Out of Town Birth (Luke 2:1-40)

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. (Luke 2:1-5 NIV)

Since we've been reading Old Testament prophecies and psalms about a Savior/Messiah, Luke 2 should start making all kinds of connections in your mind as you read. Joseph was from Nazareth in Galilee.  Galilee will be a place that a world of darkness will see a great light.  Joseph is from the line of David.  The Savior/Messiah will be from the line of David.  Mary was expecting a child before they were married.  The Savior/Messiah will be born of a virgin.  Then, of course, Joseph, Mary, and their baby to be were travelling to Bethlehem.  The Savior/Messiah will be born in Bethlehem.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.  (Luke 2:6-7 NIV)

Now Jesus is born in Bethlehem, but was a Nazarene from Galilee - just like the Savior/Messiah prophecies.  Jesus was their firstborn son.  The Savior/Messiah would be a firstborn son.  She placed him in a manger.  The Savior/Messiah would be a humble person.  You get the idea?

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:8-14 NIV)

If vague references from the Old Testament Scriptures isn't enough for you, God sent a whole host of angels appearing to the only crowd staying up for the night - shepherds tending their flocks.  The angels announce that the Savior/Messiah has been born and then tells them how to find Him.  Then, they sing God's praises.

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2:15-20 NIV)

We are, it seems, all, by nature, from Missouri.  The shepherds didn't stay out in the field and continue their worship service.  Instead, they did what many of us would do.  They trusted, but verified, what the angels had said.  When they got there, they realized that they weren't hallucinating.  A real family was in the barn.  A baby had been born.  The baby was laying in the feed trough...just as the angels had said.

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. (Luke 2:21 NIV)

The Greek word, Iésous, means "Yahweh saves" or "Yahweh is salvation."  What an appropriate name for our Savior/Messiah to be given.

When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons." Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel." The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." (Luke 2:22-35 NIV)

After giving birth, a woman was required to go through purification rites at the temple.  Mary followed the law in this way, too.  When she arrived at the temple with Joseph and Jesus, they encountered yet another person confirming the identity of their son.  First there were prophecies and psalms from the past.  Next, Mary and Joseph each had encounters with angels.  Thirdly, they watched as old prophecies were fulfilled at his birth.  Next, shepherds arrived telling of their encounter with angels.  They then named their child "Yahweh saves."  Now, Simeon tells about the personal prophecy the Holy Spirit gave him, which he says is fulfilled by seeing Jesus.  Finally, another prophet chimes in.

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:36-38 NIV)

Jesus was the one.  He wasn't old enough to speak.  He wasn't old enough to be weaned from his mother's milk.  He wasn't old enough to do anything for himself yet.  But he was the one.  He had already fulfilled many, many predictions about the Savior/Messiah and all he did was come into this world.  God had given us the clues.  His birth fulfilled them.  He is the one.

When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. (Luke 2:39-40 NIV)

Even growing up in Galilee fulfilled prophecies about him.  Jesus was the Savior/Messiah even in his out-of-town birth.  God gave us the clues, then matched them to one person: Jesus.

How about you?  Do you see the clues?  Does the birth of Jesus match them?  How many prophecies fulfilled does it take for you to believe that Jesus is the Savior/Messiah?  Do you believe now?