The Timeline Of The Message

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: whereas 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:” (Matthew 1:18-19)

We have all heard this part of the Christmas story all our lives, but have you ever just sat there and tried to put yourself in Joseph’s place? He is not a fictional character of someone’s imagination. He was a living, breathing man, whom God trusted. Wow! Joseph was a humble carpenter who trusted God and would act instantly on anything God told him to do.

His daily life must of been one of humble faith and trust, or else God would not have used him in such an important position. This man, who acted on what God told him, would become the one that was to be God’s trusted, earthly father, to guide and protect Jesus from his childhood into early adulthood. What a responsibility to be trusted by God to raise His only begotten Son.

But this life of faith and trust has a very human side to it. Mary is pregnant and Joseph was not the one responsible. His first thoughts must of been Mary has been unfaithful. He was very much a man of integrity and he really loved her, or else he would of divorced her in public disgrace. But I am getting ahead of myself.

Enough of Joseph’s background, now we want to explore the timeline of Matthew’s and Luke’s stories. What was the timeline that they revealed in their accounts of the birth of Jesus, and then put them together as they happened. Let’s finish the message revealed in Joseph’s dream: “Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto you, Mary your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost and she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20)

So we find here three messages delivered at the same time. (1) God assures him that Mary is not guilty of being unfaithful, (2) God revealed that Mary is pregnant with a baby boy, (3) This child that she carries in her womb is the long promised Messiah that will save his people from their sins. This is the reason that Jesus was sent here by God. This is the real reason for Christmas. Now we need to take the stories of both writers and try to put them in an agreeable timeline as skeptics all think that the two versions of the birth of Jesus are at odds with each other.

Luke starts out with Mary having her encounter with Gabriel as he brings the next message. Six months have passed since he visited Zacharias with the news of God allowing Elizabeth to have a child in her old age. As Gabriel greets Mary he says “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor 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 his kingdom there shall be no end.” Mary and Gabriel continue talking and finally Mary agrees to Gods proposal and Gabriel then leaves her. Mary’s faith has now allowed her to become pregnant.

Mary rehearses all the things God has told her through Gabriel, but she is very excited with the news of her cousin Elizabeth being pregnant in her old age. She breaks all tradition and leaves her family to go and visit Elizabeth, and stays three months. Read the story by Luke and see what happens, it is very interesting.

The timeline continues but now we are back in Matthew 1:20-21 and we pick it up with Joseph as he is wrestling with his emotions. He wife to be, not only broke tradition and left town for three months, but, now she’s returned pregnant. Hum? So as we continue reading we see that he has fallen asleep and has a dream as God sends his angel to Joseph to inform him of Mary’s condition, this is his first message but he will have three more. After the angel assures Joseph, then he wakes up and he also breaks tradition and immediately takes Mary to his home as his wife.

Back to Luke 2:1-3 and here we find Caesar Augustus giving forth a decree that affects everyone in his kingdom that they should return to their ancestral homelands to be counted for taxation purposes. More money is needed to fund their expansions, wars, and lifestyles. Sound familiar? Verse 4-7 we find Joseph and Mary on their way to Bethlehem and as they arrive they are amazed that so many people are there already. The only place they can find is a warm and cozy stable to bring Jesus into this world.

As soon as Mary delivers Jesus, the angel of the Lord is sent again with a message and this time it is to shepherds as they tend their sheep in the fields around Bethlehem. He announces the good news in verses 10-12 and in the message he gave, he included everyone. Not just the Jews but us Gentiles also. Then he gave them instructions on where to find this baby who was the long awaited Messiah, the Christ of prophecy. Then suddenly there was millions of them praising God and proclaiming a blessing to all mankind. Then the angels leave them to their thoughts on what they have just experienced. Verse 15-20 we find the shepherds going to visit this baby Messiah.

Verse 21-38 We see our little family having Jesus circumcised on the 8th day as prescribed by law. (Leviticus 12:3) They are still living in Bethlehem at this time and have found lodging in a house Joseph must of found as both of them had family there. Thirty two more days pass as also prescribed by law (Leviticus 12:4) and they bundle up Jesus and take him to the Temple at Jerusalem to dedicate him to God. (Leviticus 12:6-8) God is following all this as He alerts Simeon to whom He has promised that he would see the Messiah before he died. He is moved by the Holy Ghost to prophesy over Jesus as Joseph and Mary look on in amazement and wonder. Now if this was not enough for them to take in, God also brings in the prophetess Anna to this part of the Temple and she also is led by the Holy Ghost and says many things about this Holy Child and his future.

Verse 39, After they have fulfilled all the Law has required they leave and return to their home in Bethlehem. Note: This is where skeptics find fault between Matthew and Luke’s stories. But we have to look at both to pick up our timelines trail. Luke must of been unaware of all that happened and this is why Holy Ghost got Matthew to write down the other details. Luke knew Jesus came from Nazareth but did not know all the details that Matthew knew. Using logic it is clear that they went home to Bethlehem where they were living or else Holy Ghost would not have needed to warn Joseph to flee to Egypt. No real conflict, just gaps in each writers knowledge of events. How much time has elapsed is not revealed to us other than the slaughter of all babies 2 years and under.

We are now back to Matthew for all the other details that Holy Spirit has provided for us. (Matthew 2:1-12) All Jerusalem is troubled by the arrival of this Royal procession of the wise men from the east. Especially King Herod as he is informed by them of this Child King that has been born in his kingdom. Dumbfounded, Herod calls for his religious leaders to ask them where this King would be born. They have no trouble telling the King that this child would be born in Bethlehem, only about 6 miles from Jerusalem. The King then takes the wise men aside and tells them privately to find this child and return to him so he could go and worship him also. He tried to conceal his real thoughts that this child must be killed, but he could not outsmart God.

As the wise men leave, miraculously the star reappears to lead them to Jesus. They are overcome with excitement to say the least. Now they are arriving in Bethlehem and once again they are making a scene as this Royal procession stops at Marys door. Can you just put yourself in her shoes for a moment, very young mother to Gods child, angel visits, and now this exceptional group of foreign travelers wanting to see her baby. Blown away would be putting it mildly. They enter her home and give baby Jesus their gifts and then they leave. But God is following all this also, and as they prepare to return to Jerusalem, they are given a warning in a dream to not tell the King. They obey and return home by another route and another message is obeyed.

Verse 13-15 Joseph is once again warned in his second dream to get out of Bethlehem immediately, to which he obeys and off they go to Egypt. Note: Did you ever wonder why they gave such expensive gifts? God was making sure His Son would be cared for on their trip to Egypt while they were in hiding from this evil King and his plans. Eventually God sends His third message to Joseph that it was safe to return to Israel, and while they were going home God tells him in his forth dream to change plans and go to Nazareth to which he once again obeys.

This concludes our our story of the birth of Jesus, so much of our Christmas traditions are so misrepresented and confused by our Church system with shepherds, wise men, and stable being at the same time. The real story is so much longer than one special night. Always stick with scripture and no confusion or doubt will be present.

This Christmas for me will be observed by myself as my sweet wife has gone on home, and she will be with Jesus this Christmas. I will be alone, and I am ok with that, for this year will be one of remembrance of her and I as we spent 32 years spending Christmas together. Next year I will be with family but this one will be special for me as I spend it alone with my memories and you all, as I type this story for you, my family.

I hope this very wordy letter will be of some use for you as you relive this very special birth of our Christ, and do share it with your loved ones who are the only ones that matter, as family is all we have that is worth having. Gifts are nice but family is the only reason that matters. Enjoy each other and always remember you will make it, just don’t give up. See you next time as we continue to proclaim the Gospel message.

In His Service as Kilted Priest