· The only upper class people who were aware that something significant and worthwhile was about to happen at the birth of Jesus were pagans.
· The Jewish civil and religious leaders were given every opportunity to know the place, time, and significance of the birth of the Messiah.
· The Jewish civil and religious leaders were given every opportunity to understand the real mission of the Messiah from the ancient prophecies common to the Hebrew people. It is ironic that they paid no attention to their own revered heroes and traditions.
· The only religious leader recorded to have had a special visitation and specific revelation contemporaneous with the time of Jesus’ birth was Zecharias and he was punished for his unbelief.
· In the climate of spiritual darkness, corruption, and religious distortion, the irony is that any observant Jews were able to know that Messiah’s time had come. Luke 2:25 A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He lived an honorable and devout life. He was waiting for the one who would comfort Israel. The Holy Spirit was with Simeon Luke 2:26 and had told him that he wouldn't die until he had seen the Messiah, whom the Lord would send. Luke 2:36 Anna, a prophet, was also there. She was a descendant of Phanuel (face of God) from the tribe of Asher. She was now very old. Her husband had died seven years after they were married, Luke 2:37 and she had been a widow for 84 years. Anna never left the temple courtyard but worshiped day and night by fasting and praying. Luke 2:38 At that moment she came up to Mary and Joseph and began to thank God. She spoke about Jesus to all who were waiting for Jerusalem to be set free.
· The angels worshiped and made their earthly announcement to the scum of Jewish society, The shepherds were the lowest class of worker in Judea. The herds were not owned by those who tended them. They were owned by the Temple bureaucrats who made huge profits from selling the lambs during the Passover and other Jewish holy days for sacrifices. These shepherds were the first to pay a visit to the newly born Messiah. They visited the Lamb of God who was to serve as the sin offering of the world.
· Herod is buried on the heights three miles from Bethlehem. From where he is buried, which was his “Camp David” type getaway, one can see Bethlehem. Herod, who was intent on murdering any possible competitor no matter how obscure, no matter how close a family member was unable to suppress the will of God and destroy the life of the authentic King of the Jews. For all of history the placement of Herod’s body is a testimony to his failure as a person and his failure as a civil leader.
