A Son Is Given

The Protevangelion, The First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ, The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew and the Gospel of Luke record the birth of Jesus in a similar way. One of the main differences, however, is that Luke records the birth of Jesus in a manger. The other two gospels speak of Mary giving birth in a cave with a midwife, and the manger scene comes later, after the three kings depart. Luke omits the visit of the three kings and then reports that the Holy Family went back to Nazareth after presenting Jesus in the temple. He mentions Mary as Joseph's espoused wife, but the other two gospels state they were not yet married. Luke's recounting of Mary delivering Jesus in a manger is a beautiful symbol of humility, but the more detailed description recorded in the other two gospels shed more light on the extraordinary details surrounding the birth of Jesus.

All three gospels explain that a decree went forth from the Roman emperor Augustus—that all should be taxed, and that Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to be taxed with Mary. The journey was approximately eighty miles. The Protevangelion states that they were riding a donkey, when Mary said, “Take me down, for that which is within me mightily presses.”

 

 

Joseph took Mary down from the donkey and found a cave for her to rest. He then went to Bethlehem to find a Hebrew midwife, who followed him back to the cave.

Joseph told the midwife that Mary was not yet his wife and that the child had been conceived through the Holy Spirit. A bright cloud overshadowed the cave, and then became a great light in the cave, so much so that their eyes could not bear it. The midwife exclaimed, “This day my soul is magnified, for mine eyes have seen surprising things and salvation is brought forth to Israel.”And the light gradually decreased, until the infant appeared, and nursed on his mother.

The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew adds to the story, and may be sensationalized, but includes elements that remind me of the birth of Gautama Buddha, who walked as soon as he was born. Speaking of Jesus, “And as soon as he was born, he stood upon his feet, and the angels adored him, saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good pleasure.” Now, when the birth of the Lord was at hand, Joseph went away to seek midwives. He found them and returned to the cave with them, and found with Mary the infant which she had brought forth. Joseph said to Mary, “I have brought thee two midwives—Zelomi and Salome; and they are standing outside before the entrance to the cave, not daring to come in hither, because of the exceeding brightness.” We find out later that Zelomi was the midwife and Salome was her husband. And when the blessed Mary heard this, she smiled, and Joseph said to her: “Do not smile; but prudently allow them to visit thee, in case thou shouldst require them for thy cure.”

Mary ordered them to enter. Zelomi went in and Salome stayed outside. Zelomi said to Mary, “Allow me to touch thee.” And when Mary had permitted her to make an examination, the midwife cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, Lord Almighty, mercy on us! It has never been heard or thought of, that anyone should have breasts full of milk, and that the birth of a son should show his mother to be a virgin. But there has been no spilling of blood in his birth, no pain in bringing him forth. A virgin has conceived, a virgin has brought forth, and a virgin she remains.”

The Protevangelion also speaks of the great light in the cave. “It was after sunset when the old woman and Joseph with her reached the cave, and they both went into it. And behold, it was all filled with lights, greater than the lights of lamps and candles, and greater than the light of the sun itself. The cave at this time seemed like a glorious temple, because both the tongues of angels and men untied to adore and magnify God, on behalf of the birth of the Lord Christ. ”

 

The Adoration of the Shepherds by Gerard Van Honthorst

 

In a dictation through Elizabeth Clare Prophet, Mother Mary described the first moment she held Jesus: “I will always remember the moment of his appearing, when Joseph and I welcomed the child Jesus, and the very first time I held him in my arms, his eyes bright as the stars out of which he descended. And I uttered a prayer unto God:  Blessed be thou, O Lord, Maker of heaven and earth, who hast ordained the coming of thy Self into form for the redemption of mankind, that through the grace and forgiveness of the law all might come to know the true nature of selfhood as this Christed One and that all might be baptized in preparation for the return to the center of thy law in the Holy of Holies.

“And I was aware that in my arms I held the incarnation of God even as I felt myself one with the motherhood of God cradling an infant humanity. For in this child, this gift from God’s own heart, was living proof of that which all mankind might one day become. And I remembered the words of Eve, 'I have gotten a man from the Lord.' I thought about the many daughters of Israel who had been waiting with anticipation for the coming of Messias, the one promised who would be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the Savior of a mighty people and a mighty nation.”

The Gospel of John describes Jesus' entrance into the world by describing the incarnation of the Logos, the Word of God.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

The words of John echo teachings of the East, found in the Vedas and the Bhavagad Gita: “I AM OM, the Word that is God.”

Prajapatir vai idam agre asit
Tasya vag dviitiya asit
Vag vai paraman Brahman

In the beginning was Prajapati (Brahman)
With whom was the Word;
And the Word was verily Brahman.

A beautiful description of the birth of Jesus can be found in a dictation by the master Orion, who recently ascended back to God, and recounts a mystical experience in the Sierra Mountains, where his soul had a recollection of the birth of Christ. His witness is published in the book, The Masters and their Retreats. Orion speaks of a turning point in his final embodiment:

“When I was yet unascended and in contemplation of the vast Sierras, as I gazed upon the mountains, I was inspired with the exaltation of the soul. And one night as I lay in the camp alone, hearing the music of the stars, my soul took flight from my form and I consciously left my body temple for the first time. Lying there in the mountains and looking at the stars, the gaze of my eyes contacting whirling fiery centers transported my soul unto the causal body of ascended beings and my own I AM Presence, and I had a preview of the soul's flight unto the ascension....

And how I rejoiced to know that which God holds in store for every living soul! How I rejoiced in that moment, transcending planes of consciousness, to see the servants of God as angels and seraphim and sylphs and masterful beings! And I saw how a cosmos is a succession, one by one, of body temples, of fiery vortices of consciousness becoming God, of God becoming selfhood in manifestation through the cycling of stars and fiery bodies.

And my own guru upon that holy night came with a visitation of the birth of the manchild, and I saw the Christ being born, and I saw the record of the descent of the soul of Jesus into that form. Even as I had risen from my body temple to experience planes of causal bodies, so I saw how the soul of the Avatar if the age had descended from his own starry body into form. And so I saw the cycles of life ascending and descending, descending and ascending, and souls upon the ladder reaching for the stars.”

The miracles of Jesus began at his birth. The First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ begins by telling us that Jesus spoke to his mother while he was in the cradle. This is reminiscent of Gautama Buddha speaking when he was born and declaring, “I AM supreme in this world.”

Likewise, the infant Jesus said, “Mary, I AM Jesus the Son of God, that Word which thou didst bring forth according to the declaration of the angel Gabriel to thee, and my Father hath sent me for the salvation of the world.”

The Protevangelion speaks of Salome, the midwife's husband who had a withered hand and called out to God. An angel of the Lord stood before him and told him to reach forth and touch the child Jesus and straightaway, his hand was healed. And when his old Hebrew wife Zelomi saw all these evident miracles, she gave praises to God and said, “I thank thee O God, thou God of Israel, for that mine eyes have seen the birth of the Savior of the world.”

In the Gospel of Luke, we read, “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”

The Gospel of Luke mentions the circumcision of Jesus on the eighth day after his birth, and the First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ tells us Jesus was circumcised in the cave. The old Hebrew woman Zelomi took the foreskin and the navel string and place these in an alabaster box with oil of spikenard. She gave the alabaster box to her son who was a druggist for safekeeping, and the gospel states this is the oil of spikenard that Mary of Bethany poured on the feet of Jesus before his crucifixion.

While still in the cave, Joseph and Mary learned there was a great disorder in Bethlehem because of three wise men coming from the East. These were looking for the “King of the Jews.” They had seen his star in the east and had come to worship him. They said, “We saw an extraordinary large star shining among the stars of heaven. It so out-shined all the other stars that they became not visible, and we knew thereby that a great king was born in Israel, and therefore we are come to worship him.”

 

The Three Kings by Therese Emmanuel

 

Herod the king heard of the visit of the three kings and was very much disturbed. “Go and make diligent inquiry,” he told the wise men, “and if ye find the child, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

The Protevangelion tells us that the wise men went forth, and the star went before them, till it came and stood over the cave where Mary was nursing her infant child. After bringing forth their treasures of gold and frankincense and myrrh, they were warned by an angel in a dream not to return to Herod in Judaea, but to return to their country by another way.

The Gospel of Matthew links Herod's concern to an Old Testament prophecy found in Micah: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

Matthew recounts: “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

“When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

“Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

“When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.”

The Protevangelion explains that when Herod perceived he had been mocked, he ordered all of the children that were in Bethlehem under the age of two to be killed. Upon hearing this, Mary was very much afraid and took the child and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in an ox-manger, for there was no room at the inn.

In a dictation given through the Summit Lighthouse, Mother Mary speaks of Herod's massacre of the holy innocents and equates it to the modern practice of abortion. She spoke of the fear in their hearts at the time, and the fury of the fallen ones. She also explained that each of these souls that gave up their life in this sacrificial way for the infancy of Jesus was sponsored to reincarnate again and blessed. In a dictation published through the Bridge to Freedom, Mary vowed that as the blood of infants flowed in the streets, that she and Jesus would personally assist each child that was involved in such an act of brutality to gain the ascension in a future embodiment, because these children had died on behalf of their mission.

The Protevangelion explains that Herod also searched for the infant John the Baptist, and Elisabeth went up into the mountains, looking for a place to hide him. Finding none, as she was unable to climb the mountain, she groaned: “O mountain of the Lord, receive the mother with the child.” And instantly, the mountain was divided and received them, and an angel of the Lord appeared to preserve them. Her husband Zacharias was ministering at the altar of the temple when Herod's henchmen came to ask him where his son was hiding. He answered that he was a servant of God and did not know where his son was hiding. Herod sent them a second time to ask again, and he told them he was a martyr for God. Then Zacharias was murdered between the entrance of the temple and the altar.

A voice came out of heaven and said that Zacharias' blood would not be wiped away until the revenge of his blood appear. The roofs of the temple howled and were rent from top to bottom, and they could not find his body, but only blood made hard like stone. Then all of the tribes of Israel mourned him, and lamented. Simeon and the other priests cast lots and the lot fell upon Simeon to succeed Zacharias. For he had been assured by the Holy Spirit that he should not die, until he had seen Christ come in the flesh.

The First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ tells us Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to Jerusalem ten days after his birth, and on the fortieth day, presented him in the temple. As Mary carried the infant Jesus in her arms, old Simeon saw him shining like a pillar of light, and angels stood around him like a king's guard, adoring him. Simeon stretched forth his hand to the infant Christ and said, “Now, O my Lord, thy servant shall depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy mercy, which thou hast prepared for the salvation of all nations, a light to all people, and a glory to thy people Israel.” And Hannah the prophetess was also present, and gave praises to God and celebrated the happiness of Mary.

The Gospel of Luke expands on this event: And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Holy Family, from images collected by Sainte Thérèse of the Child Jesus

 

And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

The Gospel of Luke tells us, “There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years, and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.”

The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew tells us what Anna said: “She also likewise adored the child, saying: 'In Him is the redemption of the world.'”

According to Luke, following the presentation in the temple, the Holy Family returned to Nazareth. Here, the Gospel of Matthew and the First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ take another turn. An angel appears to Joseph and tells him to take Mary and his young child into Egypt, to flee from the wrath of Herod. “Behold, says Matthew, “the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” “Arise,” says the infancy gospel. “Take the child and his Mother into Egypt as soon as the cock crows.”

“When he arose,” Matthew writes, reflecting on the words of the prophet Hosea, “he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 'Out of Egypt have I called my son.'”

Saint Germain speaks of the flight to Egypt in a dictation through the Summit Lighthouse. He says, “Yes, beloved, civilization will stand or fall. It will stand only if you determine to bind the force of Antichrist that was in the heart of Herod whereby he sent out his henchmen to slaughter the male babies in order to be sure to destroy the living Christ Jesus. And therefore, the angels of the Seventh Ray led us in the flight into Egypt and it was indeed a flight from the terror of the powers-that-be of the time. And do not think that it was not a challenge for me and for Mary. Yes, it was indeed! For we were in the form that you are in this day, we were in the times and we knew exactly what could happen if we did not play our role.”