The Birth and Coming of Isa
This journey begins at the beginning.
Before we ask what Isa taught, why people followed him, or why others opposed him, we first need to ask a simpler question: How does the Injil introduce him?
The coming of Isa is not presented as an ordinary birth or as the arrival of just another prophet among many. From the very beginning, the Injil treats his coming as a turning point.
The announcements surrounding his birth are full of expectation. His arrival is linked to promise, deliverance, kingship, and the action of Allah in history.
This does not force the reader to make a quick decision. But it does ask us to notice something important: the story of Isa begins with unusual weight, unusual language, and unusual expectation.
In this first article, we are simply asking: Why is the birth and coming of Isa presented as such an extraordinary event?
Read the Scripture below:
Main readings
Luke 1:26-38 — The Announcement to Maryam
In the sixth month, the angel Jibril was sent from Allah to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Yusuf, from the house of Dawud. The virgin’s name was Maryam.
The angel came to her and said, “Peace be upon you, favoured one. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.”
But she was deeply troubled at this saying and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Maryam, for you have found favour with Allah. You will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Isa.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. Allah will give him the throne of his father Dawud. He will reign over the house of Yaqub forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Maryam said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have not known a man?”
The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the holy one who is born will be called the Son of Allah.
And behold, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren. For nothing spoken by Allah will be impossible.”
Maryam said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
Luke 2:1-20 — The Birth of Isa and the Shepherds
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This registration first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.
Everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. Yusuf also went up from Galilee, out of the town of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of Dawud, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of Dawud, to be registered with Maryam, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.
While they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth. She brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him in cloths, and laid him in a feeding place, because there was no room for them in the lodging place.
In the same region there were shepherds staying in the field and keeping watch over their flock by night. Behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of Dawud a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
This will be the sign to you: you will find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a feeding place.”
Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising Allah and saying, “Glory to Allah in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
They came with haste and found Maryam and Yusuf, and the baby lying in the feeding place. When they saw him, they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child.
All who heard it wondered at the things spoken by the shepherds. But Maryam treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising Allah for all the things they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.
Matthew 1:18-25 — An Angel Appears to Yusuf
Now the birth of Isa the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Maryam had been pledged in marriage to Yusuf, before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.
Yusuf her husband, being a righteous man and not willing to make her a public example, decided to send her away quietly.
But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Yusuf, son of Dawud, do not be afraid to take Maryam as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Isa, for he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,” which means, “Allah with us.”
Yusuf arose from sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Maryam as his wife, but he did not know her until she had brought forth her firstborn son. And he called his name Isa.
Matthew 2:1-12 — Visitors Come Seeking the Child
After Isa was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to honour him.”
When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Messiah would be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what has been written by the prophet: ‘And you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod secretly called the wise men and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and honour him.”
After hearing the king, they went on their way. Behold, the star which they had seen in the east went before them until it came and stood over where the child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. They came into the house and saw the young child with Maryam his mother, and they fell down and honoured him.
Opening their treasures, they presented to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
These passages introduce the coming of Isa through the announcement to Maryam, his birth, the response of the shepherds, the naming of the child, and the visit of those who came searching for the newborn king.
As you read, do not rush ahead. Just notice what kind of child this is said to be, how people respond to him, and what hopes are attached to his coming.
Observation first — What does the Scripture say?
Before drawing conclusions, we first slow down and observe what the text actually says.
What is happening in these passages?
- The birth of Isa is announced before it happens.
- Maryam is told that her son will have a unique calling and identity.
- The child is conceived by the power and action of Allah, not by ordinary human means.
- Yusuf is told not to fear taking Maryam as his wife.
- The child is given the name Isa with a clear reason attached to that name.
- Angels announce good news connected to his birth.
- Shepherds respond with wonder and spread the message.
- Later, visitors come seeking him because they believe a king has been born.
- Even at the beginning, the arrival of Isa causes both joy and disturbance.
Important details to notice
- This birth is surrounded by divine messages, not ordinary circumstances.
- Isa is introduced with titles and descriptions that immediately raise questions about who he is.
- His coming is connected to salvation, kingship, and fulfilment.
- Different kinds of people respond strongly to him: humble people rejoice, while others are troubled.
- The story does not begin with Isa as merely a teacher. It begins with expectation about his identity and mission.
Questions to notice while reading
- Why are so many signs and messages attached to his birth?
- Why does the Injil place so much emphasis on names and titles right at the beginning?
- Why do some respond with worship and joy, while others react with fear?
- What kind of child is introduced in this way?
Interpretation second — Is there something we can learn about Isa?
Now we ask: what might these opening chapters be showing us about Isa?
What does the coming of Isa seem to reveal?
- His coming is presented as part of Allah’s deliberate plan, not as an accidental event.
- He is introduced as someone whose identity matters before he even begins public ministry.
- The Injil wants the reader to see that Isa’s mission is larger than private spirituality or moral teaching alone.
- His arrival brings hope, but it also creates a dividing line in how people respond.
- From the beginning, the reader is being prepared to take Isa seriously.
More than an ordinary beginning
Many important people have notable births. But the Injil presents the coming of Isa with a different kind of weight.
There are angelic announcements. There are fulfilled promises. There is language of kingship, rescue, and divine purpose. There is joy among the humble and alarm among the powerful.
The point is not simply that Isa was special in a general sense. The point is that the story invites the reader to ask: What kind of person enters the world like this?
The response of people matters
Another important pattern appears immediately: people do not all respond to Isa in the same way.
Some receive the news with humility and wonder. Others feel threatened.
That pattern will continue throughout the Injil. Isa does not leave people neutral for long.
Implication last — What might this mean for you?
You have now read the opening passages and considered how the Injil introduces Isa.
Do not hurry past the beginning. First impressions matter. The Injil begins this way for a reason.
- What stands out most to you in these birth accounts?
- Why do you think the Injil gives so much attention to the coming of Isa?
- What do the names, titles, and announcements suggest about his identity?
- Why do you think some people welcomed his coming while others were troubled by it?
- If Isa is introduced this way from the very beginning, what does that suggest about how seriously you should consider him?
Continuing the Journey
This first step in the journey begins with the coming of Isa.
Before the Injil shows his teachings, miracles, conflict, death, and resurrection, it first asks us to notice how he enters the story.
The question is already being raised: Who is Isa?
➡ Next Article: Isa's Early Years - Hidden but not Ordinary
↩︎ Return to: The Journey of Isa — A Guided Discovery through the Injil
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