The previous two blogs focused upon Matthew’s record of Jesus’ unique birth; the next two blogs will focus upon Luke’s account (chapter 2) and the glorious portrait of Jehovah it contains. Bursting from the canvas of Luke’s gospel is a dazzling depiction of…
- The sovereignty and providence of God. “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, 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. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)” (verses 1-4). Without this decree with its exact requirements at this exact time, Mary (who lived in Nazareth, about 70 miles north) would have never given birth to her firstborn child in Bethlehem (the exact place prophesied in Micah 5:2). Just as the crucifixion of Jesus occurred at the exact hour His Father had determined (see John 2:4, 7:30, 8:20, 12:23, 17:1), so too His birth was the result of God’s precise and perfect providence and absolute sovereignty. Cæsar Augustus, the most powerful man in the world at that time, was nothing more than a providential pawn in the hands of the Sovereign, Jehovah.
- The faithfulness of God. “he was of the house and lineage of David” (verse 4). From Genesis to Revelation, the Scriptures resoundingly and repeatedly testify of God’s unswerving faithfulness to His word. God had told David: “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2nd Samuel 7:12-13). The angel Gabriel informed Mary that Jesus was going to be conceived in her womb and that “ the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:32-33). God gave his word to David, a thousand years passed, and God remained faithful to His word.
