Talk of JESUS . com

Tag: shepherds

  • He is one of us – from Christmas Eve 2013 CE

    He is one of us – from Christmas Eve 2013 CE

    He IS born in a manger

    The baby Jesus, born of the virgin Mary, remains a fond and distant memory in our annual celebrations of the Christ-Mass Holy-days.

     Not surprisingly (as I recall that this year is the two-thousand twenty-fifth year of our Lord , as Christians used to call it in the days of Advent Calendars) I discovered my first CHRISTMAS EVE post from AD 2013,

    It’s overall place in our current SERIES on The Apostles’ Creed is most fitting.

    His timeline of three years of teaching during a mere 30 years in the world as the Son of Man places relevance on the brevity of both His and our mortal lives.

    Roger Harned – author, administrator and founder of TalkofJesus.com 

    Just a few introductory Scriptures here, followed by my original Christmas Eve post of AD 2013. - RH

    He is both Shepherd & a sheep for the Sacrifice

    Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.

    Psalm 44:11 KJV

    Is that not the lot of 2025 CE Christians as well?

    Many Christians know this next one from the Gospel:

    All we like sheep have gone astray;

    we have turned every one to his own way;

    and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

    He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

    yet he opened not his mouth:

    he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter..

    Isaiah 53:6-7a KJV

    manger with shadow of cross falling across
    The Lamb of God in a manger

    December 24, 2013

    Psalm 10:17-18 KJV  

    LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: 

    To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

     Gospel of the Birth of Christ Jesus

    manger cross shadow

    John the Baptist Prepares the Way

    1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

    2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

    SeeingShepherds
    The-Sacrificial-Lamb-Josefa-de-Ayala-ca-1670
    empty tomb

    “Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
    who will prepare your way,
    3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
    ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight,’”

    Before John the messenger of the Messiah, prior to Isaiah and the Prophets calling us to repentance and announcing the coming of the Lord;

    Before David and the Kingdom of Israel, before Moses and the exodus of God’s chosen from captivity;

    Before Moses and the Law and Commandments;

    Before Jacob and Isaac and Abraham (for Jesus said: Before Abraham was, I AM.

    Before Adam, before man and before woman, before earth and before the heavens:

    GOD IS.

    Thus, God IS and did send unto mankind Himself His only Son, a babe in a humble manger, born of a humble woman betrothed of a humble man, for the work of our redemption, a sheep of sacrifice on the Cross for our salvation. He IS the resurrection and the life.

    Are we not prisoners of our many sins?  Do our hearts not suffer in the dungeons of our darkness. Is God not distant from our difficulties and silent in our sufferings?

    It was no different 2013 years ago. Yet the beginning of the story of the babe in the manger begins before the beginning.

    He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives – Luke 4:18

    In the beginning, the Holy Spirit was with God. The Holy Spirit descended on Christ Jesus, Son of God and He, a man with us, taught us once more the surpassing love and grace of God our Father in heaven.

    Before Jesus’ ministry and teaching in the Holy Spirit, before the Son of Man was born in a manger in Bethlehem, He IS God in creation. Now a savior is come. He IS God with man: like every man, a babe, a child, a youth, a young man, and finally a mature man teaching the very word of God. He IS the very word of God! Jesus’ teaching IS the only truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Yet by His own love and the great grace of God our Father, He IS the Lamb of sacrifice for our sins.

    Think of Jesus descended into the womb of Mary and born to be worshiped in a lowly manger in this way:

    The Word Became Flesh

    1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.

    Jesus, Son of Man, born of Mary, the Incarnate spoken Word of God the Father. He was with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit in the beginning.

    3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

    Genesis 1: 

    And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

    3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

    The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    Jesus speaks to creation as the Word taught us.

    4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

    Genesis 1: 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.

    In the image and likeness of Jesus we were made. In the beginning, adam (man) was without sin, as Jesus, as God: Holy and separated from sin, like the darkness is divided from the light.

    5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

    Here is revealed the identity of the babe in the manger: Jesus, heralded by angels and worshiped by shepherds and wise kings; Jesus, the babe smuggled into Egypt by Joseph to escape the sword of Herod; Jesus who would return to Nazareth of Galilee announced by John the Baptist, greatest of all Prophets.

    9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

    11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

    By His Light and the cloud of His glory He led His own people from the slavery of Egypt to His land of promise. By His own Word He proclaimed His Law of holiness and light for the people of His promise.

    God’s own rejected God as a people of God; therefore God came unto His own and also to those who were not His own as a light to the gentiles, to all nations and all peoples.

    All who will believe in the only Son of God and truly follow the will of God have become  sons and daughters of God, adopted into the household and heart of His eternal life and overflowing love.

    14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

    Unto us a child is born, a son of man, the Son of God. His glory was again witnessed by His Apostles and His righteousness seen by all.

    15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)

    16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

    18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

    The Birth of Jesus Christ

    6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths andlaid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

    The Shepherds and the Angels

    8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

    11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

    13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

    14 “Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

    15 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 known to us.”

    Thirty-three years later near Golgotha, then departed from Jerusalem:

    Luke 24: 

    But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

    4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen.

    12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

    13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.

    Acts 1: 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

    John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    Christ Jesus, from the beginning to the manger, to the cross, to the tomb, to the resurrection, to walking and witness with men fifty more days, to His ascension, to the heavens above, to return on the clouds.

    Do you have a relationship with the greatest love of all, that of God our Father in Heaven, Christ Jesus the Lamb of sacrifice for our sins, and the Holy Spirit counselor of the Most High?

    The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 1:8  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

    Bow down and worship the Lord our God, Who IS and was and will be: God With Us; Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.

    May the peace of God’s love dwell in your hearts through the grace of our Lord Christ Jesus, who came to a lowly manger that we might bow even lower to worship His Holy Name in this Holy time: Christ Mass, 2013

    Amen.

    More of how He saves sinners

    From our Current SERIES on THE APOSTLES’ CREED

    Apostles Creed 12 quick answers for christians

    Merry Christ-mas

    Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel

  • The Gatekeeper & the Shepherds – the Door

    The Gatekeeper & the Shepherds – the Door

    After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said,

    “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”

    The Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Apostle John – 4:1 NASB

    Heaven’s door

    Let’s not miss that the Pharisees’ debates with the Messiah question His authority from the Lord our God and Father. And Jesus’ signs and parables all point heavenward.

    Do you desire eternal life?

    It is a question of highest importance. And who may enter the gate or the door to eternal life in heaven?

    How can we know? Who will unravel this great mystery of eternal life in heaven and the judgment of sins punished by a sentence to hell?

    Closed doors to Scripture

    וַיַּעֲמֹ֤ד מֹשֶׁה֙ בְּשַׁ֣עַר הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מִ֥י לַיהוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י וַיֵּאָסְפ֥וּ אֵלָ֖יו כָּל־בְּנֵ֥י לֵוִֽי׃

    Exodus 32:26 WLC

    Does it help you to read this Hebrew scripture about Moshe (Moses)?

    OR does the fact of the Hebrew language create a closed door to the Bible for you?

    Then read translation into English about Moshe choosing who will enter the camp of the LORD and who Moses sentences to death.

    Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

    Exodus 32:26 KJV

    Sometimes the Lord places a Moses or David or Prophet at a gate or the door to guard the integrity of His Own Righteousness.

    We addressed this first by our look at the gatekeeper and watchmen. But frequently religion’s wide door or misled path will turn the faithful away from Scripture.

    ἔστη δὲ Μωυσῆς ἐπὶ τῆς πύλης τῆς παρεμβολῆς καὶ εἶπεν τίς πρὸς κύριον ἴτω πρός με συνῆλθον οὖν πρὸς αὐτὸν πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ Λευι

    et stans in porta castrorum ait si quis est Domini iungatur mihi congregatique sunt ad eum omnes filii Levi

    Exodus 32:26: Greek & Latin

    Get the picture?

    Not really, if you have received the filtered view of religious teachers’ blind teaching of faith.

    In fact many in Jerusalem’s crowds depended on the Pharisees or Rabbi’s to tell them what Scripture says. Even the literate often read their Empire-wide language of Greek, but not Hebrew.

    So the symbols of Jesus’ parables create important universal pictures to those barred by the misleading of Israel’s shepherds of the gates and the door of worship of the Lord God our Father.

    Religious leaders who manipulate Scripture become barriers to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a closed door to repentance by sinners.

    Roger Harned – talkofJesus.com

    Symbolism of a gate or a door

    Heaven must have a gate (of sorts), like a walled city.

    Not everyone gets into the heavenly Jerusalem.

    The LORD must have watchmen (perhaps angels – spirit beings who serve the King as messengers and guards in the glorious heavenly city of God).

    Who does Almighty God anoint to sit in the gate as the door to enter eternal life?

    David? Perhaps Moses? Even the great Prophet Elijah?

    No, none of these.

    And certainly not a false prophet after Jesus claiming light from the place of darkness. Not even leaders of angels such as Gabriel or Michael. And most certainly no idolatrous intercessors of mothers, antiquated saints leaving only dust in place, or Apostles long passed.

    Who then sits at the door of heaven – the gate of eternal life?

    The door IS the very Lamb of God, the Shepherd of shepherds, the Son of Man, Christ Jesus!

    To Him and no other we sinners must appeal by His mercy to enter eternal life by the grace of His Own Blood of Perfect Sacrifice.

    Are we blind too?

    Jesus the Messiah, who healed not only this blind man but others as well, clearly sheds light on the judgment for which He is sent to the world.

    But as the Lord points out, some shepherds like the Pharisees really don’t see. For the prophet Isaiah had accused:

    And they are shepherds who have no understanding;
    They have all turned to their own way,
    Each one to his unjust gain, to the last one.

    These pharisees, rabbis of Judah confront their Messiah time after time questioning and denying His authority. They attempt to discredit Him even after another sign of Jesus. For a man born blind received his sight from Jesus.

    John 9: 24-25 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”
    He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

    Most of these pharisees refused to believe in the Messiah sent to save sinners.

    John 9:35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

    40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

    41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

    Now this scene of controversy argued before the crowds of Jerusalem plays out in another parable of Jesus told against the pharisees just after the man born blind worships Jesus as Lord.

    John 10:

    “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.

    Gospel of John 10:1 NASB – Caution to believers from Christ Jesus

    2 But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.

    The LORD is my shepherd

    מִזְמֹור לְדָוִד יְהוָה רֹעִי לֹא אֶחְסָֽר׃

    You know the imagery of the Messiah and require no translation or interpretation of this parable connected to the sign of Jesus leading a blind man to worship Him.

    Suppose heaven is so easy to enter as a wall without the door of the shepherd who gathers his sheep.

    Can you climb over an unguarded wall?

    Of course.

    Could just any shepherd appear to lead the sheep anywhere, even to destruction?

    Even in this day they often do.

    If heaven’s chosen sheep gathered within the walls of the holy (separated) place cannot trust their shepherd as a door, will the wolves not enter and false shepherds lead them astray?

    Are the sheep not destined for the slaughter of sacrifice if the Perfect Sacrifice has not already been made?

    I AM the Good Shepherd – Jesus

    3 “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

    The Messiah, the Shepherd of heaven, gathers them to a place where He IS the door.

    Then He calls to all the sheep, even by name.

    The Lord knows them personally. He makes no mistakes and they know His voice rather than that of a false teacher or shepherd who would lead them into the pit of destruction.

    Jesus knows you. Do you know Him?

    4 “And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

    6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.

    Will the blind shepherds hear?

    Pharisees, rabbis who teach what they will, preachers who claim they can lead everybody to heaven – all these shepherds, Jesus says, are blind.

    And clearly they do not see the Scripture before them, let alone share the Way, the Truth and the Life eternal of the Gospel Good News of our Savior from death, judgment and punishment.

    All these believe that heaven has no door or they pretend to hold the only key to the gate (if indeed heaven had a golden locked gate).

    After Jesus’ resurrection, clearly heaven’s gate is no guarded cemetery or grand golden cathedral depicting idols offering prayers for your admittance.

    These false shepherds whitewash the entrance of hell with a hologram of heaven’s golden gate, through which they lead many sheep of the world to the slaughter of hell’s punishment!

    The Good Shepherd

    7 So Jesus said to them again,

    “Truly, truly, I say to you,

    I am the door of the sheep.

    We are sheep in this world of darkness being led to the slaughter.

    False teachers seek to sacrifice follower after follower into the fires of destruction!

    The Messiah Jesus accuses these of the misleading the sheep. These self-appointed shepherds over our unrighteousness deceive and destroy.

    8 All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.

    Jesus speaks of false messiahs, kings and leaders who only claim to follow the Lord, all who “do what is evil in the sight of the Lord.”

    I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

    John 10:9 NASB

    10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

    Jesus reiterates the contrast between Pharisees and false leaders of God’s people and himself, the One Shepherd of the Lord our God.

    The Sacrifice of the Good Shepherd

    I have told you once that I AM the door.

    When you did not understand I told the crowds my clear meaning and purpose of coming here to lead My sheep.

    Now, those with ears to hear, in addition to the clear signs before your eyes here is how you can hear the Shepherd who knows you by name.

    “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

    John 10:11 NASB

    What does this mean? (For it has not yet happened?)

    Jesus gives the hearer of His voice no time to consider a wrong solution to our leading by God, but again shows the false leadership of the Pharisees who have redefined requirements for the flock to enter heaven.

    12 “The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away…

    Here into Jerusalem Rome has followed other conquerors and the hired hands of Herod abandon the faith of Abraham adding new requirements to the Law of Moses.

    “… then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

    I know My sheep

    Who will lead the scattered sheep sent to Babylon and Persia and again to Egypt then conquered once more by a mighty Greece? And though only a remnant returns, who will go into all the world now conquered by Rome?

    The shepherds have divided and run, returned and divided the flock.

    14 “I am the good shepherd,
    and know my sheep,
    and am known of mine. [KJV]

    15 “As the Father knows Me,
    even so I know the Father;
    and I lay down My life for the sheep. [NKJV]

    Now Jesus again states His relationship to God the Father as the Messiah and Savior of Israel. The Lord also clearly states fulfillment of Scripture concerning the gentiles or nations.

    A Savior of the Nations

    I have other sheep, which are not of this fold;

    I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice;

    and they will become one flock with one shepherd.

    The Good News of the Messiah Jesus to the gentiles – John 10:16 NASB

    Three points here in the parable of the Good Shepherd:

    1. The Messiah saves some who are not Jews.
    2. Jesus will include the chosen of the nations to ‘follow Him’ as the Good Shepherd of all sheep and they too will hear His call to the promise of eternal life.
    3. Jews who follow the Messiah and Gentiles will become one flock of the faithful with Him – the Good Shepherd of Israel.

    Sacrifice of the Shepherd for the sins of the sheep

    Would a father sacrifice his own son?

    Abraham offered to do so, believing that the LORD would do right.

    Jesus makes personal reference after personal reference to God as His Father. Would God provide the Sacrifice for your sins and for mine as the Lord did for Abraham?

    Why would a Righteous Father send His Perfect Son to a world of sinners?

    17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.

    “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.

    “This command I have received from My Father.”

    Jesus clearly states after His parable of the Good Shepherd that God His Father commanded Him – the Son of God and only Good Shepherd – to sacrifice His mortal life for the sheep. AND He has the authority and power or the resurrection of life itself!

    Controversial?

    Even to this day and in every time of these last days.

    19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”

    21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

    Do you see?

    Does Jesus open your eyes to the Light of eternal life? Or are you blind too?

    What shepherd do you follow?

    The One Who IS the door?

    Or have you heard so many who make other claims about heaven?

    And Jesus said,

    “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”

  • Emmanuel -3

    Emmanuel -3

    Introduction to God in a Manger

    We glanced at the introduction of Jesus in the Gospels of Mark and John in part 1 of this series. Yesterday in part 2 we examined issues of the virgin birth from the Gospel of Matthew. Today, Christmas, we conclude with scripture from Luke, our most familiar source of the Christmas story.

    Immanuel (Hebrew: עִמָּנוּאֵל‬ meaning, “God with us”; also romanized Emmanuel) – Wikipedia

    Every biography requires an introduction and the all-important announcement of “God With Us,” the Son of Man born in a manger requires not only an introduction, but a cultural context we can only mention today.

    Introduction to the Nativity

    The Nativity of Matthew, beginning with the genealogy of Jesus through Joseph and David, examines the Messiah of Israel from a Jewish perspective. Of course, Matthew, John and all of the Disciples were Jewish, as was Jesus.

    Mark and Luke were first century gentiles, Greeks, men who recorded the impact of Christ born to save not only Jews from sin, but all who believe.

    Luke 1:

    1 … a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us.

    Luke begins his two-part writing, Luke-Acts, with an introduction and overview in Chapter one. Many believe John the Baptist to be the Messiah; therefore Luke introduces John and Jesus as teachers prior to the well-know nativity of chapter 2. Note the same angelic witness.

    Gabriel

    5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division named Zechariah… 11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him…

    13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.

    … He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. … to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”

    19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news.

    26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”

    1:28 καὶ εἰσελθὼν ὁ ἄγγελος πρὸς αὐτὴν εἶπεν Χαῖρε κεχαριτωμένη ὁ κύριος μετὰ σοῦ εὐλογημένη σὺ ἐν γυναιξίν

    Luke 1:28

    Name Him Jesus

    31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”

    Please do not miss here that Gabriel, an angel of the Lord, comes to a woman, Mary. In most instances of angelic encounters, as was the case with Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, the angel brings the Lord’s message to a man with authority over his wife, family and others.

    Translations

    Much to consider here, even before the all-too-familiar narrative of the nativity which follows. Much disagreement among Christians based on translations which reinforce various cultural (denominational) beliefs. Consider just one brief passage.

    • KJV (English) And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
    • HNV (from Hebrew) Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”
    • VUL (Latin) et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit have gratia plena Dominus tecum benedicta tu in mulieribus
    • Greek listed above for Luke 1:28. Some translations in Latin and the Hebrew Bible come from the Septuagint, with origins in Alexandria, Egypt.

    Some versions of the Bible use less-controversial synonyms in some passages and prejudicial word imagery in certain key passages.

    Mary – favored woman

    And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” [Other mss add Blessed are you among women.]

    Luke 1:28 CSB

    The angel Gabriel does not say, “Hail Mary,” such as one might say, “Hail Caesar.” The Greek word χαίρω chairō could also be translated: rejoice, be glad, joy, greetings, even God speed or farewell when appropriate. Much like שָׁלוֹם shalom in Hebrew, chairō is simply a greeting of encounter.

    Mary’s enduring witness

    Luke records Mary’s reaction in verse twenty-nine. How would he know this or details of the rest of this portion of her encounter with angels?

    Recall that unlike Joseph, Mary lived into Jesus’ complete life as the Son of Man and along with His brothers became part of the early church after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Therefore Luke would have interviewed Mary and/or those who had known her consistent witness for many years.

    30 Then the angel told her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

    • φοβοῦ Μαριάμ – Fear not Mary.
      • Do most all who personally encounter God’s angelic messenger not need this comforting assurance?
      • Yet what does it mean to have found favor with God?
    • εὑρίσκω heuriskō – 
      • ‘You have found,’ clearly indicates that Mary has been seeking the LORD.
        • ‘To come upon after searching:
          • to find by enquiry, thought, examination;
          • to find out for one’s self. 

    Mary, a young Hebrew virgin betrothed to Joseph, is a worshiper of the LORD and she is a young woman with great faith.

    Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” [Lit. since I do not know a man]

    Luke 1:34 CSB

    Gabriel then told Mary of Jesus’ conception and birth, the birth to be detailed more by Luke in the most familiar nativity of chapter 2 and reveals the distant miracle of her relative Elizabeth, to whom Mary will go as she is with child.

    35 The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

    The Magnificat – a Hymn of Praise

    Mary magnifies or lifts up the Lord for His faithfulness to His faithful ones, much in the same way as Hannah, mother of Samuel, who anointed David.

    46 And Mary said:

    My soul praises the greatness of the Lord,
    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
    because he has looked with favor
     on the humble condition of his servant.
     Surely, from now on all generations
     will call me blessed,
    because the Mighty One
     has done great things for me,
     and his name is holy.


    “For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
    And holy is His name.

    Luke 1:49 NASB

    The Nativity

    by Roger HarnedWhat is the Nativity?

    Nativity, Latin nātīvitāt, refers to birth, the place and circumstances of birth, the place of the stars at a time of birth, and most specifically, but not exclusively, refers to the birth of Christ, the Messiah, Jesus.

    Luke 2:

    And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

    Luke 2:4-5 ESV

    A census by order of Rome. Joseph travels to his hometown to register.

    While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

    Luke 2:6-7 CSB

    Birth happens (ready or not, irregardless of place) and this lowly humble couple had no place for the Son of God to be born into this world. No reservation and no place fit for a Son of Man, only an animal-filled barn with mangers of hay to feed the donkeys and camels.

    We have already heard of other singular events of the Nativity unique to Jesus’ birth. Kings had followed a star to Bethlehem and then brought gifts just for this time and this King of Kings, so humbly born in a manger.

    Luke then documents a similar event from the hills just beyond Bethlehem.

    Angels and Shepherds

    Of course, these very hills had been the place where Samuel had sought out David, the shepherd and youngest of his clan, when the Lord had anointed him King.

    And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
    For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

    Luke 2:10-11 KJV

    And the angels told these lowly shepherds where and how to find and recognize Jesus in Bethlehem, the baby Son of God in a manger made for lowly animals. Surely some among these Jewish shepherds would have known the prophesy of Micah.

    But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
     Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
     From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
    His goings forth are from long ago,
     From the days of eternity.”

    Therefore He will give them up until the time
     When she who is in labor has borne a child.
     Then the remainder of His brethren
     Will return to the sons of Israel.

    And He will arise and shepherd His flock
     In the strength of the LORD,
     In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God.
     And they will remain,
     Because at that time He will be great
     To the ends of the earth.

    Then these faithful keepers of the flocks received yet more confirmation.

    A multitude of angels sang

    Imagine angels from the sky joining voices with you as their audience!

    δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις θεῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας

    Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

    Luke 2:14 KJV

    Amen! Glory to God in the highest, who has sent His Own Son to a manger as a Son of Man, one like a lowly shepherd.

    And the shepherds departed their fields to witness and worship the Christ child, their Messiah in a manger. Then they will tell others, perhaps later one will even confirm their witness to Luke.

    Recalling the Nativity to others

    We do not have here or anywhere in scripture angels worshiping Mary, shepherds worshiping Mary or Kings worshiping Mary. And we do not have Joseph, Mary, shepherds or kings worshiping angels, even Gabriel. These are later idolatries suggested by false shepherds of the church and false prophets.

    The LORD IS and the Nativity of Jesus is not His beginning.

    Let us witness the redeeming love of God, who came to us in His Own Image in the Person and humility of Christ Jesus. He IS the One we worship, for Jesus IS the Messiah who will save all who believe.

    But Mary kept all these things in her mind, pondering them in her heart.

    And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all things which they had heard and seen, as it had been said to them.

    Luke 2:19-20 DBY

    Keep these things in mind, pondering them in your heart, glorifying God for all things.

    Christ is born. The Messiah died for your sins. Christ Jesus will come again.

    Incarnate in a manger in Bethlehem; crucified on a Cross at Calvary, risen from a tomb in Judea; witnessed by thousands, risen into the clouds to return again…

    Jesus IS, with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, the beginning and end.

    Amen,