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.
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.
Christmas, Good Friday and Easter are the highest holidays for us Christians.
We celebrate Christmas because in these days we commemorate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is no longer known exactly when Jesus was born. But that he really did walk this earth is not only attested in the gospels of the Bible. So writes z. B. the Roman historian Flavius Josephus in his book “Jüdische Antiquities” on pages 515-516 of Jesus as a “wise man” who was the Christ, who did many incredible deeds and taught the people, who started by Pilate on the aspirations of the noblest of the country was sentenced to death on the cross and executed, but was seen alive again on the third day. Mary, a young girl from Nazareth in Galilee, was visited by the “Angel of the Lord” when she was not yet married. He announced the birth of a son, whom she should call „Jesus“. When she replied that she had never slept with a man, the angel told her that this son was of the Holy Spirit himself and that the child would therefore be called the Son of God.
Due to a law passed by the Roman emperor Augustus at the time, Mary and her husband Joseph, who had not touched her until then, had to travel to Bethlehem in Judea for the purpose of a census. That is where Jesus was born. The first to hear of this birth were shepherds in a field near Bethlehem. In the middle of the night the angel of the Lord appeared to them and announced the birth of the “Savior”, the Christ, and he told them right away where and under what circumstances they would find the child. After that, a great multitude of angels appeared praising God on high. This Christ was announced to the first humans, Adam and Eve. From then on there were also prophets who spoke of him and announced his arrival beforehand. Isaiah z. B. announces that a branch of the “stump of Jesse” is meant to be a descendant of David (son of Jesse) on whom the Spirit of the Lord, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of advice and strength, comes forth Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord ”will rest. Chapter 53 says that someone would be beaten and tortured „for our iniquities,“ that He bore our punishment so that we would have peace and be healed, and that hardly anyone will believe it. That „one“ is Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah. The prophet Micah said (5: 1): “And you, Bethlehem Efrata, who are little among the cities of Judah, from you, he shall come to me who is Lord of Israel, whose beginning has been from the beginning and from eternity. ” Joel announces Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. These are just a few of the ancient prophecies that announced Jesus Christ. All of these and many other predictions were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Herbert Adam
To the Bible text:
Jesus birth
Matthew 1
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. 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. 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. 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.
Luke 1
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. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 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. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Luke 2
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 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. 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. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. 21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.