The Nativity, the Christmas Story, the birth of Jesus, these are some familiar topics of conversation in the month of December. We wish to share with you a video we created based on this teaching and hope you will make it a part of your celebration of this miraculous event.
The birth of Jesus for some is framed as a magical story through popular secular performances 
such as the Nutcracker Suite and holiday movies. However, the focus for most Christians includes a baby in a manger with a young man and woman standing over Him surrounded by shepherds and animals.
Consciously or subconsciously, we may even sense something deeper than the familiar images portrayed by man, family customs and traditions celebrated, and the focus on gift-giving. Perhaps it’s time to take a deeper look at this historical event, the birth of Jesus, which comes to us with more Biblical proof texts than any other recorded happening in all of history.
What are some of the Biblical facts?
God miraculously came to dwell on this earth in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus, God manifest in the flesh, was conceived by the POWER of the Holy Ghost within a young virgin woman and took on the flesh of man while maintaining His deity. Thus, He was fully God and fully man. The birthplace was in the town of Bethlehem where the newborn was laid in a manger. The birth was immediately announced to two diverse groups, hundreds of miles apart. An angel, accompanied by a multitude of the heavenly host, announced the birth to shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night nearby in the same country. See Luke 2:8-13.
At the same time, a number of wise men from the east, believed to be from Babylon, 900 miles away, saw, in the sky, the long-awaited star.
How did they know with certainty?
How is it that these highly educated Gentiles, the wise men, so far removed from Bethlehem and the Jewish community, know with certainty that this bright image in the sky was announcing the long-awaited birth of the Messiah? The answer requires synchronizing God’s historical and prophetical events, which are tucked here and there throughout the Old Testament, and coordinating them with the fulfillment of events described in the New Testament.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Recorded in the book of Daniel are historical events that God orchestrated through the life of Daniel, a deeply spiritual, devoted, and uncompromising Jewish man who was captured as a youth and moved from his home in Jerusalem to the Babylonian palace of Nebuchadnezzar, the conquering King. This is where Daniel would spend the rest of his life.
Daniel prayed openly even in his captivity.
To most, Daniel’s removal from his homeland and family would be a tragic event. However, God had an unseen long-term plan to work all things according to HIS purpose through the life of Daniel. Scripture tells us that Daniel was chosen by King Nebuchadnezzar because he was a child in whom was no blemish, but well
It was Daniel’s uncompromising devotion to the LORD, even in captivity, that worked for good in his life. He was given
Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel 2:48
Wise men were not kings, but astronomers who studied and recorded in detail movements of the stars. They were also astrologers who looked for signs in the patterns and movements of the stars to predict birth and death, especially of kings.
There likely was much “pomp and circumstance” when Daniel was promoted to become ruler over the whole province of Babylon; however, the more important providential appointment was that he was to be in charge over all the wise men of Babylon. That meant he would not only govern them, but he would be in a position to educate them, not only in the ways of the
Daniel’s teachings were planted in the lives of others.
The book of Daniel (6th Century BC) records angelic appearances Daniel heard, saw, and recorded. Many of these were prophecies about events that would happen in the life of Jesus, the Messiah, even to recording the exact day when the LORD would ride into Jerusalem just prior to His crucifixion. Study Daniel 9:25-27.
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 12:3
Daniel studied the Scriptures daily, prayed, and fasted. From his diligent studies, he would have learned that a Saviour would be born of
Listed below are some prophecies recorded in the Old Testament hundreds of years before they occurred which were 100% accurately fulfilled as recorded in the New Testament.
We are told both in the Old and New Testaments that God prophesied many things before they came to pass: I have even from the beginning declared it to thee: before it came to pass ... Isaiah 48:5 And now I [Jesus] have told you before it
… there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel … Numbers 24:17
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us.]. Isaiah 7:14
For unto us a child[Jesus] is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD. Isaiah 60:6 This Scripture gives the reader collaborative evidence of the mode of travel and the kinds of abundance of gold and incense that were typically used for gifts by the wealthy.
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he [Jesus] come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2
This prophetic statement was recorded 700 years before Jesus was birthed through the virgin, Mary.
Listed below are some fulfilled events recorded in the New Testament hundreds of years after they were prophesied and recorded in the Old Testament:
And she [the virgin, Mary] brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 Mary was a virgin until AFTER the birth of Jesus: And [Joseph] knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. Matthew 1:25
Joseph and Mary together birthed several sons and daughters after the birth of Jesus as the Scriptures record: Matthew 12:46, 13:55; Mark 6:3; John 2:12, 7:3, 5, 10; Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 9:5, Galatians 1:19.
… there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. Matthew 2:1-2 Babylon was considered the “east.”
Men of this stature would have traveled in a large caravan. There is nothing to indicate in the
Scripture that there were only three wise men, nor were they called kings as pictured by so many Christian images and wrongly placed at the nativity scene.
When these religious* wise men, who were astrologers, not kings, arrived in Bethlehem, King Herod and ALL Jerusalem were “troubled.” Herod asked of them … where Christ should be born. *In their reply, these wise men quoted from the Old Testament prophet Micah … In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet. Matthew 2:5 Micah’s prophecy was written 700 years BEFORE this fulfilled event.
When they [the caravan of wise men] had heard the king [Herod], they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. Matthew 2:9
This was one to two years after the birth of Jesus. How do we know this? Joseph and Mary, the mother of Jesus, had moved into a house. Scripture also records that Jesus was no longer a baby but a young child.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11
Scripture records there were three KINDS of gifts, not three wise men.
Scripture tells us there were three different kinds of gifts and that wise men came to worship Jesus, but it doesn’t record how many wise men traveled to see Jesus. However, as mentioned above, there are Scriptural facts to let us know about when they came. We must also consider the distance they had to travel and their mode of travel. They didn’t board their private jet or drive their Ferraris! Instead, they rode hundreds of miles on slow-moving camels across rough mountainous terrain. The wise men, however, had been taught and believed “with certainty” that the star they saw announced the birth of their Messiah.
The star plays an important part in identifying Jesus, even today.
Not only was the star the sign which announced the birth of Jesus to the wise men, but Jesus identifies Himself as the Morning Star:
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. Revelation 22:16
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star [Jesus] arise in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19
Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us. Luke 1:78
Lucifer is another name for Satan.
It may or may not be a surprise to the reader that Satan has tried to destroy the authority of the Word of God, the
Some people are not aware that several names and images are used for Satan in the Bible. Lucifer is one of those. It is he who was … the anointed cherub … perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. Ezekiel 28:14-15 Sadly, Lucifer became prideful and wanted to usurp God’s authority. (The facts about his fall are given in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28.)
Tragically, the name Lucifer is changed to the Morning Star, Day Star, or some other combination by most authors of the new Bible versions. They make this change either directly in the text or in their corrupted critical footnotes. The Hebrew underlying text from which Isaiah 14:12 is translated does not contain the Hebrew word for star,
Why should we be greatly concerned about this name change? It’s because the replacement names for Lucifer, Day STAR or Morning STAR are names that identify Jesus in the New Testament (as shown in the Scriptures above). And … it is Lucifer who greatly sinned and fell from Heaven, not Jesus the Morning Star/Day Star. Study the table below.
God, however, is in control; He has and will preserve His Word. He is not man; He cannot lie: God is not a man, that he should lie … Numbers 23:19
It is up to each of us to seriously study the Word (the Bible) and to defend our faith: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth 2 Timothy 2:15: … ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude 3
What is before, in, and beyond that baby in the manger scene?
The nativity story is given in both Matthew and Luke. Both gospels have similarities and 
differences, but there are no errors in either. Both also give quite different generations (what most people call genealogies) of Jesus with similarities and differences. These differ because each author had a different writing purpose and personal background which influenced whom they included.
There is, however, another listing showing us the most concise and direct generations of Jesus that you might not have considered:
In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was
The incarnate Word was God from eternity, and that Word—God—became flesh (Jesus) in the fullness of time (God’s time). God stepped out of timelessness (eternity), and into time, working through the POWER of the Holy Ghost to manifest within the incarnation both deity and man. Jesus was both fully God and fully man.
Jesus, the Word, already existed before the beginning as recorded in Genesis 1:1:
Genesis 1:1: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Colossians 1:15-17: Who [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Several Scriptures can be pulled together to supplement and give additional details of the above lineage:
And the angel answered and said unto her [Mary, the virgin young woman], The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Luke 1:35
The conception was by the Holy Ghost—not through Joseph.
And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom [Mary], was born Jesus who is called Christ. Matthew 1:16
Joseph is not the biological father of Jesus. That is important to clarify. It was of Mary through whom was born Jesus.
And she [Mary] shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21
Jesus is our salvation.
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:23
Matthew 1:23 shows the fulfilled prophecy given by Isaiah around 739 BC:
Jesus humbled Himself.
When we celebrate the
Who [Jesus], being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God*: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:6-8
*Beware of authors of Bibles who wrongly tell readers: “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.” Jesus well knew He was equal with God as this and several other verses confirm.
Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him [Jesus], because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. John 5:18
God SENT (begot) His own Son to this earth in a form that man could recognize and with Whom man could identify. Jesus, as
For we have not an high priest [Jesus] which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15
… Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee [begotten NOT created] … Hebrews 1:5
What a beautiful, fulfilled, prophetic verse quoted from the Old Testament is this. Let us not diminish its importance nor misunderstand. Jesus was begotten; that is, sent from above where He was and where He returned and is today.
The statement (I have begotten thee.) should remind us of
this great nativity miracle and the mechanism through which God SENT Jesus Who was with Him in the beginning. Jesus became that baby in the manger, that young child which the wise men, following His Star, traveled to worship, and became that
Celebration of the birth (nativity) of Jesus Christ is a weighty matter.
God did not simply reach down from Heaven to pull us into His bosom (left image above). God, instead, humbled himself to be born of a virgin (right image above). For we have not
He ALLOWED man, whom He created and blessed, to spit upon Him, to unmercifully beat and mock Him, to strip off His clothing and hang Him naked on a cross. Why? It was for each and every one of us. His sacrifice was necessary to redeem us; for Jesus to take upon Himself the price (His shed blood) needed to atone (pay for) the sins we commit (debts that are only satisfied through what Jesus shed when He was crucified: His pure sinless blood). We release the debt payment for our sins through repentance from sin and turning to follow the LORD.
Jesus Christ is more than a holy man, a prophet, or a martyr. He is the complete, eternal God come in the flesh.
For in him [Jesus] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Colossians 2:9
The Nativity of Jesus Christ is a special gift to each of us.
Jesus came to this earth and paid a price that not one person on this earth can pay, not one person on this earth can fully understand, and without which
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Jesus is the reason to celebrate the season.
If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your LORD and SAVIOUR, give yourself the greatest gift possible: to humble yourself and bow before the LORD Jesus Christ, asking Him to help you understand your need to repent and what it means to follow Him.
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May you have a wonderful celebration of our LORD and Saviour’s birth and what it means for our eternal life in Heaven.
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