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Chapter 2
The Birth of Jesus Christ - God Manifest in the Flesh
2:1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes.
n the days proceeding the birth of Jesus Christ in accordance with God’s plan and purpose for Hi Son to be born He caused Caeser Augustus to decree that all the Roman Empire should be registered. This was Caius Caeser - Octovianus Augustus who was procalimed emporer 29 BC and died 14 AD.
2:2 This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
This census was carried out when Quirinius was governing Syria. Although he was not actual appointed governor until ten - twelve years after Jesus Christ was born.
2:3 Everyone went to his own town to be registered.
Every one had to register in the place where their family originated from.
2:4-5 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child.
So Joseph went from Nazareth to Bethlehem the home of his ancesters for he was a decendant of King David. He took Mary to whom he was engaged to be married with him to be registered.
2:6-7 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
It was while they were in Bethlehem that she gave birth to her firstborn Son. He was followed by four brothers and several sisters (Matt. 13:55-56). She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, strips of cloth, according to Hebrew custom. “When a child among the Hebrews was born, it was washed in water, rubbed in salt, and then wrapped in swaddling clothes; that is, not garments regularly made, as with us, but bands or blankets that confined the limbs closely” (Barnes). Because there was no room for them in the inn Mary gave birth in a stable and the only thing to lay Him in was an animals manger.
The Birth of the Saviour made Known
2:8-9 Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified.
On the night that Jesus was born shepherds were in the fields near Bethlehem watching over their sheep when an angel appeared to them. From him the glory of the Lord filled the night sky around them, and they were terrified.
2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people.
The angel reassured them that he had not come to harm them but brought a message of good news from God which would bring great joy to all people.
Note: Jesus Christ was born in a stable a place where animals are kept and it was to the shepherds who looked after sheep that it was first made known that He was born.
2:11 Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord.
The Good News that the angel brought was what many in Israel had been praying and waiting for. This very day in the city of David, Bethlehem, the Saviour, Messiah, Deliverer is born who is Christ, the Anointed One, the Lord (Mic. 5: 6 and Isa. 9:6).
2:12 This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.
The sign to the shepherds that this child is the Christ is not so much that he would be wrapped in swaddling clothes but they would find him lying in a manger.
2:13-14 Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!"
Suddenly a multitude of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God “to honour the new-born Prince of Peace” (Clarke). This is their anthem of praise. The glory of God is and will be manifest in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, for through Him and by Him will be fulfilled God’s eternal purpose to reconcile the world to Himself. The peace on earth is the peace of reconciliation that will be brought about by Christ’s death and resurrection (Eph. 2:13-15). The correct rendering is “goodwill towards all men”, for “God so loved the world that He gave His Son (John 3:16).
2:15 When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us."
After the angels had gone the shepherds decided among themselves to go to Bethlehem to see for themselves what the Lord had made known to them.
2:16 So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger.
When they arrived at the stable they found it exactly as the angel had said, Marfy and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger.
2:17-18 When they saw him, they related what they had been told about this child, and all who heard it were astonished at what the shepherds said.
When they had seen Jesus they witnessed to everybody all that they had been told concerning Him i.e. that He is the Saviour. All who heard the shepherds story were amazed by it, for although they were expecting the Messiah and that He would be born according to prophecy in Bethlehem they did not think that He would have parents of such low social status or be born in a stable.
2:19 But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean.
But Mary treasured all these things in her heart and meditated upon them.
2:20 So the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told.
The shepherds returned to the occupation of caring for sheep praising and glorifying God for His Grace for all that they had seen and heard.
The Presentation of Christ
2:21 At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
According to the Law when He was eight days old Jesus was circumcised (Genesis 17:12). He was named Jesus, the name given by the angel Gabriel before He was conceived.
2:22-23 Now when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male will be set apart to the Lord." )
After Mary’s days of purification was completed according to the Law of Moses (Leviticus 12:2-6) they brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (Exodus 13:2 and Exodus 13:12-15).
2:24 And to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves or two young pigeons.
They offered a sacrifice to the Lord of a pair of turtle doves or pigeons, one for a burnt offering the other for a sin offering because they were poor (Leviticus 12:6-8).
Simeon’s Prophecy
2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon who was righteous and devout, looking for the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
At the time that Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to the Temple in Jerusalem their lived an aged man by the name of Simeon who was righteous in the sight of God and a very religious man. He was eagerly waiting for the coming of the Messiah and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
2:26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Anointed One of God, Christ the Messiah.
2:27-29 So Simeon, directed by the Spirit, came into the temple courts, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying,"Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord, permit your servant to depart in peace.
On the same day as Jesus was brought by his parents to be presented to God in the temple the Holy Spirit led Simeon there also. He took Jesus up into his arms and praising God propheseys. The Holy Spirit bore witness with Simeon’s spirit that this was the Christ, the promised Messiah and that according to the promise he had received by the Holy Spirit he was seeing Him. Therefore he could confidently say “now let your servant depart in peace”.
2:30-32 For 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.
Simeon was holding in his arms the Saviour of the World whom God had ordained and prepared before all the people (Isa. 52:10). He will bring the light of revelation of God’s purpose of salvation to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. To bring glory and honour to His people Israel (Isa. 42:6 and Isa. 49:6).
2:33 So the child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him.
Mary and Joseph were amazed at the things Simeon was saying about Jesus.
2:34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "Listen carefully: This child is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected.
Simeon blessed them and then addressing Mary told her that the child was destined to be a rock of offence, a stumbling stone to many in Israel to those who reject Him as the Christ, the Saviour (Isa. 8:14-15, Isa. 53:3, and John 1:11). But to those who receive Him as the Christ their Saviour He will raise them up to become the sons of God (John 1:12-13). The word “sign” used here means to be made a target for all those who oppose Him to shoot their wicked arrows at.
2:35 Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed — and a sword will pierce your own soul as well!
Simeon forewarns Mary that through the sufferings and death of her Son she also will have great sorrow. The end part of this verse is a continuation of verse 35 thus - as a result of Isreal’s reaction to the Son of God the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed as to how they truely stand with God.
Anna Witnessing
2:36-37 There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having been married to her husband for seven years until his death. She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
At the same time as Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the temple and while Simeon was talking to them, there came a prophetess by the name of Anna the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asser. She was eighty four years of age and was made a widow seven years after her marriage. She did not live in the temple but she was always there given herself to fasting, praying and worshipping God.
2:38 At that moment, she came up to them and began to give thanks to God and to speak about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Whether she heard any of Simeon’s prophecy we do not know but The Spirit witnessed with her spirit that this child was indeed the Messiah, the Redeemer. She praised God and like the shepherds she witnessed to everybody who had been waiting expectantly for the Saviour.
Jesus on His Father’s Business
2:39 So when Joseph and Mary had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
When Mary and Joseph and completed all that needed to be done in accordance to the Law they returned to Jerusalem.
2:40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.
It was here that Jesus grew up healthy in body and strong in spirit. The grace, favour and Spiritual blessing) of God was upon Him
2:41-42 Now Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem every year for the feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.
Every year Joseph and Mary went up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Passover (Exo. 23:14-17). When Jesus was twelve years old they took Him with them up to Jerusalem. This was most probably the age that boys were first taken to the feasts.
2:43-45 But when the feast was over, as they were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but (because they assumed that he was in their group of travelers) they went a day's journey. Then they began to look for him among their relatives and acquaintances. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After the Passover was over Joseph and Mary began their journey home but unbeknown to them Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. They thought that He was somewhere in the returning company with relatives so they were not concerned for Him until they had gone a day’s journey. When they could not find Him they returned to Jerusalem.
2:46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
After three days of searching they found Jesus in the court of the temple sitting among the teachers listening to them and asking them questions.
2:47 And all who heard Jesus were astonished at his understanding and his answers.
All those who heard Him were amazed at His understanding of the law and the scriptures and the way that He answered the rabbis.
2:48 When his parents saw him, they were overwhelmed. His mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously."
When Joseph and Mary saw Him and what He was doing they didn’t know what to think so His mother blamed Him for getting lost and causing His mother and father great anxiety.
2:49-50 But he replied, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?" Yet his parents did not understand the remark he made to them.
When we consider Jesus’s answer to Mary we must remember that she and Joseph knew who Jesus was, the Son of God. So He says to them “why did you seek for me you didn’t you know that I must be doing my Father’s work”. But they did not understand what He was saying to them.
2:51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. But his mother kept all these things in her heart.
He returned with them to Nazareth and was an obedient son. Mary kept all these things in her heart.
2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people.
Jesus continued to increase in wisdom, understanding, in age and size and in favour with God and man.
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