Showing posts with label Shepherds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shepherds. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

#8 The Birth of Jesus

#8 The Birth of Jesus
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