The Birth of Christ

by Chad Pennington

Advent Devotional ~ Day 20

Read Matthew 1-2; Luke 2:1-20

For all the importance that has been placed on Christmas throughout the years, I find it amazing that there are only 3 chapters in the New Testament devoted to the birth of Christ, Matthew 1 and 2 and Luke 2. In these three chapters about the birth of Christ, one (Matthew 1) is about three-quarters filled with the genealogy of Jesus. Genealogies are not the most interesting things to read in the Scriptures. If you are like me, then you may want to skip them in your Bible reading. However, the genealogies are a part of God’s infallible Word.

Matthew’s genealogy is a family tree of Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, the Word incarnate. Matthew wrote his gospel primarily to the Jews, and strictly speaking, the purpose of this genealogy is to prove to Jewish readers that Jesus of Nazareth is the seed of Abraham and the son of David, who was the long-awaited Messiah. Matthew’s genealogy also teaches us that Christ entered humanity for all people; Jews and Gentiles alike.

As a covenant document, Matthew’s genealogy reveals the faithfulness of God in keeping His promises from generation to generation, to Abraham and his promised seed, to Judah and his tribe, to David and his house.

Within this genealogy, depravity is clearly evident in the fact that Christ’s forefathers were deeply fallen descendants of Adam. Matthew’s genealogy not only lists heroes of faith such as Abraham, but also flawed and sinful people like Judah and Tamar, Rahab, David and Bathsheba, Joram and Manasseh. The Holy Spirit wants us to know that Jesus’ family history includes wicked men, prostitutes, and other notorious sinners. The sinless Lord of glory was willing to descend from notably sinful forebears.

Also, in the three chapters above we see the sovereignty of God over history displayed. The Savior had to be born of the line of David, be born of a virgin, be born in Bethlehem, and return out of Egypt. All of these, and many other things, were prophesied about the Messiah in the Old Testament. In order for one person to fulfill one, let alone all, of these prophesies requires God’s divine control over history. For example, the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem required Caesar to declare a census and Joseph to take his family from Nazareth to Bethlehem. This had to be completed to fulfill the prophecy of Jesus’ place of birth. This unfolding of God’s plan is a part of the good news that God’s plan for salvation was already in motion when the prophets gave their prophecies about the Messiah. Jesus’ fulfillment of these prophecies was just some of the reasons that the disciples, especially Peter, were able to answer correctly when Jesus asked them “who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15)

Application questions

1. Who do you say Jesus is? Does understanding the fulfillment of prophecy give you more confidence in proclaiming who Jesus is?

2. In the two narratives of the birth of Jesus (Matthew and Luke) we see examples of the different reactions to the birth of Jesus. The shepherds praised him, the wise men offered gifts, Simeon the priest recognized who Jesus was and announced what he would do, and Herod already feared Jesus and was murderous.

        - Understanding all of this, what was your first reaction to hearing of Jesus Christ? What is your reaction now?