“At the Mouth of Two Witnesses...”
I was reading the account of the birth of Jesus in Luke chapters 1 and 2, as well as the other Gospels. It’s funny how you can be so familiar with a ‘story’ in the bible until Holy Spirit opens your eyes and your heart to some other historical or prophetic detail that speaks right to your heart and situation. As I’m writing this there is even more being revealed, I’m overwhelmed with the goodness of God!
I’m currently listening to music online, I have the playlist on random and a Christmas song has come on, there aren’t any others in the list that I know of. So as I’m listening to the below I am going to be sharing some little things I've noticed in the various gospel accounts of the birth of Jesus. It’s just a tiny taste of the many magnificent things that the Bible has to uncover to us. I suggest listening to this song as you read and let Holy Spirit overwhelm you as He has me! With His Wisdom, Grace and Loving call to prayer.
I will reference two blogs I have come across that you might like to engage in as well. Happy re-discovering some of the insights into the prophetic nature of Jesus’ birth.
Once Upon
Sovereign Grace Music
Once upon a midnight clear
Heaven's song broke through the air
Peace and goodwill toward men
Born now in Bethlehem
Once upon a bed of straw
Slept the Sovereign Son of God
Lord of the universe
Breathing the dust of earth
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, our Messiah
Name above every name, gloria in the highest
Once upon a splintered cross
Jesus died to rescue us
All of our shame and sin
Nailed to the tree with Him
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, our Messiah
Name above every name, gloria in the highest
Once upon a brilliant day
Christ the Conqueror was raised
Heaven and nature sing
"Praise to the King of kings!"
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, our Messiah
Name above every name, gloria
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, our Messiah
Name above every name, gloria in the highest
Songwriters: Nathan Stiff / Lacy Hudson
Once Upon lyrics © Sovereign Grace Worship
I was struck by the Number 2 represented in the story of the birth of Jesus.
Archangel Gabriel appeared twice in six months; first to Zechariah, a priest who was performing his temple duty after being chosen for service by casting lots. As the other worshippers were praying outside and Zechariah was about to burn incense, Gabriel appeared.
The second time we see incense mentioned is when the wise men presented Jesus with gold, frankincense and myrrh; gifts fit for a King. Frankincense is a type of incense that is prophetic sign of Jesus being offered up as a sweet offering before God. Myrrh also speaks of death as it’s generally used for burial. So two gifts which speak of the sacrifice the King of Kings would make for us!
Continuing with the number 2, Gabriel then appears to Mary to announce the miraculous conception of Jesus by Holy Spirit! So, Gabriel appears twice and announces the birth of two Holy Spirit filled children. John (born to Zechariah and Elizabeth), and Jesus (born to Mary and Joseph). So we have two women who have two miraculous babies to be born and they are related!
There’s also a contrast of two people here. Zechariah’s heart appears to be unbelieving of the angel’s news, or perhaps not impressed with the baby’s name, and as a consequence he was struck dumb. Mary, on the other hand, is stunned with the news but her heart is open, believing and accepting of all the angel had to tell her. She goes on to prophesy in song, how beautiful! This is documented in Luke 1:46. A few verses after, we see the account of John being presented in the temple. Zechariah is still speechless, so Elizabeth states that the name of the baby is John. Everyone questions this as no one in Zechariah’s family is named John. Then, suddenly, Zechariah opens his mouth and states that the baby’s name is John. He then goes on to prophesy as well and speaks over John that he will be a prophet of the Lord. This is a huge deal because God had been silent for 400 years up until this point!! The Word of God had not been heard in the land and now there were miraculous things happening!
John was filled with the Holy Spirit from conception. His name means ‘slain, fatally wounded.’ He was to preach the coming of the Messiah and baptize people into repentance in anticipation of this event. John’s birth was prophesied in Malachi 3:1. We know that John died by the sword and that Jesus was also pierced on the cross but there was another piercing prophesied in Luke 2:35. Simeon, a devout man who was serving in the temple when Jesus was being presented, spoke that Mary’s heart would be pierced. Two mentions of piercing.
We then have two groups of visitors who came to see the newborn Jesus.
First were the Shepherds. Last Christmas I discovered something wonderful about the Shepherds! This year I’ve uncovered even more. It appears the Shepherds were actually priest Shepherds and were charged with looking after the lambs to be sacrificed at the temple. They had a watch tower there for the sheep. So, with the Shepherds we see the prophetic symbolism of Jesus being the Lamb of God and being offered up as the perfect sacrifice for sin.
I’ve been drawn to and have worshipped this week with Psalm 134, a verse that I knew mentioned the priests who ministered in the temple at night. I was also looking up the ‘watch tower’. Seems to me that we are to be on our ‘watch tower’ and preparing for the second coming of Jesus! We are to minister before Him as He calls us to and to humble ourselves in this service as we pray and minister without an audience. More about the importance of this later.
If you want to uncover much more regarding the Shepherds please read this blog, it is unbelievable! These were no ordinary Shepherds, and the angels appearing to them the way they did was truly amazing in the context of prophecy and Jewish laws and customs.
Then come the Magi. The Magi and the constellation they used to follow the star is also mentioned in the blog I’ve linked. It was suggested to be Aries the Ram, which again points to the sacrifice of Jesus. Their gifts, as mentioned, were prophetic as well. So we have two groups of visitors to recognize the birth of Jesus, Messiah King. Both recognize Jesus as a King and the Lamb of God.
Next, in the story of Luke 2 and following our theme of 2, we find Simeon and Anna. Both were faithfully serving in the temple, both ministered before the Lord, and both were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Messiah.
When Jesus was presented to Simeon, he had revelation that Jesus is the Messiah. It’s so touching to read the account of Simeon. If you’ve not understood how God has orchestrated all of these events in the birth of Jesus in perfect precision, then savour the story of Simeon. Simeon’s name means to hear! Here is his story in Luke 2:25-32:
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the customer of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss this servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory for your people Israel.”
To add to our story of 2, we see that another prophetic voice appeared right behind Simeon! Anna, the prophet, arrived on the scene and she had recognized that Jesus was the Messiah too. A very old devout woman, she had been praying at the temple day and night for decades.
Double confirmation!! Seems God does like to confirm many, many things in twos! To expand this I’d like to expand on the biblical interpretation of the number 2.
This is from the second blog 15degreesne.com:
God is always intentional and the number two has two different meanings;
Unity and reflection, like a mirror or two sides of the same coin. It involves the idea of a witness, a pair of two becoming one.
Division and about the idea of a choice between two things; life and death, good and bad etc.
The Hebrew depiction of Number 2 represents beht or Beth, which symbolizes a tent, a house or a blessing. In Hebrew, beht also means to multiply something to make it bigger. So, the imagery is of a growing house.
Here’s what I see in all of these representations of 2 surrounding the birth of Christ.
This ties into the prophecy I have already written about which concerns what the Father is doing in the earth. He is building His house, He is preparing the Body and the doors are opening wide, getting ready for expansion! There is an intimate call from the Father for prayer, devotion and worship.
Will we press in until we see the Birth of God’s movement of His Spirit and His love again? Until we see the outpouring of His Love upon mankind, as the Body of Christ arises in the Maturity of Jesus? Will we pray for the preparation of the Body of Christ for this time of Kingdom Building and Expansion?
Can we be like Simeon and Anna and pray without ceasing until we see these things manifest in our lifetime at the Leading and Timing of God? Can we wait upon Holy Spirit to direct us in our affairs as Simeon did?
I just want to encourage those who feel like they are on their own. Father God has your tribe in mind and Jesus always sent out pairs. Be patient, pray, and wait on the Lord for your twin to appear!!!
Merry Christmas everyone!!
Many Blessings coming into 2022 be upon you and your family.
Come Lord Jesus!
Merita
