Birth Announcements concerning Christ, before and after His birth.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT, LEADING TO AND FOLLOWING THE BIRTH OF CHRIST
The Biblical account of the birth of Christ actually covers at least a two year period. God used various people and angels to announce the coming of His Son and give prophetic information concerning nature and ministry of His Son. This included several angels at various times throughout the two years, Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth, Mary (and Joseph), the shepherds, Simeon, Anna, the starry heavens, the Magi, and the priests in Jerusalem.
ANGEL TO ZACHARIAS
Luke 1:13-17
(13) But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
(14) And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
(15) For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
(16) And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
(DLG note... Christ is called Lord God by the angel.)
(17) And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
(DLG note... Christ is again referred to as Lord.)
GABRIEL TO MARY
Luke 1:26-35
(26) And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
(27) To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
(28) 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.
(29) And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
(30) And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
(31) And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
(32) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
(33) And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
(DLG note... Gabriel instructed Mary to give her baby a prophetic, Messianic name. Gabriel referred to Jesus as the Son of the Highest, and heir to the throne of his father David).
(34) Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
(DLG note... Mary declared her virginity, thus substantiating the O.T. prophecy that God would give a sign, sending His Son through a virgin.)
(35) And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
(DLG note... Gabriel stated that Mary would conceive a Son by the Holy Spirit and He would be called the Son of God.)
ANGEL TO JOSEPH
Matthew 1:18-25
(18) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
(DLG note... Angel confirmed virgin conception by the Holy Spirit.)
(19) Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
(20) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, *Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
(DLG note... Joseph, the legal father of Jesus, was of the Davidic line, giving Jesus legal claim to the throne of David. Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit).
(21) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
(22) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
(23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
(DLG note... Jesus would be given prophetic name; Jesus would do the work of Messiah, by saving His people from their sins; the virgin conceiving by the Holy Spirit was fulfillment of O.T. prophecy; Jesus was referred to as "God with us.")
(24) Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
(25) And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
ELIZABETH TO MARY
Luke 1:39-45
(39) And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
(40) And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
(41) And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
(42) And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
(43) And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
(DLG note... Elizabeth prophetically declared the deity of the pre-born Christ.)
(44) For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
(45) And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
MARY'S SONG
Luke 1:46-55
(46) And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
(47) And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
(DLG note... Mary declared that God is her Savior).
(48) For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
(49) For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
(50) And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
(51) He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
(52) He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
(53) He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
(54) He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
(55) As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
(DLG note... Mary spoke of the future accomplishments of her Son, Jesus, as if they had already taken place.
ZACHARIAS TO THE PEOPLE
Luke 1:59-79
(59) And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
(60) And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
(61) And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
(62) And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
(63) And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
(64) And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
(65) And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
(66) And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
(67) And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
(68) Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
(69) And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
(70) As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
(71) That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
(72) To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
(73) The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
(74) That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
(75) In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
(DLG note... Zacharias prophesied the significance of the birth of Christ.)
(76) And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
(77) To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
(78) Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
(79) To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
(DLG note... Zacahrias referred to Jesus by Divine titles, "the Highest," and "the Lord," and "the dayspring." Zacharias acknowledged Christ's salvific power to forgive sins; give light to those in darkness and guide us into peace.)
ANGEL TO SHEPHERDS
Luke 2:8-14
(8) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
(9) And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
(10) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
(11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
(12) And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.*
(DLG note... Angel referred to Jesus, with Divine titles, "Savior," and "Christ," which is the Greek equivalent of Anointed or Messiah. Christ's arrival in a lowly manger indicated Divine condescension to men of low estate.)
(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, good will toward men.
SIMEON
Luke 2:25-35
(25) And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
(26) And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.*
(DLG note... Simeon would not die until he had seen the promised Prophet, promised Priest, promised Prince, the Anointed One.)
(27) And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
(28) Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
(29) Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
(30) For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
(31) Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
(32) A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
(DLG note... Simeon recognized Jesus as the Messiah of Israel and the hope of the Gentiles).
(33) And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
(34) And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
(35) (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
(DLG note... Simeon prophesied Israel's rejection of Messiah).
ANNA
Luke 2:36-38
(36) And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
(37) And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
(38) And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
(DLG note... Anna, the prophetess, announced the arrival of Israel's Redeemer).
MAGI TO HEROD
Matthew 2:1-2
(1) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
(2) Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
(DLG note... The Magi sought the King of the Jews).
PRIESTS TO HEROD
Matthew 2:4-6
(4) And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
(5) And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
(6) And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
(DLG note... The priests recognized that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem and would rule Israel).
MATTHEW CONCERNING THE SLAUGHTER
Matthew 2:12-23
(12) And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
(13) And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
(14) When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
(15) And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
(DLG note... The angel announced that Jesus was the promised Son of God).
(16) Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
(17) Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
(18) In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
(DLG note... Jesus was the target of Herod's prophesied, "slaughter of the innocence).
(19) But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
(20) Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
(21) And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
(22) But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
(23) And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
(DLG note... Jesus move to Nazareth was fulfillment of prophecy and proof of His Messiah-ship).
