As Jesus Walked: Christ Revealed in the Synoptic Gospels, #3- Jesus' Birth and Early Years

(This post is part of a series. For previous posts in the series please see #1, #2.)

If you've been reading the Bible very long or even just attending church regularly, the passages we are looking at today will have a ring of familiarity. This is, after all, the Christmas story! It's tempting when reading such a familiar passage to skim through it, assuming we know the story and the doctrinal truths included in it. That's why I have found a framework or lens for a study to be helpful at times, slowing me down and making me ask more questions as I observe the text. I hope you find these nuggets as rich and encouraging as I did!

The Birth of Jesus 

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in 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 worship Him." When Herod the king heard [this,] he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 'AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'" Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found [Him,] report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him." After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over [the place] where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned [by God] in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. (Matthew 2:1-12 NASB95)

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were [some] shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "This [will be] a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds [began] saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.  (Luke 2:1-20 NASB95)

We see in these birth narratives far more than just the historical record of Jesus' birth. Our pristine nativity scenes and children's plays capture the beauty of the moment, but the Word of God goes much deeper. As we read these narratives, we see a series of people who encountered Jesus and responded in various ways: 

• The shepherds realized the revelation was truly from God, and quickly obeyed. They responded in worship and proclamation. 
• The magi recognized Jesus for who He was - giving Him gifts befitting a king - and responded with worship. 
• Mary responded in a way every mother understands - she treasured everything in her heart and pondered it. Although it was the Son of God laying in that manger, Mary's heart responded with a mother's love - a bond that would persist to the cross. 

Let's drill down a bit into the magi. 

Matthew obviously wasn't writing to impress anyone. By all accounts the most Jewish of the Gospels and likely written for a group of Jewish Christians, Matthew had nothing to gain, and much to lose, by reminding his audience of the pagan Gentile magicians who traveled far to worship Jesus. Coming as it does on the heels of the shocking genealogy of chapter 1, Matthew's worship emphasis flies in the face of Jewish notions of the day: Hold those Gentiles who do keep the Law and become "God-fearers" at a distance. No closer than the Court of the Gentiles - that was the practice. Never mind that the Law prescribed that the Gentile who adopted fully the religion of Israel fell under the same religious laws as Israel (see for example Leviticus 17:8) and that Solomon had asked God to hear their prayers (1 Kings 8:41-43). First century Jewish religious leaders excluded Gentiles. Matthew gives them a special place in his Gospel.

The parallels between the magi's authentic worship and Herod's selfish request to worship are obvious. What's less obvious is how shocking the magi's visit really must have sounded on first century ears. Writing to believers who were still learning how to be the church, what it meant to have Jew and Gentile together in one body, Matthew tells us something significant about worship - something shocking.

Look at Matthew's story again. First, the magi were, well, magi. They were basically astrologers. They observed the stars and in this case, saw something unique. Second, the magi hadn't studied the Scriptures closely - they were "in the neighborhood", going to the capital city of Jerusalem, but didn't know that the prophecy for Messiah was that he would be born in Bethlehem. Finally, they don't have offerings that would normally be considered acceptable - no grain, no animals, no blood. They weren't even priests! They would likely not be allowed even in the Court of the Gentiles and would never see the holy of holies.

What they had was an earnest desire to see Jesus. Look again at the only words recorded from their lips, in verse 2: "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him."

This is worship?

Oh, absolutely. And this is where Matthew has much to teach us. He uses the more liturgical term for worship here - proskyneo. It's the Greek word used in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) for "worship" or "bow down" - the formal worship in the temple, the bowing down before visible majesty. Interestingly, this word is rarely used in the New Testament. Only in the Gospels (where Jesus was physically present), Revelation (where the throne of God is present), Acts (where the temple was still a place of "worship"), and only twice in the epistles, both referencing the presence and power of God. The New Testament favors the word latreuo for worship - a word meaning serve, perhaps seen most clearly in Romans 12:1: "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship."

Why the change in emphasis? John Piper fleshes this out beautifully in the revised edition of Let the Nations be Glad (a must-read for missions enthusiasts). He draws from John 4 to show that "in the New Testament worship is significantly de-institutionalized, de-localized, de-externalized." He summarizes:

In Himself He would fulfill everything the temple stood for, especially the "place" where believers meet God. He diverted attention away from worship as a localized activity with outward forms and pointed toward a personal, spiritual experience with Himself at the center. Worship does not have to have a building, a priesthood, and a sacrificial system. It has to have the risen Jesus. (p. 217)

The magi didn't know much, but they knew they were looking for Jesus. Matthew uses the formal word for worship,  as they bow down before His visible presence, but the heart and soul of Jesus' later teaching to the Samaritan woman is pictured here with these magi: their shocking worship was just what He came to bring about. He came to create worshippers from every tribe, tongue, nation, and people group.

None of this is to diminish the role of Scripture and sound doctrine. Regular readers of this blog know how much I emphasize in-depth study of God's Word. Even the magi were sent in the specific right direction (to Bethlehem) by God's Word, not their astrological readings. But I believe we can learn from Matthew that God will meet people where they are, and when they sincerely are seeking Jesus, He will make sure to get them to Him. And He will welcome their worship with open arms as they continue to learn more about Him.

We often treat worship like a task, salvation as a transaction. Matthew's story of the magi reminds us that at the heart of worship lies a heart that seeks to find Jesus. And Matthew lays the groundwork here for a salvation that is a lifestyle - a process that starts, grows, and bears fruit as we continually are drawn to "Him who has been born King of the Jews".

The Dedication in the Temple and Flight to Egypt

After the visit of the magi, Scripture records two key events: Jesus' dedication in the temple in accordance with the Law, and Joseph taking his family to Egypt to protect Jesus from Herod's destructive plans and to fulfill a prophecy. These divergent stories in Matthew and Luke have caused confusion and raised questions in the minds of some readers. How could Jesus be taken to the temple if He was in Egypt? How could He be taken to Egypt if He was taken to Nazareth? This is where I believe that the different purposes of the books can be helpful, as well as remembering Luke's uniqueness as the chronological Gospel.

First, only Matthew records the Magi and flight to Egypt. Why? Remember, he is writing (sometimes polemically) to Jews. He wants to make sure Jesus is recognized as King of the Jews as well as a Savior for all peoples, not just Jews. He also is very focused on pointing out ways Jesus fulfilled prophecy. 

Second, Luke is interested in telling the story of Jesus as a light for the Gentiles, and of the supernatural work of God in His ministry. The references to the Holy Spirit throughout these early chapters of Luke demonstrate Luke's emphasis from the beginning, and this comes out in the dedication in the Temple. Luke isn't focused as much on their fulfillment of the Law (though he points that out) as he is on the fact that God Himself has now entered His temple, and the Holy Spirit bears witness through Simeon's prophecy. 

Luke's reference to "returning to Nazareth" doesn't necessarily mean they immediately returned, nor does it mean that they arrived at Jerusalem from Nazareth (that would make no sense, actually, since Bethlehem was so close and Mary would not have been able to make a long journey just 8 days after giving birth). Matthew actually adds more insight to the story about their return to Nazareth, along with another miraculous warning in a dream. 

If the Magi did not appear at the time of Jesus' birth, but some time (within two years) later, then the order of events was likely: Jesus' birth and visit by the shepherds; Dedication in the Temple (returning to Bethlehem); Visit by the Magi; Joseph's dream & Herod's destructive plan (illustrated by the murder of children recorded by Matthew); Flight to Egypt; Return from Egypt and settling in Nazareth. That is the order I have included the passages below.

And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was [then] called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "EVERY [firstborn] MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD"), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, "A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS." And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, "Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation, Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel." And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this [Child] is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed-- and a sword will pierce even your own soul--to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with [her] husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. At that very moment she came up and [began] giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:21-38 NASB95) 

Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. He remained there until the death of Herod. [This was] to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON." Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH, WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING, RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN; AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE." But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, "Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead." So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned [by God] in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. [This was] to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "He shall be called a Nazarene." (Matthew 2:13-23 NASB95)  

When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. (Luke 2:39-40 NASB95)

Again, these passages show people's responses to encountering Jesus: 

• Simeon saw Jesus as an answer to a promise from God. He realized He was the Messiah, and responded in worship and praise, speaking prophetic words over Jesus and Mary (another type of proclamation).
• Anna recognized Jesus for who He was, responding in worship and proclamation. 
• Herod, however, responded with anger expressed in murderous intentions. He didn't deny the existence of Jesus, but perceived Him as a direct threat and so rejected Him, killing untold numbers of innocent children. 

The Boyhood of Jesus

We know precious little information about Jesus' boyhood, which has led to a lot of speculation and spurious writings over the years. The limited scope of Scripture on this subject is quite significant, though, and provides ample information for us to study.

Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He became twelve, they went up [there] according to the custom of the Feast; and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day's journey; and they [began] looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You." And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's [house?]" But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them. And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all [these] things in her heart. And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:41-52 NASB95)

Here we see Jesus demonstrating His uniqueness at a young age. Mary and Joseph's frantic search finds Jesus in the temple. He is not preaching; instead, He is listening and asking questions, dialoguing with teachers and giving His own answers. Yet His wisdom and knowledge of the Word were evident. Luke ties this event back to the use of "Son of God" in chapter one, when Jesus responds, "Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?" The little we know about Jesus' childhood, then, underscores that He is indeed the Son of God. Yet in this final vignette, we see one more response to Jesus; the teachers in the temple were amazed at His words, but did not recognize Him for who He was nor respond in worship. 

At the same time, we see that Jesus was indeed fully human. He is not an adult - though as with most 12 year olds, we can start to see the man He will become showing through. He still has growth left - both physical and spiritual. Luke tells us He "continued in subjection" to His parents - submitting to the authority God gave them over Him. Later He would marvel at a centurion's faith, in part because the man, well-versed in both being in authority and under authority, recognized Jesus' authority over sickness. For now, though, He had to experience the reality of living under the authority of imperfect humans.

Lessons Learned

As noted in the previous posts,  I am seeking to frame my lessons learned, the "what does it mean for me" around four questions to help my theology meet my reality: 

• What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? (1 John 1:1-2)
• How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? (Hebrews 1:1-3)
• What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? (2 Cor 3:18; 1 John 2:6)
• How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? (1 John 1:3-4) 

What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? 

When we encounter Jesus, we must respond. We must ask God to help us understand the revelation. When we do, we either accept it and worship Him, proclaiming who He is to those around us, or we reject it and fight against Him. The shepherds and magi, Simeon and Anna, Mary & Joseph, show us what responding in worship and proclamation look like. Herod shows us what rejecting Him looks like. The temple teachers show us what it looks like when we fail to recognize the revelation He gives us. 

The first missionaries about the Messiah were not the apostles, and missions didn't start at Pentecost. Instead, Luke records that God chose a simple group of people - shepherds - to carry His message that was heralded by angels.

God could have had the angels proclaim the birth of Christ throughout the world. He could have let everyone see the glorious light and the shining star. Yet He chose to reveal truth to a few, who would spread the word to so many more.

The shepherds were no different than you and I, really. Simply people who were recipients of revelation - and they passed that revelation on to others. "And all who heard it wondered".

How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? 

Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor.  - Zechariah 7:10 NLT

This verse captures God's heart throughout the Old Testament - His "special classes" of widow, orphan poor, and foreigner. In the passages we are looking at today, we see that God chose to record encounters with Jesus with three of these four groups - the widow (Anna), the foreigner (magi), and the poor (shepherds, and Mary & Joseph themselves). God's heart is  for the weak and marginalized, so much so that He revealed Jesus to them first and entrusted them to share the news that Messiah had been born.

What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? 

Jesus had to be in His Father's house - about His Father's business. If I am going to walk as He walked,  I too will need to be focused on what my Father is doing. Additionally, Jesus' example with the temple teachers is one of humility. He although He had to grow in wisdom, He obviously still had an impressive level of knowledge and understanding. Yet Scripture records that Mary & Joseph found Him  "listening to them and asking questions". How often do I try to have the answers instead of ask the questions? How often do I speak instead of listen. Jesus' boyhood example calls me to humility - especially when I see Him then returning home, submitting Himself to His parents despite their human limitations. 

How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? 

Some say that the Magi's own faith led them to the manger where nobody forced them to worship Jesus. They say this shows the ecumenical nature of all religions and the importance of recognizing the good in them all. The logic of this argument falls apart when we wonder, if all religions are equal, why the magi would need to come to Jesus at all. If he is right and the magi's own belief system pointed them to Jesus, does this not underscore the supremacy of the Babe, rather than the similarities of all faiths? Simply put, if all religions are equal then there is no need for them to point to Jesus.

And yet we see, in many traditions around the world, in many cultures, traces of the Gospel. The villagers who believe that only by drawing a cross on the dirt can they ward off evil spirits. The "peace child" that must be offered to settle disputes between two parties. Don Richardson calls these the "keys" within cultures and religions that point people to Jesus. Often, when these people groups hear the message of the Gospel, they respond eagerly because of the preparation God has put within their cultures. (I'm sure some of you could tell far more stories than I could about this topic!)

It is true that no one forced the magi to worship Jesus. But worship Him they did, as Matthew 2 makes clear. They didn't worship Him because He was equal to their traditions. They worshiped Him because He was supreme.

Jesus is unique. He draws shepherds and magi into the circle of His love and places them on equal footing. And because He is supreme, He can use people's own traditions to point them to truth, preparing them for the message of Scripture. But let's never confuse that preparation for the ultimate message. Always remember that Jesus is unique and supreme. The magi didn't travelup to two years to worship someone equal to their faith. They traveled 2 years to worship God Incarnate, Immanuel, God with us.

When I recognize and embrace His revelation, I am drawn deeper into fellowship with Him. As I speak of Him to others, I am drawn deeper into fellowship with those who believe or who are being drawn toward faith by His cords of love.

As Jesus Walked: Christ Revealed in the Synoptic Gospels, #2 - Birth Announcements and Responses

(This post is part of a series. For previous posts in the series please see #1.)

As I learn to live out John's exhortation to "live ... as Jesus did" I find that my view of the Gospels is being transformed. Rather than looking at these books just theologically or historically (though they are both full of theology and historically accurate), I and trying to see these Gospels through a new lens: Why did God think this story important enough to record for all time? After all, John ends his gospel with this intriguing thought: 

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. John 21:25 ESV

If everything Jesus did was written down, John says, the world couldn't contain it all! Even if this is hyperbole (since he says "I suppose"), the idea remains - Jesus did far, far more than what we see in all the Gospels. It's like the old hymn, "The Love of God" (Frederick M. Lehman), says: 

To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Like John and Frederick, I am constrained by limits to try to communicate all that I am learning in this study of the Synoptic Gospels. As we dig into this week's passages, I encourage you to go deeper - you will see far more than I can write here. 

Miraculous Birth Announcements - and Responses (Luke 1:5-80, Matthew 1:18-25)

(Luke 1:5-80 NASB95) In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. Now it happened [that] while he was performing his priestly service before God in the [appointed] order of his division, according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. Zacharias was troubled when he saw [the angel,] and fear gripped him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb. "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. "It is he who will go [as a forerunner] before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this [for certain?] For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years." The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. "And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time." The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute. When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home. After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, "This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked [with favor] upon [me,] to take away my disgrace among men." Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord [is] with you." But she was very perplexed at [this] statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. "And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. "For nothing will be impossible with God." And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed [are] you among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of your womb! "And how has it [happened] to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? "For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. "And blessed [is] she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord." And Mary said: "My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. "For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. "For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. "AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM. "He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered [those who were] proud in the thoughts of their heart. "He has brought down rulers from [their] thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. "HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed. "He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever." And Mary stayed with her about three months, and [then] returned to her home. Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her. And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father. But his mother answered and said, "No indeed; but he shall be called John." And they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name." And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, "His name is John." And they were all astonished. And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue [loosed,] and he [began] to speak in praise of God. Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, "What then will this child [turn out to] be?" For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: "Blessed [be] the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant-- As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old-- Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US; To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; To give to His people [the] knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace." And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

(Matthew 1:18-25 NASB95) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took [Mary] as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

As we read the next section of the Synoptic Gospels, we see three angelic announcements and one Holy Spirit announcement related to the miraculous births of John the Baptist and Jesus. 

• Zechariah has a vision in the temple while in the holy place, receiving the first word from Lord in 400 years, and learning from the angel Gabriel that his yet-to-be-conceived son is to be the promised forerunner for the Messiah.
• Mary has a vision (at least 6 months later) and learns from the angel Gabriel that she will miraculously become pregnant with the Messiah - and that her cousin Elizabeth (Zechariah's wife) is six months pregnant. 
• Elizabeth experiences the Holy Spirit confirming the presence of the Messiah when Mary visits her. Her unborn child (John the Baptist) leaps for joy and she is filled with the Holy Spirit, immediately recognizing Mary as "the mother of my Lord."
• Joseph has a dream after Mary becomes pregnant, assuring him that the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  

In the responses of these individuals, we see four expressions of worship: 

• Elizabeth celebrates the presence of Jesus, pronouncing a blessing on Mary.
• Mary sings in awe of God's faithfulness toward Israel and care for the weak, as well as His intimate work in our lives. 
• Zechariah, after initially asking the wrong question and being struck mute, responds with a prophetic song of worship, connecting Jesus to the prophets and looking ahead to the work He will do. 
• Joseph doesn't say anything, but immediately gets up and follows God in obedience by moving forward with the marriage to Mary.

Lessons Learned

As noted in the previous post,  I am seeking to frame my lessons learned, the "what does it mean for me" around four questions to help my theology meet my reality: 

• What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? (1 John 1:1-2)
• How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? (Hebrews 1:1-3)
• What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? (2 Cor 3:18; 1 John 2:6)
• How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? (1 John 1:3-4) 

What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? 

Through the various songs and prophetic words, we learn several important facts about Jesus: 

• He is great
• He is the Son of the Most High/Son of God
• He sits on the throne of David and reigns over Israel, fulfilling God's promises
• His kingdom has no end
• He will save His people from their sins
• He is Lord
• He has accomplished redemption. 
• He is the Sunrise from on high
• He is the horn of salvation sent: 
• To save us from our enemies
• To show mercy
• To remember His covenant
• To grant us the ability to serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him.

These are all true and each one of worth studying, But when I ask myself "what does this teach me about the life He gives", one thing jumps out: He came "to grant us the ability to serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him" (Luke 1:74-75). Another translation puts it like this; 74 "We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live." (NLT).

With our (correct) emphasis on salvation by grace through faith, repenting and turning from our sins and toward Christ, and eternity in heaven, it is often easy to forget that Jesus didn't just come to change our lives in the future - He came to change our days in the here and now. He came so we can serve God without fear of punishment (1 John 4:18), and so that we can walk with Him in holiness and righteousness for the rest of our lives (see also 1 Peter 1:13-25). He came not to help me be a better person or to do things that look holy, but to make me holy from the inside out. He came so that His grace could teach me how to deny ungodliness and live a godly and righteous life - by grace, just as I was saved (see also Titus 2:11-14). The life He gives is a life that does what is right, flowing from a transformed heart.

How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? 

God is intentional in reaching people. God chose Zechariah through the normal order of things. It was his division's turn, and God chose him.  God's will works through circumstances. And yet He also miraculously sent the angels with messages, and the Holy Spirit with a witness to two pregnant women. He spoke to a priest performing religious duties and to a man laying in anguish on his bed. He is intentional to reach us - and it doesn't always look the same! 

He also knows what we need to know - the truths we need to hear, the information we need to move forward. I love words and information and far too often, I think I need to know more than I do. In reading this story from Mary's viewpoint, I have to wonder why her angel didn't stick around to help explain the situation - it feels like he departed too soon. Yes, the angel departed just when Mary might have thought she needed him the most. But God had spoken. And it was enough.

What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? 

Although we do not see Jesus directly at work, we see people interacting with God in deep and powerful ways that teach us what matters enough to Him to record it in Scripture. We learn from Zechariah and Elizabeth, who did the right thing despite not having a child, that refusing to put conditions on our obedience matters. We learn from the contrast of Zechariah ("How can I know?") and Mary ("How can this be/") that asking the right question matters.. We learn from Mary & Joseph that surrender to God matters. These passages help me learn that I should walk with God in obedience, trust, and surrender - even when I am confused or scared. 

How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others?

Walking with God in obedience, trust, and surrender, will inevitably cause me to cross paths with others who are learning or struggling to do the same. Nobody else could understand what these four individuals experienced.  When we see Mary & Elizabeth rejoicing together, praising God for what He did, we see two women with miraculous pregnancies drawing closer to God and each other. When we see Zechariah and Elizabeth united in naming their son John, despite "nobody in the family having that name",  we see a couple bonded together in a way that only comes when they believe God together and trust each other. When we see Joseph go and get Mary as his wife, refusing to let the fear of losing his reputation outweigh the clear word of the Lord, we see a couple drawn to each other in a way nobody could understand. Similarly, when I walk with God in obedience, trust, and surrender, I will also frequently encounter others who share parts of my journey that few can grasp. Living in openness and authenticity will allow the Holy Spirit to use my life in the lives of others, increasing fellowship with them and drawing glory to the God who redeems us all. 

As Jesus Walked: Christ Revealed in the Synoptic Gospels, #1 - Introductions and Genealogies

 

Over the past few years, as my life transitioned from caregiving for a spouse with dementia to being a widow to marrying an amazing, Gospel-centered man, my writing and Bible study has looked very different. I've been in a season of rest, recovery, and renewal - and that has been reflected in hours spent outside just hearing the voice of my Shepherd and letting His Word bring healing and hope to my heart. Throughout this season, though, my heart kept being drawn over and over to the Synoptic Gospels - Matthew, Mark, and Luke. I knew I wanted to study them in-depth, but it wasn't until He gave me a word and verse for this year that I grasped the emphasis He wanted me to have: Learning to walk as Jesus did.

As a teacher, I find that I must be a student first, and that my learning is not complete until I share it with others. And so, my goal will be to periodically share what I am learning for anyone who might wish to join me on this journey. As always, my heart is to help increase Biblical literacy by minimizing outside resources and letting Scripture speak for itself. My study presupposes the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture; if you have broader questions about Scripture, please see my Bible 101 series.

Introduction and Genealogies (Luke 1:1-4; Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-28)

For starters, let's learn what the "synoptic" Gospels even are! "Synoptic" simply means "seeing together"; it's a word we use to say that Matthew, Mark, and Luke have a lot in common, as opposed to John which is quite distinct. Of the 161 stories in the Gospels, 25 are unique to John, and his emphasis on the deity of Christ is also notable from the first lines of his Gospel. Matthew, Mark, and Luke, by contrast, focus more on the person and work of Jesus in His humanity. While also noting His deity, they are more biographical whereas John writes with an obvious theological purpose. Matthew, Mark, and Luke were also written decades before John, which means he did not have to repeat stories that his audience would already know from other written sources. 

Biblical scholars and church historians agree that generally the letters of the New Testament were written first, with stories about Jesus being oral traditions. As more people came to believe in Christ who had not known Him personally in His earthly ministry, and as more of those eyewitnesses went to be with Him in death, a written account of His story became more essential to the church. We see this clearly in Luke's explanation of his purpose: 

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write [it] out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:1-4 NASB95) 

In this introduction, we learn a few crucial things about the Gospels in general, and Luke's Gospel in particular: 

• Many people were compiling accounts of what had happened in the early days of the church.
• These accounts were handed down from those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word "from the beginning."
• Luke decided to investigate everything carefully (unsurprising for a doctor) and record it in consecutive order. (Because of Luke's intentional chronological account, his Gospel becomes the baseline for in-depth study when determining the sequence of events, at least those events recorded in Luke.)
• His purpose was that the reader would "know the exact truth" about what he had been taught. (Luke also wrote Acts, picking up where he leaves off with the ascension of Christ.)

Matthew and Luke both record genealogies of Jesus, which differ in purpose and emphasis that give us clues as to their distinct audiences and purposes in sharing the story of Jesus. Matthew opens with his genealogy "of Jesus the Messiah," indicating off the bat that his audience is Jewish (as Messiah was a Hebrew term for God's promised anointed One). His purpose seems to be to present a legal argument for Jesus to meet the requirements to be the Messiah, being a Jew ("son of Abraham") and in the Davidic line ("son of David"). 

The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram. Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon. Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa. Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor. Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud. Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations. (Matthew 1:1-17 NASB95) 

After the opening sentence, Matthew's specific genealogy is intriguing for many reasons. First, he unexpectedly includes women in the lineage (emphasized above in red) - and women with scandalous stories at that. 

• Tamar dressed as a prostitute to seduce her former father-in-law, who had failed to uphold the law by providing a son to marry her and give her a child after the death of her husband. 
• Rahab was a Canaanite, a former prostitute who helped the Israelite spies who explored the Promised Land. 
• Ruth was a Moabite, a widow from a country forbidden to enter the temple and yet chosen by God to be King David's great-grandmother. 
• Bathsheba was David's mistress and later wife, whose son was chosen to be king after David even though he was not the oldest or next in the line of secession. 
• Mary was a virgin chosen by God to bear His Son - a story so unbelievable her fiance almost divorced her before receiving a direct word from God that she was telling the truth (but I'm getting ahead of myself here...). 

This inclusion would be shocking to many Jewish readers, not only because women were not accepted as full citizens (their testimony was not allowed for legal purposes, for example) but also because of the nature of the stories included - and perhaps even more for the fact that non-Jews were included in the lineage of their Messiah.

Secondly, Matthew leaves out some connections, selecting instead 14 key "generations" from Abraham to David, 14 from David to the deportation to Babylon, and 14 from the deportation to Jesus. Why 14? Theories abound, and you can certainly research those to your heart's content. However, to stay as closely as possible to what is revealed in Scripture, the simplest answer may simply be that these were the key ancestors in each segment of Israel's history. After all, we are talking about roughly two thousand years from Abraham to Jesus. As an American I don't know all of my family 200 years back, much less 2000 - but even in telling about the history I do know, I give the highlights on each side of the family. Readers of the Old Testament will notice most of these names jumping out as familiar from significant stories (and you can do further research by digging into each one if you are unfamiliar with those stories; just go to www.blueletterbible.com and type in the person's name to find the relevant passages). 

Thirdly, Matthew pointedly does not call Joseph the father of Jesus, but instead, the husband of Mary. He thus underscores the virgin birth, a miraculous event that was part of the Messianic promise.

While Matthew's Gospel is targeted to a Jewish audience, his opening lines signal that this is not a typical Jewish document. As we will see, Matthew often comes across as polemic in the way he challenges Jewish presuppositions and takes on the Jewish leaders of the day. He wants the Jewish people to know and follow Jesus, but he is going to be sure they know Him as He really is, not as they may have preconceived Him to be. 

Luke's genealogy, by contrast, works backward from Jesus to God.  

When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Hesli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Heber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. (Luke 3:23-38 NASB95) 

Much has been made of the differences in the two genealogies. However, it is not that difficult to see the likelihood of one being focused on Mary and one on Joseph. Another strong possibility is that one is royal (focusing on the kings and Jesus' lineage as King of Israel) and the other physical (focusing on Him as being Son of Man as well Son of God).  Also, neither contains enough names to likely include every single ancestor, especially Luke's going all the way back to Adam! Again, there are many theories about these differences and I encourage you to study more fully if this intrigues you. 

I will note one obvious question: The existence of two different names listed for Joseph's father (Jacob in Matthew; Eli in Luke) has breeded questions around inerrancy. However, there were legitimate reasons for a man to have two fathers. The Levirate marriage laws, for example, would give a man a biological father but legally he would be the son of that man's deceased brother. It was also allowable for a man without sons to adopt a man who married his daughter to carry on the family name; this would give the man two genealogies from a legal perspective. I will not make any conclusions about the reason, but I will say that these possibilities put to rest the question of inerrancy for me. There is an explainable reason for the differences, even if I'm not close enough to the cultural situation to understand it. 

The most obvious difference in the two genealogies, however, is not hard to understand at all: Luke takes Jesus' genealogy all the way back to Adam, "the son of God." Since Luke includes Mary's divine conception of Jesus, "son of God" in His genealogy thus has a dual meaning - Adam was the "son of God" by creation, Jesus by miraculous birth (pre-existing as the son of God from eternity, of course). 

Lessons Learned

All of this is interesting historically and factually, but what does it mean? What do I learn from this that makes a difference in my life - that helps me walk as Jesus walked? I am seeking to frame my lessons learned around four questions. 

• What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? (1 John 1:1-2)
• How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? (Hebrews 1:1-3)
• What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? (2 Cor 3:18; 1 John 2:6)
• How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? (1 John 1:3-4) 

Your answers may be different than mine, but anytime we study the Bible we must seek to ask "what does it mean for me" so that it doesn't become just words on a page. Our theology must always meet our reality.

What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? 

The introduction to Luke teaches me that the stories about Jesus are trustworthy. As a doctor, Luke would know how to be meticulous in his research. His goal of ensuring readers know "the exact truth", combined with what I know about the process of determining the canon of Scripture, lets me know that what I am about to read and study is accurate and trustworthy. 

The genealogies tell me the basic things I need to know about Jesus - like a good introduction to a biography of someone I may or may not be familiar with, I now have some foundational information. I know that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God, and that His ancestral lineage, like mine, is colorful in places. When He came to earth, He didn't come into a perfect family - and that is reassuring. 

How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? 

God's heart is for everyone - not just the Jewish leaders or those who have the Law memorized perfectly. The presence of women, even Gentile women and women with "a past", is immediately heartening to me as a woman. I want to know more about a God who would choose for the Messiah to come through a line that includes a prostitute, a Moabite forbidden from the temple, and even a former mistress to a king! 

What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? 

We do not see Jesus at work in these stories, but Luke's words introducing his genealogy "When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph,..." show me that He was undeterred by the "as was supposed" part of the story. He knew who He was, He knew that there was more to the story than what people in Nazareth assumed, and He lived out of the reality of who He truly was as the Son of God. Likewise, I will face times in my life where I have to lean on what I know to be true, not what others might "suppose". 

How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others?

Accepting people from different backgrounds - whether culturally or with different life experiences and struggles than me - is an extension of the heart of God who included these women in Jesus' lineage and didn't whitewash His family tree. I can live more open-handedly toward others when I remember that He knows all about me, too, and didn't write me out of His story.