Child Support From the Heavenly Father – Part of the Christmas Story
Posted: Thursday, December 02, 2010
by Dane Tyner
Home Improvement Ministry
Did you know that the Heavenly Father paid child support for His Son, Jesus? Though it doesn't say it in those terms, of course, the Bible does reveal this fact.
First, the Bible makes it clear that Jesus was both Son of God and Son of man. He was, in fact, Son of God before He was Son of man. He was Son of God throughout eternity. John launches his Gospel account with these powerful and descriptive words about Jesus: " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made" ( JN 1:1-3 ). Jesus became Son of man in Mary's womb, where the Holy Spirit caused our Savior to be conceived.
Where did I ever get such an idea, you ask? Well, it is a pretty prevalent part of the Christmas story. It is typically represented in nativity scenes, even often erroneously represented. It is the story of the wise men who followed a star to Bethlehem.
The errors regarding their story are two-fold. First, we see them depicted at the manger with the shepherds. The shepherds did visit the Christ while He was still in the stable birthplace. The wise men, on the other hand, found Jesus with His family in a house ( MT 2:11 ). The second error is really only a potential error. We commonly refer to three wise men. The Scriptures do not tell us how many wise men; we are only told that three different gifts were brought by the wise men. Bible students have just assumed that three gifts meant three wise men. Perhaps so; perhaps not.
The wise men did bring gifts of gold, myrrh, and incense. And the wise men were sent by God. These commodities would equip Joseph and Mary to care for the Father's Child.
Within a short time, Joseph and Mary would have to move to Egypt to escape the diabolical plan of Herod to kill the King of kings, the Savior of the world. The wise men's gifts would certainly be useful in meeting needs in this season of Messiah's life. The Holy Family could buy things with gold or barter with the myrrh or incense.
So, now as you see the Christmas story enacted this Christmas season, remember that those wise men are delivering the Heavenly Father's child support. The manner of delivery of this provision for Jesus' family had God's finger prints all over it. And this was intentional.
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