Day 275—We are in the TENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

    Day 275 – Matthew 1, Luke 2 (Genealogy of Jesus, birth of Jesus, Jesus at the Temple as a baby and a boy)

Matthew 1. Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus begins with Abraham. It descends, following the kingly line of David down to Jesus’ stepfather, Joseph, showing that Jesus rightfully is in the line to reign as King, as God promised David. (Luke 3 shows the ascending line of Jesus from Mary to Adam and God)

Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus also includes women and gentiles. (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba).  (Be sure to read through this list. We’ve just finished the Old Testament reading, and you will recognize many names.)

In Luke’s gospel, we read how the angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her she would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and give birth to “the Son of God,” whom she should name Jesus. 

Here, we see her betrothed, Joseph, learning of her pregnancy and deciding to “divorce” her privately. (He definitely was NOT the baby’s natural father.)  But the angel comes to him in a dream, explaining Mary’s Holy Spirit conception, the Son she will bear and call Jesus, “for he will save his people from their sins.” The baby will also be known as “Immanuel,” God with us.  (The angel refers to Isaiah 7:14, 8:8 & 10)

Joseph awoke from the dream and “did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but ‘knew her not’ until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”

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Luke 2. This passage is very familiar to believers. Some might even be able to recite it.  Christmas: the birth of Jesus.

It begins with the Roman Caesar Augustus needing more money and sending out a decree to all the constituents of his world to “register” in the towns of their birth so he could extract taxes from each of them. 

Joseph – a descendant of David, born in Bethlehem – started out for that town with his very pregnant wife.  They barely made it when she went into labor and gave birth to her firstborn son. He was wrapped and laid in a feed box in the stable because the inn had no vacant rooms. (Crowded with people coming to register.)

Meanwhile, out in the hills surrounding Bethlehem, a group of special shepherds watched over their flock of special sheep. (Special because these were the sheep used for sacrifices in the temple.)  All was quiet when suddenly a bright angel appeared to them, and the brilliant light of the glory of the Lord shone all around them.  Cringing from the light of God, they trembled.

(It’s interesting that the SHEEP did not panic and flee. Did they understand that “the Lamb of God” who would one day be “sacrificed” in Jerusalem, like them, had been born that night?)

The bright angel announced the GOSPEL (good news) OF JOY, which was for all people.  A Savior, Messiah, the Lord, had been born that night in a nearby stable. They would know Him because He was wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying IN A FEEDBOX. 

Then the Angel of the Lord was surrounded by a multitude (myriads) of angels, singing praise to God,  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”

Then silence and darkness came, and the shepherds sat/lay dumbfounded. Finally one said, “Let’s go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened.”  And they did.  And like the angel said, they found Mary and Joseph in a stable and a baby lying in a feedbox.  They told the couple about the angels, and everyone was amazed.  (Mary bloomed joyfully and hid these things in her heart for later.)  The shepherds returned to their sheep,  glorifying and praising God, having seen the Lamb of God which would one day take away the sin of their world.

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FORTY DAYS LATER, when it came time for the ritual of cleansing for Mary after giving birth, and the dedication of the firstborn son, they went to the temple.  As those in poverty, the couple offered two birds (Leviticus 12:8), and then paid the coin required by law to “redeem back” their baby, according to the Mosaic law. (Exodus 13:2, 12-15)

Then, two old people came to bless the baby boy and his parents. Simeon, righteous and devout and waiting for the Messiah, approached them with his face alight with gratitude to God.  He took Jesus in his arms, saying he could now die peacefully because he had seen God’s salvation. “My eyes have seen Your Salvation that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people, Israel.”

He blessed Mary and Joseph and warned Mary that a “sword would pierce through her soul” because of Him.  Then, the second elder, Anna, a prophetess, came to them.  She also gave thanks to God for seeing the savior.  She began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

This must have “wowed” Mary and Joseph and added more thoughts to Mary’s heart to ponder. 

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TWELVE YEARS LATER (after a visit from some wise men, a trip to Egypt (recalled by Matthew), and the return to Nazareth), Jesus, having grown and become strong, filled with wisdom, and having God’s favor on him, went with Mary and Joseph (and possibly some younger siblings) to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover.  (Was this also His Bar Mitzvah?)

After the ceremonies, as the family returned to Nazareth, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Mary did not miss him until they were three days out.  Then she panicked, searching among the relatives and traveling companions and not finding him.  They decided they had to return to the City to look for him.  Sure enough, Jesus was in the temple, sitting among the rabbis, listening to them and asking questions.  Those teachers were totally amazed at His understanding and answers.

“Son! Why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress!”  cried his mother.

Jesus answered them politely but truthfully, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know I must be in MY FATHER’S house?”

Whoa. (More for Mary to think about.)

But Jesus went back with them to Nazareth, where He INCREASED in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man.