The Lord Jesus was “born,” God coming to earth, just as the Old Testament prophesied and just exactly as the New Testament recorded.

Here’s Luke 2:7. “And she (Mary the Virgin) brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and LAID HIM IN A MANGER; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Jesus was laid in a “manger?”

Yes, and the word (“phatne” in Greek) means “feeding trough!”

By the way, only Luke incorporates that word in the Christmas Story, not Matthew.

Why was Jesus placed there, in such a strange place?

Because, obviously, there were animals nearby.

The noun “inn” is “kataluma,” which means “inn” once in the Bible (right here) and then means “guest chamber” twice elsewhere in the Bible. See Mark 14:14 and Luke 22:11 for the “guestchamber” references.

Thus Jesus was born in a rather rustic setting!

Baby Jesus and the animals!

No wonder the song writer (“Away in a Manger”) has the cattle lowing!

This is Jesus Who created those animals in the first place! John 1:3 … “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

This is Jesus Who was “with the wild animals” during His 40 Day Temptation! Mark 1:13 … “And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.”

This is Jesus Whom the animals obeyed during His Lifetime! The fish and the roosters and the donkeys!

And the very Same Jesus Who will ride a “white horse” from Heaven when he comes again, Revelation 19:11.

Plus, when he begins His Millennial Kingdom on earth … “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” Isaiah 11:6

Laid in a “manger,” at Birth!

How appropriate!

This is the Jesus Who also had Solomon to write (Proverbs 12:10) … “A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” Kindness to animals, of course!

That’s Jesus, my Lord.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

The Angel Gabriel told Joseph, Mary’s espoused Husband, that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. Yes, Mary’s “Virgin Birth” Story was true! Then the angel continued: “She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” So says Matthew 1:21.

The Lesson today is found in this short clause, “CALL HIS NAME JESUS!”

Named before Birth!

Mary herself was given the same instructions as well. “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” By the very same angel, in Luke 1:31.

Two times given, this same assignment, emphasizes great importance.

Others in the Bible too were named before birth.

Ishmael in Genesis 16:11.

Isaac in Genesis 17:19.

Solomon in 1st Chronicles 22:9.

King Josiah in 1st Kings 13:2.

John the Baptist in Luke 1:13.

And then of course Jesus as we have seen.

But the greatest of these is our Lord, JESUS!

Why was God the Son given such a Name, “Jesus?”

The angel answered the question, basing his reply on the meaning of the Name. “For He shall save His people from their sins.”

Jesus (in Greek “Iesous”) means “salvation!”

In Hebrew it’s “Yehoshua,” literally, “Jehovah is Salvation!”

Yes, Jesus is Saviour!

Think about Him today.

Enjoy the fact that He has saved your soul!

And if not, ask Him, trust Him, to do so today.

“How,” one might ask?

Jesus answers: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

I’m using the phrase the Holy Spirit gave Paul in Galatians 4:4. “When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman.”

Wow!

Today I’d like to accent the words “fullness of time.”

Yes, Jesus (God’s Son) was born “right on time!”

As always is the case with God, not a day too early or a week too late!

Just like the Death of Jesus, Calvary, was right on schedule! “In DUE TIME Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:5

And the Second Coming too, for that mater! God the Father already knows the day and the hour! “Watch therefore, for ye know neither THE DAY NOR THE HOUR wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 25:13, Jesus speaking.

Jesus was born in a time appropriate moment!

What does this statement mean? “When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son ….”

Daniel chapter 9 predicts (generally so) the time of Jesus’ Birth. At the end of the 69th week of Daniel’s prophecy … “And after threescore and two (more) weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself.” That Messiah is Jesus! He was “cut off” at the Cross. Then (after a time gap in which we are now living) comes that infamous 70th week of Bible Prophecy, the “tribulation.” After we as a Church are raptured Home, I believe. (If Jesus’ Death is here chronologically specified, His Birth can then be generally estimated.)

And Simeon, that godly old saint in Jerusalem, knew (as revealed by the Holy Spirit) that Jesus was soon to come! “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. AND IT WAS REVEALED UNTO HIM BY THE HOLY GHOST, THAT HE SHOULD NOT SEE DEATH, BEFORE HE HAD SEEN THE LORD’S CHRIST. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.” Luke 2:25-33, a specific time!

And the Magi, the “Wise Men?” They knew something about the coming Saviour, having had to leave home long before Jesus was actually born! Via a “star,” some “sign” in the Heavens, we are here told. “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, 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.” Matthew 2:1-2

Plus, Jesus was born when Roman roads (some still in existence today) were built to help carry the Gospel message around the then known world!

When the Greek language, so very precise for preaching and teaching doctrine, was spoken virtually world-wide!

And Jesus came when the “Pax Romana” (due to Rome’s massive armies and the vast expanse of the Empire) ruled globally, “peace” and freedom to travel and propagate the Story of Jesus’ Death and Burial and Resurrection!

Yes indeed!

“When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman.”

The Virgin Birth … not just anytime … but the perfectly right time!

And we today, because of the marvelous Grace of God, can enjoy Salvation full and free! Because one Day, the RIGHT day long ago, Jesus Christ came to earth!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

The night Jesus was born an angel appeared to a group of shepherds, announcing His Arrival!

And here’s one thing that angel said to these men: “Fear not … for UNTO YOU is born this day a Saviour!” Luke 2:11

Jesus born … “unto them!”

Hence, Jesus born “unto us” as well!

The expression “unto you” translates a single Greek word, a pronoun, “humin.” It’s the plural form of the dative case “su” in Greek.

In other words the preposition “unto” is supplied by the pronoun. It is not specifically written in the Text.

And, according to the grammar books anyway, a dative noun suggests something that is “to” or “for” the benefit of another!

That being a fact here, Jesus was born “to” us. Of course, yes.

But Jesus was also born “for” us. For our redemption, for our salvation, for our peace, for our joy, and for a million others things benefitting us I suspect!

Wow!

Jesus came to earth … to glorify His Father.

Jesus also came to earth … to save a people!

Us sinners!

The angel’s very words again: ” … UNTO YOU is born this day a Saviour!”

This is a great truth.

By the way, is Jesus YOUR Saviour today?

He came “unto you.”

He came “for you.”

Accept Him and be born-again.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

John, John the son of Zebedee, John the Disciple of Jesus … began his Biography of Jesus with some truly amazing statements. Many Preachers think John’s (the Gospel of John) introductory paragraph is the most amazing piece of writing that’s ever been penned! Those first 18 verses of John chapter 1.

He there calls Jesus the “Word.” (The Bible is God’s written Word. And Jesus is the God’s Living Word!) But in John 1:14 we find our “thought” for today, our “Birth of Jesus” meditation. At least part of the verse, its opening clause. (We likely will return here before Christmas Day!)

“And the Word was made flesh.”

Now the whole verse, for perspective: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Jesus as God’s “Word” presents the Saviour as the very (Greek “logos”) logic of Almighty God! God the Son … very God of very God … the Second Person of the Trinity … the Creator of the universe, the “Exegete” or “Expositor” of Deity Himself. Jesus is God. Jesus is Life. Jesus is Truth.

“Flesh” (in Greek “sarx”) means the very skin and muscle and bones of human existence. Jesus “took” on Himself a body, like yours and mine! “Sarx” is likely derived from “saroo,” a verb meaning “to sweep.” Maybe an allusion to the fact that “flesh” is a “passing” thing. Non-eternal. Very temporary. Soon to be “swept away.”

God in flesh!

Jesus as a Baby … in a manger!

But note the verb in our clause … “And the Word WAS MADE flesh.” Translated “was made”  is the Greek term “ginomai,” meaning “to begin to be!” A beginning … for Jesus?

NOT AS GOD!

As Divine our Lord has always been!

Psalm 90:2 helps here: “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, EVEN FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING, THOU ART GOD.”

Only Jesus’ humanity (not His Deity) began at the Incarnation, at the Virgin Birth!

He was birthed as a man!

Paul in Philippians 2 says Jesus “was found in fashion as a man!”

That’s what happened that day in Bethlehem long ago!

“And the Word was made flesh.”

THE WORD (GOD) WAS MADE FLESH!

That’s why we sometimes call Jesus the “God-Man!”

And that’s why this time of year (written in December, 2015) is so significant to us Christians. Though we do not know exactly what month Jesus was born.

Incarnation … meaning “in flesh!”

God in human flesh!

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell