Commentary

 

Why Did Jesus Come to Earth as a Baby?

By Curtis Childs

This painting by Richard Cook  of the newborn baby Jesus, with Mary and Joseph, evokes the spiritual power of this long-awaited advent.

Could there be reasons for the humble, vulnerable beginnings of Jesus’s life?

In this video from his Swedenborg and Life web series, host Curtis Childs and featured guests explore how the Divine design may have been at play from the very beginning of Christ's life.

(References: Apocalypse Explained 706 [12]; Luke 2:8-12; The Word 7; True Christian Religion 89, 90, 96, 766)

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The Bible

 

Luke 2:8-12

Study

      

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 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.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

      

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #479

Study this Passage

  
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479. Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, "Go, take the little book that is open in the hand of the angel standing on the sea and on the earth." (10:8) This symbolizes a commandment from heaven for people to assimilate that doctrine, but in order that John might show how it would be received in the church before those meant by the dragon, the beast and the false prophet were removed.

The voice which John heard from heaven now speaking to him again means the voice that told him to seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered and not to write them (verse 4), which symbolically meant that the aforesaid doctrine regarding the Lord would not be accepted until after those people meant by the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet had been cast out of the world of spirits, because it would be dangerous before then (see no. 473 above). The reality of this is clearly shown now by John's eating the little book, as described next.

That the little book means doctrine regarding the Lord may be seen in nos. 469, 472. And that the angel standing on the sea and on the land means the Lord may be seen in nos. 465, 470.

  
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Many thanks to the General Church of the New Jerusalem, and to Rev. N.B. Rogers, translator, for the permission to use this translation.