Matthew 1&2, Luke 1&2
The Birth of Jesus
In these two books we read of the birth of John the Baptist and our Lord Jesus. Both are miracle births. In these chapters we read of the reactions of various people to the announcement of the birth of Christ Jesus. The shepherds heard the angelic announcement and came to worship the babe. Later the Magi came as well. They went to Jerusalem and asked King Herod where the child, the king of the Jews, was born. Herod had no clue and was quite concerned so he asked the chief priest and the scribes where the child was to be born. They came back with the answer. The Christ child was to be born in Bethlehem. This is just one of several prophesies we read today in the Old Testament that were fulfilled at the birth of Jesus.
The shepherds knew that the Christ child had been born and came to worship Him. So did the Magi. Simeon and Anna in Luke 2 also knew. So did Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth, but the chief priest and the scribes don’t seem to know He has been born. Nor is there any mention of them watching for His coming even though His coming had been foretold multiple times in the scripture. Apparently they were “blind guides” as Jesus will call them in Matthew 23:16-22. Add to this the response of Herod who seeks to kill this baby born “King of the Jews,” with a mass murder of the babies born around the time of the birth of Jesus. Herod represents the antichrist and all the hostilities of the world toward the Jews. The fulfilment of Jeremiah 31:15 in Matthew 2:18 is a reference to the ten tribes of Israel when Assyria dispersed the nation throughout their empire. Rachel was the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. These boys represent the people of the nation and Ramah was where the people were gathered before they were sent into exile.
The obedience of Joseph is a bright spot in this story. What God told him to do he did and his family was saved. Jesus will one day warn of the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the temple and also he warned the Jews to flee Jerusalem when the antichrist sets up the abomination that causes desolation in the temple. Those who take Jesus at His word will be saved and protected by God. Those who do not heed His word will suffer the consequences of their choices.
This is the world to which Jesus came. The battle against Him had begun before He could walk. God has a plan and Jesus will be obedient to His Fathers plan. That plan includes us but we must listen and obey.
May God’s kingdom come and may His will be done!
Pastor Dave