THE HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT SIGN FOR US OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST

12-25-22 This message may be viewed live streaming video at youtube.com and tabernacleofmoses.org today Sunday at 11:00 am, and repeated 24/7 thereafter. The video, audio, and study notes are archived.

THE SCENE

(Luke 2:1-7) And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus [the title of the Roman Emperor], that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city [of ancestral origin]. And Joseph [Heb: let him add (adding)] also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David [Heb: loving], which is called Bethlehem [Heb: house of bread]; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary [Heb: rebellious /// bitterness] his espoused [married, but not yet consummated, i.e., (interestingly) consume-mate; merge, become “one” with his] wife, being great with child [i.e., near-term pregnant]. And so it was, that, while they were there [in Bethlehem], the days were accomplished that she should be delivered [Gk: bear, bring forth] [give birth, rather like an offering]. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes [1,2], and laid him in a manger [Gk: (to eat); a crib (for fodder): stall] [indicating an animal barn] [3,4]; because there was no room for them in the inn [with people]. 

1.    swaddling clothes: Dictionary = 1. the long, narrow bands of cloth wrapped around a newborn baby in former times. 2. rigid controls or restrictions, such as those imposed on infants, the immature, etc.

2.    swaddling clothes: The Nelson Study Bible = were strips of cloth wrapped around a baby to keep its arms and legs straight. [i.e., restraints; first order, then chaos]

3.    manger: Dictionary = to chew [meditate], a box or trough to hold hay [barley (logos), wheat (rhema)], etc. for horses or cattle to eat.

4.    Commentary: Imagine that the open, elevated, without a lid, rectangular container box of the manger is the open Bible, and that Jesus, who is the Word of God (John 1:14), is the eatible contents.

THE HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT SIGN

(Luke 2:8-14) And there were in the same country shepherds [Gk: pastors] abiding in the field, keeping watch [Gk: guarding] over [protecting] their flock [their congregations in the sheepfold (in the church)] by night [from the evil darkness of this world]. And, lo, the angel of the Lord [i.e., Jesus Christ] came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about [Gk: to illuminate all around, invest with a halo] them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy [Gk: cheerfulness, delight], which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour [Gk: a deliverer /// healer, to save, make whole], which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign [Gk: indication] [syn: signal, hint, clue] unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger [in a Bible]. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

(Luke 2:15-21) And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds [Gk: pastors] said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem [Heb: house of bread] [“I am that bread of life.” John 6:48], and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad [preached, proclamed] the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered [Gk: marveled] at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered [Gk: considered] [chewed, meditated, thought about] them in her heart. And the shepherds returned [Gk: reverted: converted, turned about again] [ref. Luke 17:11-19], glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days [signifying a new beginning] were accomplished for the circumcising [the cutting away of the flesh, symbolizing all worldly things] of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 

Amen                                                               Merry Christmas!                                     Rev Lionel Cabral 😊