Articles

Luke 2:10 The angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid, for I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere! 11 For today in Bethlehem[a] a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh (Jehovah), the Messiah.[b] 12 You will recognize him by this miraculous sign: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in the feeding trough!”[c]

1. 2:11 The Greek text says, “the city of David.”
2. 2:11 Translated literally from the Aramaic text. This is one of the most amazing statements found in the Gospels declaring the deity of Jesus Christ.
3. 2:12 A baby lying in a feeding trough where animals were kept nearby, wrapped in strips of cloths, became a sign of the Man-Savior’s life on earth. He entered the world as a lowly baby, and though he is the mighty God, he lived his life on earth in gentleness before all. The shepherds that night were possibly near Bethlehem at Migdal Eder, “the [watch] tower of the flock.” This would fulfill both the prophecies of Mic. 5:2 and Mic. 4:8, which say, “to you it [he] will come, your dominion [kingdom] from old will arrive.” It was at the lower floor of the watchtower (Migdal Eder) that the birthing of the Passover lambs would take place. Selected ewes that were about to give birth would be brought there. After the birth of the lambs, the priestly shepherds would wrap the lambs in cloth and lay them in a manger lined with soft hay to prevent them from hurting themselves, for Passover lambs must be unblemished with no bruise or broken bone. The miracle sign for these priestly shepherds would be a baby boy lying where the Passover lamb should be—in a manger, wrapped in strips of cloth. It was at the cradle of Jesus Christ that the kingdom from ancient times arrived on earth.

Isaiah 7:14 The Lord himself will give you a sign.[a] Behold—the virgin[b] will conceive and give birth to a son and will name him God Among Us.[c]

1. Isaiah 7:14 This is a double sign. There is the sign of the Virgin Mary and the virgin bride of Christ of the last days. See 2 Cor. 11:2.
2. Isaiah 7:14 Although the ambiguous Hebrew word for “virgin” (‘almah) is more often translated “a girl of marriageable age,” the context is God performing a miracle sign (v. 11). This sign is not merely for Ahaz but for the family (house, including descendants) of David. There is nothing miraculous about a young woman having a baby; it happens every day. However, the Septuagint translates this word as “virgin” here as well as in Matthew’s quotation for the virgin birth of the Messiah (Matt. 1:23). No child with a human father could be the fulfillment of Immanuel, “God among us.” However, some scholars view Isaiah’s other son, “Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz” (8:3), as the Immanuel referred to here.
3. Isaiah 7:14 Or “Immanu El (“God became one of us,” Matt. 1:23).” A new nature is about to be planted in the soil of humanity. Immanuel is a term used for this new creation life coming down out of heaven. It will begin as a man but will soon become a company of men and women. Immanuel is the partnership of heaven and earth, God and humanity.a