Come, Let Us Adore Him
Exodus 14:14 The LORD will fight for you and you have only to be silent.
Jeremiah 31:15 Thus says the LORD; “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.”
Hosea 11:1 When I was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:7-8 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
Matthew 2:9-12 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream nt to return to Herold, they departed to their own country be another way.
Matthew 2:13-23
Luke 2:8-20 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the LORD appeared to them, and the glory of the LORD shone around them, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them, and the glory of the LORD shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be fore all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly three was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made knows unto us.” And they went with hasted and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made know the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her hear. And the shepherds returned, and glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Luke 2:22-35 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the LORD (as it is written in the Law of the Lord. “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, ” a [air of turtledoves or two young pigeons. “Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27
Luke 2:41-52 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival at the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning hoe, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been urgently searching for you.”
At the birth of Jesus, only two or four people knew how the pregnancy came about. Mary and Joseph knew–each receiving a visit from the angel Gabriel, God’s chief messenger angel at the time. Mary was told she would become pregnant with the Messiah. And Joseph was reassured that Mary had not deceived him and lying with another man. He was reassured Mary was pure and had agreed to be in an untenable position when she could be mocked, scorned, or even stoned to death. But the angel was sent to inform them both that they had been chosen to do the will of God the Creator.
But Mary was went to see her cousin Elizabeth, whom she had learned was also pregnant, a few months further along than Mary. I always wondered if she had a special relationship with Elizabeth, or if her own mother was dead and not around to instruct the young Mary. There is no mention of siblings or other special women in the young girl’s life, so I have assumed that Elizabeth was a close female confidant to Mary. I do believe Mary would have confided to Elizabeth and Zechariah about the nature of her pregnancy and how it had come about–without her lying with a man. And why would they doubt her? Zechariah had been visited by an angel when he was serving in the Holy of Holies and told he and Elizabeth would soon be having a son. When he had doubted, he became mute. But there is no reason to me that Mary would not have confided in Elizabeth and Zechariah, even though the Word does not specifically say that.
The first Roman emperor, Claudius Augustus, ordered the census that brought Joseph and Mary to the little town of Bethlehem, known as the town of David. How absolutely awesome I have always found it that prophets said something, and sometimes it was hundred of years later, but all came true. Jesus was born 700 years after Isaiah spoke and lived. I find it amazing and unquestionable that all these prophesies came true. The town of His birth–and how his family came to be traveling there at that time–all meshed together, to make it THE town where the Savior would be born. God told the prophets what he planned, and they repeated to the Jews–many of whom were being hard-headed and stubborn, and following their own desires–usually sinful desires.
It is amazing to me to read the Bible and see his predictions, and then see how they came through, came to pass. How can there be any doubt? Jesus could NOT have planned his birth in Bethlehem–that came about because of the census which forced his parents to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. There was the prediction from Isaiah that the mother of the Savior would be a virgin. God had told the prophets that there would be a Savior who would care for the people, have the government on his shoulders, and would
And at the right time, God, the Father sent His Savior to a virgin, and to the admirable human man descendant of David who was honorable, caring and loved God; and the Creator Father had chosen Joseph. Obedient, patient, loving Joseph to marry and care for Mary, and to raise the Son.
Angels appeared to the shepherds who were guarding the sheep in the fields. Imagine the awe, the overwhelming fear, surprise and joy. ‘Is this true? The Messiah has been born? There, look, there, look at that star! I have never seen a star like that! Do you think…can it be true? Are these real angels? Is this really happening? Did you SEE these angels, all these angels? Were we dreaming?’
Several of them hurried to the town of Bethlehem. There were men who worked outside in all kinds of weather–hot, cold, rain, and whatever–it was a dirty, nasty vocation, but they lived in the fields with the sheep, guarding them, and sleeping with them each day. They converged on the place where the star shone, shining special and bright, the special star indicating where the baby Messiah was lying.
Forty days after His birth, both Mary and Joseph took the baby to the temple for the dedication. While in the temple, and elderly gentleman, Simeon, who had received a promise from God that he would see the Savior before his death. God showed him the babe, and told him that this was indeed that Savior, the promised Messiah. Simeon promised his parents that this was indeed the promised Messiah. How strange and comforting it must have been to be told by this elderly gentleman that this was indeed the Messiah.
They continued forward and met Anna, an elderly widow who lived in the temple and she too recognized the Messiah. Se had served in the temple most of her life, being widowed when she about 21 years of age. But she too, recognized the babe was the Messiah, the long predicted Messiah.
Joseph and Mary settled in Bethlehem. Then one night when the child, Jesus, was about a year or two several Magi came to worship the Messiah. They knew enough about the writings of the prophets to know that God had ordered a Messiah to save the Israelites as they were his chosen people. On the way to the Christ child, they had stopped and visited with King Herod and told him about the birth of the child-King. Herod acted interested and asked that they return and let him know where the child was living so he too, could go and honor him. But they realized or the Lord told them that Herod was being deceptive. They chose NOT to return to Herod; and when Herod realized they were not returning, he ordered the deaths of all male children two and younger. Blood shed over babies because of his fear, arrogance and selfishness–and of course being evil.
God warned Joseph that King Herod wanted to kill the child. God told Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt. Arising the next morning, he packed Mary and Jesus and they fled to Egypt, and lived there a couple of years until after the death of King Herod. The family then returned to Nazareth, and Joseph set up his carpentry business. The family lived a quiet life, traveling to Jerusalem for the yearly festival. And their family expanded with four sons and two daughters.
How wonderful that God chose twelve men to walk, live and learn with Jesus, and several of these chose to write much of what happened while they learned from him. And we also benefit. There followers–men and women–loved Jesus, chose to follow Him and to continue to teach what He had taught. And thus, the Old Testament and the New Testament became out bible–our education to how to live with others, for others, and to grow His harvest since He wants no one to perish in hell. I am so grateful and blessed that He chose me, and although I am a continuous WORK in progress, I know He loves me, and the Holy Spirit guides me. Thank you, God, for all you have blessings you have bestowed on me and ‘mybellaviews.’
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