Intimacy with Jesus

Part 3

The Humanity of Jesus

The humanity of Jesus begins with His conception and birth.

Jesus’ Conception

Matthew 1:18-21

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place under these circumstances: When His mother Mary had been promised in marriage to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be pregnant (through the power) of the Holy Spirit.

And her (promised) husband Joseph, being a just and upright man and not willing to expose her publicly and to shame and disgrace her, decided to repudiate and dismiss (divorce) her quietly and secretly.

But as he was thinking this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary (as) your wife, for that which was conceived in her is of (from, out of ) the Holy Spirit.

She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus for He will save His people from their sins (that is, prevent them from failing and missing the true end and scope of life, which is God).

All this took place that it might be fulfilled which the Lord had spoken through the profit.

Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which when translated, means God with us.

Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him: he took (her as) his wife.

But he had no union with her as her husband until she had born her firstborn Son: and he called His name Jesus.

We learn from scripture that:

An angel, Gabriel, was sent from God to Nazareth. He appeared to Joseph in a dream, to instruct him to not be afraid but to still take Mary to be his wife. Gabriel explained to Joseph that Mary had conceived by the Holy Spirit. She would give birth to a Son and she was to call His name, Jesus. This Son would save His people from their sins. A profit had spoken this was to happen and that He would be called, Emmanuel, God with us.

In Luke 1:30-35

Gabriel comes to Mary to tell her, she had found favor with God. That, she would conceive in her womb and give birth to a Son and call Him Jesus. Gabriel speaks that He would be great and called the Son of the Most High.

The Birth of Jesus

Luke 2: 3-7

And all the people were going to be registered, each to his own city or town.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house of David.

To be enrolled with Mary, his espoused (married) wife, who was also about to become a mother.

And while they were there, the time came for her delivery.

And she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn; and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn.

We See From Scripture:

Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem because a census was being taken. All the people had to register in their own hometown. While they were there Mary’s time came to deliver her baby. They went to the Inn to get a room, but there was no room for them. The city was full to capacity because of the census.

So Mary and Joseph go to a cave that housed animals. Her time came and she gave birth to her Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger.

A manger was a large stone that had been carved out to form a hollow, the hay was put there to feed the animals.

Swaddling clothes described in the Bible consisted of a cloth tied together by bandage-like strips. After an infant was born, the umbilical cord was cut and tied, and then the baby was washed, rubbed with salt and oil, and wrapped with strips of cloth. The pieces of cloth were wrapped tightly around the baby’s body, from the shoulders to the feet. They believed this would help the baby to develop a strong, straight back.

Mary and Joseph leave Bethlehem eight days after the birth of their Son, and travel to Jerusalem and then to Nazareth.

Think of it…..this baby that was born, was God with us, Emmanuel. God, the Son left Heaven to be born a human and dwell with mankind. Jesus did this for you and I. He made a way for us, sinful mankind, to have a way to be restored to a holy God.

Trust Him today. He loves you and came to give you a future and hope.

Blessings Pastor Barbara. 32/23