When God Came to Live on Earth

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

God is holy and lives in heaven. He is attracted to humble and contrite people. He draws close to such, expressing His love by giving them spiritual energy and practical help (Isaiah 57:15).

Three Angelic Visitations

Always involved with His creation, God sometimes sends angels to earth in times of need. I will mention three such angelic visitations.

Once God came to live on earth. This is the story of how it happened.

Mary’s Visitation

It all began when God directed the angel Gabriel to visit a virgin named Mary. The angel said the Holy Spirit would overshadow her, and she would become pregnant by God. Meanwhile, Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph. She still lived with her parents. During their one-year engagement period, Mary was considered Joseph’s “almost” bride (Luke 1:26-35).

When Mary was perhaps in her second trimester, it became obvious she was pregnant. Mary and Joseph still had not exchanged marriage vows in a wedding ceremony. Now tongues began wagging. Joseph was distressed. Mary’s child was not his. He decided to break off their engagement quietly, which amounted to a divorce. Joseph had no desire to humiliate Mary (Matthew 1:18-19).

Joseph’s Visit

While Joseph was pondering this unexpected development in Mary’s life, God sent His angel to give Joseph some vital information. Joseph learned the Holy Spirit had impregnated Mary, making the baby God’s child. The angel told Joseph Mary would have a son, and directed Joseph to name Him Jesus. Joseph also should take Mary home to be his wife, terminating their engagement and beginning their married life together. The wedding ceremony and reception apparently never occurred (Matthew 1:20-25).

Hometown Nazareth

The couple lived in Nazareth, a town in Galilee. While Mary was pregnant, the supreme ruler of the Roman Empire, Caesar Augustus, called for a census to be taken. The purpose was to collect taxes. This disrupted normal life because people had to return to their ancestral home city to fill out the census forms (Luke 2:1-3).

Trip to Bethlehem

So Joseph and Mary, who was now great with child, traveled about 90 miles south to Bethlehem, a town in Judea. Bethlehem was where David the king was born. Joseph and Mary were from King David’s family line (Luke 2:4-5).

While they were in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to Jesus, her firstborn son (Luke 2:6-7).

https://youtu.be/vC7DeB4rT5U by David Phelps

Second Angelic Visitation

The same day Jesus was born, God sent an angel to make an announcement. The angel appeared to some shepherds at night. They were staying awake to watch for predators while their sheep slept (Luke 2:8).

God’s glory around the angel lightened the night sky, frightening the shepherds. The angel alleviated their fears with news of great joy for all people. The angel announced a baby had been born that day. The angel said this baby was a Savior and called Him “Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:9-11).

This proclamation fulfilled prophecies God gave to the nation years earlier that He would send them a Messiah. Their long-awaited Messiah had been born that very day.

Now a multitude of angels appeared, praising God and proclaiming peace and goodwill to all (Luke 2:12-14).

Shepherd’s Worship the baby

The shepherds were now eager to follow through on what the angel had said. Following directions the first angel gave them, the shepherds went to see this baby for themselves (Luke 2:15).

After their visit with Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus, the shepherds gave an eyewitness account. They told everyone they met what they had seen and what the angel had told them about this baby (Luke 2:16-17).

Whether or not an angel visits us, may we also share with others what good things God has done for us.

Shirley Logsdon