"Joseph, son of David, do not fear taking Mary as your wife, for the child she carries is from the Holy Ghost. She will bear a son and you shall call him JESUS, meaning Saviour, for he shall save your people."
This was done so Isaiah's prophecy would be fulfilled, for he had said, "A virgin will be with a male child. They will call his name Emmanuel, interpreted 'God with us'." Then Joseph awoke and obeyed the Lord by taking Mary for his wife. Though he did not know her intimately until after my birth, her firstborn son, and Joseph named me JESUS.
I was born in October 3BC in Bethlehem of Juda. Mary and Joseph had traveled from Nazareth for a census ordered by Herod, who was king at that time. A bright star marked the place and time of my birth, where three wise men found me. They brought gifts of gold, myrrh and frankincense, then fell down to worship me.
King Herod was jealous because already I was called King of the Jews and, unable to find me, he ordered the death of all firstborn sons two years or younger. God sent an angel to Joseph, warning him to take us to Egypt and to stay until Herod died. He passed away in about 6AD when I was near nine years old. Then another angel advised us to return to Nazareth, where I grew up a carpenter's son. All these events fulfilled prophecy given by the Lord over several thousand years, beginning even before Abraham.
I grew and strengthened in spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God. But people were shocked by my appearance. I am black and my face so marred, more than any afflicted man, and my small stature was equally flawed, deformed. I was not shapely or handsome. In fact, there was no outward beauty to encourage anyone to follow after me when my ministry as Christ began.
It was written that I would be despised and rejected, known as a man of sorrows and well acquainted with grief. Many people will cringe and turn away from my looks. I will be spurned and disrespected by multitudes. But I will bear their griefs and carry their woes; yet many will believe me cursed, punished by God with terrible deformities. Still, I will die for mankind's violations, bearing the punishment for their sins so those chosen might have peace with my Father through me. And my stripes delivered by a cat-o-nine tails [a whip] will heal their spirits of wickedness.
God kept me pure and obedient throughout childhood, having covered me even in Mary's womb. Well, except once when I disappeared as a twelve-year old experiencing envy for the first time in my human life. I will praise God, for inside and out I AM fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are God's works; and that, my soul knows well. My essence was not hid from Him when I was made in secret and oddly brought up in the poorest parts of earth. My Father's eyes saw my heart despite my physical imperfections. All my parts are written in His Book, for God fashioned me when nothing existed. His thoughts are precious to me! They number more than the grains of sand.
When I awake, I AM still with Him. Surely you will slay the wicked, O God: depart from me, you cruel men. They speak wickedly against the Father and take His name in vain. Do not I hate them, O Lord, who hates you? Do those who rise against you not hurt me as well? I hate them with perfectly justified hatred. They are my enemies, too. Search me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wickedness in me and lead me in your way forever.
Each year my parents went to Jerusalem as required for Passover, a feast memorial to the Hebrews' freedom from the Egyptians. When I was twelve, eighteen years before I began my Father's work, we again went. When they fulfilled the two days of Passover, they set out for Nazareth thinking I was with other family in the group. A day into the journey they discovered me missing and spent another day returning to Jerusalem. After three days they finally found me in the temple sitting with priests and lawyers of God's Laws. I had been there all that time listening to them, asking questions and speaking my Father's truths.
I remember thinking when we arrived in Jerusalem, "God truly is good to Israel, even to those of unclean hearts." I hardly could take another step because of the things I saw. I was close to a spiritual fall, for I felt envious of the foolish wicked's riches and heartiness. They were not suffering due to their spiritual death! Their physical strength was firm, large and they had no troubles or diseases like pagans. And because they did not suffer, pride surrounded them like a binding chain and violence covered them like clothes.
Their eyes glittered with health and their chins jutted in haughty pride. They had more than anyone could ever want. They even believed God did not care, did not see and hear them in their corrupt, arrogant ways as they spoke mean about others suffering hardships and frailties. They berated the Father by twisting His Words and teaching men lies for truth. These are the ungodly who prosper in the world and increase in riches! __________________________ Luke 1: 26, 28, 30-32> Matthew 1: 18-25 (Ref: Isaiah 7: 14)> Matt 2: 1-23 (Ref: Micah 5: 2> I Kings 4: 30> II Chronicles 36: 14> Mal 2: 7> Psalm 72: 10-11> Jeremiah 31: 15> Isa 11: 1> Luke 2: 40> Isaiah 52: 14> 53: 2, 3-5> Solomon 1: 5> Psalm 119:141> Psalm 139: 13-24 - continued in next chapter> Psalm 139: 13-24> Luke 2: 41-46> Psalm 73: 1-9, 12> 86: 5> 37: 1> Jeremiah 49: 31
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