Birth of the Messiah Luke 2:1-7

This post discusses Luke’s writings about the birth of the Messiah.

Some people wonder why Luke records the birth of John the Baptist in chapter one before the birth of the Messiah in chapter two.

Why is the birth of the Messiah recorded in chapter two?

The answer to this question lies in Luke’s desire to show that the prophetic work of John the Baptist must come before that of Jesus because of the prophecies both in Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3-4. Both depict a forerunner to the Messiah. Thus, because these prophecies came true, they prove the Messiahship of Jesus from the Old Testament prophecies.

Now, in chapter two, Luke carefully documents the birth of the Jesus, as to time and place.

Note that God arranged for the government to call for a registration of the population in their home towns. So, Joseph and Mary came from Nazareth to Bethlehem. As prophesied in Micah 5:2, Mary delivered the Messiah in Bethlehem. This, another powerful proof, shows that God fulfilled His prophetic promises.

Rich and famous, religious families probably imagined the birth of the Jesush coming in a big city. Not so. God sent His Son to poor, humble people like Mary and Joseph rather than the rich and powerful.

The designation, “her firstborn Son,” v. 7, signifies other children born to Mary later—see Mathew 13:55; Mark 6:3 for the names of four brothers.

What did I learn?

  1. Recording the birth of the Messiah after the birth of John helps us see the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy about a forerunner to the Messiah.

  2. The birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem occurred according to prophecy.

  3. The Messiah had brothers and sisters.

In Luke, chapter one, an angel prophesied the births of John, later called John the Baptist, and the Messiah, Jesus. If you missed these four posts click  https://tdroberts.org

#firstbornSon #ProphecyForerunnerFulfilled #bornBethleham

See earlier posts by this author? Click  https://tdroberts.org

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