MATTHEW and Luke alone, of the four Evangelists, tell us anything about the birth of our Lord. Matthew, after giving the genealogy or Jesus, which was written especially for the Jews, explains that the birth of Jesus was in fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14; "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel"--God is with us. But Matthew, in quoting this verse, used the Greek Version (Septuagint) which gives it this way: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel ..." (Matt. 1:28).

Matthew, of course, presented his material concerning the birth of our Lord in such a way as to show that His birth was in line with, and a fulfillment of, the Old Testament predictions. Luke wrote, however, for the Greeks and presented, in a most classical manner, his record of the birth of our Lord.

Luke declared in his record, "Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria" (Luke 2:1-2).

Many of the rationalistic critics and modernists have stumbled over the historical data that Luke gives, in his account concerning the birth of Jesus. All admit that His birth occurred during the reign of Caesar Augustus; but many of them have denied that Caesar Augustus issued a decree that the whole Graeco-Roman world, over which he reigned, should be enrolled. This statement was considered as a figment of the imagination. Finally, however, some of the census papers of the periodic census that was taken have been actually dug up in the rubbish heaps of Egypt, and they now tell their story. Since the discovery of these ancient records, critics have been forced to admit that Luke was right in speaking of a periodic enrollment, and that they were mistaken. That Luke recognized this periodic, recurrent enrollment is the legitimate interpretation of verse 2: "This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria." The first implied at least a second or a third, but we have discovered different census papers that show that the census was taken periodically.

Again, the critics have found fault with the record by saying that Quirinias was not governor of Syria at the time stated by Luke, but was governor later. Here again archaeology has, come to the rescue and has shown that Quirinius was governor of Syria twice -- thanks to the untiring, scholarly labors of Sir William Ramsey, who has given us the evidence in his volume entitled Was Christ Born in Bethlehem?

It was known that Quirinius was governor of Syria in A.D. 6. Some scholars, therefore, dated the birth of Jesus in A.D. 6. But, thanks to Sir William Ramsey and other investigators in the same field (as already stated), inscriptions have been found which show that Quirinius was governor twice. The first time he was governor is referred to in an inscription found near Antioch in Pisidia, which speaks of Quirinius as governor, and which belongs to the date B.C. 10-7.

Thus at last, thanks to the efforts of the archaeologists, Luke stands vindicated as a reliable historian, when he said that Caesar Augustus sent out a decree that the whole world should be enrolled and that this was "the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria," that is, in the years B.C. 10-7. Furthermore, from the census papers referred to, we learn that families had to be enrolled. This, therefore, naturally involved both the husband and the wife's registering at their ancestral home.

The order for the first of these periodic enrollments, as shown, was when Quirinius was governor of Syria for the first time. Luke does not say that this order was carried out in Syria and Palestine at that time, but that the order was issued. "Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled." From various hints gathered here and there, it is learned that it took some time in certain of the provinces of the Roman Empire to carry out this decree.

This decree that had been issued by Caesar Augustus of Rome was the one that caused Joseph and Mary to go to Bethlehem, their ancestral home, to enroll themselves according to the requirement. It was, therefore, because of this decree that they went at that time.

According to the prediction found in Micah 5:2, the Messiah of Israel would be born in Bethlehem of Judah. God overruled the actions of men and governments in carrying out His plans and purposes. Little did Caesar Augustus realize, when he issued his decree, that in so doing he was bringing about the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy in reference to the place where the Messiah would be born. Our God is always working all things together for good for those who love Him, even those who are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28). Thus we may be sure that He weaves into a web of providential occurrences all of the events that come into the life of the child of God and makes everything contribute to his spiritual advancement for time and for eternity.

It was quite appropriate that the Saviour of the world, who called Himself the Bread of Life, should be born in the city of Bethlehem, the name of which means House of Bread. Hence the Bread of Heaven, the Bread of Life, entered this world, being born of a woman in the city of "the House of Bread."

The enrollment was made effective at the very time that the Baby Jesus should be born. The decree was not made effective and did not force Mary and Joseph to go before the time for her to bring forth the Child; but the requirements for carrying out the decree were enforced so that, at the very time that Mary and Joseph would have to go to Bethlehem, the Child could be born in the very place that the prophets foretold. The Lord's timing things overruling and making events come together and connect in order to carry out His purposes, mercies, and grace--may be illustrated also by the case of the Ethiopian eunuch, who was seeking the light of God's Word (Acts, chap, 8). He was the treasurer of the Queen of Ethiopia and had come possibly fifteen hundred or more miles to Jerusalem to worship God. After having engaged in worship, he was returning home, riding in his chariot. But he made good use of his time and was reading from the prophet Isaiah as he was driving along the road. God knew when the eunuch would leave Jerusalem. He knew how fast he would travel, and He knew how rapidly he would read. The Lord pledges that He will give the truth to everyone who wants it. Knowing the heart of this Ethiopian eunuch, God determined to give him the truth at the right time. He therefore spoke to Philip, who was conducting a revival in Samaria, and told him to go down to the road which led from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desert. Philip was started on his way in sufficient time so that he would come to the fork of the road on which he was traveling, where it met the Jerusalem-Gaza road, at the very time that the eunuch arrived there and as the eunuch was reading the very passage that was preparing his heart for the message which Philip was to deliver to him. Philip began the conversation with the Ethiopian official by asking him if he understood what he read. To this question the man replied that he could not, saying, "How can I, except some one shall guide me?" He invited Philip to get up into the chariot and ride along with him. Philip did this and then, beginning with the same scripture which the eunuch had been reading, he "preached unto him Jesus." As they were driving along, they came to "a certain water," and the eunuch said; "Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." When they had come up out of the water, immediately the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip and took him to another city. "The eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing." The eunuch went on to his home, and there, according to tradition, there truly sprang up because of his teaching -- a large Ethiopian church. God does time things in the lives of those who are seeking the truth and makes everything contribute to their good. What he did for Philip, He will do for you and for me. And He does accomplish things for you and me, though, alas, we do not recognize it very often!

When the Saviour of men, who created the entire universe, humbled Himself by entering the world through miraculous conception and virgin birth, there was no room for Him in His world. This was indeed a great tragedy. The mother of our Lord, on arriving in Bethlehem, had to go to some private house -- in which both people and beasts of burden were housed. "And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7). As there was no room for Him in the inn when He was born, so also there was no room in the heart of the nation for Him: "He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not" (John 1:11). To the small minority that received Him, however, "to them gave he the right [or privilege] to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12). "We praise God that there have been, and still are, many giving Him room in their hearts and in their lives!

In Luke 2:8-14 we have an account of the hosts of angels that appeared to the shepherds who were keeping their flocks in the fields by night. These shepherds were in the field that is called today The Field of the Shepherds, which is north and east of Bethlehem. Without doubt, the shepherds were the simple folk of the land. Doubtless they were eager for the truth and welcomed any revelation from God. Of course they were not gullible, but they were open to truth. God always honors the man who is open to truth and who wishes to know more of His Word so that he can conform his life and labors to the divine will.

Suddenly there appeared, standing by the shepherds, an angel of the Lord. The glory of God was shining around and about the little group to whom the angel appeared. Naturally they became frightened. You and I, dear friend, would have felt the same way had we been called to pass through such an experience as this. But the angel allayed their fears by saying; "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger" (vss. 10-12). Invariably, whenever an angel of the Lord appeared to any of God's servants, they were all smitten with fear, some falling to the ground. But the heavenly visitor always reassured such ones that they were not there for any danger or harm, but for their good. When the Lord Jesus appeared to John, the Apostle fell down as one dead (Rev. 1:17). He was literally "scared out of his wits." Daniel had similar experiences.

The angel brought a message to the shepherds which was intended for "all the people," that is, all the people of Israel. From other passages of Scripture, however, we know that the message pertained not simply to Israel, but to all the world, "For God go loved the world, that be gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

The angel furthermore said: "… there is born to you this day in the city of David [that is, Bethlehem] a Saviour, who is Christ [the Messiah] the Lord" (Luke 2:11). Bethlehem was the city of David, that is, his ancestral home. It was fitting and proper that great David's greater Son should be born in the same place. He is the Saviour--the only one who can save men from their sins and can present them spotless and holy before God and His glory. "He is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:25). This Saviour is Christ, the Lord. The word Christ means Messiah, the Anointed One. This one is not simply "the anointed one" (for all of the kings of Israel were anointed ones), but He is Messiah, the Lord--Messiah, the God-man, who entered the world by miraculous conception and virgin birth. Thus in the expression, Christ the Lord, we see our Saviour's official title as the King of Israel; and we see also the fact that He is God in human form. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, declared that God had made the crucified and risen "both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36). This language means that God appointed the risen Jesus as the Messiah and the Ruler of Israel and the world, He being divine and Lord of all things.

In order that the shepherds might have no difficulty in locating and identifying the Child, the angel gave them a sign by which they should recognize Him: "Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger."

As the angel was conversing with the shepherds, suddenly there appeared a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom He is well pleased." What is the meaning of this language? Is it a prayer, or is it a statement of fact, a prophecy? In all probability it is both. So far as form is concerned, it could be either. The two clauses constituting this song are equally balanced. They might he worded this way; Glory to God in the highest place and peace among men of good will on the earth." There was glory given to God in the heaven of the heavens, where His throne is, on the occasion of the Saviour's birth. His being born into the world for the specific purpose of redeeming humanity--those who will accept His atonement and receive eternal life--possibly was the greatest step in God's redemptive scheme of the ages. This being true, there is no wonder that there was a display of glory in the heaven of the heavens when this great event occurred.

When the Saviour was born, the assurance was given in the form of the prophetic utterance by the angelic host that there would be peace among men of good will, or desire, upon earth. His coming into the world was the pledge and guarantee that there would be granted peace, peace of heart and soul, among all nations who desire fellowship with God and who are upon the earth. Thus the heavenly host, foreseeing the results of the Saviour's coming into the world, could shout for joy, because His visit to men would produce joy in the hearts of all who desire the truth.

I know that all who accept the Lord Jesus Christ and are actually born again, that is, regenerated, do enjoy the peace of God in their hearts. His peace, declared Paul in Philippians, chapter 4, "passeth understanding"-- it cannot be comprehended by the psychologists and the scientists who do not know God, and who have not had this experience of peace in the heart from the Lord.

When the angelic host had departed, the shepherds said one to another; "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us." This was a natural action on the part of these men who longed for truth, and who desired the peace of God. They immediately went to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and also the Babe lying in the manger, even as the angel had said, "Upon their arrival they reported the message of the angel to them concerning the Christ Child. Then all who were present wondered at the thing's which the shepherds had said. Mary, however, kept all these sayings and pondered them in her heart. They doubtless meant more to her than to anyone else in the group.

After their meeting and conference with Mary and Joseph the shepherds returned to their place, "glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them" (Luke 2:20). You and I, dear friend, who have "heard and seen" and believed these things and have accepted the Babe who was born in Bethlehem as our Saviour and Lord, know the peace of God "which passeth all understanding" and which we have received from Him. May we ever glorify and praise the Lord God Almighty for what He has done for us!