The old testament sets meticulously the events of the birth and coming as well as the death of His Son Not just a quaint and nice little story like the world who "like it," but as the gift of God's grace Mary brings forth her firstborn son who is forsaken and cast out. The incarnation is a tremendous truth of God come in flesh needing the eyes of faith to see this tremendous truth and concept as it is weaved throughout Scripture to the church. The firstborn!

Fact: Luke writes to the Gentiles and covers the entire Christmas story and shows Christ coming from Adam and wonderfully ties the story to history. A decree goes out and sets everything in motion for a ruler to come out of God's people! Christ is brought to Bethlehem and she was to be delivered and yet there was no room for Jesus to be born of all the tribes of David and He was laid in a manger without royalties...born of poverty and lowliness. Simplicity yet GRAND in it significance!

Meaning: Why is the firstborn so significant? Luke is not interested in the family or the other siblings...but the firstborn. This is the fulfillment of all the promises to the people in the old testament and what is throughout all of Scripture! Read verse 22. "My firstborn Son...Israel!" The church of Christ redeemed out of the bondage of sin and He separates a nation through the blood of Christ and takes a church from among the firstborn through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ! God said to Israel "you are my son!" and the firstborn son symbolized being/belonging to God! To be His and His glory! And it is expanded to you and to me! Born of a woman and made under the law in order to fulfill that law! God had made the firstborn of Israel His as they were to be and symbolized being holy unto the Lord. If it was anyone that belonged or could be dedicated to our God it was our Lord who came to do the very will of God and took it all the way to Calvary! "The firstborn among many brethren!" God in His Firstborn has redeemed us from sin and death! That's why God makes His Son the firstborn and begotten from among the dead...the firstborn of all creation as He raises all creation into His glorious son ship into the new creation!

Significant: He makes His Son the beginning and the ending. (Book ends) From the old testament to the new dispensation we belong to the Firstborn that you and I with Him may inherit the incorruptible inheritance forevermore! The Firstborn of Mary, of God, of creation so we could be born again to spend eternity with Him forevermore!