The Birth of Jesus the Christ
Dearly beloved of God, even though Jesus was not born on December 25, but on September 11, we still rejoice that he was born. He is the only begotten Son of God, the Savior of the world, and God made him both Lord and Christ.
Luke 2:1-3
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed [registered].
2 (And this taxing [registration] was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed [registered], every one into his own city.
Caesar Augustus announced a registration throughout the Roman Empire and its subject territories in 3 B.C. The purpose of this registration was to officially document the political allegiance of Caesar’s subjects.
The Senate planned to give Caesar this document in celebration of the silver jubilee of his rule on his 60th birthday, which was also the 750th anniversary of the founding of Rome.
The Senate of Rome bestowed Caesar Augustus with the supreme title as the “Father of the Country” at this time.
4 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:)
5 To be taxed [registered] with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 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.
The inn or lodging house was full when Mary and Joseph arrived so they had to shelter with the animals. These inns were typically four sided surrounding an inner courtyard.
The animals were stabled in the rear, in stalls connected to the back wall. Each stall was equipped with a manger or feeding trough containing straw for the animals.
Mary and Joseph wrapped the baby in swaddling clothes and laid him in an animal’s feeding trough.
According to Eastern culture when the son of a king was born, he was salted, and wrapped in swaddling clothes.
The newborn baby would be washed in water containing salt. This represented that as king he would be a man of his word; he would mean what he said, and he would say what he meant. His words were salted.
After the baby was salted, he was wrapped in swaddling clothes. The swaddling clothes consisted of many feet of fine linen cloth, which were two or so inches wide.
The baby was wound round and round with the strips of cloth from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head, leaving only the breathing passages exposed.
He was wrapped in an erect position which symbolized that his parents would raise their son to be upright and free from crookedness.
The ceremony was brief, lasting long enough for the parents to pray and make their vows to God to raise their son to be upright before God and man. The parents considered raising the future king as a sacred trust.
By salting and swaddling Jesus, Mary and Joseph demonstrated that they believed that he was the royal heir to King David’s throne, and God’s only begotten Son.
At the same time in the nearby fields another remarkable event took place.
Luke 2:8
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
These shepherds were in the nearby rural area of Bethlehem abiding in the field and keeping watch over their flock by night. This only occurred after the harvest in the fall.
After harvest, the farmers in the East would hire shepherds to fertilize their fields. The shepherds brought their sheep into their fields for two or three nights to fertilize them with their manure. They would stay with the sheep in the field during their contract.
The weather turned seasonally cold and wet in November and remained so through February. The shepherds would not stay in the fields with their sheep during this time of year.
Luke 2:9
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.
“Lo” calls our attention to note what follows by the use of the figure of speech asterismos, which marks what follows the same as an asterisk does.
“The angel of the LORD,” suddenly appeared to them surrounded by “the glory of the LORD.”
The evening suddenly went from dark to stunning, brilliant light as they were surrounded by the glory of the LORD. God’s personal messenger stood before them. It is no wonder “they were sore afraid.”
Luke 2:10-12
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
To find a newborn king in the midst of the swaddling ceremony would be an instantly recognizable sign! The shepherds would find the babe in Bethlehem, the city of King David.
Luke 2:13 and 14
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
These humble shepherds went from watching their sheep manure the fields that evening to receiving a privileged invitation by the angel of the LORD to attend the swaddling ceremony of the King of kings!
Suddenly, a great number of angels stood with the angel of the LORD praising God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Luke 2:15 and 16
15 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.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
They immediately went to Bethlehem and arrived during the brief swaddling ceremony only moments after Jesus’ birth.
Luke 2:17-20
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Jesus Christ’s birth was not noticed by the world, but when he returns for the Church, they will be aware of it. He will gather all that he saved up to meet him in the air when he gives the summoning shout.
Happy Holidays, beloved of God.