The miraculous birth of the Lord Jesus is one of the foundation stones of our Christian faith.

The prophet Micah prophesied in the fifth chapter of his book that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, in the district of Ephratah - in Judah.

There were several Bethlehems in Palestine.

But Micah said that Christ would be born in Bethlehem in the district of Ephratah.

This was one of the smaller villages bearing this name, but in no way was it the least for out of it would come a Ruler in Israel.

Mary was living in Nazareth expecting almost daily the birth of her wonderful Baby.

But prophetically He must be born in Bethlehem.

How can we get Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem?

God put into Caesar Augustus’ heart to tax his subjects.

While he demonstrated his sovereignty and power, he did not realize that he really was a puppet in the hand of God to further His divine program.

The decree brought Mary and Joseph approximately 60 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem at exactly the right time for the predicted Messiah’s birth.

Bethlehem was crowded when they arrived, and despite the emergency there was no room for them in the Inn. The only place they could find was a cave where the sore animals were kept. Born among cattle in poverty.

In this stable Mary brought forth her first-born son. She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, she laid Him in a manger.

“No beautiful chamber.”

Thus did God visit our planet in the form of a helpless Baby, in the poverty of an ill-smelling stable. Jesus my Savior to Bethlehem came, etc.

Lesson 133: Christ In The Old Testament
Luke 24:44-48; John 5:31-37
Golden Texts John 5:39

The Old Testament is devoted to the prophetic revelation of One Person—Christ; and the exposition of one theme—Redemption. Hebrews 10:7; Luke 24:27; John 5:39.

The Lord Jesus Christ is revealed in many ways in the O. T., but chiefly by prophecy and type.

I. Prophesied. There are 333 distinct prophecies concerning: Christ in the O. T., many of which have been fulfilled and others yet to be fulfilled.

1. As a Man. Genesis 3:15; Galatians 4:4. Note it is “the seed of the woman, not the man,” i.e., the virgin birth.

2. Of Shem. Genesis 9:26. He was to be of the Shemetic or Semetic race.

3. The Nation. Abraham. Genesis 12:1-3; 22:18.

4. The Tribe—Judah. Genesis 49:10; cp. Revelation 5:5; Hebrews 7:14.

5. The family—David. 2 Samuel 7:11; Jeremiah 23:5, 6, Isaiah 11:1, 2; Matthew 1:6; 22:42-46.

6. The Town. Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:4-6.

7. The Person. Luke 1:30-33; Isaiah 9:6.

8. The Day. Luke 2:11. Cp. Daniel 9:24-27. This coincides to the exact day when Christ made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. See Sir Robert Anderson’s, “The Coming- Prince.”

9. Manner of birth. Isaiah 7:14; 1 Timothy 3:16. He was to be virgin-born.

10. Manner of Life. Isaiah 53:1-3.

11. Manner of Work. Isaiah 42:1, 2; 6, 7; 61:1.

12. Rejection. Isaiah 49:5-7; Isaiah 53:5, 6.

13. Manner of death. Daniel 9:25; Isaiah 53:8; Psalm 22:7.

14. Purpose of death. Psalm 22:22-27; Daniel 9:24; Isaiah 53:6.

The Gospel of Luke sets the Lord before us in the character of Son of man, revealing God in delivering grace among men. Hence the present operation of grace and its effect are more referred to, and even the present time prophetically, not the substitution of other dispensations as in Matthew, but of saving heavenly grace. At first, no doubt (and just because He is to be revealed as man, and in grace to men), we find Him, in a prefatory part in which we have the most exquisite picture of the ...

Introduction

I would like to tell you a story that the tabloids would love to put in print. If they did, however, they would distort and twist the account. But unlike the tabloids, the story I am going to tell you is true. I am not making it up.

This story is about two Jewish women who are about to become mothers. Their Hebrew names are Elisheva and Miriam and they are cousins. The older one, Elisheva, was six months along in her pregnancy. The younger one, Miriam, had just gotten pregnant. She did not show it, but she knew she was pregnant. She came from her hometown in the north of the country to visit with her much older cousin in the Hill Country of Judah.

What would have interested the tabloids is this: Elisheva was “well advanced in years,” perhaps collecting “social security” and Miriam was a teen-ager. The second pregnancy might not surprise us today with the teen pregnancy rate the way that it is, but this pregnancy was different. The tabloids would have had a field day with both of them.

* * * * “Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the Child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother knew not of it. But they, supposing Him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found Him not, they tur...

* * * * “And one of the Pharisees desired Him that He would eat with him. And He went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the ...

* * * * “And He was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. And others, tempting Him, sought of Him a sign from heaven. But He, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. If Satan also be divided against himse...

* * * * “And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto Him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And He said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you...

* * * *

“Then took they Him, and led Him, and brought Him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with Him. And he denied Him, saying, Woman, I know Him not. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with Him: for he is a Galilean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly”—Luke 22:54-62.

* * * *

* * * * “Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the Word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; as it ...