Mary and Joseph Beside the Newborn JesusBible World
2:6Luke 2:6
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem after traveling from Nazareth for the Roman enrollment under Augustus Caesar, the days of Mary's pregnancy were completed and the time came for her to be delivered. She gave birth to the Saviour of the world in a stable and laid Him in a manger as a frail, helpless babe outwardly like other infants, unrecognized by men yet attended by angels with heaven filled with rejoicing. By the providence of God the decree of Caesar served to bring Mary, who was of David's lineage, to David's city, so that the Son of David was born in Bethlehem in fulfillment of prophecy at the appointed time. The King of glory, the divine Son of God, had left the royal courts of heaven and veiled His glory and majesty in humanity, entering human life in poverty to lowly parents without riches, rank, or outward display so that the poorest would know He understood their hardship and all could approach Him and follow Him for truth rather than honor or status. His coming as a babe was His entry into the conflict with the powers of darkness to redeem the world, and from that birth Satan, fearing the failure of his purpose to reign supreme, set plans on foot to destroy Him and later tempted Him with every artifice, yet all were unsuccessful because the Son of God was upheld by His Father's strong arm.
Birthplace and Humble Setting
While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem after traveling from Nazareth for the Roman enrollment and taxation under Augustus Caesar, the days of Mary's pregnancy were completed and the time came for her to be delivered. They were staying there when the birth took place at the appointed time. Weary from travel, they sought rest at the crowded inn but found no room because the wealthy and honorable had been welcomed there and no room was left for the humble pilgrims, so they took refuge in a rough building for the shelter of animals. In Bethlehem, of their own royal line, Joseph and Mary were unrecognized and unhonored after wearily traversing the town seeking rest.
There in a stable the Saviour of the world was born and laid in a manger, cradled there surrounded by the beasts of the stall. He appeared as a frail, helpless babe outwardly like other infants, with His divine glory and majesty veiled. Though unrecognized and unnoticed by men and by the great and learned of earth, the birth was attended by angels who watched and bore the tidings of His birth with joy to the heavenly courts. Heaven was filled with rejoicing that man now had a Saviour on earth, the whole world was brighter for His presence, and holy beings were drawn to earth in deeper tender interest.
The day on which He was born cannot be known. The date commonly observed as His birthday and celebrated as Christmas Day, December 25, is only the supposed date and is not established as the actual date.
Prophecy and Divine Providence
By God's providence the Roman enrollment decree of Caesar Augustus became His agent to bring Mary, who was of David's lineage, to David's city Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary came there from Nazareth to be taxed, and while they were there the days were completed for her delivery.
This movement was necessary because the Son of David must be born in David's city, in fulfillment of the prophecy that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of Israel's ruler. The birth took place at the appointed time when that fullness had come. As Cyrus was raised to the throne of the world's empire to set free the Lord's captives, so Augustus was used to fulfill God's purpose.
His identity as Messiah had been foretold, and men were to recognize Him through God's word rather than through outward display. The child thus born in Bethlehem by God's providence is the Prince of life, whose glory shall fill the whole earth and whose dominion shall endure throughout all generations. He came to bring a message of mercy to the world, to lift up all who are cast down, and to bring gladness to the waste places of the earth.
Humility and Its Purpose
Luke 2:6 belongs to the account of the King of glory, the divine Son of God and powerful Prince of light, leaving the royal courts of heavenly glory to become a simple man on earth. He laid aside His kingly crown and royal robe and clothed His divinity with humanity, with His divine glory and majesty veiled. Though God was His Father and He could have chosen any condition, He entered human life in poverty to lowly parents, without luxury, riches, worldly rank, splendor, outward display, or human greatness, and later lived in despised Nazareth.
He accepted the lowliest walk of life so that people would follow Him for the truth and heavenly truth would reach hearts rather than riches, honor, or status. So the poorest would know He understood their hardship and all could approach Him, showing that God introduced the gospel through faith and obedience rather than worldly status. His birth at Bethlehem began a life of lowly service in which His divine mission remained hidden during years of ordinary work.
His coming as a babe was part of His work to redeem the world and marked His entry into the conflict with the powers of darkness, setting up a standard against the enemy. From that birth Satan, well aware of Christ's position in heaven, never lost sight of Him and was filled with apprehension. He feared failure of his cherished purpose to reign supreme over the whole earth and loss of power already possessed, so he set on foot various plans to destroy Him and later went into the wilderness with every force and artifice to tempt Him from allegiance. All were unsuccessful because the Son of God was upheld by His Father's strong arm, and the conflict continued throughout His life.
The sweet story of Bethlehem presents Christ as a child like other children, obedient to His father and mother and as a youth industrious in helping support the family. He knows the trials and perplexities, the temptations, the weariness, the joys and happiness of youth. It is to be repeated to children on the Sabbath to make the day a delight and the best day of the seven.
While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem after traveling from Nazareth for the Roman enrollment under Augustus Caesar, the days of Mary's pregnancy were completed and the time came for her to be delivered. She gave birth to the Saviour of the world in a stable and laid Him in a manger as a frail, helpless babe outwardly like other infants, unrecognized by men yet attended by angels with heaven filled with rejoicing. By the providence of God the decree of Caesar served to bring Mary, who was of David's lineage, to David's city, so that the Son of David was born in Bethlehem in fulfillment of prophecy at the appointed time. The King of glory, the divine Son of God, had left the royal courts of heaven and veiled His glory and majesty in humanity, entering human life in poverty to lowly parents without riches, rank, or outward display so that the poorest would know He understood their hardship and all could approach Him and follow Him for truth rather than honor or status. His coming as a babe was His entry into the conflict with the powers of darkness to redeem the world, and from that birth Satan, fearing the failure of his purpose to reign supreme, set plans on foot to destroy Him and later tempted Him with every artifice, yet all were unsuccessful because the Son of God was upheld by His Father's strong arm.
Birthplace and Humble Setting
While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem after traveling from Nazareth for the Roman enrollment and taxation under Augustus Caesar, the days of Mary's pregnancy were completed and the time came for her to be delivered. They were staying there when the birth took place at the appointed time. Weary from travel, they sought rest at the crowded inn but found no room because the wealthy and honorable had been welcomed there and no room was left for the humble pilgrims, so they took refuge in a rough building for the shelter of animals. In Bethlehem, of their own royal line, Joseph and Mary were unrecognized and unhonored after wearily traversing the town seeking rest.
There in a stable the Saviour of the world was born and laid in a manger, cradled there surrounded by the beasts of the stall. He appeared as a frail, helpless babe outwardly like other infants, with His divine glory and majesty veiled. Though unrecognized and unnoticed by men and by the great and learned of earth, the birth was attended by angels who watched and bore the tidings of His birth with joy to the heavenly courts. Heaven was filled with rejoicing that man now had a Saviour on earth, the whole world was brighter for His presence, and holy beings were drawn to earth in deeper tender interest.
The day on which He was born cannot be known. The date commonly observed as His birthday and celebrated as Christmas Day, December 25, is only the supposed date and is not established as the actual date.
Prophecy and Divine Providence
By God's providence the Roman enrollment decree of Caesar Augustus became His agent to bring Mary, who was of David's lineage, to David's city Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary came there from Nazareth to be taxed, and while they were there the days were completed for her delivery.
This movement was necessary because the Son of David must be born in David's city, in fulfillment of the prophecy that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of Israel's ruler. The birth took place at the appointed time when that fullness had come. As Cyrus was raised to the throne of the world's empire to set free the Lord's captives, so Augustus was used to fulfill God's purpose.
His identity as Messiah had been foretold, and men were to recognize Him through God's word rather than through outward display. The child thus born in Bethlehem by God's providence is the Prince of life, whose glory shall fill the whole earth and whose dominion shall endure throughout all generations. He came to bring a message of mercy to the world, to lift up all who are cast down, and to bring gladness to the waste places of the earth.
Humility and Its Purpose
Luke 2:6 belongs to the account of the King of glory, the divine Son of God and powerful Prince of light, leaving the royal courts of heavenly glory to become a simple man on earth. He laid aside His kingly crown and royal robe and clothed His divinity with humanity, with His divine glory and majesty veiled. Though God was His Father and He could have chosen any condition, He entered human life in poverty to lowly parents, without luxury, riches, worldly rank, splendor, outward display, or human greatness, and later lived in despised Nazareth.
He accepted the lowliest walk of life so that people would follow Him for the truth and heavenly truth would reach hearts rather than riches, honor, or status. So the poorest would know He understood their hardship and all could approach Him, showing that God introduced the gospel through faith and obedience rather than worldly status. His birth at Bethlehem began a life of lowly service in which His divine mission remained hidden during years of ordinary work.
His coming as a babe was part of His work to redeem the world and marked His entry into the conflict with the powers of darkness, setting up a standard against the enemy. From that birth Satan, well aware of Christ's position in heaven, never lost sight of Him and was filled with apprehension. He feared failure of his cherished purpose to reign supreme over the whole earth and loss of power already possessed, so he set on foot various plans to destroy Him and later went into the wilderness with every force and artifice to tempt Him from allegiance. All were unsuccessful because the Son of God was upheld by His Father's strong arm, and the conflict continued throughout His life.
The sweet story of Bethlehem presents Christ as a child like other children, obedient to His father and mother and as a youth industrious in helping support the family. He knows the trials and perplexities, the temptations, the weariness, the joys and happiness of youth. It is to be repeated to children on the Sabbath to make the day a delight and the best day of the seven.