The Two Births Of Jesus Christ

Not long before Jesus was born the first time, his mother Mary and Joseph her husband traveled from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, there was no room for them in the inn. They were lodged in some sort of barn when Jesus was born because after his birth his first bed was a manger which was a feeding trough for animals. Our Lord, the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 17:14) was not born in a regal palace, but in a lowly stable!

While the baby Jesus was lying in a manger, an angel appeared to shepherds who were watching their sheep in a field at night and told them of the birth of Christ the Lord and where they could find him. Then a heavenly host joined that angel and all these angels praised God saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:8-14).

After the angels were gone back to heaven, those shepherds went with haste to that humble stable and found Mary and Joseph, and looked upon the baby Jesus in the manger. Then they went and told others what they had seen (Luke 2:15-18).

Hebrews 12:23 refers to the "church of the firstborn," but "firstborn" in that text does not refer to Jesus because it is translated from a plural Greek noun that means "the first born ones." The passage refers to those in the church of Christ in Jerusalem. That congregation was the first congregation, because Christ established his church in Jerusalem on the first Pentecost day following his resurrection. They were the first ones born into God's family--the church.

Some ask, "How can Jesus be the firstborn from the dead, since others were raised from the dead before he was?" The Bible tells of others who were raised from the dead before Jesus was. They include the young man whom God enabled Elisha to raise (2 Kings 4); Lazarus whom Jesus raised (John 11); the widow of Nain's son, and the centurion's daughter, both of whom were raised by Jesus (Luke 7). All of these died again, if not, they are getting mighty old!

While preaching in Antioch of Pisidia, the apostle Paul explained how Jesus is the firstborn from the dead. "And we declare unto you the glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he has raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the Second Psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David" (Acts 13:32-34).