When God became man: A journey home

“Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: ‘He shall be called a Nazarene’” (Matthew 2:22b-23).

When the murderous Herod died, God again directed Joseph through a dream – not once, but twice (Matthew 2:19-23). God led Joseph to take Jesus and Mary out of Egypt. After they arrived in Israel, He warned Joseph, who consequently took his family to Galilee. Joseph and Mary returned to Nazareth with a small boy, again fulfilling prophecy: The Messiah “shall be called a Nazarene.”

Joseph, Mary and Jesus finally were settled in a home they would call their own after a tumultuous time in their lives. God the Son was still a small Child, but His Father had provided for Him at every turn. Now, Jesus was prepared to grow as a boy into a man. And as a man, He would demonstrate how He was both a sinless man and God Himself – sent to be the Savior of the world.

When God became man: The slaughter of infants

“Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi” (Matthew 2:16).

Herod’s wickedness and viciousness were unleashed when he realized the magi were not returning to tell him the location of the King of the Jews. As a result, infant boys died and parents grieved. Herod ordered the slaying of every male child two years old and younger living in the vicinity of Bethlehem. The age range for his order was based on when the magi told Herod they had seen the star in their homeland.

Again, Matthew saw in the Old Testament a prophecy of Herod’s genocidal action. Jeremiah had written of this “weeping and great mourning” in Ramah (Jeremiah 31:15). While an undesignated number of sons died in this effort to destroy the King of the Jews, God the Father preserved the life of His Son so that at the right time He would “give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

When God became man: Protection for a King

"Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him'" (Matthew 2:13).

God warned the magi in a dream not to return to Jerusalem and thereby aid Herod in his conspiracy against the new King. He warned Joseph through an angel's message in a dream to take Jesus and Mary immediately to Egypt in order to escape jealous Herod's murderous intent. God was protecting His Son, but He was giving Joseph the earthly responsibility for guarding the life of this Child born to his wife.

Again, Joseph acted obediently without delay, as he had done when an angel told him in a dream to take Mary as his wife. Joseph remained obedient, waiting until Herod was dead before leaving Egypt. In this, Matthew saw another fulfillment of prophecy, apparently citing Hosea 11:1, where it says God called His Son out of Egypt. God's promises continued to be carried out in the details of His Son's infancy.

-- Photo by Aleks Dahlberg on Unsplash

When God became man: Gifts for an infant King

"When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh" (Matthew 2:10-11).

Magi from the east appeared in Jerusalem at some undisclosed time after the birth of Jesus. Much about the magi is left unreported in Matthew 2:1-12. We don't know their names or how many there were. The magi apparently were a priestly caste that had great influence among the Medes, Persians and Babylonians. Their appearance in Jerusalem greatly troubled King Herod and the people of the city. Herod directed the magi toward Bethlehem at the Jewish leaders' counsel, which was based on Micah's prophecy.

When the magi began the six-mile journey south, the star they had seen in the east appeared to them once again. It led them specifically to the house where the Messiah now lived. No longer was he in a stable. They gave Him gold and frankincense, lavish gifts fit for a king. Myrrh, however, was used at this time for embalming the dead. Even on this marvelous occasion, the sacrificial death of Jesus was foreshadowed.

When God become man: A widow's thanksgiving

"At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem" (Luke 2:38).

Simeon was not the only devout Hebrew who recognized the Messiah that day in the temple. Anna, an 84-year-old prophetess who had been a widow for several decades, was present, as she apparently always was. "She never left the temple, serving night and day with fasting and prayers" (Luke 2:37).

That day Anna's hunger for God was rewarded. When she encountered the infant Jesus, thanksgiving to the Lord poured forth from her lips. She also spoke continually about this Child to "all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem." It is easy to imagine how many times through the years Anna had shared with these other Jewish people who longed for God's promised redemption. They probably talked of their hope and of the faithfulness of the God of Israel. Now, at long last, they had seen His redemption in a tiny babe.

When God became man: The end of a long wait

“[T]hen he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, ‘Now Lord, You are releasing your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel’” (Luke 2:28-32).

Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to dedicate Him to the Lord no sooner than 40 days after His birth, according to the law on purification. Their sacrifice – two turtledoves – indicated how poor Joseph and Mary were. They were required to give no less than two birds.

Into the temple while they were there walked a man, Simeon, as another witness to their Son’s glorious nature. The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. When he saw Jesus and held Him, Simeon knew the long wait was over.

Simeon held God’s “salvation,” one for Gentiles and Jews alike. He had a further message, however. He told Mary her Child would bring about both the rise and fall of many in Israel. He also warned there would be sadness ahead, telling her a “sword will pierce even your own soul.” Mary would understand this mysterious saying only years later.

When God became man: A mother ponders

"So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart" (Luke 2:16-19).

When the angels departed, the shepherds could do no less. They agreed they must go to Bethlehem and find the One they and their ancestors had been waiting for. They excitedly found the Child and told Mary and Joseph what the angel had said about this newborn.

While their report produced outright wonder in others, it resulted in a quiet pondering for Mary. The word for "pondering" means "placing together for comparison." She apparently compared what the shepherds reported with what Gabriel had told her about nine months before.

Like nearly any other mother, she treasured her newly born child and His birth, but no other mother had heard said what was declared about her Son. She weighed in her own heart what was said, unaware of all that was in store for her firstborn as Savior of the world and Lord of all.