Chapter 8.

Gabriel Foretold

The Birth of Jesus.

 

The second miraculous birth of B.C. 5 was that of Jesus Christ.  John the Baptist was born in the heat of late June, and Jesus was born in the chill of December, near the Winter Solsice at the end of the year.

 

Gabriel disclosed the upcoming birth.  He made the announcement late in March, perhaps at the time of Passover.  If so, that would be fitting, since Jesus was, and is, the Ultimate Passover Lamb.  Because He erased the sins of the “saved” as He died on the Cross, God will “pass over” them when He places unending condemnation on the “lost” on Judgment Day.  Luke documented Gabriel’s Message with these words ...

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”  (Luke 1:26-33 NIV)

 

Mary was astonished by the sudden appearance of Gabriel.  His face and garments were aglow.  His voice was authoritative, yet pleasing.  Because she was well-versed in the teachings of the Bible, she knew, immediately, that Gabriel was speaking of the birth of the long-anticipated Messiah.  The Holy Spirit quieted her soul as she contemplated the words of the angel.  “Soon, you will give birth to a son.  Call Him Jesus,” he had said.  Spellings and pronunciations of names drift as centuries roll by.  “Jesus” was the appellation for “Joshua” in Mary’s lifetime.  It is an appropriate name for Jesus.  Some authorities say it means “God Is Help”; others favor “God Is Salvation”.  Certainly, Jesus is both.  He wants to help us through this life and save us from the consequences of our sins and take us to Heaven when we die.

 

Mary was not sure what to make of Gabriel’s prophecy.  Was she to marry Joseph immediately and bear a Son who would become the Messiah?  Also, Gabriel had said that Jesus would reign over Israel forever.  She wanted to know more.

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.  (Luke 1:34-35 KJV)

 

Gabriel dispelled Mary’s thoughts of a natural birth proceeding from a union with Joseph.  Instead, he said that God would plant the seed of Jesus into Mary, miraculously.  There are at least two ways this could have occurred.  God could have reached into one of Mary’s fallopian tubes and planted the seed of Jesus, which He had created, into one of her ova.  Or, God could have planted a fertilized ova, entirely of His making, directly into Mary’s womb.  If the first case is true then Jesus’ Embryo matured in accordance with attributes defined in Mary’s DNA and attributes defined in the DNA God put into the fertilizing seed.  If the second case is true then God created all the DNA for Jesus’ Embryo.

 

We believe the second case is true, because the New Testament calls Jesus the “Last Adam”.  It says the First Adam was the father of our corporeal bodies, but Jesus, the Second Adam, is the Father of our spiritually-empowered bodies, if we have become Christians.  Paul stated ...

... it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 

(1 Corinthians 15:45-46 NIV)

When a man becomes a Christian, Jesus breathes “new life” into him by cleansing his soul, correcting his conscience, and placing the Holy Spirit within him.  The man’s life is dramatically changed.  Jesus indicated that such a man has been “born again” in the third chapter of John’s Gospel.

 

And, John warns, “Unless a man is born again, he cannot see -- comprehend -- the Kingdom of God.”  So, Jesus is not his King.  Any talk about Jesus and the Cross and the Resurrections and Salvation is meaningless to him.

 

One night in Jerusalem, Jesus spoke to a prominent Pharisee named Nicodemus.  He was a member of the Jewish Senate, the Sanhedrin.  Though he was a leading Jew, Jesus told him, “You must be born again to enter into the Kingdom of God and ascend to Heaven when you die.”  The Amplified Bible explores in depth the meanings of the words Jesus used in speaking to Nicodemus.

Jesus answered him [Nicodemus], “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is

·        born again

·        reborn from above

·        spiritually transformed

·        renewed

·        sanctified

he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.”  (John 3:3 AMP)

 

Therefore, we conclude, the First Adam was the father of everyone born into the human race, and the Second Adam, Jesus, is the Father of all those born again into the Kingdom of God.  And, since we know the First Adam was completely created by God, we believe the Second Adam was also fully created by God, who then planted the Embryonic Baby Jesus into Mary’s womb.  And, all the DNA in Jesus’ body  was supplied directly by God.

 

Gabriel continued his Message, saying ...

... behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. 

(Luke 1:36-37 KJV)

So, after telling Mary she would have a Son by miraculous means and Elisabeth was pregnant by means of a miracle, Gabriel completed his report by stating this proverb: “With God nothing shall be impossible!”  He knew that to be true.  He spends most of his time in the Throne Room of the Lord, the headquarters of the Universe.

 

Mary was awed by the “other-worldly”, glorious appearance of Gabriel -- and by his prophecies.  She knew she must accept the Lord’s will.  But, would Joseph?  She still wanted to be his wife.  How would he react to this development?  “What a joy”, she thought, “to be the Mother of the Messiah, but losing Joseph would be sorrowful.”

... Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.  (Luke 1:38 KJV)

 

 

Mary Revealed

Gabriel’s Prophecies To Joseph.

 

Mary was eager to see Joseph.  She was certain that their souls had become one.  He must know that she was to be the Mother of the Messiah.  But, how would he respond?  He was a sincere Bible-Believer.  He did his best to live a godly life.  That was one the reasons she loved him.  Yet, he was strict.  Would he believe the prophecies she had received from Gabriel?  Or, would he think she had concocted an elaborate fable to make acceptable the fact that she was pregnant by another man?  As dusk approached, she fervently prayed that God would make Joseph receptive to her presentation of Gabriel’s prophecies.

 

When the sun approached the horizon, Joseph came to see her.  As they had often done, they joined hands and strolled to a quiet place atop a hill on the edge of the village to watch the sun set.  It was especially glorious that evening.  As they sat together on a stone ledge, Joseph admired her beautiful eyes -- her lovely lips -- and her graceful face.  Tenderly, he said, “I thank God that you will soon become my wife.”  But, as he spoke, he sensed that something was troubling Mary.  

 

Mary looked deeply into his eyes and grasped both of his hands.  She leaned forward and whispered, “I love you.  I look forward to spending my life with you.  But, I have something important to tell you, and you may find it upsetting.  Promise me that you will listen to everything I have to say.  Don’t let go of my hands till I have finished telling you what happened this morning.”

 

“Okay,” Joseph replied in wonderment.

 

“I was praying while sitting on our patio very early this morning, when, suddenly, I was visited by an angel with a Message from God.  His appearance was eerie.  His face and his garments glowed.  And, he announced that God had chosen me to be the Mother of the Messiah -- that the Holy Spirit would, miraculously, plant a tiny baby in my womb -- that when the baby was born he must be named Jesus -- and, that, someday. Jesus would ascend to the throne of David and reign over Israel.  He even said that my elderly cousin, Elisabeth, was already six months pregnant with another miracle child.”

 

Joseph was stunned.  In a flash, his whole world fell apart.  “What is happening?  Has Mary gone mad?  Has she been intimate with some man?” he asked himself.  He was sure he was hearing a lie from the girl he dearly loved. 

 

Tears welled up in his eyes.  He choked back his emotions.  He looked into Mary’s eyes and asked, “Are you pregnant?”

 

“No!” she exclaimed, “but, soon, I will be.  God has made that clear.”  Seeing the tears in Joseph’s eyes she whimpered, “Joseph, I have never been intimate with any man.  You are the only man I will ever lie with.  Please believe what I have said.  Please accept God’s plan.  Help me raise the Messiah.  We’ll have many other children after He is born.”

 

Joseph was angry.  Joseph felt betrayed.  Joseph was sad.  All his dreams were dashed by this new reality.  But, Joseph was an honorable man.  “I’m very, very sorry ... Mary,” he groaned.  Slowly, he whispered, “I don’t believe your story ...  I’m deeply depressed ...  I’ve got to go ...  I’ve got to grieve ...  But ... it is getting dark.  I’ll walk you home ... and, I’ll bow out of your life quietly.”

 

Mary collapsed with her head in her lap, sobbing.  Joseph rose and patiently waited for her to compose herself.  “How beautiful she is,” he thought.  “This is tragic.  She has been the girl of my dreams for so long.  How can this be happening?”   .    

 

When Mary finally rose, Joseph walked beside her, but  he did not hold her hand.  She felt discarded.  “How can things get this bad, when I am pursuing God’s will?” she wondered.  When they reached the door of her home, Joseph wheeled about and walked out of her life.

 

 

Matthew Documented Jesus’ Ancestry

Before He Told of His Birth.

 

Matthew was eager to show that Christianity was a continuation of God’s Revelation to the Jews.  Repeatedly, he indicated that Jesus’ Words and Deeds were fulfillments of predictions and promises made to ancient believers.  So, he began his Gospel with evidence that Jesus was a descendant of King David, just as Jewish prophets had foretold.  In the first verse of his Gospel, quoted above, Matthew stated that Jesus was a descendant of David and of Abraham.  In the verses quoted below, he gave more details.

 

Matthew emphasized the lineage of Jesus from Abraham to Joseph, even though Joseph was not Jesus’ biological father.  Perhaps he did this because most of Jesus’ contemporaries believed He was the son of Joseph, or because the residents of the Holy Land believed, “If you raise a boy as if he is your son, he is, by law, your son.”  Luke, also, provided a genealogy of Jesus, but he worked backward from Jesus to Adam.  And, he detailed the lineage of Jesus through His mother, Mary.  Matthew wrote ...

Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat         Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.  (Matthew 1:2-17 KJV)

 

 

Mary Became Pregnant.

 

We don’t know when Mary became pregnant, but, for sure, it was soon.  It had to have happened before she went to visit Elisabeth.  Did she know when it happened?  Did she feel anything?  Did an angel tell her when it was done?  We don’t know.  Somehow, she knew, and we believe she sent a note to Joseph when she was sure of it.  She and Joseph were still scheduled to be married.  She still wanted him to be her husband.  Certainly, she wanted him to know she was not pregnant by another man.  So, we think she wrote and sent to him a note like this:

Dearest Joseph,

Please reconsider our situation.  I am very much in love with you.  I am now pregnant by an act of God, just as the angel predicted.  And, I am planning to visit my cousin, Elisabeth, to help her as she delivers the other miracle child the angel mentioned.  If you change your mind, and we marry quickly, our neighbors will think Jesus is your firstborn son.  And, best of all, we will have the privilege of raising the Messiah together.  This is my foremost wish.  Love,

Mary

 

Matthew reported ...

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.  (Matthew 1:18 KJV)

 

 

Joseph Brooded In Despair.

 

Joseph was depressed.  All of his plans were shattered.  He sat alone in his “dream house” he had purchased and renovated for his “dream girl” and the children he and she had anticipated.  He didn’t want to work.  He didn’t want to eat.  He didn’t want to talk with anyone.  He was morose.

 

Still, he loved Mary.  He desperately wanted to embrace her and console her.  He wanted to help her.  But, he knew he could not live with a wife who had been unfaithful to him.

 

Then, his thoughts were interrupted by the rapping of a tiny hand on his door.  He cracked it open and saw Mary’s brave, little brother, nervously retreating a bit from him.  The boy knew there was serious tension between Joseph and Mary.  With an obligatory, “Hello, this is from Mary,” he handed Joseph her note and dashed away.

 

Joseph read and re-read and re-read the note.  Mary was still insisting that she had been chosen by God to bear the Messiah.  Somewhere, in a remote niche of his mind, he admitted that someday some young lady would bear the Messiah.  The Bible predicted that.  “But now?  Mary?”, he questioned.  He could not bring himself to believe her.

 

 

An Angel Told Joseph

To Take Mary as His Wife.

 

Matthew described Joseph’s quandary and explained how God stepped in and resolved it.  He wrote ...

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet [Isaiah],  saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 

(Matthew 1:19-23 KJV)

Note.  God commanded Joseph to name Mary’s miracle Son “Jesus”, which means “Jehovah Saves”, because Jesus came into the world to save those who believed in Him from the consequences of their sins.  And, Matthew pointed out that Christ’s “virgin birth” fulfilled a prophecy recorded by Isaiah.  In doing so, Matthew attached the title, “Immanuel”, to Jesus.  Thus, Mathew indicated that Jesus is God in human form living with mankind -- “God With Us”!

 

 

Joseph Married Mary.

 

When he awoke, Joseph hurried to Mary’s home.  With a flood of apologies, embraces and kisses, he asked her to forgive his former suspicions and become his wife immediately.  Matthew said ...

Then 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.  (Matthew 1:24-25 KJV)

However, before Jesus was born, Elisabeth brought forth John the Baptist.