Jesus’ Birth

4–6 BC

Books of Mathew & Luke

Interesting note:

Many biblical scholars date the birth of Jesus somewhere between 4 and 6 BC. The dates concerning the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus will be based on this premise.

~ Before the birth of Jesus, the world waited in darkness and longing, nations groaned under sin’s weight, and Israel yearned for the fulfillment of God’s promises.

The New Testament opens with the fulfilment of Malachi’s prophecy: God sent an “Elijah” before the great and awesome day of the Lord (Mal. 4:5–6). This was John (the Baptist), miraculously given to Zachariah and Elizabeth, who were barren and past childbearing age. Elizabeth and Mary were pregnant at the same time. John was the cousin of Jesus.

And now at last, we come to the centerpiece of our storyline and indeed all time—God with us. Let us gaze intently at Jesus.

The birth of Jesus was the unfolding of God’s greatest promise. The angel Gabriel was sent to Mary, a virgin, announcing that she would miraculously conceive by the Holy Spirit. God reassured Joseph, her fiancé, in a dream, and he faithfully embraced his role in the unfolding plan of redemption. Both Mary and Joseph were descendants of David—Jesus was born of David’s line (the tribe of Judah) just as David had been promised.

Obeying the decree of Caesar to return to the town of their lineage, they journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where in humble surroundings the Savior of the world was born and laid in a manger. Heaven itself rejoiced as angels filled the night sky proclaiming peace and good news to astonished shepherds, who hurried to Bethlehem and spread the wonder.

Eight days later, at the Temple in Jerusalem, Simeon held the Messiah in his arms and prophesied about His life, while Anna, a prophetess and intercessor, praised God.

Perhaps a year or two later, wise men from the east, following a star, arrived in Bethlehem and offered treasures to Jesus.

Warned in a dream, Joseph led his family to Egypt, escaping Herod’s jealous cruelty. In time, they returned and made their home in Nazareth, where “Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52).

~ After the birth of Jesus, God’s promise of salvation began to unfold in human history.

Significance

• Mary’s simple, but powerful "let it be to me according to your word.”(Luke 1:38), embodies a heart of humble surrender, unwavering faith, and obedience to God’s will, even when it meant walking an unknown and costly path.
• Oh, the humility of God… In our need for a blood-covering for our sin, God came Himself. But who could have guessed He would come in so lowly a manner?
• Hebrews 11 shows that generations of saints lived with steadfast faith, longing for the Messiah, yet never seeing Him in their lifetime. Even so, they clung to God’s promises with unwavering trust, content to know that the fulfillment of their prayers might come to future generations according to the Lord’s will.