Thinking About the Birth of Jesus

The birth of Jesus Christ is an historical fact. Jesus was born around 2000 years ago at a time when Caesar Augustus ruled from Rome and Herod was King over Judea. Although Jesus was born into a poor carpenter’s family he too was destined to be king. It is recorded in the gospel of Luke that an angel visited Mary the mother of Jesus, and said, 
“Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call his name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end’” (Luke1:30-33).

Jesus was conceived not in the ordinary way but in an extraordinary way. Mary enquired of the angel how this would happen because she was a virgin? The angel answered, 
“‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God’” (Luke1:35).

Throughout his life Jesus fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies, this is true also of his birth which took place in Bethlehem. 
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the one to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2).

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
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The name Immanuel means God with us. Although Jesus was born of a woman his Father was God. Jesus dedicated his life to serving his Father by manifesting His character so perfectly, that men could look at Jesus and see God. Jesus died as a sacrifice in accordance with God’s will, that men would have hope of reconciliation to God and share in His eternal nature.