The Babe in the Manger

God’s Providence

Galatians 4:4–5 “4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”

God’s Providence something that is happening continually. It is His undergirding and overseeing of our worlds actions for the eternal good of the believer.

It would be a miracle, but it has no breaking of any natural law, so it is not a visible miracle. We might call it a coincidence.

In many ways it is greater than a miracle as God has to orchestrate many different events and people to work out His will. And He does this seamlessly.

What does it Mean when it says in the Fullness of Time?

At the least, it is at the right number of years to fulfill God’s prophecy in Daniel. There is a date for the crucifixion of Jesus that can’t be missed, so His birth must come near that date.

Yet God has also made other promises for the coming of His Son.

Micah 5:2 “2 “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.””

This was well known to the Jews. They were waiting for the Baby from Bethlehem.

It is also interesting how so many of these prophecies clearly see the coming child as God incarnate.

Not just ‘The One to be Ruler in Israel’

But “whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” A title only God could use.

Genesis 21:33 “33 Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God.”

Psalm 90:2 “2 Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

In is what John is saying in John 1:14 “14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

This term should have been a term of comfort to the Jews. God uses this word to speak about His promise to them of a land, of his covenant, of his blessings, and of course of Himself. The only reason the promises of God continue is that God who can not lie continues.

This is also the high point of the Roman peace. The empire will be stable in the Jewish region for only a couple of years. Enough time for a child to be born, grow, die and for His followers to spread out. By the time the Gospel has spread out to Rome, the end of Israel as a nation is near.

The History of His Birth

Luke 2:1–3 “1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.”

Luke’s Reason

Luke 1:1–4 “1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.”

So Luke lists all of the events surrounding the Birth of Jesus to tie it into the written History of His time. Even without a good calendar, the multiple references helps others to know when this event happened.

Notice Luke does this to give us certainty. He is putting His record on the line as being verifiable.

The Problem with this Account

All the records that show a Quirinius governing Syria, show him governing at a later date.

So many older commentaries tried to say that Luke meant before instead of while Quirinius was governing.

They rightly conclude that Luke is right, but assume that the translation must have been wrong.

The Answer was Quirinius governed twice.

The MacArthur Study Bible Chapter 2

2:2 Quirinius was governing Syria. Fixing a precise date for this census is problematic. Publius Sulpicius Quirinius is known to have governed Syria during A.D. 6–9. A well known census was taken in Palestine in A.D. 6. Josephus records that it sparked a violent Jewish revolt (mentioned by Luke, quoting Gamaliel, in Acts 5:37). Quirinius was responsible for administering that census, and he also played a major role in quelling the subsequent rebellion. However, that cannot be the census Luke has in mind here, because it occurred about a decade after the death of Herod (see note on Matt. 2:1)—much too late to fit Luke’s chronology (cf. 1:5). In light of Luke’s meticulous care as a historian, it would be unreasonable to charge him with such an obvious anachronism. Indeed, archeology has vindicated Luke. A fragment of stone discovered at Tivoli (near Rome) in A.D. 1764 contains an inscription in honor of a Roman official who, it states, was twice governor of Syria and Phoenicia during the reign of Augustus. The name of the official is not on the fragment, but among his accomplishments are listed details that, as far as is known, can fit no one other than Quirinius. Thus, he must have served as governor in Syria twice. He was probably military governor at the same time that history records Varus was civil governor there. With regard to the dating of the census, some ancient records found in Egypt mention a worldwide census ordered in 8 B.C. That date is not without problems, either. It is generally thought by scholars that 6 B.C. is the earliest possible date for Christ’s birth. Evidently, the census was ordered by Caesar Augustus in 8 B.C. but was not actually carried out in Palestine until 2–4 years later, perhaps because of political difficulties between Rome and Herod. Therefore, the precise year of Christ’s birth cannot be known with certainty, but it was probably no earlier than 6 B.C. and certainly no later than 4 B.C. Luke’s readers, familiar with the political history of that era, would no doubt have been able to discern a very precise date from the information he gave.

So this introductions of Luke, the account is being set up by God to get Joseph with His wife to Bethlehem and it is verified even today, just as Luke wanted, so we could be certain that the promise of an everlasting God, would come true in time, at the promised place.

It is the power of an all knowing, all powerful God in display, while we read this simple account of a taxation.

Luke’s Preparation of Jesus’ Birth

Luke 2:4–5 “4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.”

Luke tells us two things here. What happened and Why.

Joseph leaves his home in Nazareth to go to Bethlehem with Mary his betrothed wife

Because HE was of the house and lineage of David.

Luke will not give us the Linage of Joseph as it is Mary that is the only human line involved in the conception of Christ.

Luke 3:23 “23 Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,”

Yet this line is different from the one in Matthew. It is because Luke follows Mary’s line.

But for Jesus to be ‘the One who will Rule Israel” He needs to be from Davids Line on the legal Fathers side. So Luke includes that Joseph is from the line of David.

The Birth

Luke 2:5–7 “5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 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.”

God has brought His chosen vessel Mary to Bethlehem at the right time.

Notice the many little details that Luke adds that are so important.

First born Son — Mary had other children, regardless of what the Roman Catholic Church says.

Laid Him in a Manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

God’s providence does not equate to physical blessing.

Jesus would come and experience life from the lowest position to be able to stand in our place.

Adam and Eve

Placed in a garden, walked and talked with God, had an environment that God would declare ‘very good’.

When Satan came in the form of the snake, they fell quickly, at the first temptation. Mankind as a whole feel with them.

When Christ came

He had no where to call His own.

He was poor

He was forced to flee

He would have to endure satan’s attack in a dessert for 40 days.

He would have to stand in our place, in many ways the worst of our places, full of sin and temptation and conquer it.

We see this starting here. Laid in a manger as there is no room for Him in the Inn.

Applications

Do we realize the amazing birth of Christ.

At the right time, in the right town, in the right place?

Do we realize how much the eternal word gave up when He came down to take on flesh?

Infinite God, confined to a body and womb.

The all knowing wise God having to learn wisdom and grow.

The all powerful God having to suffer, be tired and rejected.

It starts here, in a manger.

May we serve this wonderful Lord of Love, with all that is in us. He has not asked of us, anything that He has not done first.