The Challenge: Dedicate 60 minutes a week to deeper exploration of God's Word.
Step 1: Pray for clarity and understanding
Step 2: Read Luke 2:1-21 ESV
Step 3: Read the Notes in your Study Bible for the Luke passage
* If you don't have one, you can create a free account with FaithLife by following the directions on the right side of the screen located in "Step 2". This site is rich with great resources! (Don't have a Study Bible, buy one here.)
Step 4: Dive into deeper exploration by reading:
* ...this excerpt from "Mary: Devoted to God's Plan"
Historical & Cultural Background. Under normal circumstances, there would have been no reason for Mary to give birth in Bethlehem instead of at her home in Nazareth. Yet world events demanding a cross-country trip intervened at a most inconvenient time. Luke records that a decree from Caesar Augustus required all the inhabitants of the Roman Empire to register for the census, undoubtedly to facilitate the collection of taxes.
Following Jewish custom, the people registered according to their ancestral property divisions. For Mary and Joseph, this meant traveling to the territory of the clan of David, which was in the southern region of Judah in the area of Bethlehem—about 80–90 miles from Nazareth, which was located in the northern region of Galilee. Luke skims over the details of the couple’s arduous journey, saying only that Joseph “went up” from Galilee to Judaea (Luke 2:4). We can presume that they most likely traveled with a caravan of people making the same trip (see Chapter 2). Mary may have been required to register as well since she was Joseph’s wife, or Joseph may have brought her with him simply because he did not want to miss the important event of the birth. Even without the exact details, we can imagine Mary’s discomfort and anxiety in traveling during the late stages of her pregnancy.
As Mary trekked down the long, dusty road to Bethlehem beside Joseph, feeling more discomfort each day from the growing child, thoughts of giving birth to God’s Son—the long-awaited Messiah—on the roadside likely plagued her. Although God prevented her fear from becoming a reality, the circumstances under which He brought His Son into the world still fell short of Mary’s—and all of Israel’s—expectations. Following the glorious manner in which she had learned of her pregnancy, Mary may have held hopes for an equally incredible birth. Knowing that her son would “reign over the house of Jacob forever” (Luke 1:33), she may have expected His delivery to be a time of great celebration or coronation. When she went into labor in a stable, Mary was probably shocked to realize that she would give birth to this promised King in such lowly and lonely circumstances. Yet this was God’s will for the birth of His Son.
* ...this excerpt from "The New American Commentary: Luke"
Several Lukan themes are found in our passage. The Christological description of Mary’s firstborn son is clearly one. Luke taught his readers that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Jewish messianic hopes by showing that he was born in David’s town (2:4, 11). Although he did not quote Mic 5:2 as Matt 2:6 does, the account of the birth in Bethlehem is clearly meant to demonstrate that Jesus is David’s legitimate offspring and the promised Davidic King/Messiah. Thus Luke 2:4, 11 picks up the theme of 1:27, 32–33, 69. Mary’s child is also referred to as a Savior, is called the Christ in a way that indicates that Luke’s readers were already aware that this title had become a name for Jesus, and is called the Lord (2:11). Although the child’s work as Savior and full authorization as Lord was still future, he was proleptically referred to as such. Later the church would proclaim that Jesus is the only Savior, for salvation is found in no one else (Acts 4:12). Luke also continued the John the Baptist—Jesus parallelism in this account. Once again the greater nature of Jesus is evident, for whereas John the Baptist was the prophet of the Most High (1:16, 17, 76; 7:26), Jesus is Savior, Christ, and Lord. And whereas at John the Baptist’s birth Zechariah uttered a prophetic pronouncement, at Jesus’ birth an angelic host sang a doxology to God.
Another theme that appears in this passage involves God’s sovereignty over history. The historical description in 2:1–3 is to be understood not simply as an accidental quirk but rather as showing how God, who rules over nations, directed Caesar Augustus to issue the census decree in order to bring about the fulfillment of what God had decreed centuries earlier. Thus in God’s providence while they were there (2:6) David’s greatest Son was born. God’s sovereign rule is also emphasized in 2:20, where Luke remarked that all took place “just as they had been told.”
A final Lukan theme is the divine visitation to the poor and humble of Israel. God’s visitation of salvation comes to the humble (1:48, 52) and hungry (1:53), not the proud (1:51–52) and rich (1:53). Thus those present at the birth of God’s Son were not this world’s rulers or its religious leaders. Rather the angelic invitation was extended to shepherds on the fringe of society, and they were present to see the birth of the Lord Christ.
Step 5: Consider the following:
- How has your understanding of the Christmas story grown over the years?
- Have you ever wondered why God has involved you in His redemptive plans?
- Do you believe you have responded obediently to His invitation to follow Him?
- In what ways have you experienced peace in your journey of faith in Christ?
Everyone is invited to come to Advance Community Church this Christmas Eve and Sunday at 5:00pm where this passage will come to life.
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