Meditations On The Birth Of Christ

Uplook – December 2015 — Grace & Truth Magazine

MEDITATIONS ON
The Birth Of
JESUS CHRIST

“[Simeon] took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: ‘Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.’ ... Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sight which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.’

Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age ... a widow ... who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” —Luke 2:28-38 NKJV

Matthew 1:1-2:6
The voice of the prophets had been silent for four hundred years yet, for God, “the fullness of the time was come” (Gal. 4:4 KJV ). He was about to speak “by His Son” and reveal to His people, to the world and to each one of us personally the good news of the gospel (Heb. 1:1-2). It is summed up in a few words: the gift of His Son.

How can we with our limited intelligence come to know such a person? God has made provision for this in giving us four gospels so we might consider the glory of His Son under different aspects, just as different lighting might be used to display a valuable object. Matthew is the gospel of the King. There, a genealogy is necessary to place the Messiah within the setting of the promises made to Abraham and to prove without a doubt His title as heir to the throne of David (Gal. 3:16; Jn. 7:42). In the long list some infamous names (Ahaz, Manasseh, Amon and others) have not been erased from the record. Before revealing the Savior, God once more made it clear that in every generation, whether it be a patriarch, a king or a woman of doubtful repute, everyone needs the same salvation and the same gospel. You have need of them yourself, dear reader, as much as anyone else.

The Lord Jesus chose to enter this world in the same way as all men, by birth. Joseph and Mary, objects of exceptional divine favor, were chosen to welcome and bring up the divine child. The counsels of God were fulfilled. In accordance with the prophecies, the birth of the heir to the throne of David took place in the royal town of Bethlehem. You may notice that in Matthew there is no mention of the manger which served as His cradle nor of anything that reminds us of His poverty. On the contrary, God saw to it that His Son was honored by several noble visitors: wise men from the east. Among the leaders of the Jews, no one was morally suitable to come and bow down before the Messiah of Israel. They did not desire His coming. The time was, moreover, one of the darkest periods of this people’s history. The cruel Herod was reigning in Jerusalem in violation of Deuteronomy 17:15, for he was an Edomite!

With the exception of a few pious souls whom Luke introduced to us, nobody in Israel was waiting for the Christ. How many among those who profess Him today are truly waiting for His return?

Luke 2:1-38
Without knowing it, the emperor Augustus was one of the instruments God used to fulfill His marvelous plans. Unknown to all, Mary and Joseph returned to Bethlehem and it was there that the birth of the Lord Jesus took place. What an entrance the Son of God made into this world! We see Him lying in a manger because there was no room for Him in the inn. His coming disturbed everyone. Many hearts resemble this inn: There is no room for the Lord Jesus in them.

It was not to great men, but to humble shepherds that the good news was announced: “Unto you is born a Saviour” (Lk. 2:11). He was born for them and for us. Though the world was not concerned about the birth of the Savior, the whole of heaven took part in the worship of this matchless mystery: “God was manifest in the flesh ... seen of angels” (1 Tim. 3:16). They gave glory to God in their wonderful chorus, announcing peace on earth and God’s good pleasure in men. We may recall what is expressed in Proverbs 8:31 by the one who personifies wisdom: “Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth; and My delights were with the sons of men.” The sign given to the shepherds helped them find the little baby. They shared what they had just seen and heard, and in their turn they gave glory to God (Lk. 2:20). Let us unite with them in thanksgiving and praise.

As far as the little child was concerned all that was laid down in the law of the Lord was carried out.* The sacrifice offered in the temple emphasized the poverty of Joseph and Mary, for Leviticus 12:8 says, “And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtle[doves], or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”

Yet once more, the deliverer of Israel was not presented to the leading officials of the people. Instead, He was presented to humble, godly old people: Simeon and Anna. Why was this privilege given to them? Because they were waiting for Him!

The Spirit led Simeon into the temple and revealed to him the one who is “the consolation of Israel” (Lk. 2:25), the salvation of God (v.30), the light of the Gentiles and the glory of the people (v.32). He saw with his own eyes and held in his arms this little child who is all these things to his faith. He gave thanks to God then announced that the Lord Jesus would reveal the condition of men’s hearts (Isa. 8:14). The Lord still is and does these things today.

In her turn Anna, a woman of prayer and a faithful witness, arrived and joined in the praise. By not leaving the temple she experienced Psalm 84:4: “Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house: they will be still praising Thee. Selah.” Out of the abundance of her heart she spoke of Him and in this way is an example to us!

ENDNOTE
* This name of LORD is repeated four times in verses 22-24 as if to confirm the divine rights over this child and the fulfillment of God’s will right from the cradle.

By Jean Koechlin (adapted)

Article drawn from Day By Day, used by permission from Believers Bookshelf Canada.