The Ministry of Christ
7th Bible: New Testament
Chapter 8: God Sent His Son, Born of a Woman
Devotions: Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-39 (Matthew 1:18-25)
Text 1: “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS: for He will save His people from their sins”. Matthew 1:21 NKJ
-evaluate context: angel of the Lord speaking to Joseph – the descendent of David, and Abraham
-What does Jesus mean? “Jehovah is salvation”.
-be my Savior – give me Jesus else I die
-You need salvation. You need this Savior to save you.
-He saves from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and the presence of sin.
-“be of sin the double cure: save from guilt and make me pure”
Text 2: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, ‘God with us.’” Matthew 1:23 NKJ
-evaluate context: O.T. prophecy from Isaiah 7:14
-virgin birth: Jesus was God and man “conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary”
-Why do we need to so strongly defend the belief in the virgin birth? A belief in the virgin birth is essential to salvation for Jesus could not have been truly God and also a truly righteous man if He had been conceived naturally from two human parents.
-Immanuel (Hebrew: “God with us”) -God with us!
Text 3: “And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born (of you) will be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:35 NKJ
-Note: the words “of you” are missing in the NKJ although these significant two words are found in the KJV and in the textus receptus Greek NT
-He would be the Son of the Most High (the Son of God)
-He would be the One who had been promised in the O.T., the King who would rule over Israel forever.
Text 4: “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Luke 1:37 NKJ
-evaluate context: her cousin Elisabeth would have a child in her old age
-nothing too hard/difficult for God; nothing too wonderful; He is able to save to the uttermost
-no sinner too lost; no sinner too bad; no sinner too black; no sinner too dead; no sinner too hopeless
-God’s gift of His only beloved Son is indescribable, unspeakable, amazing, wonderful, incomprehensible
-this way/method of salvation had never entered into the heart of man – here are things that we cannot explain – here we can only adore/wonder
-How did Mary show her faith? She showed her faith in being perfectly willing to do whatsoever the Lord wanted her to do and to be whatsoever He wanted her to be.
Text 5: “But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.” Luke 1:43-44 NKJ
-evaluate context: Elisabeth says this when Mary come to visit her
-“mother of my Lord” – Elizabeth calls Jesus her Lord even before He was born
-John, who was filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb, has joy in Christ while yet unborn
Text 6: “And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” Luke 1:46-47 NKJ
-Mary praises God from her heart – she has joy in God
-God’s salvation causes the heart to sing for joy
-What is significant about the words “my Savior”? – Mary is confessing that she is a sinner whose only hope of salvation is through the saving power of the baby in her womb.
Text 7: “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7 NKJ
-evaluate context: decree of census; go to Bethlehem; no room for them in the inn
-a humble birth – this is God; this is your Savior; this is the Creator; this is the King of Glory
Text 8: “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 NKJ
-Micah 5:2 was fulfilled “But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” NKJ
-good tidings of great joy: the angel declares to sinners “unto you is born a Saviour”
Text 9: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word: for my eyes have seen Your salvation.” Luke 2:29-30 NKJ
-evaluate context: -the circumcision of Christ shows us that He willingly placed Himself under the demands of the law
-visit the temple to present the child to the Lord: What reveals to us that Mary and Joseph were very poor? – offered two pigeons
-Simeon had been waiting for the consolation of Israel
-Simeon’s heart is filled with peace as he embraces his Saviour and looks upon God’s salvation.
-Simeon speaks of the promised salvation which shall be to both Jew and Gentile. “Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples; a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” Luke 2:31-32 NKJ
-Simeon had been waiting to see God’s salvation before he died and he is now ready to depart in peace for by faith he has seen and embraced God’s salvation.
Text 10: “And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” Luke 2:38 NKJ
-she was a very old, pious widow who gives thanks unto the Lord when she saw the child Jesus
-she spoke of Him to all who were looking for His coming – looking for God’s salvation
THERE IS BORN TO YOU A SAVIOR