Reading Scripture helps us know God's Love. Every Bible verse is written for you. Jesus Christ is all mankind's Light. John 1!

Sunday, December 24, 2023

Luke 2:1-5 ~ ALL †

 




We love and worship singing, "Oh Come All Ye Faithful." And we fall in love again, singing, "O Little Town of Bethlehem."  Tonight, Christmas Eve, let's wonder and remember holiness. 

"O Little Town", could be oh, little amount of Scripture about the Eve of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ.  Why would this be?  Perhaps to really think and know what God called for as His Only Son was born. To consider the vow of marriage and the difficulties unknown life will throw out.  To struggle to know the voyage and to remain constant when the world clamors for an easier solution or tells us what we should do, as Joseph has God personally speak to him.

Christmas Eve is a voyage. The Journey. The Path.  A kiss for luck and we are on the way.


Luke 2:1-5





In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 

3 And all 
went 
to be registered, each to his own town. 

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.


Christmas Eve is alive today in - travel. In voyage. In the journey.

This is the day Jesus was logistically, not Biblically, sitting within Mary on a donkey. His Mother. Old enough to move His Hands and feet, within her, to let her know when the very much alive, yet unborn baby, Jesus was ready for her to be nourished and feed His Baby body. To feel in her heart, as she watched the donkey and the path carefully. To keep them safe on this journey.



We say, in theory, Mary was transported on a donkey. Yes, of course, we say this. 90 miles is 6 days of measured walking.  Not something a very pregnant woman could do. 


What would they see?

3 And 
ALL 
went 
to be registered, 
each to his own town. 

The return of the tribes to the land allotted during the time of Joshua.  The settlement of Israel. The return to the inheritance of God. The Almighty fulfilling His Promises. Mary had spoken of in the Magnificat, Luke's Gospel, and placed carefully in the first chapter. 



Tonight, Christmas Eve, remembers holiness. 

The holiness of the works of God the Almighty in the Exodus and the holiness describing "The Festival of Booths" Hag Ha-Asif, “Feast of the In gathering,” Exodus 23:16, grains and fruits gathered at harvest's end, and to Sukkot “Feast of Booths,” Leviticus 23:34, the tents are lived in for a week remembering when the Israelites lived in tents (Sukkot) during their years of wandering in the wilderness during the 40 years of the Exodus.


Jewish festival of double thanksgiving that begins on the 15th day of Tishri (in September or October), five days after Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Similar, in fact. 
This return to the hometown would have looked familiar, if only for the Roman Empire. Jerusalem was held for the first time under King David, so the traditional hometown would not hold pilgrims as the holy double Thanksgiving celebration would. The celebration would be similar to the one Samuel and Eli had observed. And, of course, Joshua. 

Jesus would have been born during a unique time!  

Oh, what Caesar Augustus never meant to achieve.  We have all been given Gifts by God.  That work, according to His plan and pleasure.  Caesar Augustus was the acceptable choice to succeed his uncle Caesar because he was so adept at taxation and finance. The death of Caesar had drained the coffers. Caesar Augustus was about the tidy finances for the Empire, inheritance, marriage and taxation. His tax rolls are a matter of history. 


1 Corinthians 12:4 
NIV
 
There are different kinds of gifts, 
but the same Spirit distributes them.




Are we sure?
No, however, this is a Biblical Reference to ALL of Israel.

This Word used in Scripture,
 doesn't see "a great number, or a crowd, or a multitude."  
These definitions of numbers are frequently used in the Gospels. 
The word used
is ALL


And the word ALL is used in the Road to Emmaus. 

All of Israel knows of Jesus and Good Friday.




Hosea 11:1
Out of Egypt, I call my son


Matthew 4:4

Jesus answered, 
“As it is written: 'Man does not live by bread alone, 
but by every word 
that comes forth from the mouth of God."

We are inspired!

Out of Egypt, I call my son.






Yet, the entire quote is:

Hosea 11:1

"When Israel was a child, I loved him, 
and out of Egypt I called my son. 

But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. 
They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images.

And this describes the activities of the Roman Empire occupying Judea. The Tax Collector who was being called to a new life in Jesus, Matthew.  And the Herods.  Called to the Throne, held by the Davidic line with God's Promises, and not being Davidic or what God would hope.  The first generation to put their Image on a coin. Something God had sent His Word not to achieve, as to put forth the kings, with self glorifying images. 


What is problematic seeing - all went forth to be registered? Probably, The Roman Empire would want enough time to arrive in the appropriate city. Yet not cripple trade. Israel's tribes had been forsaken and lost, killed, during the Assyrian Empire. The Judean tribes would mostly be in the same area, a tribal country. Not too much travel.   It would have to be a short window, or backlogs and necessities wouldn't be found. And a short enough time span to arrive in the appropriate city, that history wouldn't shudder.  Something like a Christmas week and not a vacation month.  

Josephus had the accounting for the sacrifices during the Holy Days and was able to say with certainty the pilgrims usually numbered to about 2 million people.  The loss of the tribes during Judean Hezekiah's father, King Ahaz's timeline to Hezekiah. (Israel tribes were lost, Judean Ahaz/Hezikiah Tribes worked in faith and were saved.) This, from 650 BC to 1 AD, would have limited the number going to their hometown outside of Jerusalem to 2 million pilgrims.  Even the Davidic line was leaving to go to Bethlehem. 

Why would Joseph be looking for an inn in Bethlehem and not a tent? Joseph might have anticipated staying with his own family and found a betrothed, unmarried, pregnant woman was increasingly unwelcome as she began to be very great with child. The room in the family tent would be quite crowded when the Jerusalem crowd was part of the journey. Significant increase in traffic near Jerusalem.  No time for a groaning young pregnant woman.






A Kiss For Luck and We're on our Way
We have only yet begun
to Live


Luke 2:1-5





In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 

3 And all 
went to be registered, each to his own town. 

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.


The Scriptures are living.  The journey, we know in hindsight, about putting forth all we have to keep marriage and family together. Mercy first. 

This engaged couple. In the middle of an Empire, who have no idea of Mary and Joseph. Their angry parents.  The cousins too old to have a child with the new son, named John.  They aren't wondering about being personally fulfilled tonight. They have discovered the will to protect the innocent, the child, to fight against the odds. To defy what is called Justice, to give Mercy. To reach out to live to fulfill what God has asked of them. Having the vow of marriage, to raise their child in holiness. To live and move and act as if God Himself has His Being next to them. 

The bone marrow deep, the lifeblood of Relationship with God. 

It's not about what the tribe, the brothers, the parents, the neighbors or The Temple does. This is fulfilling the asking of God for life purpose. To be married. To put your life on the line providing mercy.  To raise the next generation. Move when holiness asks movement, and to get out of the Nation if unholiness, murder should arrive. 

To find the journey of Emmanuel, God with us. God's personal call upon the heart. Jesus Christ.

Life is a narrow gate to them. 
The opportunities would be on the horrendous side. A child would die. A betrothed woman would die. The Empire would want to know you didn't line up to be counted. A family listed in several Chapters of  "The Gospel" would be within angelic visitations to the Temple and a Rabbi, to be forsaken?




The narrow gate.
 Herod must have felt the pressure. Surely, even the horrendous Herod, with so many accomplishments, did not want to slaughter infants. Historically, this can be found, and we are astonished it was so small - about forty? Bethlehem was known to be a town of about 1,400 people. Statistically, this would be well over a year of infants. https://scripture-for-today.blogspot.com/2021/12/psalm-373-trust-in-lord-and-do-good.html





What will look like, or be, a mistake and what will have to be lived down?

So very much. Generations will discuss their failures. They are doing their best! History and life will find Implications, gossip, mangling the facts, an outrageous set of events. Severe illegitimacy. On all kinds of levels, not seen at the time. It would take Jesus, The Son of God, to save them. 

Life!





Why do we live by every dot and iota of Scripture? This small number of verses describing Christmas Eve - - - describe ALL.


Matthew 4:4

Jesus answered, 
“As it is written: 'Man does not live by bread alone, 
but by every word 
that comes forth from the mouth of God."




How will we know beyond... the wonder... the facts?

For now, we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.   So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; 
but the greatest of these is love.



1 Corinthians 13

Love is patient and kind; 
love does not envy or boast; 
it is not arrogant or rude. 

It does not insist on its own way; 
it is not irritable or resentful; 
it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, 
but rejoices with the truth. 

Love bears all things,
 believes all things, 
hopes all things, 
endures all things. 
 Love never ends. 

As for prophecies, they will pass away; 
as for tongues, they will cease; 
as for knowledge, it will pass away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, 
I reasoned like a child. 

When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 

12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. 
Now I know in part;
 then I shall know fully, 
even as I have been fully known. 

So now faith, hope, and love abide, 
these three; 
but the greatest of these is love.





Abba, Father,

Merry Christmas!
Thank You for Your Promises
fulfilled in
Jesus Christ,
Your Only Son
and
Our Savior.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen
in Jesus the Highest Name. 
Amen.



The tender mercy of our God, 
 whereby the sunrise shall visit us 
from on high 
to give light 
to those who sit in darkness 
and in the shadow of death, 
 to guide our feet 
into the way of peace.


♔ Lord Jesus Saves †




Bless the Lord Jesus


Thank You Jesus






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We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He has saved all who call upon His name and rely on Him for His Grace. The Scriptures are living & active and are for understanding the Lord Almighty. Biblical readings are chosen from the Ecumenical Christian Church and the Nicene Council, 325 A.D., approved Apocrypha. People remember not just from reading, but by sight and orally- an image has been added as well as audio readings. God tends to link the passages together with fascinates - this blogger, Anne-Laurel Gardere

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Email registry at bottom.! “All Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Men “moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21). The Holy Spirit carried men along, moving and guiding them as they wrote in their own words what God wanted them to say. The Bible is unique; comprised of 80 separate books, & written over a period of thousands of years by more than 40 writers with one Author, spanning the centuries, different states of peace & war & different situations in life. The Bible answers the question: of who is God, who is man & what can their relationship can be. Although the Bible was written on perishable material and copied by hand for many centuries, its accuracy is not in doubt, proven by Dead Sea Scrolls and papyrus from 2,000 years. The Bible has survived persecution & criticism to be read with great interest in each generation. The Bible gives witness to the greatness of the Creator. A loving Father concerned for all of his creation. With each verse of the bible witnessing to God is love and the multitude & vastness of His attributes. The Bible was written for you. <><

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New Posts by Subject Matter

Overcoming



The World Changed Rapidly after the first Easter

Our God of All





Posts by Subject Matter





Blessings, Anne-Laurel





Who Jesus Is
1 Timothy 1:1-11 ~ God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope
Matthew 16:13-20 ~ who do people say the Son of Man is?

Good News for us to remember and Think Upon
Animals are found in Heaven ~ 6 Prophets See Animals in Heaven

Anger, Jealousy=Trouble




The Bible explains the Bible, Prophetically

Bible - in your hand, today

Bible Accuracy



Blessing







Blessing our Father God

Blessing - unaware

Boundaries

Brothers
Christmas - His Word Upholds the Universe - December 25th


Psalm 135 ~ who is in your midst
John 1:1-14, 16, 29-51 ~ He was in the world

Details - Putting it all together and discovering it is about God

Psalm 108 ~ In triumph I will parcel out Shechem

Determine your own path, just love Him

Judges 16 ~ like any other man
John 4:43-54 ~ Doing what Jesus says


Earthquake

Every Day, Still Today
Today, Yesterday, Tomorrow


Exodus - History












Heavenly Hosts
His Messengers of Light












Elements of Nature Displaying HIS Glory
Exodus 40:16-38 ~ In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected.

I Decide What is Right and Wrong - God noticed this in the Garden of Eden from Eve

Individualism and Groups

It's the End of the World as We Know it, And I Feel Fine. (One of our most read posts.)
Grandpa - The Bible is Really the Life Story of People and
their Abba









Gates of Heaven


Gifts of God, all of us


Giving - God certainly is





























Glory


God sees His Creation as Good!!!


Gravity






















Good Friday

Gossip

Gratitude

Greatest

Grief, Forgiveness, Homecoming


Hated Emotion - Fear




































History - Is There History Showing Jesus was Alive - VERY EXTENSIVE HISTORY

Holiness


Holy Spirit ~ Manifestations

Homeward Bound, still a sojourner

Honey, Do this

Invitation
John 3:31-36 ~ that God is true

Israel - Destroyed Completely and Rebuilt. A sign of Jesus. Existing today.

Jesus clearly put a Foundation for His Resurrection to be Believed by the Multitudes of all of Israel and the Nations

Jesus and His Childhood Privacy
Nazareth - What Jesus did See Growing Up

John the Beloved Disciple


The Journey of Joseph


























Live It
Psalm 117 ~ Praise the Lord
Psalm 82 ~ rescue the weak and the needy
2 Samuel 4:1-12 ~ David answered
Hebrews 12 ~ Thankful
Psalm 31:3-8,17-21 ~ Thou hast redeemed me
Isaiah 40:1-11 ~ His reward is with Him
Matthew 13:31-32 ~ the birds of the air come and perch in its branches
Matthew 6:25-34 ~ your heavenly Father knows that you need
Luke 11:29-32 ~ Rise up
Psalm 126 ~ shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves
Luke 14:15-24 ~ there is still room
Joshua 1:1-9 ~ I am giving
Acts 5 ~ speak in the name of Jesus
John 1 ~ the Light shines
John 3:5-8 ~ born again
~ they went on from there and passed through Galilee
Judges 20 ~ Israel

Losing a Loved One - Passing ON

Revelation 21:22-27 ~ those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life

Not Being Tossed Back and Forth with Emotion
Ephesians 4 ~ speaking the truth in Love

Marriage
Romans 7:1-12 ~ bear fruit for God
1 Corinthians 7 ~ For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband
Genesis 37:12-24 ~ when Reuben
Psalm 143 ~ Your steadfast love
Psalm 86 ~ For great is your steadfast love

Media... taking it down the path
1 Corinthians 10 ~ Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God





Mercy, an Inseparable Component of Truth
Matthew 23:23-26 ~ clean
1 Samuel 12 ~ serve the Lord with all your heart
Matthew 22:34-40 ~ The great and first commandment. And a second is like it

Miscellaneous
Job 38 ~ Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
Psalm 19 ~ the heavens declare the glory of God
2 Kings 5:1-15 ~ a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper
1 Chronicles 13 ~ the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom










Peace




Pharisee ~ Religion
Luke 11:42-46 ~ Woe to you Pharisees!


Pictorial Images of the 12 Tribes of Israel








Picture It


















Overcoming, with God's help!


Positive Attitude in Trouble




Prophets - the Law and the Old Men in Robes or People who Love the Lord. Flaws and Virtues. What They Sought in the Lord and What Drew Them to Him.



Praise



























Prayer

Psalm 91 ~ Prayer is always heard, God has an open door policy



Prayer Needs




Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words

Promises

Prosperity Gospel











Repeat and Repeat







Rest

Restore

Revelation 8:2
Seven Angels who stand before God

Revisionist History - Moses and Jeremiah said
there would be days like this
Deuteronomy 8
Jeremiah 23


Rock


SALVATION! What is needed?

Science - Blinded me - No - He Who Opens the Eyes of the Blind - With Science!!!

Second (3rd or 4th) Rate Seventh Level of Heaven

Seventh Level of Heaven







Shepherd

Smile!



Time Management





Life and Travels of Paul

Shroud

Transfiguration



True
The World Changed Rapidly after the first Easter



Trust Him

Uncomfortable Scripture

Video Game Player

Visual







Who is like our God?

Willingly

Works and Grace
Mark 1:4-11 ~ You are my beloved Son; with You I am well pleased

Worry

Wrathful, Nasty Old God from the Old Testament

Yahweh




Years - Thousands of Them are Yesterday in His Sight


80 Books of the Bible
Holy Spirit Approved by the First Council Nicaea and St. Nicholas
Included by the Essenes in the Dead Sea Scrolls
Today included by the Catholic Church
God wants to save the world.
The Apocrypha has Purpose; other cultures blend here.





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