And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” – Luke 1:28 (NKJV)
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.”
– Matthew 1:20-21 (NIV)
Mary’s Blessing: An
We would say it’s
A ruined
You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born as a result of sexual immorality;
– John 8:41 (NASB)
from family
For even his own brothers did not believe in him. – John 7:5 (NIV)
A significant to the mother
If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, one who commits adultery with his friend’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. – Leviticus 20:10 (NASB95)
For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb…Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. – Psalms 139:13-16 (NASB95)
(v.1) Augustus: increased, augmented (Hitchcock’s)
Bethlehem is about in size
Micah told us where Jesus would be born 733-701 BC
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah (fruitfulness), Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from old, From everlasting.”
– Micah 5:2 (NKJV)
Bethlehem: Beth-Lechem – “House of Bread” (CWSBD)
(Jesus) “I am the bread of life. – John 6:48 (NASB)
God works supernaturally through ways
The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they make. – Psalms 37:23 (TLB)
Sometimes God uses difficult circumstances to get us exactly where He wants us, to accomplish His purpose
(v.7)
Manger: (to eat); a crib (for fodder) – manger, stall (OTESD)
The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
– John 1:29 (NASB)
(v.7) “her firstborn” implies there will be
(Joseph) …kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. – Matthew 1:25 (NASB95)
Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” – Matthew 13:55-56 (NKJV)
The angel announced the of joy
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news (euaggelizo) of great (megas) joy that will be for all the people. – Luke 2:10 (NASU)
Euaggelizo: to announce good news especially the gospel (OTESD)
(vv.16-20)
God doesn’t immediately the circumstances,
but sends in the circumstances