Search the scriptures; for in them ye think
ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify
of me. John 5:39 "You have but just begun the study of God's Holy Word. You
have picked up some gems of truth, which, with much toil and many prayers, have
been dug up by others; but the Bible is full of them; make that book your
earnest study...." Testimonies
for the Church vol.4 p.376 E.G.W. Let us dig deeper-into the Christmas story. Four
points we find in it upon closer examination-
1) Israel knew- Simeon, a prophet
identified the Messiah in front of the priest 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, A light
to lighten the Gentiles,
and the glory of thy people Israel. Luke 2:25-30,32
And
then a prophetess Anna And there was one
Anna, a prophetess, ... she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband
seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four
years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and
prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto
the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. Luke
2:36-38
And the humble, peasant shepherds And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in
the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And the angel said unto
them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall
be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the
babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And when they had seen it,
they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And
all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the
shepherds. Luke 2:8,10-12,17-18
And the Magi, the wise
men from the east, from a heathen land. They had studied the Hebrew prophecies
looking for the coming of the Messiah. 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. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and
all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and
scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should
be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written
by the prophet, Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of
them diligently what time the star appeared. When they had heard the king, they
departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till
it came and stood over where the young child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with
exceeding great joy. Matthew 2:1-5,7,9-10
So Israel had
been warned of His arrival They talked of it, both the common people and the
religious leaders. So too the government leaders. They had been warned by both male and female, the poor
and the rich, by fellow Jews and by gentiles. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness
comprehended it
not. He came unto his own,
and his own received him not. John 1:5,11
2) He would be honored as royalty- At
least once, the arrival of the royalty of Heaven would be honored, despite His
lowly status as an infant born into humble origins. By gentiles at that, by the
wise men, the Magi- And when they were come
into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down,
and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented
unto him gifts; gold, and
frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11
3) Planning of God provides-
....behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth
to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother,
and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will
seek the young child to destroy him. Matthew 2:13 When
the fullness of time came, Christ was born. And He prepared for Joseph and Mary.
The gifts of the wise men, the gentiles from a heathen land, would provide the
financial resources for them to flee to Egypt and survive until their return to
Israel. Little did the Magi know how they had fit into God's plans.
4) Words to Mary- Think
about the words of the angel to Mary - And
the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the
Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Luke
1:28