Galatians 4:4-5
Have you ever considered that God provided witnesses to the birth of His Son, Jesus?
When Jesus was born, the angels declared His birth to the shepherds who were watching their flocks by night. “10. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10-12). They immediately went to the city of David, Bethlehem, and found the child just as the angels had told them. “And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child” (Luke 2:17). After they saw the baby, Jesus, they told everyone about this child and what they knew of Him.
We also remember that there were Wise Men from the East who followed a star. They went to Jerusalem to find out where the new King had been born. Herod called in the chief priests and scribes to ask them where this new King would be born. They recalled the answer from the book of Micah. “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2).When the Wise Men learned that this King was born in Bethlehem, they went and followed the star. It came to rest over the house where Jesus was born. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11).
The shepherds and the Wise Men are both witnesses that Jesus was born in Bethlehem – just as God’s Word had declared.
We find that God also had declared in His Word that Jesus would come to the Temple. “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 3:1). The people were to be watching for the Lord to come to the Temple. In Luke chapter two, we find that there were two such people. Simeon was a man waiting for the Messiah to come. When he saw Joseph and Mary bring the babe Jesus to the Temple, he declared, “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation” (Luke 2:30). He recognized Jesus was that Messiah God had promised from the beginning of time.
Anna was a widow who “… departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day” (Luke 2:37b). When she came in at that instant and saw Jesus, she gave thanks to the Lord, “… and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38b). She understood that this was the One that God sent to redeem His people. (See Hebrews 9:12.)
Simeon and Anna were both witness that Jesus came to the Temple suddenly – just as God’s Word had declared.
Each of these instances took place in different cities, in different places, and at different times. Yet each of these instances fulfilled the stipulations put forth in the Bible. Only God could know that these events would happen exactly as they did, hundreds of years before they actually took place! God declared that he sent His only Son into the World, to redeem the world from sin – if only they would believe. It is only then that one can become a son of God, through Christ. “4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:4-7). One must only believe the witness that God sent His Son, Jesus, to redeem man from sin.
Have you believed the witnesses that Jesus came, born of a woman, to redeem any who would believe?