“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law” (Gal. 4:4, KJV-BRG).
The miracles of Christmas display God’s precise and perfect fulness in the birth of His Son.
Prelude and Fulfillment: John the Baptist (400 BC)
God’s last recorded words in Scripture around 400 BC (400 years before Christ):
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse” (Mal. 4:5–6, KJV-BRG). Fulfilled in Luke 1:5–25 and Luke 1:57–66.
The Star: The Long, Long Journey by Kings of the Earth (2 BC)
The kings or wise men begin their two-year-long journey from lands and islands in the far east to Judea, Jerusalem, and finally Bethlehem only to arrive, led by a star, to first meet King Herod in Jerusalem on the exact night of Jesus’s birth; then on to the short trip south to Bethlehem that same night, led by the same star, to meet the baby King lying in a manger (an animal food trough for a crib). The honoring of the King of kings, the Shepherd of Israel, the Lamb of God, the Lord of all Creation, the Great I AM, is now complete and fully attended by all of His creatures great and small. (See Matt. 2, Num. 24, Ps. 72, Isa. 7, Dan. 9.)
Announcement—Annunciation—The Seed (First Day of the Third Month of 1 BC)
“And in the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy—which would have been in the ninth month of the year 2 BC] the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary” (Luke 1:26–27, KJV-BRG).
“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. 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: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:30–33, KJV-BRG).
“Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 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. 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. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her” (Luke 1:34–38, KJV-BRG). (See also Gen. 3, Isa. 7, Isa. 11.)
Confirmation to Joseph (After the First Day of the Third Month of 1 BC)
“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. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 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. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child [infant], and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus” (Matt. 1:18–25, KJV-BRG).
Mary Visits Elizabeth (After the First Day of the Third Month of 1 BC)
“And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe [infant] leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord” (Luke 1:39–45, KJV-BRG).
O Holy Night: Joseph and Mary (Before and on the Twenty-Fifth Day of the Twelfth Month of 1 BC)
“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 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:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son [infant], and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger [crib]; because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:1–7, KJV-BRG). (See also Isa. 9, Mic. 5, Ps. 2.)
Shepherds on Birth Night (Twenty-Fifth Day of the Twelfth Month of 1 BC)
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe [infant] wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:8–12, KJV-BRG).
“And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd” (Ezek. 34:23, KJV-BRG).
“And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them” (Ezek. 37:24, KJV-BRG).
Angels on Birth Night (Twenty-Fifth Day of the Twelfth Month of 1 BC)
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 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” (Luke 2:13–15, KJV-BRG).
“For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten [infant] into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him” (Heb. 1:5–6, KJV-BRG).
Wise Men (Kings) on Birth Night (Before and on the Twenty-Fifth Day of the Twelfth Month of 1 BC)
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him” (Matt. 2:1–2, KJV-BRG). (Also see Num. 24, Ps. 72.)
Wise Men (Kings) on Birth Night (Twenty-Fifth Day of the Twelfth Month of 1 BC)
“When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child [infant] was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house [abode], they saw the young child [infant] with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh” (Matt. 2:9–11, KJV-BRG). (Also see Num. 24, Ps. 72, Isa. 11, Jer. 23.)
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