The “3”s of Christ’s Birth

Introduction. It seems that some numbers in the Scriptures are used in patterns, and that they highlight certain information that God wants us to keep in mind (always in context) as we study the Bible.  Like everything in the Bible, numerology (study of numbers) can be taken to extremes. The number 3, as it is revealed in the Scriptures seems to indicate Deity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) or Divine involvement. With that concept of Divine involvement before us, let’s consider the 3’s of the birth of Jesus (humanity) or the incarnation (coming in human flesh) of the Christ.

Matt. 1:1         The 3 Designations

1. There were 3 designations of Jesus in Matt. 1:1.
        a. __________. “Anointed One,” or the promised O.T. Messiah. This is not His Name but His office.
        b. ______ ____ __________. This is a reference to Jesus kingly line.
        c. ______ ____ ______________. This is a reference to Jesus Jewish line and faith line.

 Matt. 1:17              The 3 Generations
2. There are 3 sets of generations from ______________ to ____________.  This represents God’s hand in history (His-story), and His precise measurement of time for His purposes (Gal. 4:4).

Matt. 1:18; Lk. 1:27; 2:16 The 3 Family Members
3. There were 3 family members involved with the birth of Jesus (in order of importance).
    a. __________ (“Jehovah is salvation”). He was so named for His mission, “...for He [alone] shall save (“deliver”) His people (the Jews) from [the penalty of] their sins” (Matt. 1:21).
    b. ________ (“their rebellion”). Mary’s name comes from Moses’ sister Miriam and her part in the rebellion against Moses. Mary was a saved O.T. saint who was awaiting the coming of the promised Messiah.
    c. ____________ (“let Him add”). Joseph’s name comes from the Joseph of the O.T. who was second in authority in Egypt during the famine.  Joseph was also a saved O.T. saint who was awaiting the coming of the promised Messiah.  Joseph died sometime between Jesus’ 12th birthday and the beginning of Christ’s public ministry.

Matt. 1:21; Lk. 131    The 3 Defining Attributes of Christ’s Birth
4. There are 3 defining attributes (“something that belonged only to Him”) that were to define Jesus’ birth.
    a. A ______. A male child made in the likeness of man. Thus He could walk among men, be tempted in all points, yet without sin and die a human death.
    b. A ________. The word “name” includes all that a person is, in other words, both the humanity and the deity of Jesus.
    c. A ______________. Jesus’ purpose was two fold. One to bring glory to God and, two, to bring salvation to mankind.

 Matt. 2:11 The 3 Approaches
5. There are 3 proper approaches to Deity.
    a. ______.  This means “to find by inquiry.” They inquired of the people of Jerusalem.
    b. ________ ________. They went from erect to prostrate or bowed down.
    c. ____________________ ______. “Reverence and honor paid to Another.” It is the act of putting one’s self in its proper place in the Presence of God.

Matt. 2:11 The 3 Gifts
6. 3 gifts were brought to the Christ child
    a. ____. This metal was used for the service of God. See the Tabernacle’s ornamentation and the vessels in the Temple. This speaks of Jesus’ deity or kingship.
    b. _________________________. This perfume was used as incense and in worship. This speaks of Christ’s purity.
    c. __________. This perfume was used as an anointing oil and an embalming ointment. This speaks of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.

Matt. 2:18 The 3 Responses to Sorrow
7. There were 3 responses associated with the death of the innocent children in Bethlehem.
    a. ______________________. “To cry aloud from trouble.”
    b. ______________. “A sign of pain and grief.”
    c. __________ ________________. “To be plunged into much sorrow.”

 Matt. 2:23 The 3 Fulfillments of Prophecy
8. Joseph and Jesus fulfilled 3 aspects of O.T. prophecy.
    a. Dwelt in ________________ (“despised”) (Isa. 53:3).
    b. Fulfilled that ____________ by the O.T.
    c. He shall be called a ________________ (“Branch”) (Isa. 11:1; Jer. 23:5; 33:15; Zech. 6:12).

Lk. 1:28, 42 The 3 Blessings
9. The 3 blessings bestowed on Mary.
    a. Highly ________________ (“graced”).
    b. ________ is with (“among”) thee.
    c. ______________ are you among women. The godly women in Israel have always dreamed of giving birth to the Messiah. This aspiration had hit a peak at this time.

Lk. 1:35 The 3 Members of the Godhead    
10. All 3 members of the Trinity were active in the conception of Jesus.
    a. ________ __________.
    b. The ______________ (“most high God”).
    c. ________ __________ (“separate, unique, distinct One”).  This speaks of Jesus being “one-of-a-kind.”
It took the Holy Spirit coming upon Mary and the power of the Father overshadowing (“to envelope in a shadow”) Mary to produce that Holy Thing, the Son (“same as”) of God.

Lk. 2:1-3 The 3 Taxes (“Census”)
11. The 3 areas subject to the census of Caesar Augustus (Roman Emperor). “Census” later turned into taxation.
    a. ________ ______ __________. This is the portion of the world that Rome ruled.
    b. __________. It was from here that the governor ruled the region.
    c. ______ ________. They returned to the place of their tribal origin.

Lk. 2:4 The 3 Places
12. The 3 places of the family’s travels.
    a. From ______________. North of Jerusalem.
    b. Into ____________. The area of Jerusalem.
    c. Into __________________. Just 5 miles S. of Jerusalem.

 Lk. 2:7 The 3 Details
13. The 3 details of Jesus’ Birth.
    a. He was the ___________________. Jesus was the first child of Mary, but not the last child. Mary was a virgin even after the birth of Jesus.
    b. He was wrapped in __________________
clothes. Strips of cloth which bound the child tightly.
    c. He was laid in a __________ (“stall”) in the Tower of the Lambs.

Lk. 2:10-11 The 3 People
14. The 3 people groups impacted by Jesus’ birth.
    a. __________________ (them). The lowliest occupation.
    b. ______ ____________. To the loftiest occupation. This includes all Gentiles.
    c. ________ (you). The Jews in particular.

Lk. 2:12 The 3 Signs
15. The 3 signs (“portending remarkable events soon to happen”) of the Saviour’s birth.
    a. The _________ (“new born child”).
    b. In swaddling  ______________ (strips of cloth snugly wrapped).
    c. In a ____________ (“stall”).
None of these “signs” taken by themselves would be unusual. Even taken together, they are not out of the realm of possibility, but when you consider a child born in the Tower of the Lambs, now you have a “sign.”

Lk. 2:14 The 3 Glories
16. There were 3 realms of glory. Glory means “to make known.” So the results of the “sign” of v12 is:
    a. Glory to ______ in the spiritual realm.
    b. Glory to __________ in the physical realm.
    c. Glory to ______ in the personal realm.

Lk. 2:15 The 3 Responses
17. The shepherds had 3 responses to the news.
    a. ____.
    b. ______ (“observe, pay attention”).
    c. ________ (“gain knowledge of”).

Lk. 2:18-19 The 3 Wonderers
18. The 3 sets of people that wondered at the sign
    a. __________________.
    b. All ________ wondered (“marveled”) (Jews).
    c. ________ pondered (“bring together in one’s mind”). Mary kept everything, from the beginning to the end attempting to piece it together in her mind.

Lk. 2:21-24 The 3 Accomplishments
19. There were 3 things lawfully completed after His birth
    a. ________________________. This was instituted by God as a token of the covenant between God and Abraham (Gen. 17:10-11). This was a covenant of faith.
    b. ________________________. After the birth the mother was considered (“ceremonially”) unclean. This was a “covenant” of obedience.
    c. __________________. The normal offering was a lamb and a dove. If poor, 2 doves. This was a “covenant” of sacrifice (but Mary held the Lamb!).

 Lk. 2:23 The 3 Requirements of the Law
20. There were 3 requirements of God’s written law.
    a. __________ ________ (Jewish).
    b. ______________ the womb. This is the first-born.
    c. ________ (“separate, distinct, unique”) to the Lord. “Called” (“bear a name or title”).

Lk. 2:22, 24   The 3 Requirements of the Lord
21. There were 3 requirements of the Lord.
    a. __________________. God determined the place where they would worship Him.
    b. ______________ (“to place a person or thing at One’s disposal”). God determines what is acceptable.
    c. __________________. God determines how it will be presented.

 Lk. 2:25 The 3 Attributes of Simeon
22. The 3 spiritual attributes of Simeon.
    a. ________ (“righteous”) & __________ (“pious”)
    b. ______________ (“expecting”)
    c. ________ __________ was upon him.

Lk. 2:25-27 The 3 Works of the Holy Spirit
23. The 3 works of the Holy Spirit toward Simeon.
    a. ________ ______. Not a permanent indwelling.
    b. ________________  (“to give a response”).
    c. ________ ____. Simeon came by the instrumentality of the Spirit.

 Lk. 2:29-31 The 3 Aspects of Peace
24.  The 3 aspects that provide peace.
    a. According to God’s ________ (the O.T. scriptures).
    b. Because of God’s __________________ (God’s Yeshua or Jesus).
    c. Because of God’s ______________________ (“made ready”).

 Lk. 2:34-35 The 3 Purposes of the Child
25. There are 3 purposes for the Child.
    a. ________ (“downfall”) & ________ again [from the dead] of many in Israel (Jews).
    b. A ________ spoken against (opposed).
    c. ________________ revealed (“laid open”).

Concl: God, the 3 in 1 was at work in every aspect of Christ’s birth, as God took on human flesh.  Rejoice!

 Return to the top of this page