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It was when Joseph was in this state that the angel of the Lord proclaimed to him the news that the light had shone in Galilee on the land that lay in the shadow of death, as had been foretold long before in the word of God received by the prophet Isaiah:
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Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, as when at first He lightly esteemed the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward more heavily oppressed her, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined (Isaiah 9:1-2).
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For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9: 6-7)
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Isaiah made this prophecy a long time ago, 740 years before Jesus was born. It was when the Child had been conceived in Mary's womb in accordance with the prophecies, and the predictions of the prophets were being fulfilled one by one, that Augustus, the Roman emperor who had control of various countries along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, gave the command that a census be taken of all the world. This stemmed from the emperor's greed for a more efficient collection of taxes, but God's plan surpasses Satan's schemes that had aroused this greed in the emperor, and this plan was gradually beginning to shine through the light of His word.
Joseph and Mary also traveled the long distance up to Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, to the city of their ancestor David, in order to be registered.
Mary was due to give birth when she and Joseph arrived at their destination, but the city was bustling with travelers and they were not able to find a place to stay. They just managed to find somewhere in a stable and there Mary gave birth to her child, wrapped Him in swaddling bands, and laid Him in a manger.
It was around that time that an angel of the Lord appeared to some shepherds who were watching over their flocks by night in the open fields. The shepherds trembled with fear as the glory of God shone round about them. Then the angel said to them,
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"Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger" (Luke 2:10-12).
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Then suddenly a whole host of angels appeared in the sky, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
(Luke 2:14)
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When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds looked at one another and said,
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"Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us" (Luke 2:15).
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They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger, and they told them what the angel had said to them.
Mary stored these words up in her heart and pondered over them.
The shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all that they had seen and heard.
A short time after that, Jerusalem was suddenly set in commotion. Some wise men had come from the east and asked,
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"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him" (Matthew 2:2).
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King Herod gathered all the chief priests and scribes and he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. (Matthew 2:4).
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They told him that long ago a prophet had said that a star would appear out of Jacob (See Numbers 24:17).
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