Prophecies and Thoughts on Jesus’ Birth
DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW
Bernice is from a poor family living in a small community of about 75. She is a young girl who now is in trouble. She is around seven months pregnant, she can’t be more than 15 years old, and she says that she does not know the father. She is engaged to Jimmy that lives over one street from Bernice in this small town. Jimmy denies that he has had any sexual relations with Bernice what so ever. All the people in town knows of Bernice’s condition, it’s a small place, and everybody know everything about everyone. They also know that about seven months ago she took off on an unexpected trip and was there quite some time. She said that she went to visit some relatives. But when she came back . . .well, you couldn’t help but notice her condition.
Her parents used to talk so much about what a good girl she was. Haven’t seen much of the parents lately, wonder how they are handling this unexpected news? I understand that now days a lot of girls are having abortions in this situation.
The scenario could go on and on. I’m sure that one’s mind could keep it going for a long time.
Okay now lets change the names and the time. Now lets change the girl’s name to Mary and the boy’s to Joseph… You can change the names, you can also change the time to about 2000 years ago, you can change the place to Nazareth. One can change names, times and or places, but in a small town the talk will still be there.   There will be some in that town clicking their tongue, wondering this and saying that.
Now about the birth of Jesus. Lets ask some questions, read some Scripture and make some comments?
Where is the first promise that the redeemer will come? Gen. 3:15.
1. Some say that Dec. 25 is about when Jesus was born. Others say it was in the springtime. Remember there are only two important facts concerning Jesus’ birth, (one) that it did occur and (two) that we celebrate it.
2. How many wise men were there? Matt. 2:1.
3. Where would an EASTERN star lead the wise men? To China. The STAR did not come out of the East, the wise men came out of the East. “We have seen His star” this is while we were “in (from) the east”. Mt. 2:2
4. How did they associate a Star with the King of Israel? Numbers 24:17.
5. Why would the whole city of Jerusalem be disturbed? Mt. 2:3. Jesus was prophesied to sit on the throne of David and reign forever. Isa. 9:6-7. When all these wise men showed up and started asking questions about where their King was. The people of Jerusalem did not know of any King being born. Why were they not informed? Why did the Jews not accept Christ, but men from hundreds of miles away did?
6. Why were the chief priest and scribes able to tell Herod where Jesus was born? Mic. 5:2
7. Why did Herod ask the “TIME” the star appeared? Mt. 2:7 He did not want a king to take his or his successors throne.
8. Notice how many times people were obedient to God. Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and the wise men.
9. Why do these prophecies seem strange, or illogical?
A. Born in Bethlehem. Mic. 5:2 None of David’s lineage lived here. Jesus born here.
B. Called out of Egypt. Hos. 11:1 (800 B.C.) Appears to have been born here.
C. Weeping in Rama. Jer. 31:15 (700 B.C.) Located 12 miles from Bethlehem. Birth would be joyous times, not sad times.
D. Called a Nazarene. Isa. 11:1 rod [Nezter] appears to have been born here.
E. Out of the lineage of David. Isa. 11:1 (700 B.C.) Out of the stem of Jesse, but none of Coniah’s seed would prosper.
F. Would be a ruler forever. Isa. 9: 6-7 (700 B.C.), again Jer. 22:30 None out of Coniah shall prosper.
G. Born of a virgin. Isa. 7:14 (700 B.C.)
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10. How can all these statements prove that Jesus was the Messiah? All prophesied, recorded as high as one thousand years beforehand.
11. How can Psalms 51:5, “Behold, I was shaped in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” How can this apply to Jesus’ birth? David was born in sin because of the union of man and woman. Jesus was not born into sin because He had no earthly father. Therefore, sin comes through the man.
12. Many are trying to take the word “Virgin” out of the Scriptures. How would this effect our belief? Check Isaiah 7:14. Does your Bible say “Virgin” or “young woman.” The Hebrew word for virgin is almah the Greek word is Parthenos. In Isaiah 7, Ahaz was given a sign from God, this sign is in verse 14. “Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son. . .” Now substitute the phrase “young woman” for virgin and see how much of a sign this would be. Most children today are born of young women. I do not think it different in their time. So again how much of a sign would it be for a young woman to have a child.
The Three Rituals of Jesus’ birth.
1. Circumcision when Jesus was 8 days old. On this day the male child would be named in the ceremony. Lev. 12: 1-4 .
2. The purification of Mary 40 days after the birth of a male child. Women were considered unclean until this time. Lev. 12: 1-4
3. Presentation of Jesus to God at the Temple. Ex. 13: 2 the first-born to be set aside for the LORD.
God works in mysterious ways. Jesus, born in a lowly manger, (feed trough). What a place for King of kings, Lord of lords, our God. Worshiped by shepherds, (the homeless). The most powerful king of that time Caesar Augustus made everyone register in order to be taxed. Herod had all 2 year and under male children killed. These were very powerful kings. They had the power to murder anyone and any amount of people. Everyone should know who they are, right? Suppose you stop 100 people on the street and ask them to name three of the Caesars of that time. Okay, I’ll settle for two, or even one. Ask the same people to tell about Jesus’ birth, the REAL meaning of Christmas. Now who made the greatest impact, the mighty Caesars or the lowly carpenter’s step son.
Have a very Merry CHRISTmas and a Happy New Year.
