JEWELS FOR THE SOUL

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST

Christ is the reason for the season. He is the gift that make Christmas happy, joyful, colorful, with rich laughter filled with heart felt love and peace for friends, family, strangers, the rich and poor, and the entire world. Because Jesus the Messiah was born in Bethlehem, and everyone can come to Him, He is the Christmas gift, in fact He is the gift anytime you need a gift. He is the best gift to get and have. He is Emanuel, God with us.

Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem His name in Hebrew is “Yeshua”. The Bible account of Christ birth, is that the virgin birth of Jesus was conceived by his mother, Mary, through the power of the Holy Spirit and with no human man being involved. He was born in a staple because there were “No Room” for Him in the inn. The three wise men came from a far led by a star to worship Him, and they brought to Him gifts. And then they returned to their own country, not going by the way of Herod, because Herod planned to destroy Jesus because he heard he was a king. Biblical scholars assume a year of birth around 4 BC. Jesus is the Messiah (The Christ), the Son of God who was crucified for the sins of humanity. He came healing the sick, doing many miracles of curing many diseases, and in some cases all people had to do was touch His clothes and they were healed. There were times when Jesus just spoke a word and people was healed. Jesus was seen walking on water, and because He was Jesus with all power, the faith that Peter had in Him caused him to walk on water to go to his Lord. Jesus fed 5,000 people, beside women and children from 2 fish and 5 loafs of bread, and took up 12 baskets full of leftovers and many other miracles Jesus did while on earth.

Luke 1:26-38

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

And the Angel came in unto her, and said Hail, thou that are highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

And the angel said unto her, fear not, Mary: for thou have found favour with God.

And, behold, thy shall conceive in thou womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of his father David:

And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of His Kingdom there shall be no end.

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month for her, who was called barren.

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

And Mary said, behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:26-38

After the angel Gabriel told Mary her cousin Elisabeth had conceived a baby in her old age, Mary was wanting to visit her and she went to see her.

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

(42)And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and bless is the fruit of thy womb. (43)And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (44)For, Lo,, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. (45)And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

As soon as Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary voice in her ears the babe leaped in her womb for joy. She was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Just as Elisabeth believed the word of the Lord given to her husband Zacharias when he was in the temple, the angel Gabriel told Zacharias that their promised son would make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Elisabeth also believed that the baby in Mary’s womb was the Lord and whom her son would prepare the way for the Lord. Elisabeth was a believer and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. She also encouraged Mary and said to her what the Lord had told her would come to pass.

Elisabeth and Mary had a praise worship unto God there in her house: “For Mary said, My soul do magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior: For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arms; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever”. (Luke 1:46-55)

And after that Mary stayed and visited Elisabeth for about three months, and then she returned to her own house.

LUKE: Chapter 2

(1)And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

(3)And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city.

(4)And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

(5)To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

(6)And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

(7)And she 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.

And there were shepherds in near by country abiding in the field keeping a watch over their flock. And, Lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord was shinning all around them, and they were so afraid. But the angel said unto them fear not, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign to you, you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

(13)And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

(14)Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men

And it came to pass when the angels were gone away into heaven the shepherds said one to another let us go to Bethlehem to see this thing which is come to pass, and the Lord has made known to us. And they went with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told unto them.

(21)And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Luke 4:17-21

Jesus, The Chosen One, Jesus, The Anointed One, Jesus The Messiah. (17)And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, (18)”The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, (19)to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”

(20)And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

(21)And he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Praise The Lord!!!