For unto us a child is born….a Son is given

                It is so amazing going through the contextual characterization of the Christmas story.                                         

Mary: the femininity of virtuous and vestal reserve.                                                                                                                                        

 Joseph: the just man and the provider of the legality of a ménage.       

Gabriel: the herald of celestial acknowledgement.                                                                                               

The Magi: wise men from the Orient.                                                                                                                                             The shepherds: characters who adumbrate Jesus.

Baby Jesus: the humanity of Christ, the Everlasting Father.                                                                                                                 

Holy Ghost: the energizing Spirit (the Second Member) of the Godhead.

God needed a just man. He found him in Joseph. Amen!

                Matthew 1:18, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” The legitimacy of this birth warrants Mary’s espousal to a man. The celestial abode is a family entity. That is where Christ comes from. When Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions:” of John 14:2, the word ‘house,’ oikia (oy-kee’-ah) means: ‘1. (properly, abstractly) a residence 2. (usually, concretely) an abode 3. (by implication) a family (especially domestics).’ The angels are never referred to as slaves; they are called ‘sons.’ Two chapters of Book of Job do this justice: 1:6 “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.” Job 38:7 says, “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” In both verses, the word ‘sons’ is ben (bane): ‘1. a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition.’

                Joseph must be involved to provide paternal headship required of every family. Joseph must be a legitimate husband for the family to receive God’s approval. He met all the spiritual requirements. How? Joseph comes from the Davidic lineage which bestows the majestic status on Jesus. The book of Matthew chapter one has, undoubtedly, is of Joseph. Matthew 1:1 began the genealogy: “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” It went on to verse six where the royalty of Jesus reads: “And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias” (Matthew 1:6); and to the conclusive, “And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ” (Matthew 1:16).

Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth

                In the first chapter of Luke it says somewhere: “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth” (Luke 1:26). Who is Gabriel? He introduced himself in Luke 1:19, “And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.” What is the meaning of Gabriel? It is the Hebraic גַּברִיאֵל Gabriy’el (gab-ree-ale’) ‘1. man of God 2. Gabriel, an archangel.’ Gabriy’el comes from two words: geber (gheh’-ber) which generally means: ‘a person simply’ but (properly) a valiant man or warrior;’ and the second is ‘el (ale) ‘1. Strength 2. (as adjective) mighty 3. (especially) the Almighty (but used also of any deity).’ This angel is ‘man of God’ who came to announce the incarnation the God-man, the Lord from heaven and the Second Member of the Godhead. Gabriel’s noel involvement is an endorsement of the One (of Revelation 4:2), who sits on the throne of the celestial assizes.

                “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,” so says the Bible in Matthew 2:1. The word ‘wise’ is the Greek, magos (mag’-os): ‘1. a Magian, i.e. Oriental scientist 2. (by implication) a magician or sorcerer.’ They were, as men, more than one individual, ergo, Magi in the plurality of their number (the Bible, silent about the exact number, we cannot say three, regardless of the number of the gifts they offered). Professionally they were star and moon gazing astrologers of the Spirit offending Nimro-Semiramic order. It was very apropos to necessitate the visit of the Magi. They represent the spiritual powers of Satanism, which must bow before the LORD God, because it says, “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him:” [Matthew 2:11]. ‘Worship’ is proskuneo (pros-koo-neh’-o) ‘1. to fawn or crouch to 2. to fall face down (prostrate) in adoration 3. a physical act of lowering oneself in humble submission with an attitude of utmost adoration or respect.’

Shepherds must be involved. HE is the Great Shepherd!

                The Greek rendition poimen (poy-mayn’) meaning ‘a shepherd;’ will be well understood from the Hebraic ra`ah (raw-aw’) ‘1. to tend a flock i.e. pasture it 2. (intransitively, literally or figuratively) to graze 3. (generally) to rule 4. (by extension) to associate with (as a friend).’ The shepherds were so overjoyed to receive the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20) even the Chief Shepherd (1Peter 5:4) of Psalm 23, Jehovah Jesus. Amen!

                Baby Jesus, the central of attraction, is the nonpareil Adam. The seemingly weakling of His infancy is the humanity of ‘which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. The swaddling-clothed infantility is the Bishop of our dying souls (1Peter 2:25).

                If this is the Son of God, is not germane that the Holy Spirit must be involved for the consummate midwifery of His incarnation? God must be involved in God’s business. Amen!

                Get born again to receive the free Spirit of Christmas. Say this prayer of salvation:

“Dear heavenly Father, I come to You now in the name of Jesus Christ. I believe in my heart that Jesus is the Son of God. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sin. I believe that You raised Him from the dead. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and I receive Him now as my Lord and my Saviour. I give God all the glory. Amen!”  

(…to be continued…)

Click here to read part two

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