Verse for Today - Luke 2:6-7 (click to read blog)

Luke 2:6-7

"So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. "

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The previous verses told us that Mary and Joseph had traveled to Bethlehem because of the census.  While there, she gave birth to the incarnate (in the flesh) Son of God... the second person of the Trinity.  That a man could be a real God, we could never believe.  That Almighty God could enter humanity through the gestation process, that we can and must believe... as the Angel Gabriel had said to Mary in Luke 1, "For with God all things are possible."

Verse 7 then identifies the place in which Jesus was born and why.  Jesus was likely born in a stable and feeding trough ( manger ) was used as a bed, as there was on room for them in the inn.  Simple reality...there were lots of people in Bethlehem for the census.  But typological or representative as well.  Listen to how John speaks of this reality in John 1: 

¹⁰ "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. ¹¹ He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him."

Verse for Today - Luke 2:1,4-5 (click to read)

Luke 2:1, 4-5

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child."

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Read all of Luke 2

While for years the prophetic timetable seemed to make little headway, as we read the opening passages of the Gospels everything is moving along quickly. The details surrounding the birth of Christ are interesting and contextualizing.  They provide a witness and record of the events to show that what we're dealing with in the Christian faith, took place in real time and space (history).  In Mark 1 these preliminary events are overlooked and goes right to the meat of the matter, "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." 

For a time liberal scholars castigated the Scriptures as being unreliable and inaccurate.  One of their straw men was that there was no extant evidence of Quirinius or the census mentioned in verse 2.  We should not be surprised that sometime later archaeological evidence validated them both.

Today's verses provide just a little bit more of the circumstances and setting for the birth of Christ Jesus.  A couple of things are clear.  1. Another witness to Joseph's obedience to the Angel's directions to take Mary as his wife.  2. Their trip to Bethlehem was approximately 6 months from the angel's visit.  Mary has visited Elizabeth for three months... returned home and was found to be with child.  3. The time for her to give birth was approaching.

All this is part of the Gospel.  Well does the QA 22 of the Heidelberg Catechism say that true faith consists, not only with the conviction that all that God has revealed to us in his Word is true, but it does begin with this.  Do you really believe what Scriptures says?  It is the great discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Confidence in God's written Word isn't enough to save you, but it is the foundation on which true faith stands.

True faith also includes a hearty trust that not only to others, but to ourselves individually, God has freely granted the forgiveness of sins, eternal righteousness, and salvation, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ's merits.  

Verse for Today Blog - Luke 1:76-78 (click to read)

Luke 1:76-78

"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven...."

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Today's Verse is the conclusion of the Zechariah's prophetic song.  Zechariah is John the Baptist's father.  He had previously sung about the One greater than his Son, but is now speaking now of the work and ministry of John the Baptist.  He will be "a prophet of the Most High."  This reference to God is generally used to refer to God the Father, but here it's not necessarily exclusive.    As Christ is God Incarnate it may well refer to Him also.

John's ministry was preparatory.  He was calling the nation of Israel to repent...  to get real about their faith... to view themselves and their sin more accurately.  It's important to realize that the summary of John's ministry was, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand."  Formality and traditions had been substituted to true and sincere religion.  John was preparing them to humbly receive the Christ.

The final phrase is most beautiful. "because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun (Dayspring) will come to us from heaven."  In other words, God has shown us his compassion and let the light of His grace in Christ shine upon us.  How wonderful is that?  The song then concludes with these words, 

⁷⁹ To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, 
      To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Verse for Today - Matthew 1:20-21 (click to read)

Matthew 1:20-21

"But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”"

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Read all of Matthew 1

Joseph was not so different that us.  He was going to be discreet, he was minded to put Mary away secretly.  One would think that Mary had told Joseph about the angel Gabriel's visit... and even recounted to him the word he had spoken.  But you know what?  In all likelihood, it all sounded too improbable... even impossible.  Mary was already pregnant, probably just starting to show. 

[Intervening]... an angel from of heaven visit Joseph in a vision and tells Joseph what he should do.  Amazing drama, really.  What Mary going to do?  How can she persuade Joseph that what she's saying is true?  She had to wait on the Lord and trust that He would work our the details.  Sound familiar?

The Angel's words could hardly be more significant.  Yes, Mary is pregnant by an especial work of the Holy Spirit.  You shall name her baby boy Jesus, "for He will save his people from their sins."  Who can save anyone but God alone?  Indeed.

Matthew (the author) then connects the dots.  Listen to verses 22 and 23:

²² So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ²³ “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”  

Verse for Today - Luke 26-28 (click to read)

Luke 1:26-28

"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!”

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Read all of Luke 1

This begins Luke's account of the conversation between the virgin Mary and the Angel Gabriel.  The account is set in history by the sixth month, which might be the 6th month in the calendar or as we learn in verse 36, the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy. 

We're told relatively few things.  The angel's name, Gabriel, the woman's name, Mary.  That she was betrothed (promised to be married) to Joseph, who was of the house or lineage of King David.  

What follows is his words of greeting.  She is urged to rejoice as one highly favored, blessed among women.  If we would stop there, some confusion would remain.  In fact, Mary's response is just that.  She is puzzled or as the text says troubled at his words.

He then explains that she will give birth to the promised Messiah:

"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. ³² He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; 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 of His kingdom there will be no end."

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Verse for Today Blog - Galatians 4:4-5 (click to read)

Galatians 4:4-5

"But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship."

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This is a great verse to remember during the Christmas holidays.  It reminds that God knew exactly what He was doing.  As He is God Almighty... He not only created all things, but also governs all things to fulfill the purposes.  He was directing the events of history and even those of the geo-political landscape in anticipation of of the coming Christ.  

Things were ready prophetically.  As per Daniel's prophecy, nations had risen and fallen and now was the time for the Kingdom God to become established on earth.   Things were read practically.  Among of the benefits of the Greek-Roman World was universal language (Greek).  Another was ease of transportation (roads/ships).  

This is all part of what was meant by the phrase "When the time had fully come."  When everything was set, God sent forth His Son...born of a woman, born under law for the express purpose of fulfilling our redemption.... "to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the adoption to sonship."

In short, this is the gospel.  Hallelujah, What a Savior!

John 3:16,17 makes the same point:

¹⁶ "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

Verse for Today Blog Deuteronomy 18:15 (click to read)

Deuteronomy 18:15

 “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.”

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 This is one of the major prophecies from Moses regarding the coming Messiah.  This expectation becomes evident during the course of Jesus earthy ministry.   We hear hints of this after the Sermon on the Mount when the people say that Jesus taught with authority and them not as the scribes.

  When John the Baptist began his ministry along the Jordan he was asked several occasions if he was the Prophet.   He proclaims that he is not the Prophet, but that the He is soon to come.  When he sees Christ before his baptism, he proclaims, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

There are several places that Deuteronomy is quoted with reference to Christ.  The most clearly in Acts 3.  However, one of the most striking is found in John 6 after Jesus fed the 5000 we read the conclusion of the multitude.

  ¹³ ”Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. ¹⁴ Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.””  There is a similar reference in John 7:31:

 “And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?””

 In conclusion note the implication of what should be done when the Prophet appears.  We must listen to him.  These words are echoed in the transfiguration… when God the Father thunders from heaven, “THIS IS MY WELL BELOVED SON, LISTEN TO HIM!“

 Do you hear what I hear?  Are you listening?