Please first read:
Luke 2:1-20; Matthew 2:1-12
Apostle
James E. Talmage:
“There
is meaning as deep as the pathos that all must feel in the seemingful parenthetical
remark by Luke ... “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her
heart.” It is apparent that the great truth as to the personality and mission
of her divine Son had not yet unfolded itself in its fullness to her mind. The
whole course of events, from the salutation of Gabriel to the reverent testimony
of the shepherds concerning the announcing angel and the heavenly hosts, was
largely a mystery to the stainless mother and wife.”
Matthew
1:23: “A virgin shall be with child.” This significant phrase shows a
fulfillment of a prophecy given by God in the Garden of Eden. He told Satan
that there would be enmity between his seed and the seed of the woman; Satan
could bruise the heel, but the woman’s seed would have power to crush Satan’s
head. (Genesis 3: 15)
Have
you ever thought that in all history only one person could be called the seed
of the woman? All others are the seed of a man and a woman. Interesting how
this changes the message we perceive. (Church
Educational System, “The Growing Edge” December 1981)
“I
have wondered if this young woman, something of a child herself, here bearing
her first baby, might have wished her mother, or an aunt, or her sister, or her
friend to be near her through the labor. Surely the birth of such a son as this
should have commanded the aid and attention of every midwife in Judea. We all
might wish that someone could have held her hand, cooled her brow, and when the
ordeal was over, given her rest in crisp, cool linen. But it was not to be so. With
only Joseph's inexperienced assistance, she herself brought forth her firstborn
son, wrapped him in the little clothes she had knowingly brought on her
journey, and perhaps laid him on a pillow of hay.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “No
Room for Them in the Inn” Luke 2: 7)
The
Joseph Smith translation of Luke 2: 7 reads a little differently: “And she
brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and
laid him in a manger, because there was none
to give room for them in the inns.” (King James version: “no room for them
in the inn.”)
Apostle
Bruce R. McConkie:
“Inns
were square buildings, open inside, in which travelers commonly put up for the night;
back parts of these erections were used as stables. Mary's condition probably
required slow travel so that the inns were all filled upon their arrival in
Bethlehem, necessitating their use of the stable for shelter. It was the
traveling host of Judah generally, not just the innkeeper or an isolated few
persons, who withheld shelter from Joseph and Mary. Though her state was apparent,
the other travelers, lacking in courtesy, compassion, and refinement, would not
give way so she could be cared for more conveniently and commodiously. This rude
rejection was but a prelude to the coming day when these same people and their
children after them would reject to their eternal sorrow the Lord who that
night began mortality under the most lowly circumstances.”
Apostle
Jeffrey R. Holland:
“There was no room for 'them' in the inn. We
cannot be certain, but it is my guess that money could talk in those days as
well as in our own. I think if Joseph and Mary had been people of influence or
means, they would have found lodging even at that busy time of year. They
did not know the right people.”
Under
these circumstances there would be no privacy for Mary to give birth to the
baby ... many people crowded into one room to eat sleep and stay. Joseph may
have been very grateful to accept the offer of a stable, its privacy, and
possible greater solitude. Maybe the
innkeeper, seeing Mary's condition, was not being hard-hearted when he
suggested the use of his stable.
Jesus’ Earthly Family and Times
Virtually
all who knew the family considered Joseph to be the reputed and legal father of
Jesus. Probably Zacharias and Elizabeth
were the only others who would have known otherwise. Jesus would grow up being
so regarded. From Mary he would get all earthly talents. From God he would get
all Godly powers; one immortal and glorified, one human.
All
the necessary requirements of the law were meticulously carried out. He was
circumcised at eight days of age and given a name. This brought him under the
obligation of the Jewish laws pertaining to a male Jew. He would thus observe
all required sacrifices, ceremonial observances and ordinances. At age twelve
Jesus would become “a son of the law.” He would have a position in the
congregation and be recognized as a member of his community. His vocational,
secular and religious studies all moved to an advanced level and practice, and
at this age parents could no longer sell their son as a bond servant.
Joseph
Smith, in his inspired version of the Bible, added the following: “Jesus grew
up with his brethren, and waxed strong, and waited upon the Lord for the time
of his ministry to come. And he served under his father, and he spake not as
other men, neither could he be taught; for he needed not that any man should
teach him.” (Matthew 3: 24-25)
Hebrews
5: 8 “... though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he
suffered.” In addition, Jesus needed the earthly experience of growth.
President Joseph Fielding Smith said that Jesus, when He came here, forgot
everything (a veil was drawn) and He had to grow from grace to grace.
Some
of the people of Jesus' time considered him to be another Moses. There are
parallels between the two. Moses was considered a physical savior of the Jewish
nation; God gave them a new covenant through Moses, and Moses gathered them to
freedom. It appears that many followers of Jesus expected him to repeat this
against the Romans. However, Jesus came in the meridian of time to be our
spiritual savior.
Bethlehem
The
Jews had known for many years from their prophets that the Messiah would be
born of the lineage of David; and that his birth and coming would take place in
the town of Bethlehem, a small town in Judea that was also the birthplace of
their ancestor David. People were anticipating and praying for this to occur.
Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth of Galilee, nearly 100 miles north of
Bethlehem, and would have to travel there for the baby's birth regardless of
any other reason.
At
this time the Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus (Octavian) issues an order for all
subjects of the empire to register in a census so they can be taxed. The Jews
had paid tribute to Rome since Pompeii and Rome had taken tax census's before,
so this was not new to them. The Roman way of doing this was to take the census
in the town where subjects resided, but Jewish custom for this was for everyone
to register at their ancestral home. Joseph and Mary will have to travel to
Bethlehem. For some reason they did not leave early enough, and they are late
in arriving. It is Passover time and there will be huge crowds spilling over
from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. They are poor, and this will be a hard trip for
Mary being great with child. Many others likewise had to journey there and thus
the town is. overcrowded at this time. All short-term accommodations are long
gone even in this land which has a great reputation for citizens sharing
hospitality. Sheep and oxen will make room and be the companions for Jesus at
his birth. Against this backdrop of humility our Father-God causes some great
signs and events to take place throughout the world.
Witnesses
From
its inception Bethlehem was a community mostly engaged in agricultural and
pastoral activities. It was now springtime and shepherds were in the fields
with their sheep. Because of the closeness of Jerusalem, these sheep were
especially selected for sacrifice at the temple there. The scriptures seem to indicate
that the lowly shepherds were the first to know of the birth of the Messiah and
to testify of his arrival on earth. Doesn't this seem fitting in a way? ... Jesus,
who is destined to be sacrificed for all of us, is first made known to those
tending sheep destined for sacrifice in the temple.
Wise
men from eastern lands ... they came asking, “Where is he that is born king of
the Jews?” They probably knew of ancient
prophecies telling of the rise of a new star at the birth of the Messiah. When
this occurred, they responded and made plans to find the Messiah who would be
king. They received revelation to come, and revelation to not return to Herod when
they left to go home.
Additional points
of interest:
Many
nouns in the Hebrew language were given names...Bethlehem meant “house of
bread.” Jesus identified Himself as the “true bread of life.”
“Jesus”
was a common name at the time of Christ, as also was “Mary.”
Male
babies were named and circumcised on the eighth day of life; this was also to
be a reminder to parents to prepare their children for accountability at eight
years of age.
Jesus
came to fulfill the law of Moses, and through His circumcision He became
subject to the law and required to obey all its requirements ... which He did.
Mangers
in the East were built in the shape of kneading troughs and were commonly used
as cradles.
Glenn
R. McGettigan
December
2011; Revised October 2014
References:
“Doctrinal
New Testament Commentary.” McConkie
“The
Life of Christ.” Farrar
“The
Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ.” Holzapfel-Wayment
“Life
and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles.” CES NT Manual
“The
Gospels.” Jackson-Millet
“The
Mortal Messiah” McConkie
“Bible
Review Journal.” February 1985
“Our
Lord of the Gospels.” Clark
“The
Four Gospels.” Ludlow
“Life
of Christ.” Geikie
