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Luke 1-2; Matt 1-2; The chronology of the birth of Jesus Christmas 2016 part 2

Last time we started a study on the chronology of Jesus' birth and left off in Luke 1:38; where Mary agrees to be the mother of Jesus' humanity, with the words "according to your Word."

We noted that the consequence of this would be that Joseph would almost put her away because of the false accusations against her and she would be the object of intense vilification, slander and maligning and was at risk of being stoned to death because that was the custom in Judea at the time (Lev 20:10;)

In spite of this she was willing for God's will to be done in her life regardless of the adversity it would cause her.

When God calls His people to significant roles in His plan they are always deserted. Mary was no exception and when we are called to play a role in God's plan we should not be surprised when we are maligned, vilified and deserted.

We pick up the narrative with Joseph in Matt 1:18-22; Net note 14

Matt 1:23; restates the prophesy recorded in Isa 7:14;

Matt 1:24-25; We jump back to Luke 2 to get the proper sequence of events that explains why they were in Bethlehem instead of Nazareth when Jesus was born.

Luke 2:1-6; Net note 13; Map 5-B1 The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem could go up over the mountains through Samaria or down to the Jordan River and up the mountain at Jericho.

The mountain route was shorter but more difficult and it took them through the gentile area of Samaria so they most likely traveled down to the Jordan River and then south along the Jordan River to Jericho then up the mountain to Jerusalem and then south to Bethlehem a distance of 90-100 miles.

Joseph would have walked and Mary would have ridden on a donkey and the trip would have taken them about 5 days. The reason they had to go to Bethlehem from Nazareth where their house was because of the politicians demand for a census for the purpose of taxation.

Luke 2:7; It is fitting that God's lamb (Jesus) would be born in a barn and laid in a manger. Net note 22

The only reason there was no place for Jesus' family to stay was because of the requirement that everyone travel to their birth city at the same time. This created an artificial demand for rooms that temporarily exceed supply.

The politicians demanded that they travel away from their nice cozy house in Nazareth to Bethlehem so they could be taxed.

They were not indigent or migrants as today's liberal "progressive" politicians and even the pope has recently alleged with lies and deceit and evil fake news propaganda falsely comparing Jesus' family's situation to illegal immigrants from Central America and Mexico in the USA and invading islamic "migrants" in Europe.

Jesus' family was not indigent or refugees, they had a home and the resources that were needed to travel without having to rely on other people for anything.

Luke 2:8-20; These shepherds were watching the sheep that would be used for the ritual sacrifices in the temple in nearby Jerusalem. Net note 24

Luke 2:21; Jesus was circumcised on the 8th day according to the protocol of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 17:9-12;) and given the name Jesus as specified by the angel in Luke 1:31;

Luke 2:22-24; They must have decided to stay in Bethlehem instead of returning to Nazareth since they would have to travel back to Jerusalem for the purification ceremony. Lev 12:2-8;

Luke 2:25-38; records events that occurred while they were in Jerusalem for the purification ceremony 40 days after Jesus was born.

Matt 2:1-12; The Magi come from Chaldea to Bethlehem to honor Jesus. This is how God provided the funds necessary for them to travel to Egypt and live there until Herod dies.

Matt 2:13-15; Joseph and his family flee to Egypt until Herod dies

Matt 2:16-18; Herod kills all of the male children in Bethlehem who are less than two years old in an attempt to kill Jesus.

Matt 2:19-23; Luke 2:39; Joseph moves his family back to their home in Nazareth after Herod dies.

Luke 2:40; Jesus grows up in Nazareth where he and his family perfectly comply with the protocol of ritual plan. Luke 2:41; so that He is qualified to fulfill God's plan for Him to be the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the whole world. John 1:29; Rom 5:8; 2Cor 5:21; Rom 10:4;

Merry Christmas

 

© Copyright 2007, Michael Lemmon Bible Ministries. World Rights Reserved.  This document was created on 12/21/2016