Week One: The Birth of Jesus Christ. A Good Starting Place

This week I studied mostly the birth of Jesus Christ.

I've read it before, Joseph is espoused to Mary, he finds out she is pregnant and wants to end it. I'm sure he was hurt, however, instead of seeking revenge for his pain, Joseph decided to (after probably  spending many brain cells, tears and hours on  this decision) end their planned future together.
The Jewish law entitles one to give an offence for an offence. Joseph would have been justified and maybe even commended to take a heart for a heart, but because of the love in him; being a "just man" as described in Matthew 1:19 acted on that love. He made a decision. However Joseph's final decision was a different path from the merciful private end to the relationship with a little help.

 An angel came to him and told him to marry Mary! I'm sure that this was a really hard decision, maybe not only to make, but to live, as I'm sure that he and Mary had to live through some persecution (but I'm just speculating).
I've come to admire Joseph after reading (it started before I knew about this assignment), he was so faithful, not only to Mary, but to Heavenly Father as well. He made many choices to follow devine instruction more than his decision with Mary. He listened to the wise men who counseled him about Herod's jealousy (Matt 2:12-15) and again when he was instructed to move back, not only when but were. (Matt. 2:20-23)
With as much love as he had, I'm sure that Joseph made a wonderful father. He was entrusted with the rearing and teaching of the Savior of the world. Joseph had already proven two attributes that would need to be taught to Jesus by love and example; love for others enough to seek mercy, and also humility in listening to the direction of the Spirit. I'm sure it was difficult for Mary and Joseph to move to Egypt, then Galilee, and even before that making the trip to Bethlehem, bringing a very pregnant Mary with him!

Speaking of Mary, what a wonderful woman! It's clear to me why she was chosen to be Jesus' mother. She was humble, fair (remember the Lord looketh upon the heart) and acording to Luke's record, she was "highly favored" and "blessed... among women"'
I love how confident she was in the presence of an angel. She wasn't afraid of her sins, or that she might be struck down, but that she didn't know how to address an angel! At a moment when an angel appeared to her, she was a woman who remembered her manners. I would one day like to be able to take something like that in stride. There are so many situations where Mary was such a strong spirit, she road on a donkey for who knows how long during a very physically uncomfortable time in her life, and I'm sure she didn't complain about it.
There are many definitions of royalty, but Mary was truly of noble attributes and also blood. She was a descendant of David, where Joseph was a legal heir to David's throne. These genealogies are found in Matthew 1 verses 1-17 and Luke 3 verses 23-28. We all get a little drowsy during the "so and so beget someone, and so forth" but when you get why it's there...not so sleep provoking!

Royalty, though viewed as a lofty and comfortable position, and even though Mary and Joseph (though they fit the qualifications on all levels), had special connections were not all that was needed.  Jesus, as we all know had a unique heritage of royalty. He was (and is) the king of kings, the loftiest of the lofty...and so was his calling. He was called to do what no other man could do, so he needed some devine power. 1 Nephi 3:7 says that we are able to do whatever is required of us, and this applied to Jesus as well. He was God's only begotten of the flesh, meaning he had the power to do anything a mortal person could do, and then he had powers that no man as had or will have again; that is the power over death. His death was the price of our sins, and He needed to give it, it couldn't be taken.

So, I've tried to answer all of the questions of my assignment in an unobvious way to suggest I'm doing homework, but this part is going to give it away just a little. Here are 6 questions that are very important to be answered about Christ's birth:

• Why did Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem (especially with Mary so pregnant)?
• The government called for taxes, but this was a special deal, they had to go back home to wherever their lineage was from, and Joseph was from David's line, so he went to the city of David (Luke 2:1-4)
• Why was Jesus in a manger?
• Because there were so many people there for taxes (this gathering was NOT optional..thus the trip with the donkey and the immanent threat of childbirth) there was no room for anymore people. Period...well except for where the animals stayed. This place I'm sure was worse than Salt Lake City during the Olympics or General Conference. (Luke 2:1-3, 7)
• What did the angels tell the shepherds?
• First of all, these men who watched their sheep all night making sure no danger came to their four legged fluff bundles were scared stiff at the sight of an angel, so the message to "fear not" was the first to come, followed by a more important statement. That THE sacrificial lamb had come into the world. This was big news, and they were told that not only was it good news for the shepherds, but every living soul. The angel also told them how to find the Christ child. The shepherds made haste away from their flock to see. (Luke 2:8-16)
• Why was this child, born without a inn outside the comforts of home so important?
• I covered this a little already, but it's probably the single most important question to be answered. This child is "the Savior, which is Christ the Lord", this is the "why" of the Gospel. This babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger has given everyone an opportunity to be cleansed from sin, inadequacies and pain.
• How long should we wait to come to Him?
• This question isn't answered directly, but needs a little application of scripture and social learning. Once the shepherds learned of the birth of the Savior, there was one question, "when"  this was the decision of the shepherds, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us." (emphasis added)(Luke 2:15). These shepherds didn't mosey either, they "came with haste and found Mary, Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger." (Luke 2:16). Let us come now to the Lord and let us come quickly.
• Who should be happy about this night?
• Well, easy. The angel told the shepherds, " I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people" (Emphasis added) (Luke 2:10)

Now that you have been reading for a while (I hope I havn't bored you to death) I have five titles for this talk that I might write one Christmas weekend.

1. "Let us go now" (Luke 2:15)
2. "Shepherds abiding in the field" (Luke 2:8)
3. "The days were accomplished that she should be delivered" (Luke 2:6)
4. "In the city of David" (Luke 2:11)
5. "[Come] with haste" (Luke 2:16)

I wanted to post a great youtube video that someone made a few years ago. I think that it really helps us remember the courage of Mary and Joseph.