FACTS AND THOUGHTS

 
LESSON THREE - THE BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD OF JESUS
Luke, Chapter Two
 
Now Mary and Joseph lived in the village of Nazareth, up north in the area of The Land known as The Galilee; and as was well-known, "Out of Galilee there ariseth no prophet." (John 7:52.) On the other hand, some eight hundred years before, the prophet Micah had predicted that the Messiah should be born in Bethlehem, saying, "But thou, Bethlehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2; see also Matthew 2:5-6). How could this take place?
 
But hundreds of miles to the west, the Roman Emperor conceived an idea. (Or rather, should we not say that it was God Who implanted in the mind of Augustus an idea?). It was that he should have a census taken of all the peoples in his empire. He would thus know the manpower strength of his domain, and also could calculate more precisely the tax revenue that might accrue.
 
We all know the story: Joseph and Mary, (engaged but not yet married,) traveled at least 75 miles from Nazareth in the north down to Bethlehem, about 7 miles below Jerusalem. How did they travel? Artists have pictured Mary riding on a donkey, but that is not stated in the Bible. Perhaps she had to walk all the way. (We must remember that God had Jesus enter into the world in absolutely the most humble of circumstances, in order that no-one could say that His environment contributed to His success.)
 
When they arrived in Bethlehem, or soon thereafter, Mary began her childbirth labour, so time was critical. Our western tradition (without any Biblical basis in fact) pictures the birth in a stable. Tradition in and near Bethlehem has Jesus born in a cave: a grotto. The hill on which the village of Bethlehem is situated is mostly composed of sandstone, and over the centuries the wind has hollowed out numerous small caves in the hillside. Jerome (who lived in the second century a.d., and who translated the Bible into the Latin Vulgate) apparently started the grotto-cave theory. But neither is there any scriptural basis for this idea. It is entirely possible that Jesus was born right out in the open, under the stars. The relatively poor circumstances of Mary and Joseph might suggest this.
 
A manger is a feeding trough for animals. It need not be, and probably was not, indoors, but rather out in the open. Furthermore, there is no reason whatever to believe that Jesus was born in December. Bethlehem is at a 3500 foot elevation, (about equivalent to Gold Run on the drive from Sacramento up to Donner Summit, in California), and shepherds would not be with their sheep all night at that elevation in Winter. Instead, it was customary to take their flocks down to the Jordan Valley by the Dead Sea (1300 feet below sea level) for the winter. A very likely time might have been September. Furthermore, the wise men were not present at the time of the birth. They did not arrive until some considerable time later. (More on that shortly.)
 
We stress these iconoclasms to emphasize that we must read exactly what the Scriptures say, and not read into the record what is only our imagination. True, there may have been a stable or a cave, the shepherds may have been there in winter, and so on: but the point is, the Bible does not say. In this instance, it may not be important, but the lesson is to learn to read what the Bible says, exactly, and not interpose our own imagination as interpretation.
 
But the angel did appear to the shepherds, and the heavenly host did praise God. However, it does not say that they "sang": only that they praised God in unison. -- And when the shepherds had searched and searched and found the little family, others had gathered and heard the shepherds tell their story. -- Then notice that Mary treasured up all these things in her heart.
 
Upon eight days thereafter, the Holy Infant was circumcised, and, as per the angel's instructions, He was named "Y'shua" in Hebrew (a word meaning "salvation"), "Yay-soos" in Greek, "Jesus" in our English language.
 
After that, more than another month passed. Then Jesus was taken to Jerusalem, seven miles away, to the temple, to be dedicated to God. When a male child was born into an Hebrew family, the law of Moses required that 40 days (almost 6 weeks) were set aside for the mother's "purification." Then a dedication of a firstborn child to the Lord was to be made: a lamb and a pigeon were to be offered. But if the parents were too poor to afford a lamb, a second pigeon was to be substituted. (See Leviticus 12:1-8.) Mary and Joseph used two pigeons.
 
While at the temple in Jerusalem for this dedication, two individuals came on the scene. First mentioned was Simeon, an old man living in Jerusalem. Four things were said about him: (1) he was righteous (see Genesis 15:6); (2) he was devout, in true self-dedication to God; (3) he was hoping for the coming Messiah and His blessings; and (4) the Holy Spirit was upon him. This Holy Spirit had previously assured him that he would live to see the Messiah.
 
Notice Simeon's faith: he took the Baby Jesus into his arms, and thanked God for letting him see the Messiah. (Luke 2:28-32). Observe the impression this made on Joseph and Mary: they were marveling at the words of Simeon. Then the old man spoke directly to them, uttering prophecies concerning Messiah's career (2:34-35.)
 
Then came old Anna, probably one hundred or more years old. (Her virginity was until she was at least 12, and maybe 15. After she married, her husband lived 7 years after their wedding. Then she was a widow for 84 years. (This would have been a total of 103 to 106 years.) When she saw Jesus, she gave thanks to God and began telling about Him to all who would listen. (Luke 2:36-38.)
 
How much do we tell about Jesus coming into our lives to all who will listen and hear? The shepherds did; Simeon did; Anna did. Why not we?
 
After this, says Luke, the family returned to Nazareth. (vs. 39). But wait a minute: what about the wise men? Where do they fit in?
 
Obviously the coming of the wise men took place between verses 38 and 39. Their story is told by Matthew. (Matthew 2:1-22.) Of significance are two statements: Jesus and family were now living in an house (Matt. 2:11). That very night an angel warned Joseph to take the family to Egypt, which he did at once (Matt. 2:13-15). Therefore the events herein described by Matthew had to have taken place between verses 38 and 39 of Luke chapter two.
 
All of this recital by Luke seems to stress several things: (1) the birth of Jesus was special, for He was special; (2) God sent His angels to announce the birth, to any who would hear; (3) the shepherds and Simeon and Anna all proclaimed Jesus to be the Messiah; (4) all things in the life of Jesus (including circumcision and dedication) were according to, and in fulfillment of, the Law of Moses. It was written that "Messiah is the end of the law unto righteousness." (Romans 10:4), and this He did by fulfilling the law, completing the law. That is why, when we are "in Christ," we are free from the requirements of the law. He fulfilled it, so that we Gentiles do not have to do so.
 
Finally, to complete the record of Jesus before His entering upon His work, we must needs notice the episode when Jesus was a boy of twelve. (Was it His bar-mitzvah, as some have suggested?) It was the time of the passover, which Joseph and Mary attended annually. On this occasion, Jesus remained in Jerusalem with the teachers of the Law, entering into dialogue with them. It took Mary and Joseph three days to find Jesus. Then when Mary began to upbraid Jesus, saying of Joseph "your father" (vs. 48.), notice the reply of Jesus, "my Father's business." This was already the acknowledgment by Jesus that His person and origin were different. Yet observe the obedience of Jesus: "he was subject unto them." Here we see Jesus perfectly solving the eternal problem of youth: how to reconcile youth's growing sense of independence, along with one's filial responsibility of submission to parental discipline.
 
What does all this teach us? Several lessons about Jesus, then about ourselves:
 
(1) That Jesus was divine.
 
(2) His name means "salvation."
 
(3) God attested the birth by display in the heavens: the testimony of the host of angels. (See also Psalm 19:1f.)
 
(4) Spirit-led persons prophesied concerning Him. (The testimony of the Holy Spirit.)
 
(5) He perfectly, completely, fulfilled the Law. (The testimony of the Law.)
 
(6) We must see, believe in, both His divine origin and His perfect manhood.
 
(7) As those who saw Him told all around them about Him, we should be more forward in telling others about Him. (Our testimony.)
 
 
But we are told so little about the beginning and early years of the life of Jesus. When Jesus Himself started His public career, then we can see the true, perfect, manhood - a manhood which is both our example and source of our strength to live as God intended, in Him. But this begins with the next lesson.
 
 
QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW, STUDY, AND DISCUSSION
 
1. Review of preceding text: What facts, brought out in the preceding discussion, have been helpful to you in appreciating the Divine Being who was Jesus?
 
The following questions are based on Luke Chapter Three:
 
2. As you read Luke 3:2-14, what most impresses you about the preaching of John the Baptist, and the response of those hearing him?
 
3. If John's preaching was for baptism upon repentance, since Jesus was Himself without sin, what do you understand was the reason for Him to be baptized?
 
4. Jesus was human. When one of us engages in an important spiritual activity, what are we thinking about? It is written that when Jesus was baptized, He was praying. Does the example of Jesus speak to us here? Discuss.
 
5. Although the preaching of John the Baptist was so effective, why do you suppose God had him removed from office, and so abruptly?
 
6. Since Jesus was only "supposed" to be the son of Joseph, why was it necessary to list the genealogy all the way back to Adam? Discuss.
 
7. Try to memorize Luke 3:4-6 (or Isaiah 40:3-5.)
 
 
 
 
--- Norman L. MacLeod Jr.
 

INDEX