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Home -- Content: Series 7 (Laws) -- Translation: English -- Book: 2 (Gospel) -- Chapter: 1 (Coming of Christ) -- Text
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The Sharia of Christ in the GOSPEL

A - INTRODUCTORY COMMANDS CONCERNING THE COMING OF CHRIST

1. Announcement of the Birth of John the Baptist
2. Announcement of the Birth of Jesus Christ
3. The Birth and Circumcision of Jesus Christ
4. The Wise Men Come From the East, and Joseph and his Family Flee to Egypt
5. John the Baptist
6. The Baptism of Jesus
7. The Son of God Tempted by Satan
8. Summary

1. Announcement of the Birth of John the Baptist

Luke 1:5-17 -- 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. 8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

2. Announcement of the Birth of Jesus Christ

Luke 1:26-38 -- 26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the LORD is with you; blessed are you among women!" 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible." 38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the LORD! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Matthew 1:18-23 -- 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying (Isaiah 7:14): 23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."

(Further verses with: "Fear not!" and "Do not be afraid!": Matthew 1:20, 10:26.28.31, 14:27, 17:7, 28:5.10, Mark 5:36, 6:50, 13:7, Luke 1:13.30, 2:10, 5:10, 8:50, 12:4.(5), 12:7.32, 18:4, John 6:20, 12:15, 14:27, Acts 10:35, (17:22), 18:9, 27:24, Revelation 1:17, 2:10)

3. The Birth and Circumcision of Jesus Christ

Luke 2:1-12 -- 1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into 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 wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. -- 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the LORD stood before them, and the glory of the LORD shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the LORD. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

Luke 2:21-32 -- 21 And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. -- 22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD"), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." -- 25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the LORD's Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; 30 for my eyes have seen Your salvation 31 which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 32 a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel."

4. The Wise Men Come From the East, and Joseph and his Family Flee to Egypt

Matthew 2:10-14 and 19-23 -- 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. -- 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the LORD appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt. -- 19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the LORD appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead." 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

5. John the Baptist

Luke 3:2-3 -- 2 While Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Matthew 3:2-3 -- 2 And saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight.' "

Luke 3:5-6 -- 5 Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Compare Mark 1:1-3)

Matthew 3:4-12 -- 4 And John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

Luke 3:10-14 -- 10 So the people asked him, saying, "What shall we do then?" 11 He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise." 12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" 13 And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed for you.” 14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?" So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

6. The Baptism of Jesus

Matthew 3:13-17 -- 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Compare Mark 1:9-11, and Luke 3:21-23)

(Further verses with the injunction "Behold!": Matthew: 1:23, 2:1.9.13.19, 3:16.17, 4:11, 7:4.5, 8:2.4.24.29.32.34, 9:2.3.10.18.20.32, 10:16, 11:8.10.19, 12:2.10.18.41.42.46.47, 13:3, 15:22, 17:3.5, 19:16.27, 20:18.30, 21:5, 22:4, 23:34.38, 24:23.25, 25:6.20.22.25, 26:45.46.47.51, 27:4.51, 28:7.9.11.20, Mark: 1:44, 2:24, 3:32.33, 4:3, 5:22, 10:28.33, 11:21, 13:1.21.23, 14:42, 15:4.35, 16:6, Luke: 1:20.31.36.38.44.48, 2:9.10.25.34.48, 5:12.18, 6:23.42, 7:12.27.34.37, 8:41, 9:30.38.39, 10:3.25, 11:31.32.41, 13:7.11.30.32, 14:2, 15:29, 17:21.23, 18:28, 19:2,8.20, 22:10.21.31, 23:14,15.29.50, 24:49, John: 1:29.36.47, 3:26, 4:35, 5:14, 7:26.52, 11:3.36, 12:15.19, 16:29.32, 18:21, 19:26.27, 20:27) (143 times)

7. The Son of God Tempted by Satan

Matthew 4:5-11 -- 5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you, and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.' " -- 7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' " 8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' " 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. (Compare Mark 1:11-13, Luke 4:1-13)

8. Summary

The announcements of the birth of Jesus and of John the Baptist, his harbinger and forerunner, tell us of the accomplishment of the plan of God’s salvation, which was announced a thousand of years ago with regard to the coming of Christ. Thus, the angel Gabriel ordered Joseph and then Mary to call their son who was born of the Holy Spirit “Jesus”. This name means “Yahweh helps, saves, and triumphs”. In order that the name “Son of David” might not take its earthly, political significance, Gabriel cleared the spiritual meaning of this name that Jesus did not come to establish the kingdom of God in an earthly way, but he will save his disobedient people from the wrath of God and from their sins. The kingdom of Christ is spiritual, and his commandments seek to regenerate his followers and invest them with a new and higher spiritual nature.

God sent John the Baptist to open, through his call to repentance, the hearts of those who hunger for righteousness. John had to cultivate the hard, stony ground in order that Jesus might put in it himself as the heavenly grain of wheat that millions of new heavenly grains of wheat shall come from him.

The secret of the visit of the wise men from the Orient was a series of God’s commands to which the wise men, Joseph, and Mary showed prompt obedience. Having accorded worship to the baby Jesus, the wise men walked back secretly to their land, and then Joseph took Mary and the child by night and fled immediately with them to Egypt (500 kilometers from Bethlehem), and stayed there until God commanded him to go back home.

During their stay in Egypt, Herod the Great slew hundreds of children in Bethlehem in order that no other king of the Jews might come and fight him for the throne. Probably this judgment fell upon the Bethlehemites as a thunderbolt, for they did not receive the Son of God with honor who was born among them, but kept sleeping, and smiled at the fictitious tales of the shepherds.

However, Simeon and Hannah the prophetess understood, through the Holy Spirit, the deep significance of bringing Jesus to the temple to be circumcised as the firstborn of the Virgin, and they praised the Lord for the arrival of the Christ and the beginning of a new age.

John the Baptist perceived, through inspiration, that Jesus was the Christ, and did not accept to baptize him, for Jesus was sinless and had no need to be baptized; so he demanded to be baptized by Jesus, but Christ commanded the Baptist to baptize him in order to fulfill all the divine righteousness. The baptism of Jesus intimates that he took upon himself the sin of the world long before his death, since he was baptized instead of us; therefore the heavens were opened unto him, and the Spirit of God descended upon him in the form of a white dove and remained on the Son of Mary who was born of the Spirit of God. It was for the substitution of Jesus that God personally testified that this Jesus, who was baptized instead of the sinners, was his own Son in whom he was well pleased, and that Jesus was the only one who could accomplish his plan of salvation to men.

The devil immediately appeared when the Spirit of God led Jesus to fast forty days in the wilderness to overcome the temptations of the evil one in the weakness of his flesh. Jesus’ answers and commands to the temptations of the cunning devil are pearls of grace in the Gospel. The Son of Mary experienced that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God; and that no one has the right to tempt God in any way to manifest himself. At last, Jesus commanded the evil one saying: “You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.” (Matthew 4:10) Did Jesus give the devil by this order, in his spiritual struggle with him, the last chance to repent? We do not know. However, Satan left Jesus immediately without any word until an opportune time after this order would come.

The spiritual struggle between good and evil was opened after the victory of Christ, and the appearing tribulation became clear after the baptism of Jesus for of us. The one born of the Spirit of God, the Son of his love set out to reconcile the corrupt, deceived world to his heavenly Father.

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