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
This entry is taken from Daily Readings - John Bunyan a 366 day devotional edited by (and posted with permission from) Roger D. Duke, Scholar-in-Residence at Stage & Story, and published by Christian Heritage Press.
Each month focuses on a different book or writing by Bunyan. For February: My Confession of Faith (or A Confession of My Faith and a Reason of My Practice, or, With Who, and Who Not, I can Hold Church-fellowship, or the Communion of Saints)
I believe that the time when . . . [Jesus] clothed himself with our flesh, was in the days of the reign of Caesar Augustus. Then I say, and not till then, was the word made flesh, or clothed with our nature. “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed; And Joseph went up from Galilee, out of the City of Nazareth unto Judah, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and linage of David, to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with child. And so, it was . . . the days were accomplished, that she should be delivered.” And this child was he of whom godly Simeon was told by the holy Ghost, when he said, that he should not see death until he had seen the Lord Christ. (John 1.14; 1 Timothy. 3.16; Luke 2:1, 2, 3, 6: 25, 26, 27).
I believe, therefore that this very child, as before testified is both God and man, the Christ of the living God. “And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. But while he thought on these things, behold the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him; saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins” (Luke 2:7, 12; & Matthew 1: 21, 22).
John Bunyan was a preacher, theologian and author, whose best-known work, The Pilgrim's Progress, has challenged and influenced readers for almost 350 years.
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