The decree of King Cyrus

The word apologetics means “to speak in defense of” and is found in the New Testament eight times. The word omnipresence means “all that is before one” and, when applied to God, is the idea that He is wholly present in all places at any given time. So, it follows that if God was going to speak in defense of His existence, He would tell us detailed descriptions of events before they happen. The word prophet is used to describe someone who speaks for God. The prophet had several roles; he could be sent to teach God’s message concerning a certain situation, he could be sent to warn the people to change direction or he could be sent to describe a future event, often calamity, before it happens.

One of the greatest apologetics that affirms the Bible is where God spoke through His prophets about future events with interesting details. As we begin the book of Ezra, we are treated to a decree made by Cyrus, king of Persia which ends up being one of those. 

 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem. And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.” Ezra 1:2-4.

The date of this decree is given in Ezra 1:1 “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put in writing,”. We know as a matter of historical record from the discovery of the cylinder of Cyrus that the year was around 538 BC.

Seventy years before, the prophet Jeremiah warned Israel of their impending doom and in Jeremiah 25:11-14 he predicts that the nation will go into captivity, serving the king of Babylon for 70 years. The nation of Israel had been warned by the prophets that they needed to follow God’s instructions. They had been instructed in the books of Moses (Lev 25:1-7) that every seventh year they were to let the land lay fallow-rest and not cultivate it.

For 490 years Israel neglected that law forcing God to hold them captive in Babylon for 70 years thus giving the land her Sabbaths. The prophet Jeremiah was an eye witness to the destruction of Jerusalem beginning around 598 BC. As the prophet Daniel is taken away to Babylon, with him go the scrolls of Jeremiah, the scroll of Isaiah and the books of Moses.  (Daniel 9:2).

Go back to the beginning of this article and read the decree of King Cyrus. According to Josephus, the Jewish historian, when Cyrus conquered Babylon the Jews presented him with the scroll of Isaiah where he was astounded  to read “Who says of Cyrus, ’He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” and to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”’ Isaiah 44:28.

Now keep in mind that the prophet Isaiah wrote these words 180-200 years before Cyrus entered Babylon and wrote his decree. Can you imagine how Cyrus must have felt as he continues reading the scroll of Isaiah “Thus says the Lord to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held- To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut: “Isaiah 45:1.

 Cyrus’ spirit must have been stirred up as he reads the 200 year old text naming him by name! “That you may know that I, the Lord, who called you by name, Am the God of Israel. For Jacob My servant’s sake, And Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me,” Isaiah 45:3-5

So my prayer is that there will be someone reading this who will believe for the first time that there is a God in heaven who loves them and will ask to receive His salvation putting their trust in Jesus Christ for the very first time.     

The story (part 3)

Before going to bed, Zacharias lit the oil lamp and searched the scroll of the prophet Micah. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.” Zacharias knew that it was his relative Mary that was carrying the Messiah, the Christ child, inside her and by now would already be on the road headed south to Bethlehem to register for the worldwide census.

Just outside the town of Scythopolis, the clickity-clack sound that was coming from the wagon’s rear wheel bearing was getting louder. Joseph stacked up some flat stones and squeezed them under the axle of the wagon raising it up off the ground just enough to get the wheel off. Stowed in the back of the buckboard he found the clay pot that held the bee’s wax and packed the wooden wheel bearing with wax. Mary went down to the edge of the Jordan River, knelt down and washed her hands and face with the cool water from the river. The baby immediately calmed down and ceased kicking Mary as she sang a psalm while watching the water pass slowly through a calmer section of the river “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, You are My Son, today I have begotten You.”

   

The road was getting very crowded with travelers from all over Judea as the donkey pulled the wagon up into the city limits of Jerusalem. There were many travelers going to the city and surrounding suburbs to register for the census. Many street vendors had set up shops wherever there was a turn-out in the road where they sold skins of wine, water, bread, woven cloth and trinkets of every kind. Mary couldn’t help but notice a beautiful red home spun cloth as the donkey waited for cross traffic to clear out. Joseph asked the merchant the price and after a bit of bargaining, Mary wrapped the lovely cloth around her shoulders.

Once out of the congestion of Jerusalem, Joseph prayed that Bethlehem would be quieter. Just outside of town the road cleared out a little for the last five miles. Joseph didn’t think Mary could endure the extra mileage to Zacharias and Elizabeth’s house in the Judean hills so he remembered an inexpensive but comfortable inn in Bethlehem where they could spend the night.

“Now there were in the same country shepherds, living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, for I bring you 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 a sign to you: You will find a 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, goodwill towards men!’”

Meanwhile, back in Bethlehem, Joseph pleaded with the inn keeper for a room where his wife could deliver the baby. The inn keeper wished he had a place for them to rest but there was no vacancy due to the festival and census traffic. But being a decent man, the inn keeper allowed Joseph and Mary to stay with his animals in a hollowed out limestone cave adjacent to the inn.

Mary made a bed out of a pile of fresh straw the inn keeper put out for them. She labored for many hours until finally a head began to emerge. Soon the baby Jesus was born. Joseph helped by tying off the umbilical cord and placing the baby on Mary’s chest. Mary, exhausted, swaddled the baby in the new red cloth Joseph had purchased and laid the baby Jesus in the animal’s feeding trough. She wondered what sort of man Jesus would eventually grow up into. 

Soon several shepherds were kneeling at the opening of the cave gazing in amazement at the baby that the angel announced would be there. Who would have believed that the Savior of the world, this King of kings would have such humble beginnings? None realized that the gift of this child would ultimately be His death and resurrection some thirty two years later. Jesus offers forgiveness to all who choose to trust and believe in Him. Through His death we are forgiven and through His resurrection we have life everlasting.

The story (part 2)

Zacharias kept himself busy studying his collection of ancient scrolls.  Studying carefully each scroll, Zacharias searched for the prophecies foretelling the birth of the prophesied Messiah-King.

In the dim light of his oil lamp, Zacharias poured over the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Although his heart was pounding, it filled with complete joy upon reading the text that foretold of the birth of the coming Messiah “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Zacharias marveled at the fact that his own relative, Mary, was carrying the promised Child! 

He unrolled the scroll further “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 their shall 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.”

As the hours passed, Zacharias remembered what Joseph had confided in him the night the couple came to visit. When it was discovered that Mary was pregnant, Joseph wanted to save her from public judgment, humiliation or something worse. He explained that while he was planning their escape, an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream and said “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

The next day Elizabeth’s time came to deliver. All the neighbors asked if she was going to name him after his father, but she shook her head no, as Zacharias motioned for a writing tablet and scratched out “His name was John!” He had been mute for nine months but now immediately after writing the child’s name his voice returned.

Six months later, Mary was also getting very close to the birth of her baby. She lived with her mother, father, brother and two sisters. Joseph lived just outside of Nazareth near the main road that led to the Mediterranean Sea. His father was a carpenter who built wagons, carts and repaired broken wheels for a living. The nearby road afforded a steady stream of customers to his shop.

Today, Joseph had promised Mary that he would take her for a wagon ride through the vineyards and olive groves that covered the hills and mountains to the north toward the sea. Joseph was sitting up front on the buckboard with Mary snuggled around a pile of pillows in the back of the wagon. She was eight months pregnant but was willing to endure any discomfort to ride through the beautiful Nazarene countryside. Soon after they left the outskirts of town, they spotted a Roman legion about a half mile away marching towards them. Joseph pulled the  wagon off the road into a turn out as the officer in front looked them over and motioned to the centurion to inspect the wagon. 

After a thorough inspection, the centurion informed Joseph that Caesar Augustus had decreed that a worldwide census was to be taken. He said they had orders to visit every village in Galilee where they were to post the decree. 

The baby kicked Mary as the Roman soldiers filed past them kicking dust into the air. Joseph turned onto a back road and returned home to begin preparations for their trip. They had taken this same trip just six months earlier when visiting Elizabeth and Zacharias. Joseph knew that the trip would be dangerous for Mary and the baby and that he needed to make preparations to get them to Bethlehem before the baby was born. 

The next morning, Joseph gathered food and supplies for the trip. Joseph helped Mary get up onto the donkey. Everyone was there to ask God’s blessings on them and to say goodbye. Joseph planned to head south towards Beth Shean, avoiding travel through Samaria. Mary closed her eyes and pondered all these wonderful things; she was carrying the baby who was to be the world’s coming Messiah and future King!

Follow Mary and Joseph in next week’s edition as the couple travels back to Bethlehem to take part in the world wide census. 

Follow along with Mary, the mother Jesus, as she endures seventy mile journey to the City of David. All during a time when the crowded roads and cities left few options for Jesus Christ to be born.

The story (part 1)

Zacharias and Elizabeth lived in a very modest home nestled in the hill country just south of Jerusalem. Zacharias was a priest at the temple in Jerusalem. There were thousands of priests; each served a total of two weeks during the year. This was going to be a special year for Zacharias because, as a priest, he was allowed to burn incense in the temple once during his lifetime and this year the lot fell to him. Elizabeth, Zacharias’ wife, was a direct descendant of Aaron, the very first high priest of Israel and brother of Moses.

Both Elizabeth and Zacharias were advanced in years as Elizabeth became pregnant with their first child. She had been barren but now God had sent an angel to announce to Zacharias that his wife would bear him a son. Zacharias shook with fear as the angel said “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer has been heard; your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” 

The news was just too much for him; he doubted that this could be true. Once more, Gabriel spoke to Zacharias who was  face first on the ground, “But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time”. Zacharias peeked through his hands that were clenched tightly around his face.  As he exited the temple a crowd of curious onlookers could not get Zacharias to speak a single word. 

Six months later and seventy miles away, Elizabeth’s relative Mary was also greeted by the angel Gabriel “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women! Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.” Mary stood speechless in the dim light.

As the words left the angel’s lips, the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and the power of the Highest overshadowed her; she immediately became pregnant. Before disappearing, Gabriel informs Mary that Elizabeth and Zacharias were also going to have a son. “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Mary would reflect on these words many times before Jesus was born.

Mary’s father and brother saddled the family’s donkey and then set out on the 70 mile journey to visit Elisabeth who lived in the hill country of Judah. Mary longed to see her and witness the miracle that the angel Gabriel had prophesied to her concerning her child. So as night began falling, Mary, and Joseph set out in haste towards the south towards the hills of Jerusalem. The road was very dusty filled with ruts and rocks. The entire trip took several days to complete. 

Passing through Jerusalem, Mary noticed the temple’s white limestone blocks colored orange in the late afternoon light. Soon Mary and Joseph neared the village where Zacharias lived. Mary’s heart began to pound as she remembered what the angel told her. Mary pushed aside the drape covering the front opening. Inside sitting near the fireplace warming herself, was Elizabeth. 

Mary ran to greet her and kissed her on each cheek. And just as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting the baby leaped inside of her womb; And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Mary and Elizabeth talked and encouraged each other with all the wonderful news God had delivered through the angel Gabriel, however Zacharias was still unable to speak to anyone. Mary decided to stay and help Elizabeth with the day to day chores of cooking, cleaning and washing clothes. She ended up staying three months with her until it was just time for the arrival of her son.

Mary and Joseph returned to Nazareth.  The trip back took much longer because Mary was much further along in her pregnancy.  Again as they traveled through Jerusalem, the morning sun illuminated the gold doors of the temple and the baby kicked inside of her. Soon she would be back in her own quaint village of Nazareth awaiting the birth of the blessed Son of God! 

Follow Mary and Joseph next week’s edition as the couple travels back to Bethlehem to take part in the world wide census. Ride along with the mother of Jesus as she endures the journey to the City of David during a time when the crowed roads and inns lend them very few options for the birth of their child.

The Promise

From the very beginning God promised us that He would be the source of our redemption. After the “fall of man” in Genesis 3:15, God speaking directly to Satan says, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall crush your head and you will bruise His heel.” In this text, God was hinting at the virgin birth of the Messiah that would come from the woman’s seed. This fact is further revealed in a prophecy 1500 years before the birth of Christ by the prophet Isaiah, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel” Isaiah 7:14. “Immanuel” means “God with us”. 

Finally, this great truth of how God would be born into His own creation was recorded in the gospel of Luke “Then Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?’ And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; also, that Holy One who is born will be called the Son of God.’” Luke 1:34, 35.

The bible’s genealogy is very specific and documents one family’s line from Adam to Jesus Christ. Over and over again God promises, through all these recorded prophecies, the greatest gift the world would ever be given was His Son.  Even when Ham (Canaan’s father) sins against his father Noah, God uses this heinous ordeal to bless Shem and Japheth “Blessed be the Lord, The God of Shem, and may Canaan be his servant. May God enlarge Japheth, and may he dwell in the tents of Shem;” Genesis 9:26, 27. This early prophecy is especially interesting as we see the Messiah ultimately emerge from Shem’s descendants. Japheth’s descendants (European gentiles) would one day be grafted into the kingdom of God under the covering (tent) of Israel’s relationship to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

God hints again at the future gift of salvation as He promises to Abraham that in him all the families of the earth shall be blessed. “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:2, 3. Truly all the families of the earth were blessed as God’s Son was born in a manger in Bethlehem. 

The Bible is filled with prophecies about the Messiah. In the last book of the Old Testament the prophet Malachi says “But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings;” Malachi 4:2. After four hundred years of inter-testament silence, Zacharias breaks his own muteness as he proclaims “Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:78-80. Zacharias’ choice of the Greek word for “Dayspring” literally means “dawn”. So the coming of Jesus was like a sun rise. The night was now over as the world was exposed to a Great Light!

So as we decorate our houses and Christmas trees with bright light, let us remember the Great Light that dawned in Bethlehem. A morning that made its mark in history forever as God Himself came into the creation that He made; the day that Jesus was born to Joseph and Mary. 

Moreover, may our homes be filled with Christmas carols and joyful voices singing praises to God.  “Now in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you 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 a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, 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, goodwill towards men.’” Luke 2:8-14.