Tom Mount – July 7, 2024

 

Scripture reading: Micah 5:2-4 NIV

Exposition of Luke 2:1-40

Jesus is born

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

  • Caesar Augustus (Octavian) is regarded as first Roman Emperor. Great-nephew and adopted son of Julius Caesar. Ruled from 27 BC-AD 14. He was a strong leader and capable administrator. Ushered in pax Romana. The Prince of peace was born during the reign of peace and brought a sword.
  • Civil authorities can be either a blessing or a curse to those they govern (Prov 29:2). Cf. Augustus vs. Nero. Peace, stability, prosperity are blessings, should pray for them (Jer 29:7; 1 Tim 2:1-4).
  • God moved Augustus using his decree to get Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

  • Joseph and Mary make 90-mile trip to Bethlehem, the birthplace of David. Ancestral home registration not a Roman requirement but a Jewish custom.
  • 6-7: Jesus is born – no guest room available but a stable where he was swaddled and place in a feed trough.
  • God’s humility!

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

  • “Angel of the Lord appeared to them… they were terrified”
  • “Good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Three things: 1. Good news, euangelizo, “Great joy”: chara – joy, megas – great, 3. “all people.” Not all people receive it with great joy.
  • “Savior” (soter), “Messiah” (christos), “Lord” (kyrios) – only place in bible where all three used together. All significant Christological titles.
  • Luke is using familiar language to all. The Priene calendar inscription (9 BC) describes Caesar Augustus: “the birthday of [Augustus] has been for the whole world the beginning of the gospel (euangelion) concerning him…Providence which has regulated our whole existence . . . has brought our life to the climax of perfection in giving to us (the emperor) Augustus . . .who being sent to us and our descendants as Savior, has put an end to war and has set all things in order;  and having become (god) manifest, Caesar has fulfilled all the hopes of earlier times.” The language of the imperial cult popular in Asia Minor. Luke self-consciously co-ops this imperial liturgical language for Christological purposes.

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

  • “Great company of heavenly host” – A vast army of angels appear
  • They declare two things: 1. “Glory to God in the highest heaven” and 2. “on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” – blessed, chosen by God and favored by him (those who no longer resist him; who receive his salvation).
  • Not everyone is blessed by the coming of Jesus. Only those who know themselves to be sinners in need of deliverance.

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

  • “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing…that the Lord has told us about.” Faith in action! Obedient faith says: “Yes Lord! Now, what’s the question?”

17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

  • “They spread the word” – These shepherds became the first human witnesses
  • “All who heard were amazed” – thaumazo, blown away. When we tell our personal stories of God’s goodness in our lives, it creates amazement.
  • “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God” – We are blessed when we see what God is doing and align our lives with it.
  • “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them” – she internalized life.
  • “He was named Yeshua” (“salvation”); short for Yehoshua (“YHWH is salvation”).

Jesus is presented in the temple

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

  • Two (or three) OT ceremonies here: 1) Ritual purification of Mary after 40 days: lamb and dove or pair of doves/pigeons (Lev 12:2-8), 2) Redemption of the firstborn (Passover event) – 5 shekels, 3) Dedication of the firstborn (1 Sam 1-2)?
  • The Law was fastidious (cf. Acts 15:10: “burden too heavy to bear”). Joseph and Mary were pious Jews who kept it blamelessly. No wonder God chose them.

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”

  • “He was waiting for the consolation of Israel” – redemption, comfort (Isa 40:1)
  • “it had been revealed by the Holy Spirit…moved by the Spirit, he went…” – The Holy Spirit speaks to us, wants to reveal things to us and lead us
  • “a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel” – Jesus is a sudden spotlight for those trapped in darkness as well as a vindication for those who walk in light

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

  • “destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel…” – Jesus divides old alliances (race, language, tribe, etc.) and unites all these in himself
  • “a sword will pierce your own soul too” – Mary’s heart will be broken

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

  • Anna was a prophet: many women in the OT were recognized as prophets (e.g., Miriam, Deborah, Huldah) as well as the NT (see Acts 2:17-18; 21:9; 1 Cor 11:5).
  • Anna confirms Jesus’ unique role in bringing the “redemption of Jerusalem.”

39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

  • “returned to Galilee” – not immediately (Mt 2:1-23) but later.
  • “the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was on him” – Jesus matured normally like all people. He had to study scripture, learn math, carpentry and languages and develop social skills.

Takeaway(s)

Holy Communion