1: 26 Now in the sixth month the angel (MESSENGER) Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin [r]betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the [s]descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was [t]Mary.
28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord [u]is with you.”
29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was.
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 give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”
34 But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I [v]am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the [w]holy Child will be called the Son of God.
36 And behold, even your relative Elizabeth herself has conceived a son in her old age, and [x]she who was called infertile is now in her sixth month.
37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
38 And Mary said, “Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem
“BETHLEHEM EXPERIENCED A FAMINE SO SEVERE THAT SOME LEFT IN SEARCH OF FOOD IN MOAB.” C/O HELENE DALLAIRE, PhD, DENVER SEMINARY
GOD SELECTED BETHLEHEM (EPHRATHAN, OF JUDEA, NOT OF ZEBULAN), A TOWN OF LESS THAN 1000 PEOPLE. CHRIST FULFILLED 60 PROPHECIES AND 270 RAMINFICATIONS OF THEM IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. THE CHANCE OF THIS IS 1 WITH 17 ZEROS BEHIND IT. HALF OF THEM HE COULDN’T FULFILL. SEE JOSH.ORG FOR MORE INFO.
MICAH 5: 2 “BUT YOU, O BETHLEHEM EPHRATHAH, WHO ARE LITTLE TO BE AMOND THE CLANS OF JUDAH, FROM YOU SHALL COME FORTH FOR ME ONE WHO IS TO BE RULER IN ISRAEL, WHOSE ORIGIN IS FROM OF OLD, FROM ANCIENT DAYS”
2:1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all [a]the inhabited earth.
2 [b]This was the first census taken while [c]Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And all the people were on their way to register for the census, each to his own city.
4 Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5 in order to register along with Mary, who was [d]betrothed to him, and was pregnant.
6 While they were there, the [e]time came for her to give birth.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a [f]manger, (FEEDING TROUGH) because there was no [g]room for them in the inn. THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE WHAT WAS BORN IN A STINKY NOISY, COLD STABLE. NO GUEST ROOMS AVAILABLE FROM FAMILY OR FRIENDS, OR AN AIR B&B :)
8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night.
9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. DR LUKE MENTIONED ANGELS MORE THAN THE OTHER GOSPELS; REMEMBER HE ALSO WROTE ACTS. I PRAY WE SEE THE GLORY OF GOD LIKE 1 KINGS 8:10-11 DISCUSSED.
10 And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; THEY WEREN’T SISSIES / BABIES W/ WINGS. ANGELS GUARD, DELIVER (ANGEL FOOD CAKE), MINISTER, KILLED 185k IN 2 KINGS 19 (1 ANGEL!). WE MAY HAVE GUARDIAN ANGELS PER PSALM 91.
11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is [h]Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a [i]manger.”
13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly [j]army of angels praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people [k]with whom He is pleased.”
15 When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 And they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the [l]manger.
17 When they had seen Him, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
18 And all who heard it were amazed about the things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
MATTHEW CHAPTER 1 SHOWS THE GENEALOGY / FULFILLED PROPHECY, CONCEPTION AND BIRTH OF CHRIST. EACH WRITER GIVES A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE; HE WAS A TAX COLLECTOR, LIKE OUR IRS AGENTS.
MATTHEW 1: 19 “JOSEPH, HER HUSBAND, BEING A RIGHTEOUS MAN AND NOT WANTING TO DISGRACE HER, DESIRED TO PUT HER (OR HIMSELF/ DIVORCE) AWAY SECRETLY” LIKE THEY SENT AWAY UNWED MOTHERS. CHRIST WASN’T ILLEGITIMATE! THAT WAS SOMETHING JOSEPH AND MARY HAD TO LET OTHERS KNOW.
20 But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for [s]the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for [t]He will save His people from their sins.”
22 Now all this [u]took place so that what was spoken by the Lord through [v]the prophet would be fulfilled:
23 “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN WILL [w]CONCEIVE AND GIVE BIRTH TO A SON, AND THEY SHALL NAME HIM [x]IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.” ISAIAH 7:14
24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife,
25 [y]but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he named Him Jesus.
MATTHEW 2 – VISIT OF THE WISE MEN (NOT WE 3 KINGS:), THE FLIGHT TO EGYPT, HEROD TRYING TO KILL JESUS BY KILLING ALL NEWBORN BOYS. THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE OLD TESTAMENT PLAGUE IN EXODUS 11 OF FIRSTBORN
MARK STARTS WITH JOHN BAPTIZING JESUS, SCHOLARS: OLDEST GOSPEL
JOHN WROTE REV AND 1-3 JOHN; WAS PUT IN BURNING OIL; EXILED TO THE ISLAND OF PATMOS; (USE ADVENT WREATH)
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (DIFFERENT THAN THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES' BIBLE)
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.
8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
JOHN 1: 14 THE WORD BECAME FLESH
Joy to the World notes by John Piper 2013
"5 mile walk from Jerusalem to Bethlehem" Matt 2:9, p.15
Old Testament Shadows and the Coming Of Christ (p. 59, 60):
1. The shadows of the old covenant priesthood, Hebrews 7:23-24 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.
2. The shadow of the Passover sacrifice, 1 Cor 5:7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.
3. The shadow of the Tabernacle and Temple Heb 8:1-2, Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister in the sanctuary and [b]in the true [c]tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. John 2:19-21 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this [a]temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this [b]temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.
4. The shadow of circumcision 1 Cor 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.
5. The shadow of dietary laws Mark 7: 18-19 And He *said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and [a]is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.)
6. The shadow of feast days. Col 2: 16-17, Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
2 Cor 4: 6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
Psalm 22 is a type of Christ. He quoted verse 1 in Mark 15: 34
34 At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise.
For the choir director; upon [a]Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David.
22 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
[b]Far from my deliverance are the words of my [c]groaning.
2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but [d]I have no rest.
3 Yet You are holy,
O You who [e]are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
4 In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You delivered them.
5 To You they cried out and were delivered;
In You they trusted and were not [f]disappointed.
6 But I am a worm and not a man,
A reproach of men and despised by the people.
7 All who see me [g]sneer at me;
They [h]separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,
8 “[i]Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him;
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”
9 Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;
You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.
10 Upon You I was cast from [j]birth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb.
11 Be not far from me, for [k]trouble is near;
For there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have surrounded me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
13 They open wide their mouth at me,
As a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water,
And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It is melted within [l]me.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;
And You lay me [m]in the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded me;
[n]A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
[o]They pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me;
18 They divide my garments among them,
And for my clothing they cast lots.
19 But You, O Lord, be not far off;
O You my help, hasten to my assistance.
20 Deliver my [p]soul from the sword,
My only life from the [q]power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth;
From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me.
22 I will tell of Your name to my brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him;
All you [r]descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And stand in awe of Him, all you [s]descendants of Israel.
24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from him;
But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.
25 From You comes my praise in the great assembly;
I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.
26 The [t]afflicted will eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.
Let your heart live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the nations will worship before [u]You.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s
And He rules over the nations.
29 All the [v]prosperous of the earth will eat and worship,
All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him,
Even he who [w]cannot keep his soul alive.
30 [x]Posterity will serve Him;
It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation.
31 They will come and will declare His righteousness
To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.
Footnotes
Psalm 22:1 Lit the hind of the morning
Psalm 22:1 Or Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?
Psalm 22:1 Lit roaring
Psalm 22:2 Lit there is no silence for me
Psalm 22:3 Or inhabit the praises
Psalm 22:5 Or ashamed
Psalm 22:7 Or mock me
Psalm 22:7 I.e. make mouths at me
Psalm 22:8 Lit Roll; another reading is He committed himself
Psalm 22:10 Lit a womb
Psalm 22:11 Or distress
Psalm 22:14 Lit my inward parts
Psalm 22:15 Lit to
Psalm 22:16 Or An assembly
Psalm 22:16 Another reading is Like a lion, my...
Psalm 22:20 Or life
Psalm 22:20 Lit paw
Psalm 22:23 Lit seed
Psalm 22:23 Lit seed
Psalm 22:26 Or poor
Psalm 22:27 Some versions read Him
Psalm 22:29 Lit fat ones
Psalm 22:29 Or did not
Psalm 22:30 Lit A seed
