A Summary and Synthesis of the Nativity of Jesus
Jackson Snyder  December 1, 2002

Snyder Bible Home    Translations    All Sermons    Divrei Torah
 

1.  Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah was on this wise: In the time when his mother was given in marriage to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband was a just man and did not wish to expose her.  He purposed to put her away secretly. But when he thought of this, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take Mary thy wife, for that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit. She shall bear a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, and he shall save his people from their sins. And when Joseph arose from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife; and knew her not until she brought forth her firstborn son.

 

2.  Then there went forth a decree from Caesar that all the people of his dominion should be enrolled. And Joseph went up from Nazareth to the city of David called Bethlehem with Mary, to be enrolled there. And while she was there she brought forth her first son; and she wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them where they were staying.

 

3.  And there were in that region shepherds abiding, keeping their flock in the watch of the night. And behold, the angel of God came unto them, and the glory shone upon them; and they were terrified. And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to the whole world; there is born to you this day a Savior, which is the Messiah, in the city of David. And this is a sign: you shall find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. And there appeared with the angels suddenly many heavenly forces praising God and saying, Praise to God in the highest, And on the earth peace, and good hope to men.

 

4.  And when the angels departed, the shepherds spoke to one another saying, We will go to Bethlehem and see this word that the Lord made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe. And when they saw, they reported the story. And all that heard wondered. But Mary kept these sayings in her heart. And those shepherds returned, magnifying and praising God for all that they had seen and heard.

 

5.  And when eight days were fulfilled that the child should be circumcised, his name was called Jesus, being called that by the angel before his conception in the womb. After that, the Magi came from the east to Jerusalem, and said, Where is the King of the Jews? We have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship him. And Herod the king heard, and he was troubled. And he gathered all the chief priests of the people, and asked them in what place the Messiah should be born. They said, In Bethlehem of Judea: thus it is written in the prophet.

 

6.  Then Herod called the Magi secretly, and inquired of them the time at which the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, Go and search about the child; and when you have found him, come and tell me so I might go and worship. And they departed; and the star went before them, until it came and stood above the place where the child was. And they entered the house and beheld the child with Mary his mother, and fell down worshipping him, and opened their saddlebags and offered him gifts, gold and myrrh and frankincense. And they saw in a dream that they should not return to Herod, and they traveled by another way in going to their country.

 

7.  Then the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph, saying, Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee into Egypt until I tell you; for Herod is determined to slay the child. And Joseph arose and took child and mother and fled into Egypt until the death of Herod.  So Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the Magi, was very angry, and sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem, from two years old and under.

 

8.  When Herod died, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, Rise and take the child and his mother, and return to the land of Israel; for they have died who sought the child's life. And Joseph rose, took the child and mother, and came to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus had become king instead of Herod his father, he feared to go there; and he saw in a dream to go to Galilee instead, and abide in Nazareth: that the prophet might be fulfilled, saying he should be called a Nazarene.