NATIVITY By Mike Herron

exempt from military service, and, therefore, in Palestine a census would be predominantly for taxation purposes.’ 4 Historical documents verify that every person had to return to their family birthplace to register. Judea, the domain of King Herod the Great, was a part of the Syrian province. ‘Quirinius functioned in Syria during B.C. 7 onward, (one year before the approximate year of Christ’s birth) …managing the census also in Herod’s domain.’ 5 He actually become governor of Syria some years after the birth of Christ. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. The census imposed by Augustus Caesar was used by God to fulfill the words of His prophet Micah: ‘But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.’ (Mic 5:2 NLT) Joseph was unaware that he and Mary’s difficult 80-mile journey from their hometown of Nazareth to Bethlehem was to meet the requirements that God’s Messiah must be born in the city of King David. In Hebrew Bethlehem means ‘house of bread’ a fitting place to be born for him who is the bread of heaven; ‘The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world…I am the bread of life.’ (Jn 6:32, 35 NLT)

6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be

born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.

Jesus was the firstborn of a new race of Holy Spirit filled people. ‘ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over