1. Jesus’ Birth
Gene Wright
May 1, 2019

2. Jesus’ Birth The Birth of Jesus - How important to God?
Luke 2: 8-14: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were very afraid…”
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord…And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
The most important birth ever.

3. Jesus’ Birth Let’s back up… Mary before Jesus’ birth
Luke 1:26-30: “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”
Sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy.
Betrothed: A relationship between engaged and fully married. A man could not renounce her except by divorce. If he died during the betrothal she was legally declared a widow.

4. Jesus’ Birth The 1st major step in a Jewish marriage was betrothal.
After the marriage covenant had been established, the groom would leave the home of the bride and return to his father's house.
There he would remain separate from his bride for a period of twelve months. This period of separation afforded the bride time to prepare for married life.
Women were often betrothed when they were years old.

5. Jesus’ Birth Women were often betrothed when 13-15 years old.
It was probably during this period that Mary was found to be with child.
The groom occupied himself with the preparation of living accommodations in his father's house to which he could bring his bride. At the end of the period of separation the groom would come to take his bride to live with him.

6. Jesus’ Birth
Luke 1:26-30: “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”
“And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!’ ”
Mary certainly was blessed. No other woman in the history of the world would ever have the honor God gives to her.

7. Jesus’ Birth
Luke 1:31: “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.”
Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” (NKJV)
“And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (ESV)
“Mary asked the angel, "How can this happen? I am not married!” (CEV)
Really a shame that this last version would not make sense to many today, isn’t it?

8. Jesus’ Birth
Luke 1:34-39: “And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”
“Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”

9. Jesus’ Birth
Luke 1:40-45: “Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.”
The mother of John the Baptist, is Mary’s cousin.
“And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”

10. Jesus’ Birth
Luke 1:40-45: “Then she (Elizabeth) spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
The babe (John) was joyful before birth.

11. Jesus’ Birth
Luke 1:46-56: “And Mary said: ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior…”
Often this is called the “Magnificat” from the Latin translation of the first phrase: “Magnificat anima mea Dominum” - “Magnify soul my Lord”
Frequently read or sung within religious services, primarily Catholic and Anglican. It is a part of the daily office in the Catholic Vespers (morning) service and Anglican services of Evening Prayer.
Let’s go back to the shepherds.

12. Jesus’ Birth
Luke 2:15: “When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
John 7:42: “Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”

13. Jesus’ Birth Trivia: What day was Jesus born?
There were many speculations in the 2nd century about the date of Jesus’ birth.
Clement of Alexandria, AD 195: “There are those who have calculated not only the year of our Lord’s birth, but also the day. They say it took place in the 28th year of the emperor Augustus, on May 20…others say He was born on April 19 or 20.”
No one knows. Almost certainly not December 25.

14. Jesus’ Birth The Birth of Jesus - Importance?
Luke 2: 8-14: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were very afraid…”

15. Jesus’ Birth The Birth of Jesus - Importance?
Luke 2: 8-14: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were very afraid…”

16. Jesus’ Birth
“…And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord…And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
“The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us”
“Remaining what He was, He assumed what He was not.” – Gregory of Nyssa, 381 AD.
“That which is not assumed is not healed.”