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Tag: nativity

Advent for a too familiar Nativity
GOOD NEWS!

Aren’t you glad you’re NOT a preacher this ‘Christmas’ season? After all, how much more can we say about the nativity of the Lord Jesus in Bethlehem.

WE have preached the Gospel every year — the openings of the Gospels applicable to our pageants, programs, concerts, carolings, Christmas Eve services, Midnight Masses, Christmas Day dinner feasts — CHRIST-MASS — how much more can we possibly have to say about worship of a baby born in Bethlehem?

εὐαγγέλιον – Good Tidings

Lexicon :: Strong’s G2098 – euangelion
- the glad tidings of the kingdom of God soon to be set up, and subsequently also of Jesus the Messiah, the founder of this kingdom. After the death of Christ, the term comprises also the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ as having suffered death on the cross to procure eternal salvation for the men in the kingdom of God, but as restored to life and exalted to the right hand of God in heaven, thence to return in majesty to consummate the kingdom of God
- the glad tidings of salvation through Christ
- the proclamation of the grace of God manifest and pledged in Christ
- the gospel
- as the messianic rank of Jesus was proved by his words, his deeds, and his death, the narrative of the sayings, deeds, and death of Jesus Christ came to be called the gospel or glad tidings
Let’s get the GOOD NEWS right

So because I’m NOT a pastor today’s ‘Advent’ message in the year of our Lord 2022 will simply point out an overlooked FACT or two concerning what the Gospels actually say about the birth of Jesus.

The Gospel of Mark

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet..

Mark does not address the manner and place of Jesus’ birth, but proceeds directly to the Lord’s ministry and teaching.

The Gospel of John

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The Apostle introduces Christ in genesis before creation and mortals. John adds his authenticated witness of Jesus the Messiah without reference to the nativity so oft’ told each ‘Christ–mass‘.
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(Christmas reminder for Protestants - the mass is a worship service)
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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Good News of the Apostle John 1:14 English Standard Version

Gospel of Matthew

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham..

The Apostle Matthew begins his Gospel with a Jewish genealogy of Israel’s Messiah as introduction to Jesus’s birth. The Apostle then proceeds into some detail of the nativity in Bethlehem.

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way..

Matthew continues to set the scene with some marriage background involving Joseph and Mary.

..an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Gospel of Matthew 1:21 ESV

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea

Matthew jumps suddenly to a time AFTER the Lord was born. Once again he provides some historical context.

.. in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem..

2:1 Τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος ἐν Βηθλέεμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἐν ἡμέραις Ἡρῴδου τοῦ βασιλέως ἰδού, μάγοι ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν παρεγένοντο εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα

From Matthew 2:1 in the King James Version note the facts presented by the Apostle:

behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem
- wise men – magos – wise men, teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, augers, soothsayers, sorcerers etc.
- from the east – anatolē – the east (the direction of the sun’s rising)
Wise men, plural without saying how many AND from the east, therefore NOT from the Roman Empire or African continent, likely Babylonians (Chaldeans), Medes, or Persians.

“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Gospel of Matthew 2:2 – Question of the wise men to King Herod

Are there three wise men.. perhaps four, five or more?

Why would these men from the east come to worship a Jewish king?

(Could they be Jews of the diaspora to Babylon never returned to Jerusalem under the yoke of Rome?)
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Of course all of these questions don't fit into the choreography of our usual nativity pageantry too well but sticking close to the Scripture of Matthew let's observe a couple of other details.
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And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
- the star went before them to ‘the place where the child was
- they went ‘into the house’
- the wise men ‘fell down and worshiped him,’ *the wise men did not worship Mary, though she was with the child Jesus
Matthew continues with a brief account of how Jesus got to Nazareth from Bethlehem via Egypt.

Gospel of Luke

Luke’s narrative like that of the Apostle Matthew sets the scene for us ‘in the days of Herod, king of Judea.’ He connects two signs of miraculous births: that of John the Baptist and of Jesus Christ.

26 In the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy] the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary..

“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 call his name Jesus.

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

How?

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.”

38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

And the angel departed from her.

Luke 2:
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Even unbelievers know this Nativity narrative from Luke as frequently read in many places from Scripture.
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Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?

The Birth of Jesus Christ

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In this most familiar Nativity scene:

Mary gives birth to Jesus, wraps the Christ-child in swaddling cloths (whatever those are) and lays Him away in a manger φάτνη (no crib for a bed, etc. etc..) BECAUSE Luke records, the small little town of Bethlehem had ‘NO ROOM’ in the inn. (No innkeeper of record here.)

BUT (recalling Matthew’s gospel) when the wise men come to worship the Christ-child later:

the star went before them to ‘the place where the child was’ AND they went ‘into the house.’
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NOT a discrepancy, but it doesn't fit neatly into a single scene (or manger set).
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YET NEAR-BY:

there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear..

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 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 among those with whom he is pleased!”

16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

The Childhood of the Christ-child

Luke’s gospel provides some additional detail of the powerful signs and significance of events to follow. Without providing exact dates or itineraries of Joseph, Mary and the Christ-child he gives us some brief insight.

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

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 (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.
Gospel of Luke 2:22-24, King James Version

Mary’s purification by Mosaic Law would not have taken place until after forty days [ritually, 7 plus 33 more] after JESUS was born.

THEREFORE, these two important signs involving Simeon and the prophetess Anna although extremely connected to Old Testament prophesy do not add detail to the nativity story of Jesus except as a connection between the birth of the Savior.

Advent 4 – preparation of the nativity forgotten

I close with a post-script to the Scripture of our all-too-familiar nativity story.

When we were children we would open twenty-five windows on a December calendar focused on anticipation of Christmas. Churches typically redecorated for an Advent season leading up to Christmas Day. Many Christians worshipped Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day.

Gifts? Yes. But clearly the gift was JESUS born as a CHILD just like we were. (What an irony!)

Shopping? Parents shopped (mostly Mom). Children just asked for gifts (NOT shopped for whatever our little hearts desired) and we really didn’t know what gift we might get EVEN IF we could just be ‘good.’ I think they shopped for others too, just like baking for neighbors or sending Christmas cards to good friends. GIFTS — for others, NOT shopping and shipping for our SELVES.

JESUS was a gift of GOD the Father to the world.

(Every good little Christian boy or girl knew at least that.)

Santa, reindeer, elves and all the rest? Stories — fables like Aesop’s or the Nutcracker Ballet, not real.. but FUN enough for a bored kid in need of some imagination. BUT St. Nicholas, as nice as the story always shows, was never Jesus — the JESUS of the Gospels also read to us.

– the Christ of Christmas was no Santa Claus, not a gift-giver but the Gift Himself. The songs and celebrations from the beginning of Advent to the joy of Christmas morning reflected a hope for more than just a merry Christmas, but a life of peace in our brief mortal years of growing up — growing through — growing into a more complete faith in Jesus Christ.

AND

WE children raised in a Christian household and local church didn’t have to take anyone’s word for it. WE believed because we believed God, whose very word was right in our hand in a BIBLE presented to us by our local church.

NO preacher would ever feel the need to CHANGE any of the Gospel — not one jot or tittle of Scripture we could read for ourselves. Nor would a pastor dare reintroduce JESUS with some more personal persona than CHRIST or LORD.

Do you wonder how Advent has nearly become archaic?

I know that this previous ‘advent’ post from Matthew 25 in not related to the Nativity or birth of Jesus Christ..

Matthew 25 – Parable of the Ten Virgins

BUT has our PREACHING forgotten to fill the lamps for the more imminent coming of CHRIST for His Bride?

Even so, come Lord Jesus.
December 17, 2022
A COVID Christmas – Shall we take Jesus out of the box?
Happy Holidays

NO, I’m not taking a trip to relatives or friends and setting Scripture aside for a time. (And it has nothing to do with #socialdistancing.)

In my previous holiday post, COVID – The Sĭn’ch WHO Stole Thanksgiving, I suggested that we make too much of certain holidays.

Although the American tradition of Thanksgiving begins with a storyline of faith,

WE THE PEOPLE have strayed far from the faith of our fathers.

Pilgrims & Puritans

It’s worth mentioning again at Christmas, with its varied denominational, traditional and secular celebrations:

All of us are pilgrims journeying from place to place on the troubled seas of this world.

The religious founding of various Colonies created challenges from the very first, but pilgrims found freedoms of worship in America agreed upon by men of differing faiths.
- 13 Colonies Religions
- The Mayflower Compact
Men of faith will continue to disagree with each other, but faithless men will never agree with any who worship Christ Jesus.
Roger Harned

Jesus (He was the baby in the story about to be frequently retold) rebuked His fellow Jews who constantly disagreed with each other on many interpretations of the Law of Moses.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
The Good News of Matthew 23:23

Christian pilgrims will worship the Lord in ways which differ, regardless of the holiday.

I wonder what Jesus might have to say about our Christmas ‘traditions’ in America, in this ‘one nation, under God?’

Puritans and Christmas

Puritans and many more orthodox believers become ostracized by a culture which resists rule by law and rebuke for sin.

Yet as warning against our own severity with cultures we do not understand, remember the rebuke of the Lord Jesus against those who judge outsiders.

A Puritan Christmas

A 21st century pilgrimage back into the turbulence of 17th century America will challenge our own lethargic drifting away from Scripture as witnessed by Puritans and others.

Briefly, I would like to share a couple of points from an excellent look back (linked above), BY ANDREAS KÖSTENBERGER.
- In 1642, the article notes, “the Puritan-led English parliament asked citizens not to celebrate Christmas in any way, other than private respectful prayer.”
- The anti-Christmas laws remained in effect until 1660 when the monarchy was restored, yet it took almost another 300 years before Christmas became a full national holiday in Scotland in 1958.
No Miracle on 34th St
in 2020..

OR at Macy’s or at Shillato’s.

(due to COVID)

Think of the disappointment of all the little boys and all the little girls

who believe that Christmas is all about Santa Claus.

Pictured: 1956 Rochelle Baverman (a Jewish girl, like the virgin Mary) photo with Santa in Cincinnati, Ohio - The Nativity Crèche (pictured for this post) became one of her traditions later as a Messianic Jew.
Christmas of the Gospels

Many a preacher either struggles or delights to return in December to the all-too-familiar passages of Scripture (now recited by Linus & other children for the joy of all parents).

Maybe some us heard the true meaning of Christmas from A Charlie Brown Christmas. -talkofJesus.com – https://talkofjesus.com/?s=christmas

The church continues to tell the story of a Virgin birth of a baby Jesus in a manger, with a secular ‘Once upon a time’ message targeting children, as the Puritans once feared.

When we present Christmas as a gift to children, do we perhaps upstage God’s purpose of sending His Only Son Jesus to the Cross?

The Puritans thought more of the Cross than of the Manger. (And there are other issues of Roman idolatry here.)

Are you still a child in your understanding of Christ?

Is Christmas the way we traditionally celebrate with our families, truly the Good News of the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ to sinners like us?

Christ is Born (Good News edition)

I will just briefly address the Christmas nativity narrative here, for our purpose is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ by each writer of the four Gospels — the Good News of Christmas, the Good News of Jesus’ Crucifixion and especially the Good News of Jesus’ Resurrection.

Matthew

1:18 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.
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You may read the rest of the Nativity story in the link above.
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Luke

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.
Luke 2:1-2 NASB

Recall that we have just discussed Caesar Augustus from later in the Gospel of John.

1st century Rome – an awkward embrace of RELIGION & politics

Our children’s Christmas pageants may not convey that Rome is in charge of Judea, a subject kingdom of Syria’s Roman Governor, Quirinius.

We may not even have sensed how the Herod’s had lost power with Rome or noted that Quirinius’ successor was not appointed by Caesar, leaving Pontius Pilate as governor of Judea (with no governor of all Syria).

Other detail of Luke’s Gospel will resound familiar detail of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem of Judea.
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Once again, what you do not hear from Linus you may read in the link from the Gospel of Luke above.
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Mark

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Mark 1:1

Note that I have not taken the Gospels in order. This is due to the Nativity detail given by Matthew and Luke not being mentioned by Mark or John.

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU,
WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;
THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’”
The Gospel of Mark 1:1-3 NASB

Note that Mark points to the Prophet Isaiah as well as a prophesied messenger, John the Baptist. Mark’s Gospel begins with the baptism of Jesus by John (as it is written) and receiving the Holy Spirit of the LORD God His Father!

Luke records this as well after reporting from witnesses of Jesus’ birth.

John:

I began this year of our Lord, 2020, with John’s Gospel.

Jesus Said:

John 3:19 “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

We have followed Jesus through Scripture, primarily from the Gospel of John, little knowing in January what darkness of this past year would bring to a world far-distanced from Christ.

How did John approach the birth of Jesus?

The Apostle reflected that which was before every event of the Nativity!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
John 1:1-3 NASB

The Apostle John records what he has already witnessed of Jesus, the Christ of the Jews and Savior of the world:

Jesus IS the Creator, the LORD GOD!

HE WAS, before HIS own birth as Emmanuel, God With Us.

John has witnessed through Jesus Christ the fullness of the LORD’s glory, including Jesus’ resurrection and when the Apostle records this witness:

Yeshua said to them,
“Most assuredly, I tell you, before Avraham came into existence, I AM.”
John 8:58 HNV

John testifies that Jesus tells us this unscaleable truth to creatures of His making, which all men and women are:

“I and the Father are one.”
John 10:30

His place of birth, His mother, His lineage, His story told at Christmas — ALL pale by comparison to His Existence before the beginning — the Genesis of Adam and Creation to which Moses testifies.

When will we emerge from the darkness?

The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. – Genesis 1:2 NASB

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the LORD,

“My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!”

You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
Or of the arrow that flies by day;

Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.

Excerpts from Psalm 91 NASB

Shall we take Jesus out of the box of Christmas?
- continuous media updates by media
- 19 March AD2020 Churches ordered closed
- Christmas – HUMBUG!
- 2020? I stole that too, BOO HOO, BOO HOO.
- I just want to have a perfect gift this Christmas.
- a Covid Christmas
What does CHRISTMAS mean to YOU?

We can not have Jesus born in a manger without the shadow of the CROSS.

Will we leave Jesus in the grave?

As we have painstakingly walked with John in this year of our Lord, 2020, we have tarried during the long week of the Passover of the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.

It is finished.. + Death’s witnesses

A Day of the silence of the Passover Lamb

The Light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:5

“I have come as Light into the world,
so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness…
I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
“He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him;
the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.
The promise of Jesus – John 12:46-48 excerpt NASB

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
John 2:19

But He was speaking of the temple of His body.

John 19:

40 They took Jesus’s body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the fragrant spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews.

41 There was a garden in the place where he was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish day of preparation and since the tomb was nearby.
To be continued...
December 1, 2020
Emmanuel -3
Introduction to God in a Manger

We glanced at the introduction of Jesus in the Gospels of Mark and John in part 1 of this series. Yesterday in part 2 we examined issues of the virgin birth from the Gospel of Matthew. Today, Christmas, we conclude with scripture from Luke, our most familiar source of the Christmas story.

Immanuel (Hebrew: עִמָּנוּאֵל‬ meaning, “God with us”; also romanized Emmanuel) – Wikipedia

Every biography requires an introduction and the all-important announcement of “God With Us,” the Son of Man born in a manger requires not only an introduction, but a cultural context we can only mention today.

Introduction to the Nativity

The Nativity of Matthew, beginning with the genealogy of Jesus through Joseph and David, examines the Messiah of Israel from a Jewish perspective. Of course, Matthew, John and all of the Disciples were Jewish, as was Jesus.

Mark and Luke were first century gentiles, Greeks, men who recorded the impact of Christ born to save not only Jews from sin, but all who believe.

Luke 1:

1 … a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us.

Luke begins his two-part writing, Luke-Acts, with an introduction and overview in Chapter one. Many believe John the Baptist to be the Messiah; therefore Luke introduces John and Jesus as teachers prior to the well-know nativity of chapter 2. Note the same angelic witness.

Gabriel

5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division named Zechariah… 11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him…

13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.

… He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. … to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”

19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news.

26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”

1:28 καὶ εἰσελθὼν ὁ ἄγγελος πρὸς αὐτὴν εἶπεν Χαῖρε κεχαριτωμένη ὁ κύριος μετὰ σοῦ εὐλογημένη σὺ ἐν γυναιξίν

Luke 1:28

Name Him Jesus

31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 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. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”

Please do not miss here that Gabriel, an angel of the Lord, comes to a woman, Mary. In most instances of angelic encounters, as was the case with Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, the angel brings the Lord’s message to a man with authority over his wife, family and others.

Translations

Much to consider here, even before the all-too-familiar narrative of the nativity which follows. Much disagreement among Christians based on translations which reinforce various cultural (denominational) beliefs. Consider just one brief passage.
- KJV (English) And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
- HNV (from Hebrew) Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”
- VUL (Latin) et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit have gratia plena Dominus tecum benedicta tu in mulieribus
- Greek listed above for Luke 1:28. Some translations in Latin and the Hebrew Bible come from the Septuagint, with origins in Alexandria, Egypt.
Some versions of the Bible use less-controversial synonyms in some passages and prejudicial word imagery in certain key passages.

Mary – favored woman

And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” [Other mss add Blessed are you among women.]
Luke 1:28 CSB

The angel Gabriel does not say, “Hail Mary,” such as one might say, “Hail Caesar.” The Greek word χαίρω chairō could also be translated: rejoice, be glad, joy, greetings, even God speed or farewell when appropriate. Much like שָׁלוֹם shalom in Hebrew, chairō is simply a greeting of encounter.

Mary’s enduring witness

Luke records Mary’s reaction in verse twenty-nine. How would he know this or details of the rest of this portion of her encounter with angels?

Recall that unlike Joseph, Mary lived into Jesus’ complete life as the Son of Man and along with His brothers became part of the early church after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Therefore Luke would have interviewed Mary and/or those who had known her consistent witness for many years.

30 Then the angel told her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
- φοβοῦ Μαριάμ – Fear not Mary.
  - Do most all who personally encounter God’s angelic messenger not need this comforting assurance?
  - Yet what does it mean to have found favor with God?
- εὑρίσκω heuriskō –
  - ‘You have found,’ clearly indicates that Mary has been seeking the LORD.
    
    ‘To come upon after searching:
    
    to find by enquiry, thought, examination;
    
    to find out for one’s self.
Mary, a young Hebrew virgin betrothed to Joseph, is a worshiper of the LORD and she is a young woman with great faith.

Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” [Lit. since I do not know a man]
Luke 1:34 CSB

Gabriel then told Mary of Jesus’ conception and birth, the birth to be detailed more by Luke in the most familiar nativity of chapter 2 and reveals the distant miracle of her relative Elizabeth, to whom Mary will go as she is with child.

35 The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

The Magnificat – a Hymn of Praise

Mary magnifies or lifts up the Lord for His faithfulness to His faithful ones, much in the same way as Hannah, mother of Samuel, who anointed David.

46 And Mary said:
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My soul praises the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
because he has looked with favor
 on the humble condition of his servant.
 Surely, from now on all generations
 will call me blessed,
because the Mighty One
 has done great things for me,
 and his name is holy.
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“For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
Luke 1:49 NASB

The Nativity

Nativity, Latin nātīvitāt, refers to birth, the place and circumstances of birth, the place of the stars at a time of birth, and most specifically, but not exclusively, refers to the birth of Christ, the Messiah, Jesus.

Luke 2:

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
Luke 2:4-5 ESV

A census by order of Rome. Joseph travels to his hometown to register.

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Luke 2:6-7 CSB

Birth happens (ready or not, irregardless of place) and this lowly humble couple had no place for the Son of God to be born into this world. No reservation and no place fit for a Son of Man, only an animal-filled barn with mangers of hay to feed the donkeys and camels.

We have already heard of other singular events of the Nativity unique to Jesus’ birth. Kings had followed a star to Bethlehem and then brought gifts just for this time and this King of Kings, so humbly born in a manger.

Luke then documents a similar event from the hills just beyond Bethlehem.

Angels and Shepherds

Of course, these very hills had been the place where Samuel had sought out David, the shepherd and youngest of his clan, when the Lord had anointed him King.

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 2:10-11 KJV

And the angels told these lowly shepherds where and how to find and recognize Jesus in Bethlehem, the baby Son of God in a manger made for lowly animals. Surely some among these Jewish shepherds would have known the prophesy of Micah.
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But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
 Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
 From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago,
 From the days of eternity.”

Therefore He will give them up until the time
 When she who is in labor has borne a child.
 Then the remainder of His brethren
 Will return to the sons of Israel.

And He will arise and shepherd His flock
 In the strength of the LORD,
 In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God.
 And they will remain,
 Because at that time He will be great
 To the ends of the earth.
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Then these faithful keepers of the flocks received yet more confirmation.

A multitude of angels sang

Imagine angels from the sky joining voices with you as their audience!

δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις θεῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:14 KJV

Amen! Glory to God in the highest, who has sent His Own Son to a manger as a Son of Man, one like a lowly shepherd.

And the shepherds departed their fields to witness and worship the Christ child, their Messiah in a manger. Then they will tell others, perhaps later one will even confirm their witness to Luke.

Recalling the Nativity to others

We do not have here or anywhere in scripture angels worshiping Mary, shepherds worshiping Mary or Kings worshiping Mary. And we do not have Joseph, Mary, shepherds or kings worshiping angels, even Gabriel. These are later idolatries suggested by false shepherds of the church and false prophets.

The LORD IS and the Nativity of Jesus is not His beginning.

Let us witness the redeeming love of God, who came to us in His Own Image in the Person and humility of Christ Jesus. He IS the One we worship, for Jesus IS the Messiah who will save all who believe.

But Mary kept all these things in her mind, pondering them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all things which they had heard and seen, as it had been said to them.
Luke 2:19-20 DBY

Keep these things in mind, pondering them in your heart, glorifying God for all things.

Christ is born. The Messiah died for your sins. Christ Jesus will come again.

Incarnate in a manger in Bethlehem; crucified on a Cross at Calvary, risen from a tomb in Judea; witnessed by thousands, risen into the clouds to return again…

Jesus IS, with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, the beginning and end.

Amen,
December 25, 2018