THE “SIGN” OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS
12-20-15 This message may be viewed live streaming video at www.tabernacleofmoses.org commencing today Sunday at 11:00 am, and repeated 24/7 for one week; thereafter, the video and notes are archived.
The depth of our revelations depends upon the correctness of our doctrine
THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST
(Mat 1:18-25) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused [Gk: engaged, betrothed] to Joseph, before they came together [conjugally (made love, had physical sex)], she was found with child [pregnant] of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just [Gk: holy: righteous] man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily [privately]. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream [4x], 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 [Gk: The Lord is salvation]: 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 [Isaiah 7:14]. 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 [was physically intimate with her] not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Mary = Heb: Miriam; rebelliously /// bitterness, rebellion. [A representation of all unregenerated humanity; perhaps the nicest sinner, but nevertheless a redeemed sinner]
Joseph = Heb: let him add, adding. [Interestingly, had not the Romans been currently in rule, Joseph, who was in the lineage of David, could have been the rightful king]
(Job 33:14,15) For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth [Heb: beholds, regards] it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
(Luke 2:1-7) And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from [Roman Emperor] 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 [i.e., for a census in preparation for a tax], every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David [i.e., David’s birth], which is called Bethlehem [Heb: house of bread]; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 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 [Gk: to strap or wrap with strips; to swathe], and laid him in a manger [Gk: (to eat); a crib (for fodder): stall] [a feeding trough for animals]; because there was no room for them in the inn.
(EMPHASIS): THE SIGN
(Luke 2:8-12) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night [to protect the sheep from robbers and wild animals]. 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 [Gk: to strap or wrap with strips; to swathe], lying in a manger [Gk: (to eat); a crib (for fodder): stall] [a feeding trough for animals].
(Eccl 3:18) I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them [make apparent to them], and that they might see that they themselves are beasts [Heb: animals].
(John 6:35) And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
(John 6:51) I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
(John 1:14) And the Word [of God, the Bible] was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Commentary: Were the animals in the stable wild or tame (domesticated)? How does the “sign” of the stable event parallel salvation?
(Exo 25:9,10) According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. And they shall make an ark [Heb: a box: [treasure] chest, coffin] of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
tabernacle = Heb: a residence (including a shepherd’s hut, the lair of animals, fig. the grave; also the Temple); specifically the Tabernacle: dwelling (place), habitation, tent.
ark = Heb: (in the sense of gathering); a box: [treasure] chest, coffin.
(Luke 2:13-20) 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. 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 [Heb: house of bread], 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. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered [Gk: considered] them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
THE WISE MEN
(Mat 2:1-13) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod [Gk: sight] the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King [of faith] 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 [Gk: the anointed; the Messiah] should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet [Micah], 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 [Micah 5:2]. Then Herod, when he had privily [privately] called the wise men, enquired of them diligently [Gk: to be exact] what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently [Gk: to be exact] 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 [rather than stable thus indicating the passage of time for growth from babe to child], 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. 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, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
(Mat 2:14-23) 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 [in 4 B.C., thereby placing the birth of Christ at 5 to 6 B.C.]: 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 [Gk: to be exact] enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel [Heb: ewe: sheep] weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not [Jer 31:15]. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding [Gk: but], being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.