Annunciation and Birth of Jesus Christ
This reading section covered 2 chapter sin Talmage's Jesus the Christ:
Chapter 7: Gabriel's Annunciation of John and Jesus
Chapter 8: The Babe of Bethlehem
I also covered the Jesus Christ Birth of section of my study guide.
I enjoyed reading these selections. Maybe it is because I am tying it in so close with the Easter Season and really connecting those two most important events. Christ's Birth was significant because of His Atonement and His Death. Had the latter not occurred, the first would have been less significant as a historical event. But because of the Easter Season that we get to remember, the Birth was all the more significant.
Chapter 7 discussed first the annunciation of John to his father Zacharias. The Angel Gabriel visits the Priest Zacharias, who is old and without child, serving inside the Holy Place, burning incense. he maintained cleanliness throughout his time of service. He stayed inside the temple gates. While in the Holy Place, he is visited by the Angel Gabriel who tells him that despite his age, he would bear a son and he will be one who will prepare the way for the Messiah. His name should be John. Then Zacharias asks for a sign so he can know it is the truth. He is struck dumb and told he will not be able to speak until the day that his child is named John. He goes along and is unable to speak until he gives John as the name of his son at the circumcision.
Contrast that to Gabriel's Annunciation to Mary. Mary was unmarried but betrothed to Joseph. Betrothal was more than just engaged, it was a legal contract of sorts. The only way to get out of a betrothal was to Publicly annul the betrothal or privately with witnesses. So it wasn't just a hey will you marry me, sure kind of arrangement. There were payments made and contracts entered into. Not something you take lightly. Mary is visited by the Angel Gabriel, a young woman who has never known a man, is told that she is highly favored of God and will bear the Messiah. She doesn't say thats not possible, or anything like that. She says How will it happen. The faith that it took for Mary to mother the literal Son of God is remarkable. By accepting this 'challenge' she was putting the arranged betrothal on the line. She was not sure how Joseph would respond, but had to know that there was every possibility of public shaming because she was pregnant with 'some other guys' kid.
Mary leaves after the annunciation and goes to visit Elizabeth, now 6 months pregnant with John. Elisabeth knows as soon as Mary walks in that she carries the Son of God. They visit together for 3 months. After which she returns to Joseph, who sees she is pregnant, leaves to consider which option he should use to annul their betrothal. He then is visited by an angel and told that Mary carries the Son of God and to not fear her faithfulness because it is of the Holy Ghost, not of man.
He moves up their marriage and they go about their lives together, her carrying the Son of God.
Could you imagine the pressure and weight you would feel as a mother or step father? I can't even fathom the questioning every choice I make, what I eat, what if I raise my voice, what if I get mad... That is pressured parenting...
Joseph and Mary live in Nazareth, because of taxing and Jewish laws, they must travel to the land of their fathers, Bethlehem to register, kind of a census type situation. Talmage points out that it is not clear if Mary had to travel with Joseph, or if she could have stayed at home, but I agree with him, that I imagine Mary would not have wanted to be left home alone that late in pregnancy. So she travels with him and they arrive to a town full of other people, who also came to deal with their taxes and there is no lodging available. They find a stable, Khan, probably in a cave where animals are kept in the time. She bears her son and they name him Jesus at his circumcision. Shepherds are visited in the fields. Wise men (of unknown origin and number) came and bring 3 gifts. Those same wise Men were asked by Herod to return and give the location of the babe Jesus so that he could 'worship' (read murder) him. The wise men do not return to Herod, instead find an alternate route back to their home. Herod, upset, sends off for anyone under the age of 2 to be murdered.
It is important to note that the time frame surrounding the birth of Christ is not known. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe, through modern day revelation, that Christ was born on April 6, BC1. The wise men came sometime following his birth, probably prior to his second birthday, since Herod used their visit timeline to judge what age to have children killed. He chose two, so he must have guessed the wise men came and visited the babe Jesus prior to age 2. Beyond that, we are not clear on timelines for when things happened.
We know that Jesus Christ was born in the meridian of time. Time counts down to Christ and up to Christ. In the Book of Mormon, 1st Nephi chapter 10, we can read of the revelation that Lehi received regarding the time frame of the coming of the Messiah as 600 years from the time they left Jerusalem as a family. So they left at 600 BC. Mormon is Words of Mormon, also in the Book of Mormon talks of it being 385 years since the coming of Jesus Christ. All of our time centers on Christ. The designation can be changed 100 times but it will still always be so many years since the birth of Christ. This year we are 2018 years from the birth of Christ. Every time we say the year, we can remember the birth of Christ. The Birth of Christ is of such unparalleled importance, rivaled only by His Atonement, Death and Resurrection in AD 33.
So as we celebrate the Death and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior this Easter, let us also remember His birth that we celebrate each Christmas. Tied together, these events make for the greatest gift ever given to any man, woman or child that has, does now or will ever receive. And that is why his birth is so very important.
Chapter 7: Gabriel's Annunciation of John and Jesus
Chapter 8: The Babe of Bethlehem
I also covered the Jesus Christ Birth of section of my study guide.
I enjoyed reading these selections. Maybe it is because I am tying it in so close with the Easter Season and really connecting those two most important events. Christ's Birth was significant because of His Atonement and His Death. Had the latter not occurred, the first would have been less significant as a historical event. But because of the Easter Season that we get to remember, the Birth was all the more significant.
Chapter 7 discussed first the annunciation of John to his father Zacharias. The Angel Gabriel visits the Priest Zacharias, who is old and without child, serving inside the Holy Place, burning incense. he maintained cleanliness throughout his time of service. He stayed inside the temple gates. While in the Holy Place, he is visited by the Angel Gabriel who tells him that despite his age, he would bear a son and he will be one who will prepare the way for the Messiah. His name should be John. Then Zacharias asks for a sign so he can know it is the truth. He is struck dumb and told he will not be able to speak until the day that his child is named John. He goes along and is unable to speak until he gives John as the name of his son at the circumcision.
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| Photo from lds.org |
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| Photo from lds.org |
Mary leaves after the annunciation and goes to visit Elizabeth, now 6 months pregnant with John. Elisabeth knows as soon as Mary walks in that she carries the Son of God. They visit together for 3 months. After which she returns to Joseph, who sees she is pregnant, leaves to consider which option he should use to annul their betrothal. He then is visited by an angel and told that Mary carries the Son of God and to not fear her faithfulness because it is of the Holy Ghost, not of man.
He moves up their marriage and they go about their lives together, her carrying the Son of God.
Could you imagine the pressure and weight you would feel as a mother or step father? I can't even fathom the questioning every choice I make, what I eat, what if I raise my voice, what if I get mad... That is pressured parenting...
 |
| Photo from lds.org |
It is important to note that the time frame surrounding the birth of Christ is not known. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe, through modern day revelation, that Christ was born on April 6, BC1. The wise men came sometime following his birth, probably prior to his second birthday, since Herod used their visit timeline to judge what age to have children killed. He chose two, so he must have guessed the wise men came and visited the babe Jesus prior to age 2. Beyond that, we are not clear on timelines for when things happened.
We know that Jesus Christ was born in the meridian of time. Time counts down to Christ and up to Christ. In the Book of Mormon, 1st Nephi chapter 10, we can read of the revelation that Lehi received regarding the time frame of the coming of the Messiah as 600 years from the time they left Jerusalem as a family. So they left at 600 BC. Mormon is Words of Mormon, also in the Book of Mormon talks of it being 385 years since the coming of Jesus Christ. All of our time centers on Christ. The designation can be changed 100 times but it will still always be so many years since the birth of Christ. This year we are 2018 years from the birth of Christ. Every time we say the year, we can remember the birth of Christ. The Birth of Christ is of such unparalleled importance, rivaled only by His Atonement, Death and Resurrection in AD 33.
So as we celebrate the Death and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior this Easter, let us also remember His birth that we celebrate each Christmas. Tied together, these events make for the greatest gift ever given to any man, woman or child that has, does now or will ever receive. And that is why his birth is so very important.
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