The Nativity Story Includes:

• The Bible prophecy of the Nativity

• The events that surrounded the Nativity

• How the Nativity effects mankind

The Bible prophecy of the Nativity

The holy men of God, the prophets pointed to the first advent of Christ.

Prophesy:

New Covenant:Jeremiah 31:31-33 "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-- "not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people

Isaiah foreshadowed the virgin birth of JesusProphecy written: Between 758-681 BC

Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

Word "Immanuel" means: God with us.

Prophesy:

Prophesy:

Isaiah 9:6 written about: 712 BC – “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”.

Bible prophecy: Micah 5:1-2Prophecy written: Sometime between 750-686 BC

In Micah 5:2, there is a prophecy that reveals that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of the Messiah

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.”

Prophesy:

The events that surrounded the Nativity

Although the Bible speaks about a King of kings, we find the people who are involved in the fulfillment of the Nativity in a humble village where you would least expect the kings parents to live.

We have to put on spiritual glasses to see God’s intent by sending His Son to us.

Matthew 13:55

Jesus’ earthly future father, Joseph was a carpenter as learned from his father’s trade. Mat 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? (Speaking of Jesus)

The lives were simple, but yet happy.Nazareth was right on the Roman Road to Jerusalem and therefore contact with the whole known world could be made from this small village. Eusebius makes mention of a small village called Nazareth in the 4th century A.D.

Most towns were very small. Joseph and Mary had opportunity to get to know each other.

According to the Bible history, an engagement was formed between the groom and the father of the bride or between the fathers of each. To assure daughter's hand in marriage money would be given the bride’s father as "the bride

price." There was also a marriage contract or a ketubah. It is considered an integral part of a traditional Jewish marriage, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom, in relation to the bride. The Code of Hammurabi mentions bride price in various laws as an established custom. A man who paid the bride price but looked for another bride would not get a refund, but he would if the father of the bride later refused the match. The couple are technically considered married at this point, but must complete the tradition before the final ceremony and consummation of the union can occur. Joseph was glad the bride’s price had been paid for Mary.

Luke 1:26-36

During these very happy events something so dramatic happened that would change the lives of these humble people and the world forever. An angle appeared to Mary

Matt. 1:21 She shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Luke 1:5-20 The wife of a certain priest named Zacharias had a wife named Elisabeth, (cousin of Mary) who did not have a child. The angel of the Lord named Gabrielle, appeared to Zacharias and told him that his wife would conceive and bare a man of God to help turn people to God. (Parents of John the Baptist)

Luke 1:39-44,56 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. 56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

One of ancient Jewish wedding traditions is that the Chattan (groom) will not meet the Kallah (bride) 6 months to a year preceding the wedding. The reason for this Jewish wedding custom is that the Chattan and Kallah should have a fresh new feeling of love for each other. Mary would be breaking tradition to talk to Joseph about the vision and declaration of the angel, but she knew that she could no longer not say something to someone. She sought God to know what to do..

We don’t know how Joseph and his family were informed of the pregnancy or if they believed the story of the angel visitation to Mary. Realistically, it would be hard for anyone to believe.

Unlawful intercourse with a woman betrothed to a man was adultery, because the betrothed woman was deemed as inviolable as a married woman. The punishment for this crime was stoning to death at a place of public execution.If the wife had committed unlawful intercourse against her will, she was not guilty of Adultery, because she did not act as a free agent. The usual punishments are not inflicted in such cases, and the legal consequences of Adultery do not follow. It was Joseph’s decision as to how Mary should be treated. Additionally, the child of an adulterous connection was known as a Mamzer and was not permitted to become a member of the Jewish body.

Matthew 1:1 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily and not be stoned to death.

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Matthew 1:20-21 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. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins

Joseph must go forward with the completion of plans to marry her.

In the Orthodox Jewish tradition, an unmarried person is considered only half a person, the wedding day is seen to be the start of a new life for a complete soul, that of the bride and the groom coming together. The marriage was not consummated until after Jesus’ birth.

Luke 2:1-5 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.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:)5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Since Israel was under Roman rule, and part of a province of the Roman Empire, customs duties were farmed out to chief tax collectors (publican). These chief tax collector's what also farm these duties over to the regular tax collectors. The tax collectors were usually Jewish and therefore they were hated by their own people. When they collected their taxes for Rome they would turn over the required amount of money, and whatever they could add on for themselves is what they kept. They were known to be extortioners of large sums of money. A Judean could be arrested and loose his property is he did not go to the census or pay taxes.

Joseph and Mary had to take food with them because the journey was long and without many places to eat along the way. Sometimes there would be venders along a road that was constantly traveled, but this was not always the case.

There was concern for the journey is not an easy one for someone as far advanced in pregnancy as Mary.

The common form of travel was by caravan, especially with long trips. Such a mode was far safer in case of accident or injury or possible attack by bandits, as well as being more enjoyable. With a census like this involving as many people as it did, a caravan going to Bethlehem would not be hard to find or join. Caravans would travel about 20 miles in a day, and the distance between Nazareth and Bethlehem (80 miles) would translate into a 4-day journey.

They traveled South and possibly crossed the Jordan River twice because The Jews avoided the country of Samaria.

There were nights to prepare food and possibly sleep out in the open if a shelter was not brought with them.

Bethlehem was overflowing with other people who had to obey Caesar Augustus decree.

Looking for a place to stay was very difficult. The only space available was in a stable. Mary felt grateful because she knew the baby was soon to be born.

Matthew Chapter 1 (Linage of Christ)

Luke Chapter 2:1-7 (Birth)

These verses describe his surroundings, suggest his purpose in coming, and provide the tenor of His story. The Creator and King was born not in a palace but in a stable, probably built into a cave in the hillside. This is the least expected place for an event of great significance to occur. We may pause from this history and ask, “Where do we look for great things to occur spiritually in our lives? In the great and magnificent, or the humble and insignificant?”

The Bible tells of the greatest birth announcement in all of History. Luke 2:8-18

The new star arose at Jesus’ birth and pointed the way to Him.

Wise men in prophesy knew that the king was about to be born. (Wise men yet today recognize that birth and serve this King.)Read Matthew 2 The Kings from the East, were a group of distinguished foreigners who visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They went first to Jerusalem as the spiritual capitol of the know world to inquire where the King was born. They went directly to the palace.

Matthew 2:1-8 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, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 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. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed.

Matthew 2:10-12

Shepherds and wise men alike worship Christ. The wise men did not report the location of Baby Jesus to the king.

Joseph was warned by God to flee

Matthew 2:14

Matthew 13:55

To Egypt from Bethlehem which was an extremely long trip for them of perhaps 300 miles.

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.

When King Herod died, they returned to Nazareth. We do not know exactly how long the family remained in Egypt, but it could have been a few months to a few years.We learn that later Mary and Joseph had other children in Mat 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

King Herod Illustration

How the Nativity Effects Mankind

How can you describe the hope that has been offered to you and I! There is a way to God. We have a remedy for the separation from God and mankind. There is a way to quicken our lives and be made a new creature. We do not have to be chained to sin’s bondage and misery. With Christ we can live a life victorious and free from sin. With Christ there is a hope of eternal life with God in Heaven.

Jesus Christ came into the world to seek and save the lost.

Luke 19:10, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost

Jesus Christ came into the world as a demonstration of God's Love.

1 John 4:10, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

John 3:16-18, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."