4. Himself also, as other Hebrew children, was brought to Jerusalem to present him unto the Lord—‘As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord’ (Luke 2:23,24).
5. Thus Jesus also, as other Hebrew children, when the set day was come, was circumcised—‘And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb’ (Luke 2:21).
6. After this he is often called the young child, the child Jesus; and further, it is said of him, that he grew, that he increased in wisdom and stature (Matt 2:20,21; Luke 2:40,52).
Behold with what diligence, even to a circumstance, the Holy Ghost sets forth the birth of the Lord Jesus, and all to convince the incredulous world of the true manner of the coming of the Saviour into the world.
Second. The reality of the manhood of this Lord Jesus is yet further manifest, and that, 1. By those natural infirmities that attend human flesh; 2. By the names the prophets gave him in the days of the Old Testament and the New.
1. By those natural infirmities that attend human flesh. As, at his birth he could not go but as carried by his parents. He was sensible of hunger (Luke 4:2). He was sensible of thirst (John 19:28). He was sensible of weariness (John 4:6). He was nourished by sleep (Mark 4:38). He was subject to grief (Mark 3:5). He was subject to anger (Mark 3:5). He was subject to weep (John 11:35; Luke 19:41). He had joy as a man, and rejoiced (Matt 11:25; Luke 10:21). These things, I say, Jesus was subject to as a man, as the son of the Virgin.
2. The reality of his manhood is yet made manifest by the names the prophets gave him, both in the Old Testament and in the New. As,
(1.) He is called the ‘seed’—the seed of the woman, the seed of Abraham, the seed of David, by which is meant he was to come of their children (Gen 3:15, 12, 22; Gal 3:16,17; Rom 1:3).
(2.) Therefore it is added (where mention is made of the fathers), ‘of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came.’ He was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and hence again he calleth himself the offspring of David; therefore, I say, he is said to be of their flesh, their loins, and is called their Son (Rom 1:3, 4:5; Acts 2:30; Rev 22:16).
(3.) He therefore is frequently called ‘a man, and the Son of man’—‘Then shall you see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven.’ ‘When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him.’ ‘This man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.’ ‘Wherefore, it is necessary that this man have somewhat also to offer’ (Matt 25:31, 26:64; Heb 7:24, 8:3, 10:12).