The Life of Christ

We don’t know how many days Joseph agonized over his dilemma before the angel appeared.

• He loved Mary but just couldn’t allow his natural mind to accept her supernatural explanation.

• Whenever there exists conflict in our minds between whether to accept the natural or the supernatural, there will also be an element of “struggle.”

• This touching episode ends with the angel tipping the scale in favor of the supernatural.

• Once we choose to accept the supernatural option, peace followed by the coming miracle, replace the prior torment.

Mt. 1:21-23 “And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this 1 took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, 23 “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”

The angel told Joseph the name of the Child would be “JESUS,” meaning Savior.

• The angel told Mary He would be called the “SON OF THE MOST HIGH.”

• Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would be called “IMMANUEL,” meaning “God with us” (Isa. 7:14).

• Putting the meaning of all three titles together, it reads: "THE SON OF GOD IS WITH US TO SAVE."

Returning to Isa. 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. 15 Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. • The original context of Isa. 7:14-15 had nothing to do with Jesus, but rather addressed deliverance from the Assyrians. It was meant to say, “By the time a virgin would conceive and bear a child who would grow old enough to discern good and evil, God would deliver Israel from the Assyrians.”

SECTION 12

Lk. 2:1 Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.

The story begins with a worldwide proclamation.

• To enroll people meant to update the empire census, in order to maintain a highly sophisticated taxation system.

• It required the head of each Jewish house return to the birthplace of his or her most notable ancestral father.

• In this case, both Joseph and Mary were direct descendants of King David, who was born in Bethlehem.

• Some commentators believe that Mary also had to enroll, since women twelve years and older were required to pay a poll tax; this would explain why she came.

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