Most people are at least passably familiar with the Christmas Story in Luke 2, but they probably aren't aware of the story behind the story. So, to quote the inimitable Paul Harvey, this is "The Rest of the Story." Feel free to share this with your family and friends this Christmas Eve, and help them understand the incredible significance of this singular event more richly.
The Gospel of Luke was written by Luke the Evangelist, not Luke the Apostle as many suppose. Luke the Evangelist was a physician, and a disciple of Paul. In fact, he accompanied Paul on at least one missionary journey, and was with Paul in Rome when Paul was under house arrest. Luke was an intellectual, and a highly educated, articulate, and erudite leader. He authored both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, which were originally intended as a 2-volume "companion set."
Both books were written to "most excellent Theophilus." Theophilus was most likely not an actual person's name, but a title of honor given to someone of great status or intellectual prowess. "Most excellent" was a salutation give almost exclusively to Roman Nobility... and the best guess is that they refer to a man named Titus Flavius Sabinus, the Prefect (Mayor) of Rome, and the big brother to then-future emporer Vespasian. Sabinus' sister-in-law is believed to have converted to Christianity, and thus Sabinus protected Paul during his house arrest in Rome. It is most likely to him that these works were addressed.
So now that we know a bit more about the background, let's explore the story itself.
"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 this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city." (Luke 2:1-3)
The word "taxed" here is an error... the word in Greek is "apographos," which means "enrolled," or "registered..." not "taxed." Later scribes would look back, assume that the census was for the purpose of taxation (which it was, in a minor sense), and replaced "registered" with "taxed," presumably for clarity.
The word "taxed" here is an error... the word in Greek is "apographos," which means "enrolled," or "registered..." not "taxed." Later scribes would look back, assume that the census was for the purpose of taxation (which it was, in a minor sense), and replaced "registered" with "taxed," presumably for clarity.
Caesar Augustus' real name was Gaias Octavius, and he reigned over Rome for 41 years... from 27BC to 14AD. Augustus was Julius
Caesar's grand-nephew, who Caesar adopted as his son. The Roman Senate
gave him the name "Augustus," which literally means "worthy of
reverence." He was a conscientious and benevolent man, a magnificent emperor, relatively. The Roman Empire enjoyed Pax Romana under his leadership... Roman Peace. He was a religious reformer, of sorts, and was convinced that the allegiance and devotion to the Greco-Roman pantheon of Gods was what made the Empire great, and was deeply concerned about the foreign "mystery" religions that his people had wandered off after... so he remodeled and rebuilt over 82 temples in Rome alone, and appointed himself Pontificus Maximus... the High Priest and leader of the State Cult.
Augustus was very concerned about the state of the Empire, particularly whether it was growing, or waning. His concern was grave enough that he initiated 3 different censuses during his reign... 24BC, 8BC, and 14AD. The purpose of the census was not so much to tax as it was to see what the birth rate was doing throughout the Empire. On one occasion, Augustus went to the Forum, separated the married men from the bachelors, and took the bachelors aside, and chewed them out for failing to do their duty n marrying and raising children. He made promiscuity a crime, took away the inheritance rights of bachelors, and gave rewards, recognition, and incentives to those who had more than 3 children.
It is interesting that Luke's narrative mentions Quirinius, who was filling as Governor of Syria on a temporary basis during this time, after which he became the permanent prefect of Syria around 6-7AD. He was what was called a "New Man," meaning that he achieved his position on his own merits, and not on the basis of who his family wasy.
"And
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into
Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he
was of the house and lineage of David:)" (Luke 2:4)
The fact that Luke is spending so much time describing the geography of the area is another clue that leans towards Titus Flavius Sabinus as the one whom this Gospel is addressed to... he would not have been familiar with the area, where a local Jewish man would have.
There were actually two different "Bethlehems" in the area at this time... one was several miles northwest of Nazareth, which was in the Northern Kingdom. The Bethlehem which was the City of David was located several miles Southwest of Jerusalem, in the Southern Kingdom of Judea. and 94 miles South of Nazareth... about a 3-day journey.
Which poses an interesting question... if Bethlehem was SOUTH of Nazareth, why does Luke say that Joseph "Went UP from Galilee?" Very simple. Bethlehem was 2300 feet in elevation... and it was a climb to get there from Nazareth... therefore "going up" to Bethlehem was an entirely appropriate way to put it.
"To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child." (Luke 2:5)
There are two errors in this sentence alone... first, it should be "registered" instead of "taxed," and secondly, it should be simply "his wife," instead of "his espoused wife." The Greek here means "engaged" instead of "married"... when Mary was 9 months pregnant... a fact that would have been a massive scandal if they had merely been engaged, as the bride must be a virgin when the marriage is consummated.
The fact that Luke is spending so much time describing the geography of the area is another clue that leans towards Titus Flavius Sabinus as the one whom this Gospel is addressed to... he would not have been familiar with the area, where a local Jewish man would have.
There were actually two different "Bethlehems" in the area at this time... one was several miles northwest of Nazareth, which was in the Northern Kingdom. The Bethlehem which was the City of David was located several miles Southwest of Jerusalem, in the Southern Kingdom of Judea. and 94 miles South of Nazareth... about a 3-day journey.
Which poses an interesting question... if Bethlehem was SOUTH of Nazareth, why does Luke say that Joseph "Went UP from Galilee?" Very simple. Bethlehem was 2300 feet in elevation... and it was a climb to get there from Nazareth... therefore "going up" to Bethlehem was an entirely appropriate way to put it.
"To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child." (Luke 2:5)
There are two errors in this sentence alone... first, it should be "registered" instead of "taxed," and secondly, it should be simply "his wife," instead of "his espoused wife." The Greek here means "engaged" instead of "married"... when Mary was 9 months pregnant... a fact that would have been a massive scandal if they had merely been engaged, as the bride must be a virgin when the marriage is consummated.
"And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered." (Luke 2:6)
Contrary to what some have thought, Mary did not give birth along the way. She and Joseph had arrived in Bethlehem, and had been there for some unknown period of time when she went into labor. Also contrary to common belief, there was no "inn." The Greek word for "inn," as used in the story of the Good Samaritan, was not used here... instead, the Greek word used means "Guest room/Dining Room." Bethlehem at the time of the census, as a dirt-clod of a town... a very, very small and insignificant village (except, of course, for its' history). The inhabitants were very poor, and there was a huge influx of people traveling to be registered in the census. Traditionally, travelers would stay with relatives, even distant relatives, for lodging if possible. More than likely, that was the situation here.
In Bethlehem, there were a large number of caves in the hillsides.. and modern archaeology has discovered that many of those caves had been turned in to homes, which were built into the hillside. In standard Jewish fashion, homes consisted of an "upper room," which was a combination guest room and dining room (think "Last Supper), and the first floor was the kitchen/living area. It was also where the animals were kept when it was cold, since the kitchen would be the warmest room in the house. In those days, there were no separate out-buildings for the animals... they were kept in the same building as the family.
It is entirely likely that when Joseph and Mary arrived, the "guest room," or upper room of their relatives' house was full to capacity... so they had to stay on the first floor, where the animals may have been brought in from the cold for protection. The "manger" was most likely made out of wood or stone, but in reality, was probably a hollowed-out log.
"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:7)
When Luke says "she," he wasn't kidding. In those days, especially in poor conditions, the mother-to-be delivered her own baby. The husbands typically did not assist with childbirth, nor were there most likely any physicians or midwives around to assist her. SHE brought forth the baby, and SHE wrapped it in swadding clothes... and SHE laid him in a manger. Most likely before Joseph ever laid eyes on the Savior.
Swaddling clothes were the ancient version of Pampers and onesies... they were long strips of cloth which were wound around the baby to keep them warm.
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." (Luke 2:8)
Shepherds in Bethlehem only "abided" with their flocks in the fields after Passover, until what we celebrate as Fall, around Halloween-Thanksgiving... which means that the real birth of the Savior occurred in late March or April.
This is an appropriate place to stop and contemplate the magnificent symbolism in this whole scenario. The birth of Christ, the Savior of the World, took place in the dark of night... in the darkness of an apostasy and lack of divine revelation for literally generations. Rather than come to a castle or mansion, the King of Kings came to what Micah referred to as "little among the thousands of Judah."
The one thing that Bethlehem had was its history. King David was born and raised there, and died there. Ruth was from there, and Rachel was buried there... which is why she would be "weeping for her children" when Herod's terrible edict would take the lives of all male children under two in the midst of his fit of jealous rage. Flocks of sheep had been raised on the hillsides of Bethlehem for thousands of years. It was there that David defended his flock from the lion and the bear.
As with almost everything in this story, the significance of the shepherds in this narrative is not forgotten. Christ would be known as the Great Shepherd, and his followers as His "sheep." Being a shepherd, while a lowly and low-paying profession, was a spiritually significant one, being one of the most obvious metaphors for the coming Messiah.
Sometimes we have a difficult time today understanding why, because our paradigm is different from those in ancient times. Today, we have "sheep herders," which are hirelings... the sheep are not theirs. They do not know them. If you went up in the mountains in Utah today to see a sheep herder, you would most likely see an old man on a horse at the rear of the flock... asleep... while a bunch of yappy dogs did the heavy lifting in actually herding the sheep.
In Christ's day, it was different. There were no "sheep herders." Only "shepherds." And the difference was immense. Shepherds knew their sheep by name... they spent time with them, they were their sheep, and the sheep knew them. Shepherds LED their sheep... and the sheep followed them. If the shepherd turned left, so did the flock. If they turned right, they sheep followed. Theirs was a relationship of trust and love... which makes it such a stunningly accurate metaphor for our relationship with the Savior.
"And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid." (Luke 2:9)
At the same time the prophet Micah was prophesying that Christ would be born in Bethlehem, he also prophesied that the first ones to know about it would be the "Tower of the Flock," or "Migdal eder," which turns out to be a small shepherd's village a stone's throw from the hills of Bethlehem... it was here that the great Announcement of the Savior's birth was given. Not to the High Priest. Not to the noblemen. Not to the Pharisees, Sadducees, or Scribes. Not to the Mayor of Jerusalem. Not even to Caesar Augustus. But to a group of lowly, simple shepherds who were, quite frankly, scared spitless at the display.
"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-12)
Not just any joy. Not just the joy of a wonderfully warm Spring night. GREAT joy... the kind of joy that is felt deep down to the core of your very soul... the kind of joy that you cannot keep from shouting from the rooftops... the kind of job that brings you to your knees in tears of gratitude. The kind of joy that "surpasseth all understanding." The promised day had come! The shepherds, among all of the rest of the House of Israel, had been preparing for this moment for thousands of years!!!
"And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." (Luke 2:12)
Throughout the Old Testament, or as the Jews knew it, the "Law and the Prophets," God had given signs to the people as visual reminders of the significant events and promises that He made to them. The rainbow was one... a visual reminder of the promise that God made to Israel that He would never again send a flood to wipe out mankind and cleanse the Earth.
This practice, with which the Jews were well aware, explains why the Pharisees and Sadducees were so interested in a "sign" when they challenged the Savior. That was their paradigm. That was how God "proved" to them what He said was binding. To them, it wasn't about faith. It was about "I'll believe it when I see [the sign]."
And God certainly didn't disappoint. He gave them a sign.. that they would find a baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Now. To those of us who have grown up with this story, we wonder what was special about that. "Big deal. Everybody knows that Christ was laid in a manger." But in the days of Christ, this was unheard of. It was like being told to go to your great-aunt's house, and there you would find an elephant in the living room. It was that kind of ridiculous.
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:13-14)
As if the skies had turned into a huge stage, the Greek here describes it as an "army," the number of heavenly host was so large. And they appeared SHOUTING, not singing... and what they said was very significant.
"Glory to God in the highest." In the Highest WHAT? If there were only one heaven, as many today believe, this does not make sense. There would be no "highest." There would only be "heaven." "Highest" is a term of contrast or comparison. It means "higher than," or "the most high one can go."
For a clue, we look to the New Testament, which teaches us in the epistles of Paul that there are at least 3 "heavens," as he reports being "caught up to the third heaven." The Savior Himself said that "in my father's house are MANY mansions..."
Could there be another meaning, though, even from this?
For a clue, we look to the New Testament, which teaches us in the epistles of Paul that there are at least 3 "heavens," as he reports being "caught up to the third heaven." The Savior Himself said that "in my father's house are MANY mansions..."
Could there be another meaning, though, even from this?
Scholars now know that the ancient Israelites believed from before the 1st Temple Period through the First Century Christian period, that there were other divine beings than God who had become partakers of the Divine Nature.
The Old Testament bears this out, as it speaks of the "Sons of God" who shouted for Joy before the foundations of this world were laid. The writer of Deuteronomy describes God as the "Lord of Lords, the God of Gods, a GREAT God," in keeping with this core Israelite belief in Monolatry or Henotheism. The ancient Jews believed, as can be seen in the praise of the heavenly host, in a holy council of gods, over which God the Father reigned supreme.
"God in the Highest" is a qualifier which refers, quite simply, to God the Father, our Father in Heaven. The "Great" God. The Only True God. The only God with which we have to do, as we praise His Only Begotten Son, whom He sent into the world to save us from our sins.
The last phrase, as rendered in our scriptures is incorrect as well. The earliest manuscripts render it as follows,
"And on earth, peace to men of goodwill." Another way of stating it is "And on earth, peace to men on whom God's favor rests." Quite a different message than the one we have, and one worth pondering.
The angels disappeared, and with hearts full of unspeakable joy, the shepherds found the baby as promised, and then scattered to announce the Royal Birth.
"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)
Jesus came to fulfill the law, not to ignore it... and so we see even in his infancy, the Savior obeyed the very law that He gave...
"And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;" (Luke 2:22)
Jesus came to fulfill the law, not to ignore it... and so we see even in his infancy, the Savior obeyed the very law that He gave...
"And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;" (Luke 2:22)
Under Jewish custom, women were "unclean" for 40 days after giving birth, and could not enter the temple. Thus, after a little under 6 weeks, Mary was once again "clean," and her purification was complete, and she could present the Christ child at the temple.
"(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." (Luke 2:24-25)
First-born sons were very special in Jewish culture. By law, they were the Lord's. They were to serve in the temple all their lives. Fortunately, Jewish law had designated the Tribe of Levi to be "pinch hitters" for the first-born males, and took on that responsibility to serve in the temple for all of those in Israel. The condition was that a sacrificial offering be made of two turtledoves, or two young pidgeons. Once these offerings were made at the temple, the first-born son was relieved of his legal requirement, and the Levites took on that responsibility for him.
And now we arrive at what is, perhaps, the most spiritually significant part of the birth narrative...
"And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him." (Luke 2:26-33)
Simeon had been waiting for the "consolation of Israel," Consolation meant "comfort." The Savior was to "comfort" Israel in its afflictions.
Notice who recognized Jesus as the Christ... He was not recognized by the High Priest, or the Pharisees, or the Sadducees, or the Scribes, or the great men of the day... he was met by a humble servant of God, who labored in the Temple. Simeon had been promised by none other than Christ Himself through the Holy Ghost that he [Simeon] would not die until he had seen the Christ child. In obedience to the Spirit's promptings, he made his way, being very old, to the temple, which was most likely a great sacrifice for him. Simeon was almost surely a Levite, and would have been one of the ones to receive the Christ Child at his presenting, although the narrative seems to indicate that this was not his time to serve.
Simeon's touching statement, "Now lettest thy servant depart in peace.. for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou prepared before the face of all people" stands as the ultimate synopsis of what the Savior, through His atonement, has done for us. Because of His atoning sacrifice, we can now "depart in peace" from this world of sorrow, for we have "seen thy salvation" in the Only Begotten Son of Almighty God. He has conquered death. He has paved the way for us to return home to that God who gave us life. Indeed, "Glory to God in the Highest!"
Simeon concludes with a solemn prophesy of the Savior's life, and how it would affect his mother:
"And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2:34-35)
At this point, Mary had no idea what the pinnacle of Christ's life would bring, nor was she aware of the Atoning Sacrifice that He would make for all of mankind. She had no idea that she would have her very heart ripped out of her chest, as it would seem, in having to watch her first-born son hang on a cross, tortured unto death. "Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also," a prophetic allusion to the sword that would pierce the battered body of the Son of God.
Finally, "In the mouth of two or three witnesses, shall every word be established."
"And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth." (Luke 2:36-39)
Allow me the privilege of adding my own personal witness to that of those much more worthy than I... He Lives. Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior of the world. I know that He is my Savior and Redeemer.
"Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth, peace to men of goodwill."
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