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MATTHEW 1 & 2, LUKE 1 & 2
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By Dr. Tom Sexton Pastor
The most famous event in all of human history is the birth of CHRIST. Down through the centuries, this amazing event has been played out and told by people all around the world. Christmas is a wonderful time of the year for millions of people. Go with me as we travel back centuries ago and revisit the time when “the WORD was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14a)
The following text is taken from the WORD of GOD in the order in which
the events occurred. No words or comments have been added to the text.
Every WORD is from the WORD of GOD.
Now the birth of JESUS CHRIST was on this wise.
(Matthew 1:18) The angel Gabriel was sent from GOD unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the LORD is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with GOD. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a SON, and shalt call HIS name JESUS. HE shall be great and shall be called the SON of the HIGHEST: and the LORD GOD shall give unto HIM the throne of HIS father David: and HE shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of HIS kingdom there shall be no end.
Then said Mary unto the angel, how shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her, The HOLY GHOST shall come upon thee,
and the power of the HIGHEST shall overshadow thee: therefore, that HOLY THING which shall be born of thee shall be called the SON of GOD. And behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month
with her, who was called barren. For with GOD nothing shall be impossible.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the LORD; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:26-38)
And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the HOLY GHOST: and she spoke out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my LORD should come to me?
For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the LORD.
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the LORD,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in GOD my SAVIOUR.
For HE hath regarded the low estate of HIS handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth
all generations shall call me blessed. For HE that is mighty hath done to me great things;
and Holy is HIS name. And HIS mercy is on them that fear HIM from generation to generation. HE hath showed strength with HIS arm; HE hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. HE hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. HE hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich HE
hath sent empty away. HE hath holden HIS servant Israel, in remembrance of HIS mercy;
As HE spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever. And Mary abode
with her about three months and returned to her own house. (Luke 1:39-56)
When. . .Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the HOLY GHOST. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing
to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him
in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife:
for that which is conceived in her is of the HOLY GHOST.
And she shall bring forth a SON, and thou shalt call HIS name JESUS: for HE shall save HIS people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the LORD by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a SON, and they shall call HIS name EMMANUEL, which being interpreted is, GOD with us.
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the LORD had bidden him,
and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she brought forth her firstborn SON.
(Matthew 1:18-25)
And it came to pass in those days, that there was a decree from Caesar Augustus,
that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius
was Governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. (Luke 2:1-5)
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should
be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn SON, and wrapped HIM in swaddling clothes, and laid HIM in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
(Luke 2:6-7) And he called HIS name JESUS. (Matthew 1:25)
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 sore 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 SAVIOUR, which is CHRIST the LORD. And this shall be a sign unto you; YE shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
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.
(Luke 2:8-14)
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into Heaven,
the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and
see this thing which is come to pass, which the LORD hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which
were told them by the shepherds. (Luke 2:15-18)
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcision of the child, HIS name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before HE was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished, they brought HIM to Jerusalem, to present HIM to the LORD; (As it is written in the Law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the LORD;) and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the Law of the LORD, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the HOLY GHOST was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the HOLY GHOST, that he should not see death, before he had seen the LORD’s CHRIST.
And he came by the SPIRIT into the temple: and when the parents brought in the CHILD JESUS, to do for HIM after the custom of the Law then took HE HIM up in his arms, and blessed GOD, and said, LORD, now Lettes THOU THY servant depart in peace, according to THY WORD: for mine eyes have seen THY salvation, which THOU hast prepared before the face of all people; a LIGHT to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of THY people Israel. And Joseph and HIS mother marveled at those things which were spoken of HIM.
And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary HIS mother, Behold, this CHILD is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; and she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served GOD with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the LORD, and spake of HIM to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. (Luke 2:21-38)
Now when JESUS was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the King, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is HE that is born KING of the Jews ? for we have seen HIS star in the east, and are come to worship HIM. When Herod the King had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where CHRIST should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a GOVERNOR,
that shall rule MY people Israel.
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young CHILD; and when ye have found HIM, bring me word again, that I may come and worship HIM also. When they had heard the King, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young CHILD was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young CHILD with Mary HIS mother, and fell down, and worshipped HIM: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto HIM gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of GOD in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. (Matthew 2:1-12)
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the LORD appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young CHILD and HIS mother, and flee into Egypt,
be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young CHILD to destroy HIM. When he arose, he took the young CHILD and HIS mother by night, and departed into Egypt: and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the LORD by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called MY SON.
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. (Matthew 2:13-16)
WHEN AND WHERE CHRIST WAS BORN IS IMPORTANT
Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem – Search (bing.com)
Conception, Birth of Jesus Timeline (bible study.org)
The Bible says, “In the fulness of time GOD sent HIS SON.” (Galatians 4:4) GOD foretold of the birth of CHRIST centuries before the LORD was born. When the wise men came to Jerusalem, Herod asked the religious leaders where CHRIST was to be born. It is amazing that they could tell Herod the very place that CHRIST was born. This is important because we can trust what GOD says in HIS WORD. What GOD says about life, death, and things to come is true. When and where CHRIST was born is important.
HOW CHRIST WAS BORN IS MORE IMPORTANT
The Bible says “But when the fulness of the time was come, GOD sent forth HIS SON, made of a woman, made under the Law.” (Galatians 4:4) It is important to know that the LORD JESUS did not have an earthly father. HE is GOD’s only begotten SON. The reason it is so important to know how CHRIST was born is because HE did not inherit the same sinful nature we inherited from Adam.
The Bible says that “By one man sin entered into the world and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men for all have sinned.” (Romans 5:12) The only person that death did not pass upon was the LORD JESUS. HE was sinless and therefore owed no sin debt.
We, on the other hand, are born sinners. We inherited from Adam a sinful nature.
We are all sinners. Our sin does not make us sinners; our sin proves that we are sinners.
My oldest grandson, just before his third birthday, dug all the dirt out of a potted plant in our living room. I was supposed to have been watching him. I found him by the pot with a wooden spoon in his hand and dirt all over him. I asked the dumbest question. I said, “Did you do this?” He looked at me and said, “No.” Where did he learn to lie?
Did his grandmother teach him to lie? No, children have it in them. The best of kids does the dumbest things. And yes, they even lie. Watching children helps us understand that we are born sinners. Our sin does not make us sinners; it proves that we are sinners.
The LORD JESUS was not born like other men.
HE did not inherit from Adam what we all inherited. HE was sinless.
The Bible says that “the wage of sin is death,” (Romans 6:23a) but CHRIST did not owe a sin debt. HE did not have to die. It is important to know when and where JESUS was born, but it is more important to know why HE was born.
WHY CHRIST WAS BORN IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WHY
The most important thing to know about the birth of CHRIST is why HE was born.
Most people do not understand why CHRIST was born. The Bible says, “But when the fulness of the time was come, GOD sent forth HIS SON, made of a woman, made under
the Law, to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5)
Why did JESUS come into this world? HE came to “redeem” us.
The Bible says, “to redeem them that were under the Law.” (Galatians 4:4-5)
We are all part of the “them” for which CHRIST came. The most important thing about the birth of CHRIST is why HE came. HE came to die for our sins. When JESUS died, HE died for your sins, and HE died for all our sin. The Bible says that GOD “made HIM to be sin for us, WHO knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of GOD in HIM.” (2nd.Corinthians 5:21)
The LORD JESUS told the woman at the well that if she would ask, HE would give her everlasting life. GOD has given us the same promise. The Bible says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
You may ask, “How can I receive GOD’s promise of eternal life ?”
It is as simple as A-B-C.
Acknowledge that you are a sinner. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of GOD” (Romans 3:23)
Believe that the LORD JESUS died for you. “CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that HE was buried and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1st.Corinthians 15:3b-4)
Call upon the LORD to save you. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
If you would be willing to turn to CHRIST in repentance and faith, pray this simple prayer of salvation.
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” LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me.
I trust YOU to forgive me, and help me to live for YOU always. In JESUS’ name, AMEN.”
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The LORD JESUS said, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish”.
(John 12:28). everlasting life is ours when we receive CHRIST as our personal SAVIOUR.
Dear Friend, as you have just read The Real Christmas Story, there is no greater gift than what GOD gave the world. “For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life”
(John 3:16). This great Bible verse reveals four truths from the heart of GOD about HIS Christmas gift to the world.
Receiving GOD’s
Christmas Gift
YOU ARE LOVED
GOD wants you to know that you are loved. The LORD JESUS said, “For GOD so loved the world” (John 3:16a). You are a part of this world, and GOD loves you. GOD loves you and gave HIS SON for you. HE wants you “to know the love of CHRIST” (Ephesians 3:19)
YOU ARE OF WORTH
The LORD also wants you to know that you are of worth. You are so dear to GOD that “HE gave HIS only begotten SON” (John 3:16b). HE gave HIS precious SON, JESUS CHRIST, to pay your sin debt. The Bible teaches us that we are all sinners. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD” (Romans 3:23).
Sin must be paid for. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
The good news is that the LORD JESUS paid your sin debt in full when HE died on the cross. “For HE that made HIM to be sin for us” (2nd.Corinthians 5:21). CHRIST loves you and gave HIMSELF for you as payment for your sin. You may ask, “How can GOD forgive sin ?” HE can do that because of what JESUS did for you. “While we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us” (Romans 5:8).
WE CAN HAVE HOPE
GOD wants you to know that you can have hope. HE said “that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish” (John 3:16c). The LORD does not want anyone to be separated from GOD. We were created to spend eternity with HIM.
YOU CAN HAVE PURPOSE
GOD wants you to know that you can have purpose in life. HE desires that you “should
not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16d). “And this is the promise that HE hath promised us, even eternal life” (1st.John 2:25). Everlasting life is yours when you turn to GOD in repentance and faith and receive the LORD JESUS CHRIST as your personal SAVIOUR.
Dear Friend, if you have never received the LORD JESUS — GOD’s gift to the world — as your personal SAVIOUR, our Heavenly FATHER wants to give you the best Christmas gift ever. HE wants to give you eternal life. HE said, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish” (John 10:28).
The Holy Land – Bing video
When was Jesus actually born month – Bing video
In the midst of my research, I also read Reversing Hermon by Dr. Michael Heiser. In chapter 4, Heiser puts forth his theory about the Bethlehem star. He believes that the star was the conjunction of the planet Jupiter and the star Regulus, a series of conjunctions which occurred in 3 BC, one of them being on September 11, 3 BC (1 Tishrei 3759).
Heiser believes that this is Yeshua’s true birthdate.12 This view is based on his use of astronomical software and his calculation dating the death of King Herod to 1 BCE as opposed to 4 BCE, thereby opposing the predominant stance of modern scholarship. Although they don’t agree on the date of his death, all biblical scholars agree that Herod was alive and the reigning monarch at the time of Jesus’ birth.
While both of these scholars present intriguing research, their theories are unpersuasive unless you know another piece of the puzzle: the sign of Virgo.
The Sign of Virgo
In Revelation 12, what the author John describes is considered by a number of Bible theologians to be a description of the heavens when Messiah was born:
And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. (Revelation 12:1–2)
This is not just obscure symbolism, but an arrangement in the constellations that actually occurred – twice, in fact, within the years 7–1 BC – the timeframe in which the historical person Yeshua was born. The “woman” John is referring to is the constellation Virgo. As meteorologist and Bible researcher Ernest Martin writes, “The word ‘sign’ used by the author of the Book of Revelation to describe this celestial display was the same one used by the ancients to denote the zodiacal constellations.”13
Martin dated the phenomenon to September 11, 3 BC (1 Tishrei 3759) based on his astronomical software calculations. The program indeed proved that on that date, the
sun appeared in Virgo’s center, clothing her, with the moon under her feet.
“In the year 3 B.C.E., these two factors came to precise agreement for about an hour and a half… in the twilight period of September 11th the relationship began about 6:15 p.m. (sunset), and lasted until around 7:45 p.m. (moonset). This is the only day in the whole year that the astronomical phenomenon described in the twelfth chapter of Revelation could take place.”14
Heiser and Martin are in agreement on the date of September 11, 3 BC.
However, Dr. Nicholl is very persuasive that Herod died in 4 BC, and that the most updated astronomy software proves that in the timeframe of 7–1 BC (the only probable years for Yeshua’s birth), “Revelation 12:1 is compatible with September 15, 6 BCE.”15
He claims that in 3 BC, the moon was not precisely under Virgo’s feet, and only in 6 BC
did the correct positioning occur.