Category Archives: Bethlehem

angels, Bethlehem, Lamb of God., Messiah's birth, shepherds

The Messiah’s Secret – The Birth of Jesus

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The  Messiah’ Secret –  The Birth of Jesus
    Reading. Luke 2:8-20 
Micah prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.          Micah 5: 2.              
 
Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem came about through the Romans putting in place a census for the purpose of future taxation. Herod the king implemented the decree of Caesar, he directed a general registration to all of the people, to go to their own city, and be enrolled according to their tribes or families. Joseph and Mary were betrothed and both were descended from the line of King David, so they travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census.
 
Bethlehem could not cope with the numbers of people arriving. When Joseph and Mary reached Bethlehem they struggled to find accommodation in the Inns. A stable was the only place found available to give shelter, rest and warmth and that night Jesus was born. 
 
The Shepherds
After the birth of Jesus shepherds who were watching their flocks in the nearby fields when suddenly an angel appear before them. The angel told the shepherds of the Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem This would be a sign to them, he was cradled in a manger. A great number of angels appeared and they were all praising God.                                                                                                              
 
Bethlehem was noted for the flocks of sheep kept near to the town. Lambs were reared for the sacrifices made at the temple. The shepherds who looked after these flocks were not like the shepherds looking after the sheep on the surrounding hills, they had the reputation for not being  reliable.
The shepherds who looked after the temple sheep were observant of the law, they were religious men. The temple flocks were watched all the year round, great care was taken over them as they were inspected for their perfection. Only the best of the flock were acceptable for the sacrifices.                                       
 It was significant that the shepherds looked after the lambs. The angels sang echoing the trumpet blast and the singing took place when the sacrifice was laid upon the altar , ‘Glory to God in the highest.’  “The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” by Alfred Edersheim.
John the Baptist called Jesus the Lamb of God. Jesus was sacrificed for the sins of the whole world. He was not born to condemn the world but to save the world.
 
The Sign
After the angels left their presence, the shepherds decided to find the new born babe in Bethlehem.  It was possible that other babies had been born in Bethlehem that night, but it was unlikely that any would be lying in a manger for his bed. This sign was fulfilled when the shepherds found Joseph and Mary and the baby in the manger.
 
There was great rejoicing by the angels and the shepherds over God’s good will towards the people of the world. Peace on earth has yet to be fulfilled, but the peace in our hearts that Jesus gives to those who believe in him. 
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                          .                                                                  
Bethlehem, Epiphany, flight into Egypt, Nazareth

The Messiah’s Secret – Flight into Egypt

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As one year ends we tend to briefly look back to the highs and lows of the year.
I wondered what Joseph and Mary paused to think about after the months of turbulence in their lives. Only ten months previously Joseph and Mary were making plans for their future marriage. When shortly afterwards the news of Mary’s pregnancy came to light, it severely tested their relationship. But God undertook through the dream were God revealed to Joseph Mary’s baby was the Son of God, the Saviour. As a result of this their faith in God must have grown.

The Roman Censorship made it necessary to make that journey to Bethlehem at the most difficult time coming to the end of Mary’s pregnancy. Yet God was at the centre of their situation doing something wonderful, fulfilling ancient prophesies. The living words of God shedding light on God’s purposes and plans 700 years approx before its fulfilment.
“For unto us a child is born a Son is given, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of his peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom to establish it, and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore, the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will do this.” Isaiah 9: 6, 7.
Mary and Joseph were making history in the fulfilment of Biblical prophesies.
Mary was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1: 18. Galatians 3: 19. Galatians 4: 4.

How Joseph and Mary’s faith must have grown.

Jesus was circumcised on the 8th day and later presented as their first-born in the temple at the time of Mary’s purification, afterwards they returned to Nazareth.
“And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. Luke 2: 21-39

Did the wise men follow the star from Bethlehem to Nazareth?
Matthew in his gospel records that the wise men visited Herod’s temple in Jerusalem. After consulting with Herod, they went to Bethlehem hoping to find the child. We read they followed the star until it held its position over the house where they found Jesus and presented him with their gifts. They were warned in a dream not to return to Herod and tell him the whereabouts of the child so they left for their own country taking a different route. Matthew 2: 7-12
Also Joseph had a dream and was told by the angel who appeared to him to leave immediately with Mary and Jesus and go to Egypt.
To start the journey to Egypt going from Bethlehem to Nazareth and then on to Egypt would seem to me not to have the urgency that was needed to escape Herod’s anger and slaughter of boys under the age of two years old.
As a result of being kept safe, how Joseph and Mary’s faith must have grown.

Looking back over 2011
As I look back on our year, we have seen the world wide devastation with the floods in Australia, America and the earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan causing great loss of life and civil disorder in some of the Middle East countries. Severe famine in Africa through civil war. The people of Samalia have suffered and many thousands have died through civil war and famine. In Europe the debt crisis has undermined the euro currency. In England in the month of August we experienced lawlessness; riots and looting by mainly young people. Nearly every week we hear reports of people being murdered. When I was a girl fifty years ago, it was rarely heard of people being murdered.

These are the escalating troubled times, ‘birth pangs’ that Jesus referred to in Matthew 24: 7
“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs.”

The Bible contains prophesies that are currently being fulfilled.
Arnold Fruchtenbaum Book “The Footsteps of the Messiah.” Seventh Printing 1999 At the time of writing he pointed to prophesies about future events, a civil war in Egypt, and the Middle East unrest.
“An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, every man against his brother and every man against his neighbour, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.” Isaiah 19: 1,2.
“Israel in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. They were broken in pieces, nation against nation and city against city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress.”
2 Chronicles 15: 4-6
When we hear of these things, pray, looking, watching for Jesus’ return and pray for people to come to faith in Christ.

The return of Holy Family to their home land
Joseph and Mary must have wondered if they would ever be able to return to their homeland. But again prophesies were fulfilled when Joseph again was spoken to by God in a dream and the angel told them to return to Israel. Fulfilling the prophecy, “He would be called a Nazarene.” Matthew 2: 14,19 – 23.
How Joseph and Mary’s faith must have grown.

God cursed the serpent and prophesied that through the seed of a woman the Messiah would bruise the head of the serpent and the serpent would bruise the heel of the Messiah. Genesis 3: 15.
Over 30 prophesies were fulfilled on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion spanning from Genesis through to the latter day prophets. Proving the existence of God and revealing the Son of God Jesus.

The prophesies concerning Jesus’ return will in due course be fulfilled.
“And I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself that where I am you may be also. John 14: 3
“Two men dressed in white robes said, “”Men of Galilee why do you stand looking up to heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Acts 1: 11.

When Jesus returns the brightness of his appearance, the ‘Epiphany,’ of his return.

Everyone in Christ, his faithful followers will be taken out of the world and this is before the tribulation period begins.
There is a great necessity of making these prophesies known especially the prophesies that refer to the return of Jesus for his church. With tears of sorrow for those who reject Jesus as their Saviour. But for those who do believe, how our faith will grow as we see the fulfilment of these prophesies.