The circumcision and naming of the infant Jesus on the 8th day is parallel to similar events that Luke records about the birth of John the Baptizer, Luke 1:59 and following. This ritual marks the male child as a descendant of Abraham, and also as the son of the father - in this case, Joseph. Needless to say, in a patriarchal culture this marking was significant and crucial for securing the infant and his mother's place in the community.
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Luke's historical details for the birth of Jesus are problematic.
Luke 1:5, "In the days of King Herod," who died in 4 BC.
Luke 2:1, "In those days a decree went out from Emperor (or Caesar) Augustus that all the world should be registered," places the birth anytime between 27 BC to 14 AD, the length of the very long reign of Augustus.
Luke 2:2, "This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria," places the date at 6 or 7 AD.
Most scholars agree that Luke and Matthew's reference to "In the days of King Herod," is the most reliable reference and that Jesus was born sometime before Herod's death in 4 BC.
Continue reading "Luke 2:1-20, aka: Luke 2:1-14, (15-20) or Luke 2:(1-7), 8-20" »
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Note: For Advent, I am including comments on the First and Second Testament passages.
Isaiah 64:1-9
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This lament is a good place to begin Advent.
Like most laments in the Bible, it begins with a deeply felt sense of God’s absence:
O that you would tear open the heavens and come down!
Mountains would see you and shake with fear. And certainly our enemies would tremble. (Unlike now, where they oppress us with impunity.)
Then there is the re-collection of times past:
From ages past no one has heard, … a God like you.
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The history of the Church's reflection on the stories of Jesus' birth is probably as complicated and mysterious as the stories themselves. It is probably impossible for us to hear the birth stories - to "get" them - with same ears - the same understanding - as the first hearers would have.
For one thing, we need to remind ourselves that for many centuries the birthday of Jesus was not a major celebration in the church. The church does not exist because Jesus was born; it exists because Jesus was crucified, died, was buried, and rose again on the third day. Holy Week and Easter Sunday are the founding festivals of the church.
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Note: For Advent, I am including comments on the First and Second Testament passages.
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
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For we Christians, our ears need to perk up especially at Verse 16:
This promise was made to King David at a time of peace and unity, but it came to be remembered most intensely in later centuries during times of defeat and exile. The “throne of David” was literally, actually destroyed. The descendants of David were overthrown. But if – since – God is trustworthy (and if God is NOT trustworthy who can we trust?), whatever is happening now cannot last because God will keep God’s promise to David. David’s throne will be established, and a descendant of David will once again be King.
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Note: For Advent, I am including comment on the First and Second Testament passages.
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
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This passage is from “third” Isaiah, chapters 56 through 66, and so is written at the time of the restoration of the Jews exiled to Babylon who were now allowed to return to Jerusalem.
Verses 1-4 is the passage read by Jesus at the outset of his ministry – see Luke 4:18-19.
Note two crucial and recurring theme in scriptures:
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Note: For Advent I am commenting on both the First and Second Testament passages.
Isaiah 40:1-11
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The Isaiah text of “Comfort” comes at a time when Jerusalem has been conquered by the Babylonians. The temple destroyed, the walls of the city levelled, and many taken off into captivity in Babylon. This is what is being referred to in verse 2, “she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”
The “wilderness” in verse 3 is a reference to the actual landscape surrounding Jerusalem, and also to the 40 years the Israelites spent in the wilderness after fleeing captivity Egypt. It was in this first wilderness experience that the glory of God was revealed to Moses, and the 10 Commandments were given. And so once again, the glory of God will be revealed, but this time “all people shall see it together.” There will be a universal – not just Moses – recognition of the glory of the God of Israel.
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It is difficult to be confident of the actual historicity of the events recorded in Matthew and Luke about the birth of Jesus.
Like our own family stories, they are recalled by second and third generations as a way of informing responses to questions of their identity: Who are we? How did we get to be here? Who were our ancestors and how were their lives formed? What events in their lives resulted in us being the people we have become? What honour and mandate have we inherited from our ancestors? What honour and mandate must we bestow on our descendants?
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Verse 1:18 - "engaged" is misleading. Mary and Joseph have been betrothed - that is, solemnly contracted by their families to be married at some later date.
- "she was found to be with child" is a curious use of the passive voice. Who has done the finding? The text gives no indication. The fact that Mary is pregnant before she and Joseph have married is shameful in the extreme - both for Mary and her family. That the child is "from the Holy Spirit" confuses the situation since that is a great honour. In hindsight, it is the honour that has won the day. However, at the time, and in the actual circumstance, it is Mary's shame that guides Joseph's initial response.
We're doing a Christmas Pageant this week, so I haven't gotten to a text this week. But I have just finished posting a brilliant sermon from my friend, George Hermanson at www.georgehermanson.com.
George starts with an observation about how waiting helps shape our emotions, helps us to sift and sort healthy from unhealthy ones; and then how Joy is the antidote that overcomes the false comfort that fear would have us live with. Check it out.
