Saturday, December 28, 2019

191229 Jesus, the Early Years


And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. Luke 2:40.
These are strange words when they are applied to Jesus of Nazareth. He grew, of course, he did! He had to learn to walk, crawl, stand on his own, talk, play and help Joseph out in the shop. In his hometown of Nazareth, he was “the carpenter’s son”! I don’t believe I’ve ever heard anyone call him that. He became strong physically, emotionally and spiritually. He was filled with wisdom. The grace of God rested on him!  Let’s look at what is reported of his life after being presented at the temple.
Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
There are several Herods mentioned in the Bible. The Herod that is mentioned here is Herod the Great! He was a powerful ruler who maintained loyalty to whoever was ruling in Rome. He was given the title “Great” because of his many building projects. The most important project that he conducted was to build/rebuild the temple that had been raised from ruin under the governorship of Nehemiah — during the days of Ezra the priest. Herod was the king of Galilee and Judea at the time of Jesus' birth. This man would not allow anyone to threaten his rule. Among those he had killed, because he thought they threatened his rule, was his wife, their two sons, his wife’s brother, his mother-in-law and his wife’s old grandfather! Caesar Augustus is credited with saying that it was safer in Judea to be a pig (who the Jews would not eat) than a threat to Herod.
Wise men from the East came to Jerusalem perhaps two years after the birth of Jesus. The Magi probably came from a kingdom located in what is modern Iran and Iraq. They probably came looking for the infant king of the Jews as representatives of their own government.
Where should you look for the newborn King? In the palace of course! Certainly not in a manger or stable. Well, by the time the Magi arrived this newborn King was no longer in the stable. Their questioning led them to the palace. Let’s look at the biblical account Matthew 2:3-6 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
Herod, in the middle of his paranoia, heard of the Magi and was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. I can assure you that anytime Herod was troubled everybody was troubled. If Herod is not happy ain’t nobody happy! This unhappy king knew where to turn to begin the search for his infant rival. He turned to the priests and they quickly told him that Micah the prophet had pointed to Bethlehem. Bethlehem was a small place in comparison to Jerusalem for it was the ancestral home of David the King. Leading us to the next step in the story.
Matthew 2:7-8 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
Herod, like all tyrants, operated mostly in secret. He sent the Magi to find the new King of the Jews and come back and report to him. Of course, he had no intention of worshiping his rival.
A side note: we do not know how many of the foreign visitors came seeking the new king. The opinion of most people is shaped by the hymn “We Three Kings”. And the number three is based on the gifts that they brought but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Matthew 2:9-11 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
When they left the king’s palace they saw the star leading them to the place where the child was. Not to a stable but a house. Their movements were no longer in secret. The little town of Bethlehem may have had as many as a thousand residents. A small town about the size of Stamford. Anyone who lives here very long knows there are very few secrets. Bethlehem would have been excitedly gossiping about this caravan of foreigners who came from the palace about 6 miles away. These men from the east fell down and worshiped him. They presented him with gifts that, I am sure, have great significance! We won’t speculate on the symbolism at this time.
Before they returned to the palace, they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod! When they left Bethlehem they bypassed Jerusalem and returned to their own country.
An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. He was told to take the child and Mary to Egypt (now we see a use for the gold) because Herod was going to search for the child and kill him! If you go to Jerusalem today and then to go to the Church of the Nativity you will find there are two churches. The most popular is that built by the Romans around A.D. 300. It is now a Greek Orthodox Church. The other, less well-known, is Roman Catholic. In the Roman Catholic Church, all of the fancy hangings, lamps and candles were swept away by John XXIII. Incorporated into the altar area are small symbolic graves. They represent the infants killed by Herod.
We do not know how many babies died. One retelling of the story claims as many as 14,000 babies were killed. I think that’s highly unlikely since it would be several times the population of Bethlehem. I think a more educated guess would be somewhere between 15 and 30 based on ordinary population statistics. However, the number could be much larger based on Matthew’s account.
Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.
We don’t know exactly what “and in all that region” means. Nonetheless, it would take a large “region” to produce thousands of babies being massacred.
When Herod died, about four BC, the angel came to Joseph in Egypt.  Matthew 2:20-23 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.
There are many false “gospels” that were written hundreds of years after the legitimate accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There are supposedly childhood stories in them but they are not to be believed.
The next accurate account that we have about Jesus' early years is located only in Luke’s Gospel. Jesus was devout and understood his responsibilities at the age of 12. Let’s look at how Luke told the story.  Luke 2:41-45 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
There is a lot to learn in this account. They went every year to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem. This proves, to me, that they were upper-middle-class (if there was such a thing) because they could afford to take the time and spend the money to make the trip every year. They were also very convinced that they could trust the boy Jesus. They would have been with a group of their friends and relatives when they set out from Jerusalem to return home. They did not question that Jesus would be with them. At the end of the first day’s travel, they could not find him! Immediately they returned to Jerusalem. Luke 2:46-51 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
When they found him he was in the Temple and he was being questioned by the teachers there. Jesus, at the age of 12, listened to the teachers and he also questioned them. Everyone was amazed at the clarity of his understanding!
Mary, claiming her rights as his mother, asked him why he was there rather than on the road home to Nazareth. Jesus was amazed at her question. He would be amazed many times in the next 21 or so years. His amazement centered on the idea that he was the Son of God. If they thought that he was missing why didn’t they look first at his father’s house — THE TEMPLE!
In spite of all the angel visitations surrounding his birth and early years his parents obviously did not understand anything about who he was. He was attracted to the temple and the religious leaders there because of who he was. He understood immediately that his time had not yet come. So, he went home and for the next 18 years, he was submissive to his parents. During that time he would have been recognized as the oldest child in a fairly large family. Matthew tells us that he had brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas as well as all his sisters. We do not know how many sisters there were. (Matthew 13:55-56a).
I believe the 18 years between Jesus’ appearance at the temple and his coming to John the Baptist to be baptized are likely the hardest years of his life. He certainly knew who he was when he sat in the temple teaching the teachers. However, his time had not yet come to present himself to the people. All the while he knew that he had come to seek and save the lost! I imagine his growing up years were a time of introducing his human nature to his divine nature. During that time he had to have learned the importance of the Father’s will taking precedence. John the apostle began his gospel John 1:9-13, The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. Born of God! Has he led you to receive and believe? The most important decision a person will ever make is to answer God’s call to salvation. We are born dead in trespasses and sin. (Ephesians 2:1). God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8). Adopting us into his family. Children of God! The greatest blessing anyone could possibly have!

All scriptures quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton, Ill, Standard Bible Society.

Saturday, December 21, 2019

191222 Who was This Baby?



Two of the Gospels, Matthew, and Luke, begin with the story of a young woman, her fiancé, and her firstborn child. We will begin with Matthew and move on from there.
Matthew 1:18-25: 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. (Note that Joseph was not consulted beforehand. He did not react as many men would have. He could have demanded she be executed by stoning. Instead, he took his time thinking things over.) 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.
I am very impressed with the story in Matthew and the portrayal of Joseph here. We do not know how far along she was but it didn’t matter. Every day that passed she was farther along. Joseph was important to the process because his ancestral lineage came from King David through his son Solomon. Mary’s lineage came from King David but it was through his son Nathan. The promise had been that the lineage for the Messiah would come through the true heir of David. That heir was Solomon. Joseph was needed to confirm the Messiah’s genealogical legitimacy.
Joseph had been confronted in a dream. But Mary got a direct visit from a named
angel. Let’s look at Luke’s record of the events.
Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy —the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
The angel Gabriel had traveled from Jerusalem where he had been speaking to Zachariah the father of John the Baptist. It’s interesting to me that apparently, angels have to travel from one place to the other the same way we do. It may be that Gabriel flew from Jerusalem to Nazareth but it seems to me unlikely. The average everyday angel is never described as having wings as they are depicted in paintings throughout history. 
Apparently, as soon as Mary ended her interview with Gabriel and, we assume, settled the issue with Joseph she traveled to Ein Karem, a village situated on the western slopes of Jerusalem where, tradition holds, the home of Elizabeth and Zachariah was situated. The journey would have taken several days since it involves a distance of more than 60 miles. When Mary arrived Elizabeth was in the house and we pick up the story from Luke.
Luke 1:41-44 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
Mary’s memory would have been very sharp. Luke interviewed many people in producing his gospel and the book of Acts. Therefore, the story is Mary’s! Elizabeth was a godly woman who understood immediately who this young girl was. John, not yet born, immediately recognized the presence of Jesus in Mary’s womb. Is there a stronger example of the life of a baby inside its mother? Mary would have been able to peacefully assist her cousin, Elizabeth, right up until the birth of John. Then she left and returned to Nazareth.
Whether in the inspiration of the moment or in memory years later Mary produced a song, undoubtedly from the Holy Spirit.
Since Mary and Joseph were of the house of David it would be necessary for them to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem which is only a few miles from Jerusalem. Because the ruler of the Roman Empire, Caesar Augustus, sent out an order to take a census of the known world. Of course, that would be the world ruled by Rome. It would have taken years for the census because of the great distances involved and the limited ways of communication. At just the right time the decree was sent and it required everyone to be registered in their ancestral home. in order for Jesus to be born where the prophecies foretold the entire Roman Empire was shaken.
There are two places called the city of David. Jerusalem where he ruled and Bethlehem where he was born.
When they arrived in Bethlehem there were no rooms available at any price. The regular hotels were filled and the bed and breakfasts as well. They had no way of sending ahead for reservation so they had to take what was available, and that was space in a manger!
Luke tells us that there were shepherds with their flocks outdoors. Either it was an unusually warm year or it was not December when it happened. We have traveled in the Holy Land and were there in March one year and there was a dusting of snow. Anyhow, the shepherds were there and so was an angel! Gabriel? We are not told and it doesn’t matter which angel it was. Let’s return to Luke’s account and see what happened with them.
Luke 2:9-11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
All of the portrayals I have seen of the event present an angel flying, with wings, and he is usually chubby and cute. I submit to you that the angel that was standing in front of them was awesome in appearance. He would have been one of Jesus’s guardian angels. I have no doubt that angels looked on with great curiosity while the baby Jesus grew and developed as a human. We do know that when Jesus was baptized and then went into the wilderness to fast and pray angels ministered to him. Later, when Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus assured his disciples that he could call on the Father and he would provide 12 legions of angels to protect the Son. Since we already have observed that angels had to travel much as we do those angelic legions must’ve been available and in the vicinity.
The angel that confronted the shepherds was immediately surrounded by a large number of angels praising God! When the angels went away from them into heaven the shepherds hurried over to Bethlehem. They immediately were put on the right path to see Joseph and Mary and the baby lying in the manger. They told their story to Mary and, remembering their first responsibility, hurried back to their sheep. But they were changed from laborers into worshipers. Luke tells us that they returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard.
At the end of eight days, the baby was circumcised and named Jesus!
According to the law of Moses 33 days after being circumcised and named the mother and child were both considered purified. They brought with them a pair of turtledoves and sacrificed them according to the law.
There was a man named Simeon in the temple that day, as he was every day. God had promised him that he would see the Lord’s Messiah before he died. The Spirit moved him into the path of this young family. He took the baby in his arms and praised God.
Luke 2:29-32 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32          a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
Simeon continued his blessing when he told Mary that the child was appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel and a sword would pierce through her soul. There was also a prophetess named Anna. She joined Simeon in praise giving thanks to God. Immediately she began to tell everybody what had just happened.
Who was this Baby? He was called King of the Jews when he was born…
Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
And when he was crucified…
Matthew 27:37  And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
We do not have time to look at all the names and descriptions of the Son of God.
When John the Apostle wrote his gospel he began with a description of the one who came: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
Let’s conclude with John the Apostle’s description towards the end of the Book of Revelation.
Revelation 19:11-16 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
That’s who the baby was! He came into the world as a lamb and left the world as a Lion! The wise men from the East came looking for one born King of the Jews! The existing government made every effort to destroy him! But in the end, the government of Rome proclaimed him to be, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” (John 19:19) He’s My King! Is he yours? Trust in him today!
All scriptures quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton, Ill, Standard Bible Society.
Two of the Gospels, Matthew, and Luke, begin with the story of a young woman, her fiancé, and her firstborn child. We will begin with Matthew and move on from there.
Matthew 1:18-25: 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. (Note that Joseph was not consulted beforehand. He did not react as many men would have. He could have demanded she be executed by stoning. Instead, he took his time thinking things over.) 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.
I am very impressed with the story in Matthew and the portrayal of Joseph here. We do not know how far along she was but it didn’t matter. Every day that passed she was farther along. Joseph was important to the process because his ancestral lineage came from King David through his son Solomon. Mary’s lineage came from King David but it was through his son Nathan. The promise had been that the lineage for the Messiah would come through the true heir of David. That heir was Solomon. Joseph was needed to confirm the Messiah’s genealogical legitimacy.
Joseph had been confronted in a dream. But Mary got a direct visit from a named
angel. Let’s look at Luke’s record of the events.
Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy —the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
The angel Gabriel had traveled from Jerusalem where he had been speaking to Zachariah the father of John the Baptist. It’s interesting to me that apparently, angels have to travel from one place to the other the same way we do. It may be that Gabriel flew from Jerusalem to Nazareth but it seems to me unlikely. The average everyday angel is never described as having wings as they are depicted in paintings throughout history. 
Apparently, as soon as Mary ended her interview with Gabriel and, we assume, settled the issue with Joseph she traveled to Ein Karem, a village situated on the western slopes of Jerusalem where, tradition holds, the home of Elizabeth and Zachariah was situated. The journey would have taken several days since it involves a distance of more than 60 miles. When Mary arrived Elizabeth was in the house and we pick up the story from Luke.
Luke 1:41-44 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
Mary’s memory would have been very sharp. Luke interviewed many people in producing his gospel and the book of Acts. Therefore, the story is Mary’s! Elizabeth was a godly woman who understood immediately who this young girl was. John, not yet born, immediately recognized the presence of Jesus in Mary’s womb. Is there a stronger example of the life of a baby inside its mother? Mary would have been able to peacefully assist her cousin, Elizabeth, right up until the birth of John. Then she left and returned to Nazareth.
Whether in the inspiration of the moment or in memory years later Mary produced a song, undoubtedly from the Holy Spirit.
Since Mary and Joseph were of the house of David it would be necessary for them to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem which is only a few miles from Jerusalem. Because the ruler of the Roman Empire, Caesar Augustus, sent out an order to take a census of the known world. Of course, that would be the world ruled by Rome. It would have taken years for the census because of the great distances involved and the limited ways of communication. At just the right time the decree was sent and it required everyone to be registered in their ancestral home. in order for Jesus to be born where the prophecies foretold the entire Roman Empire was shaken.
There are two places called the city of David. Jerusalem where he ruled and Bethlehem where he was born.
When they arrived in Bethlehem there were no rooms available at any price. The regular hotels were filled and the bed and breakfasts as well. They had no way of sending ahead for reservation so they had to take what was available, and that was space in a manger!
Luke tells us that there were shepherds with their flocks outdoors. Either it was an unusually warm year or it was not December when it happened. We have traveled in the Holy Land and were there in March one year and there was a dusting of snow. Anyhow, the shepherds were there and so was an angel! Gabriel? We are not told and it doesn’t matter which angel it was. Let’s return to Luke’s account and see what happened with them.
Luke 2:9-11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
All of the portrayals I have seen of the event present an angel flying, with wings, and he is usually chubby and cute. I submit to you that the angel that was standing in front of them was awesome in appearance. He would have been one of Jesus’s guardian angels. I have no doubt that angels looked on with great curiosity while the baby Jesus grew and developed as a human. We do know that when Jesus was baptized and then went into the wilderness to fast and pray angels ministered to him. Later, when Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus assured his disciples that he could call on the Father and he would provide 12 legions of angels to protect the Son. Since we already have observed that angels had to travel much as we do those angelic legions must’ve been available and in the vicinity.
The angel that confronted the shepherds was immediately surrounded by a large number of angels praising God! When the angels went away from them into heaven the shepherds hurried over to Bethlehem. They immediately were put on the right path to see Joseph and Mary and the baby lying in the manger. They told their story to Mary and, remembering their first responsibility, hurried back to their sheep. But they were changed from laborers into worshipers. Luke tells us that they returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard.
At the end of eight days, the baby was circumcised and named Jesus!
According to the law of Moses 33 days after being circumcised and named the mother and child were both considered purified. They brought with them a pair of turtledoves and sacrificed them according to the law.
There was a man named Simeon in the temple that day, as he was every day. God had promised him that he would see the Lord’s Messiah before he died. The Spirit moved him into the path of this young family. He took the baby in his arms and praised God.
Luke 2:29-32 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32          a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
Simeon continued his blessing when he told Mary that the child was appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel and a sword would pierce through her soul. There was also a prophetess named Anna. She joined Simeon in praise giving thanks to God. Immediately she began to tell everybody what had just happened.
Who was this Baby? He was called King of the Jews when he was born…
Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
And when he was crucified…
Matthew 27:37  And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
We do not have time to look at all the names and descriptions of the Son of God.
When John the Apostle wrote his gospel he began with a description of the one who came: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
Let’s conclude with John the Apostle’s description towards the end of the Book of Revelation.
Revelation 19:11-16 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
That’s who the baby was! He came into the world as a lamb and left the world as a Lion! The wise men from the East came looking for one born King of the Jews! The existing government made every effort to destroy him! But in the end, the government of Rome proclaimed him to be, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” (John 19:19) He’s My King! Is he yours? Trust in him today!
All scriptures quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton, Ill, Standard Bible Society.