If you are just chiming in please read back to DAY ONE of the chronological reading of the New Testament. This is a 92 day series.
Day Two: Matthew 1, Luke 2:1-38
Genealogy is always hard to follow, no matter how many times I have read or listened to similar chapters it is often to the point where I lose track where I was paying attention. The names themselves are unlike many that we find in these times. With this being said there is a significance to all of the ancestry on both sides of the Line of Jesus (Mary and Joseph). It must also be important to know how many generations are between significant eras of time. In this case they note 14 generations between each event.
7 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.
Obviously Yah has his ways of using time and order through prophesy and with this verse in Matthew it may be because of the significance of how many years it totals out to be according to the generations between which would equal 1000 yrs. or a "Millennium". We wait for eternity which comes after the rule of men and their self rule which is said to be in the 6th millennium. Technically there are those that seek the will of god and most followers although they think they are praying for what is best, it is not always what is willed to be in the big plan and purpose of Yahweh. Heavenly father has mapped everything out the way that it will be in the end and nothing will change that but some of us still think that what we want and desire is what is best which is actually self will.
Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
This right here shows Joseph, righteous for those times took compassion on the women he loved and who was betrothed to him. Like Mary, he trusts the message which he receives from the Angel of the Lord with an act of obedience which shows great faith in the Lord's message as well as honors his wife and submits to her even before they knew each other like man and wife because they were promised to each other. Being obedient is only as hard as the things we are tempted by. Mary and Joseph remained not intimate with each other and did not consummate as man and wife until after the birth of Jesus.
Luke 2:1-38
This section is more about the birth of our savior and people who came to greet and who have been waiting for him to arrive in the flesh their whole lives, similar to how we wait for him our whole lives for him to come again with the clouds.
I think it is important to note right off the bat about the registry. Joseph was going back to the land of his lineage which is Bethlehem in Judea. In registration through out the bible women were not accounted for and were not added into census but here it says she went with him but not specifically that she was included into the count. If you question why this was it is more of a way to keep in line who was able body for war which as you know in those times women were not involved in these actions.
All the people a messenger appeared to have been commanded not to fear by the Angel sent by Yah. All also were humbly terrified by the glorious presence in front of them probably because of how powerful and awesome the divinity is. (speaking from similar feelings that have overcome me). The shepherds who work hard by the sweat of their brow waiting on this sign, the widow Anna the prophetess in the temple who fasts and prays waiting of the coming, and the elder man Simeon who could not see death until he has seen the Son of God in the flesh are all accounts of people in those times who were humble and received the message of prophesy before they actually saw proof of! God seeks the hearts of all and these accounts of his chosen prove to me that all it takes to receive is hope and faith in the word of God.
29 "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." 33 The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
I had to question at the point that Mary and Joseph marvel at the wonderful things that are said about their son because it was revealed to them his purpose. This thought crosses my mind a lot reading these stories and ones to come while Jesus grows in his father's house, but I can embrace the fact that it is a marveling and awesome purpose indeed.
Yahweh keeps his promises, the beautiful and the not so lovely sounding ones. All in the good of his kingdom we can be sure all the good promises are for those who trust in his word and will. I would hate to be disobedient if the lord asked me to do something knowing that the other end of that promise of obedience their was a very troubling circumstance to be disobedient. Gratefully all God has asked us to do is rational and simple enough, yet filled with self will men have twisted it to be more complicated then it actually is.
By prophesy and message we know the lord by his fulfillment in the promises. He searches the hearts of everyone and knows already who he has chosen for what purpose.
