The First Noel: Christ is Born

http://ajmacdonaldjr.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/the-nativity-story-08.jpg

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” -Luke 2:8-12

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” - Luke 2 13:15

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. - Luke 2:16-20

The First Noel-The Covenant

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” Colossians 3:16

We all know what Christmas is but do you really know what happened preceding the first Noel and what it all meant? If we knew the history maybe then we would realize how much meaning there is in the Christmas holiday beyond shopping, candy canes and Santa Claus!

Let's begin looking at Christ's birth (Christ-mas) and what led up to it. The next few blog posts will be about our relationship to God as a people, his promise to us and his plan to bring it all together.

First, a list of the lineage of Christ.

THE LINEAGE FROM ADAM TO JESUS
According to the Gospel of Luke
(thought to be Mother Mary’s lineage)

(*→ Denote begot or fathered)
(Covenant with God was made with Abraham)

God created Adam. Then, from Adam came Seth then….
Seth→Enosh→Kenan→Mahalalel→Jared→Enoch→Methuselah→Lamech→Noah→Shem→Arphaxad→Cainan→Shelah→Eber→Peleg→Reu→Serug→Nahor→Terah→ABRAHAM→Isacc→Jacob→Judah→Perez→Hezron→Arni→Admin→Amminadab→Nahshon→Salmon→Boaz→Obed→Jesse→David→Nathan→Mattatha→Menna→Melea→Eliakim→Jonam→Joseph→Judah→Simeon→Levi→Matthat→Jorim→Eliezer→Joshua→Er→Elmadam→Cosam→Addi→Melki→Neri→Shealtiel→Zerubbabel→Rhesa→Joanan→Joda→Josech→Semein→Mattathias→Maath→Naggai→Esli→Nahum→Amos→Mattathias→Joseph→Jannai→Melki→Levi→Matthat→Heli→Joseph----→Jesus

THE LINEAGE OF JESUS
According to the Gospel of Matthew
(thought to be father Joseph’s lineage from Abraham)

Abraham→Isaac→Jacob→Judah→Perez→Hezron→Ram→Amminadab→Nahshon→Salmon→Boaz (whose mother was Rahab)→Boaz (whose mother was Ruth)→Obed→Jesse→David→Solomon→Rehoboam→Adijah→Asa→Johoshaphat→Jehoram→Uzziah→Jotham→Ahaz→Hezekiah→Manasseh→Amon→Josiah→Jeconiah→Shealtiel→Zurubbabel→Abihud→Eliakim→Azor→Zadok→Akim→Elihud→Eleazar→Mattan→Jacob→Joseph (husband of Mary)---→Jesus

WHAT?!?!?

Now all that tedious text was just to say that no matter what path you chose to trace how Jesus came to me the Messiah, it still makes sense. It was God's perfect plan-his covenant with Abraham for us all. He promised that his descendant would one day be the redemption for the nations.


When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.”

At this, Abram fell face down on the ground. Then God said to him, “This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them! “I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation.

 This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.” - Genesis 17:1-8