Category: CHURCH

What comes to mind when you think of Thanksgiving Day?
Turkey? Family? Friends? Big Meal? Fun-Happiness?
Thanks to God? What the Lord Jesus has done? Pilgrims?

Pilgrims … they had many reasons for coming to the new world: escape government oppression,
escape old debts, dislike of old life of persecution, challenge, adventure, a new beginning, etc. etc.
Thanksgiving should remind us of a new beginning.

When you got saved, you got a new beginning. Your name was written into the Lambs Book of Life, ALL old events of your life are blotted out by the blood of the Lord Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

THANK GOD FOR EVERYTHING – ESPECIALLY FOR YOUR SALVATION – And the opportunity to spend eternity with HIM forever in a place we can’t even describe.

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

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Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

What do we know about Joseph? 
    He was a just Man Matthew 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
    He was obedient to God Matthew 1:24-25Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.              See also Matthew 2:13-14, 19-23
    He was a Jew, in the linage of the house of David Luke 1:27 states “To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.” 
Matthew 1:1-16 “……And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ”.
Luke 3:23-38 records the geology of Joseph. Vs 31 states ”Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,”.
    He was a Carpenter by trade Matthew 13:55 Is not this the carpenter‘s son? is not his mother called Mary? …
Joseph disappears from the scripture but some things are surmised:
He was probably in his mid-twenties, a carpenter, not wealthy but able to support a family.
     He was obedient to the Temple and to the Law, (both God’s and Man’s).
   He probably died before Jesus was Crucified as he is not mentioned there.

What do we know about Mary? 
   She was espoused to Joseph Matthew 1:18
She was a Virgin Luke 1:27
   She was in favor with God Luke 1:30
She was obedient to God Luke 1:38
   She was a Jew and acknowledged God as her Savior Luke 1:46-47
   She was related to Elisabeth, (Luke 1:40-41) Mother of John the Baptist Luke 1:57-63
   She was probably in her teenage years.

Joseph & Mary had at least 6 other children after the birth of Jesus. 
Matthew 13:55-56 Is not this the carpenter‘s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? …

     Note: James was the leader of the Assembly in Jerusalem, and wrote the epistle of JAMES. Judas (Jude) wrote the epistle of JUDE.

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Luke 2:1-3 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from 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, every one into his own city.

The Census of Quirinius was a census of Judea taken by the Roman governor upon the imposition of direct Roman rule in 6 CE.

This taxation order forced Joseph, who obeyed the Law of the Kings, to leave Nazareth, the city where He and Mary lived awaiting the birth of their first child and return to Bethlehem, his birth place.

Luke 2:4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

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Luke 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

     It would appear it took Joseph, and a heavily pregnant Mary riding on a donkey, about a five-day journey (possibly longer) to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Bethlehem is situated in the Judaean Hills 5 miles (8 km) south of Jerusalem. Bethlehem was a small farming and sheep town with many shepherds living there.

     The City of Bethlehem is mentioned in 12 Books of the Old Testament most notability:

MICAH 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

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Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

     The word “manger” comes from the Old French mangier (meaning “to eat”), from Latin mandere (meaning “to chew”). A manger or crib is a wooden or stone feeding trough or food box that holds hay for larger farm animals like cattle, horses, and donkeys. Mangers are generally found in stables and farmhouses. The manger is not a room or place.

     When Joseph and Mary arrived at the Inn, all the travelers had overcrowded the guest rooms. Inns at the time were not like today. There was not a room for everyone that checked in. There was one, possibly two large rooms where all slept together. Perhaps the Inn keeper seeing Mary’s condition offered a place where the animals lived so she could have privacy while she delivered her child. Then she placed her child in a manger (filled with Hay) for comfort.

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LUKE 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

WHY Shepherds?   
     It may also be worth noting that many biblical figures were shepherds, among them the patriarchs Abraham and Jacob, the twelve tribes, the prophet Moses, King David, and the Old Testament prophet Amos, who was a shepherd in the rugged area around Tekoa.

Who were the Shepherds? 
     Shepherds had a difficult job that earned no rank in society. Some believe they were priests, actually fulfilling Temple duties, and the only ones who could perform Temple duties were priests.

How Many?
    There had to be at least 2, possibly 4 or 5, but the scripture does not say. But how many could have crowded into the place where the manger was to see the new born child?

What were they doing?
  A shepherd’s primary responsibility is the safety and welfare of the flock. The shepherd will graze the animals, herding them to areas of good forage, and keeping a watchful eye out for dangerous animals.

They were Jews and probably knew of the promises of a coming Messiah (Christ the Lord).
They were given a sign (Jews looked for a sign). Luke 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
They Obeyed God (Thru the Angel’s Message) and headed for the city Luke 2:15.

It would appear that they arrived in a short order as Joseph & Mary were still in the Manager. Luke 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

They made this knowledge known abroad. Luke 2:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

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LUKE 2:9-10 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.

What is the name of the angel that appeared to the shepherds?
    Only two angels are named in the Bible: Michael and Gabriel –
(See Angels, Angel Appearances, Michel the Angel, Gabriel the Angel).

Michael is named 5 times in Scripture.
Gabriel is named 4 times in the Bible.

This Angel, who appeared to the shepherds, was probably one of these two.

The multitude
Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Who were the multitude of heavenly host?  Why not just say a lot of angels?
   Primarily the angels are meant, but the name gathers into itself the idea of all divine or heavenly power as available for the need of God’s people.
    Another thought: The heavenly host is a group or army with heavenly power to assist God’s people. The main purpose of heavenly hosts is to strengthen and comfort believers.

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When did the shepherds leave? 
    Luke 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Joseph & Mary have left the Manger and moved into a house.  Eight days after, Mary was now clean (Leviticus 12:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.

Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

A trip to Jerusalem LUKE 2:22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; ) (Leviticus 12:3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

While in Jerusalem at the Temple; The visit of Simeon Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. Read 2:26-35

Anna the prophetess Luke 2:36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; Read 2:37-39

They returned home to Bethlehem probably the same day.

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Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Who was Herod?
He was also known as Herod the Great, was a Roman client king of Judea, referred to as the Herodian kingdom. The emperor Augustus gave Herod the title King of the Jews and his connections with Rome, He would have been deeply offended by the Magi who were (Matthew 2:2) Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? …

Was Herod a Jew?
Herod was born in southern Palestine. His father, Antipater, was an Edomite (a Semitic people, identified by some scholars as Arab, who converted to Judaism in the 2nd century BCE). Antipater was a man of great influence and wealth who increased both by marrying the daughter of a noble from Petra (in southwestern Jordan), at that time the capital of the rising Arab Nabataean kingdom. Thus, Herod was of Arab origin, although he was a practicing Jew.

Why did Herod kill Baby boys 2 years and under?
Matthew 2:16 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 inquired of the wise men.
After consulting with his chief priests and scribes, he determined the child might be as old as two years and living in or around Bethlehem.
Matthew 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

No outsider was going to overthrow Him as King of the Jews.

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