first census taken while [c]Quirinius was governor of Syria5. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David6, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son1; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a [d]manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord7 suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone8 around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid9; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior10, who is [e]Christ11 the Lord12. 12 This will be a sign13 for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a [f]manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest14, And on earth peace among men [g]with whom He is pleased15.” 15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”
John 1:14 And the Word16 became flesh17, and [a]dwelt18 among us, and we saw His glory19, glory as of [b]the only begotten from the Father, full of grace20 and truth21.
Footnotes (Matthew):
- Matthew 1:24 Lit got up
- Matthew 1:25 Lit and was not knowing her
Footnotes (Luke):
- Luke 2:1 I.e. the Roman empire
- Luke 2:2 Or This took place as a first census
- Luke 2:2 Gr Kyrenios
- Luke 2:7 Or feeding trough
- Luke 2:11 I.e. Messiah
- Luke 2:12 Or feeding trough
- Luke 2:14 Lit of good pleasure; or of good will
Footnotes (John):
Commentary
It is believed that the Romans took a census every 14 years, and the Israelites, subordinate to the Roman empire, would likely have viewed the census negatively. It was seen as a means of exploiting the subjects, since their inclusion in the census made them subject to taxation, military drafts, and (sometimes forced) government labor. It was also used to solicit additional funds for public projects, as well as tithes to maintain religious institutions (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1767). So often, we think of God as causing miracles or circumstances, such as the conception of John the Baptist and Jesus, but many times, prophecy is fulfilled by an event that God foreknew and used for His purpose. The census, in itself, was not a religious endeavor, but when He said that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, He already knew the reason that would be the venue.
Similarly, when Jesus later says that there will be earthquakes in various places, and famine, and pestilence, leading up to His return (Mark 13:7-8), it may be that these natural disasters are caused by years of human abuse of the earth. Science and the Bible aren’t mutually exclusive; God knows these things will come to pass, and He knows the time when He will choose to return.
Likewise, as we discussed in an earlier article, history and the Bible are not mutually exclusive, either. Jesus’ life was corroborated by multiple sources outside the Bible (see this article for more on that https://www.bethinking.org/jesus/ancient-evidence-for-jesus-from-non-christian-sources). In the Luke passage here, we see more references to political figures with whom we are familiar from our studies of the Roman empire. Caesar Augustus, born Gaius Octavius and later renamed Octavian, “was given the title Augustus in 27 B.C. when he became emperor of Rome” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1766). “During his 44 year reign, he established the Pax Romana (“Peace of Rome”), a state of control in which Roman culture flourished worldwide,” and he ended decades of Roman civil war (Word in Life Study Bible pg 1766). We also see the town of Bethlehem, translated “house/place of bread”, which was located 5 miles south of Jerusalem and known for agriculture. It is the same Bethlehem where David was anointed by Samuel, and it was the small town all of David’s descendants would refer to as their ancestral city (1 Sam 17:12). Micah records the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem in Micah 5:2, and the specific stable in which Jesus was born was likely a cave near the city (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1768). In another example of the way God weaves his story together, Jesus was born in the city called the ‘place of bread’, and He is the ‘bread of life’.
It may be somewhat scandalous that I have left part of the shepherds’ story for a later study, but there was a lot to learn about the shepherds, their probable location in relation to the stable, and their role in society. Assuming that it took them at least some amount of time to get from their field to the stable, I decided to treat their visit as a separate event, so we could take a closer look at them on their own.
I don’t want to neglect the shorter passages from Matthew and John, either. I have seen quite a bit of discourse about the belief that Mary remained a virgin throughout her life. While I don’t think it is a belief that is central to salvation, I will point out that my translation of Matthew says she was a virgin ‘until’ she gave birth to Jesus, and, as I also referred to in a previous blog, Matthew’s gospel later mentions Jesus’ brothers and sisters.
Shifting focus to the verse from John, I loved the footnotes explaining some of the shades of meaning from the original translation here. When it says Jesus ‘dwelt’ among us, that word could also have been translated as ‘tabernacled’. Throughout the Old Testament, tabernacles were designated as a dwelling place for God, as well as temporary dwelling places for His people. They were typically movable and were of light construction, so even though they could be easily broken down, they could be reconstructed again in order for the people to be able to be in the presence of God always. Give some thought to the parallels we can draw to the life of Jesus. The word ‘tabernacle’ is also used in the scripture referenced with superscript 17 – Revelation 21:3. In fact, this one verse from John has probably the most scripture references I’ve seen in a single verse.
If you’re not familiar with the style of this study I’m doing, I look at every verse referenced in the text I’m reading, and I paste each verse below the commentary, with a superscript number that corresponds to the part of the passage it relates to in the text we’re studying. I normally organize the scripture references by their location in the Bible, so you end up having to search for the number, not really knowing where it will be. This time, I organized the reference section numerically, so you can follow the superscripts as they occur in the text. I hope you will because there are a lot of revelations to be had by connecting the various parts of the Bible together into one cohesive story.
See the next post here https://onthepath.online/2019/01/08/the-shepherds-visit-jesus/
Scripture References
10, 2Mt 1:21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus2, for He will save10 His people from their sins.”
2Lk 2:21 And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
3Mt 22:17 Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar3, or not?”
3Lk 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar3, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,
4Mt 24:14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
5Mt 4:24 The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them.
6Lk 1:27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
7Lk 1:11 And an angel of the Lord7 appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
7Ac 5:19 But during the night an angel of the Lord7 opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said,
8Lk 24:4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing;
8Ac 12:7 And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands.
9Mt 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
10Jn 4:42 and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”
10Ac 5:31 He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
11Mt 1:16 Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.
11Mt 16:16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
11Mt 16:20 Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.
11Jn 11:27 She *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”
12Lk 1:43 And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?
12Ac 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
12Ac 10:36 The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)—
131 Sa 2:34 This will be the sign to you which will come concerning your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: on the same day both of them will die.
132 Ki 19:29 Then this shall be the sign for you: you will eat this year what grows of itself, in the second year what springs from the same, and in the third year sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit.
132 Ki 20:8 Now Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the Lord the third day?” 9 Isaiah said, “This shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?”
13Is 7:11 Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”
13Is 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
14Mt 21:9 The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!”
14Lk 19:38 shouting: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
15Lk 3:22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”
15Eph 1:9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
15Php 2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
16Rev 19:13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
17Ro 1:3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh,
17Gal 4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
17Php 2:7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
171 Ti 3:16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.
17Heb 2:14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
171 Jn 1:1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—
171 Jn 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;
172 Jn 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.
18Rev 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
19Lk 9:32 Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him.
19Jn 2:11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
19Jn 17:22 The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;
19Jn 17:24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
192 Pe 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”—
191 Jn 1:1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—
20Jn 1:17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
20Ro 5:21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
20Ro 6:14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
21Jn 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
21Jn 14:6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
21Jn 18:37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
Mk 13:7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. 8 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
On The Path 