UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN

Please cite the passages from Matthew and Luke about the birth of Jesus the Messiah, with some detail.

The birth of Jesus Christ is narrated in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament. Each Gospel provides unique details that contribute to the full story.

In the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 1:18-25), the story begins with Joseph discovering that Mary, his betrothed, is pregnant. This occurs before they have come together, and Joseph, being a just man and not wanting to disgrace her, plans to divorce her quietly. However, an angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream, saying that the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. The angel tells Joseph to name the child Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). Joseph awakes from the dream and does as the angel of the Lord commanded, taking Mary as his wife. But he knew her not until she had given birth to a son, and he called his name Jesus.

In the Gospel of Luke (Luke 2:1-20), the account begins with the decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. Joseph, being of the house and lineage of David, goes from Nazareth to Bethlehem with Mary, who is betrothed to him and is with child. While they are there, the time comes for her to give birth. She gives birth to her firstborn son, wraps him in swaddling cloths, and lays him in a manger because there is no place for them in the inn. In the same region, shepherds are out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. An angel of the Lord appears to them, and the glory of the Lord shines around them. The angel announces the birth of a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, and this will be a sign for them: they will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly, there is with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God. After the angels go away, the shepherds decide to go to Bethlehem to see this thing that has happened. They find Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. After seeing him, they make known what had been told to them concerning this child. All who hear it wonder at what the shepherds tell them, but Mary treasures up all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds return, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.

These accounts together paint a picture of the miraculous and humble circumstances of the birth of Jesus, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and marking the beginning of His earthly life.

These accounts tell of the fulfillment of prophecy; the miraculous virgin birth, from the line of David, in the town of Bethlehem, each quite startling in itself.

Indeed, the accounts of Jesus' birth in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke highlight several key fulfillments of Old Testament prophecy, each of which is remarkable:

The Virgin Birth: This fulfills the prophecy from Isaiah 7:14, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." The virgin birth is a central tenet of Christian belief, underscoring the divine nature of Jesus and His unique role as the Savior.
Lineage of David: Both Matthew and Luke emphasize Jesus' lineage, tracing it back to King David. This fulfills the prophecies regarding the Messiah coming from the house of David, as stated in 2 Samuel 7:12-16 and Jeremiah 23:5. This lineage establishes Jesus' rightful place as the promised King in the line of David.
Birth in Bethlehem: The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem fulfills the prophecy found in Micah 5:2, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." This prophecy specifically identifies Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah, a detail of great significance in the narrative of Jesus' birth.

Each of these elements—virgin birth, Davidic lineage, and birth in Bethlehem—contribute to the understanding of Jesus as the Messiah in Christian theology. They represent not just remarkable historical details but also profound theological truths about the nature and mission of Jesus Christ. The fulfillment of these prophecies is seen as a testament to the sovereignty and faithfulness of God in the Christian faith, demonstrating His plan for salvation and His control over history.

There is only the story in Luke about Jesus as a youngster, showing precocious knowledge and behavior.

That's correct. The story of Jesus as a young boy, displaying exceptional wisdom and understanding, is found only in the Gospel of Luke. This account is significant as it provides a rare glimpse into Jesus' early life, specifically when he was twelve years old. The story is detailed in Luke 2:41-52.

According to the narrative, Jesus' parents, Mary and Joseph, traveled to Jerusalem every year for the Feast of the Passover. When Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to the festival according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, unbeknownst to them. Mary and Joseph, thinking He was in their company, traveled for a day before they started looking for Him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.

After three days, they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers. When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. Mary asked Him why He had treated them this way, expressing their distress at having searched for Him. Jesus replied, "Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?" But they did not understand what He was saying to them.

Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. Mary treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

This passage is important because it is the only biblical account of Jesus between his infancy and the start of His public ministry as an adult. It showcases His early understanding of His identity and mission, His wisdom, and His respect for His earthly parents, setting the stage for His later ministry.