Luke 2:1-3
From chapter 1 we saw John the Baptist was born and his father prophesied of his ministry to come. He saw him announcing the coming of a new day, a new era. John would be the herald of their deliverer, Israel's Messiah. John was six months old.
Luke gave us a snapshot of the setting and life in those days. And it was in those days that Caesar Augustus gave decree to be registered. These registrations were regular in the Roman empire, showing up in history about every 14 years. It was their way of maximizing taxes, making sure they were taxing everyone taxable. In addition, it was used for military conscription, to raise soldiers for Roman armies. It would take years to conduct the census, so this decree may have been given prior to any knowledge of a birth or possibly even a marriage. Either way, their specified time to return to their 'their house' was drawing near and Caesar Augustus wasn't concerned about distances, pregnant ladies or anything but having his decree met. Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem. This wasn't necessarily required for a census but as a descendant of David, they had to go.
Augustus was born Gaius Octavius in 63B.C. and didn't become 'Augustus' until later. In 27B.C. he was a coruler of Rome, one of three. When he defeated Egypt and annexed them to the Roman Empire the Roman senate hailed him as Augustus and granted him sole control of the empire. He was best known for restoring order to the empire after so many years of civil war. He ushered in Rome's golden age known as the Pax Romana, the age of peace. This would last about 250 years. Many good things came from this master administrator even though he was known to be harsh and relentless in his goals. It wasn't wise to be found in the way of his progress. He called for 'All the world' to be registered, this was all the Roman empire, a large part of the inhabited, civilized world.
The dating or Christ birth is hard to pinpoint because a census was taken in 6 A.D. and this was when Quirinus was governing. However, other evidence points towards 2 to 6 B.C. There is some indication Quirinius had a first term in which he may have been finishing a previous census.
Luke 2:4-7
It was a 90-mile trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Upon arrival, they found no room at the inn. Now the in wasn't the 'Holiday' or 'Comfort' variety of inn. At best, this inn was simply a stall in which to keep the animals and feed them. This statement is telling.
If we imagine that Jesus was born in a freshly swept, county fair stable, we miss the whole point. It was wretched—scandalous! There was sweat and pain and blood and cries as Mary reached up to the heavens for help. The earth was cold and hard. The smell of birth mixed with the stench of manure and acrid straw made a contemptible bouquet. (Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word commentary)
Even in Sodom, lot ran out to bring the angels in to offer them hospitality. To find no room for them among the most modest of accommodations was understandable. There seemed to be no hospitality extended to them. This shows us the picture of the life of Christ and of his followers.
Jesus would later speak of the true cost of discipleship, saying,
"Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." (Luke 9:58)
Note: then he said, "Follow Me!"
John announced that the Word had become flesh (John 1:14) and there he was, the King they longed for, their hope, salvation and so much more. Yet, there was no room.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. (John 1:10-11)
They thought they were ready for their messiah, their deliverer. But they wanted a leader to come to serve them, to boot Rome out of their land, to restore order as they saw fit. They envisioned a great prince rising to power, stepping forward out of nowhere. Possibly he would be born of a king, of a prominent family. They could imagine the child born in the palace becoming their king. They could never have envisioned God coming in the flesh, born of a poor, unmarried woman from Nazareth who lay their king in a feed trough.
While it seemed obvious this was her firstborn son, Luke stated so, probably to form a link to the scripture of Numbers 3:13 declaring the firstborn consecrated to the Lord. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes. To swaddle was to wrap Him with strips of cloth to keep him warm, comfortable and safe. Here laid the son of God, in a manger, exposed to the cold and dark of the world. This child would usher in a new age, a new chapter for mankind. Paul would later say of Jesus, "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;" (Col 2:9)
It's interesting that Luke doesn't get to dramatic with the story. He explained why they went to Bethlehem. Mary's time came and she had the baby. Luke doesn't speak of wise men from the east as Matthew did (Matt 2:1), a star they followed or the gifts they brought; nor does he tell us about Herod, the king.
Luke 2:8-12
Matthew focused on a delegation of what we call 'wise men' from the east in his gospel. Luke, instead, looked at the local response. In this same part of the country were found the shepherds living out in t he fields with their flocks. This was a very normal thing. Angel appeared to the shepherds scaring them to death. The angel calmed their fears and told the good news that was for all people. This good news was for all of mankind, Jew and gentile alike. Though many reject the good news. Many leave this Christmas gift wrapped and unopened.
Shepherds were among the most despised in that society. For this announcement to come to them was a statement itself. This good news was indeed for everyone if it included the shepherds. These shepherds may have been keeping the official temple flocks. A sacrifice was offered at the temple every morning and every night. Then on special holidays others were sacrificed. At Passover, some were sold to pilgrims coming to Jerusalem for Passover. Many of these lambs were sacrificed as an atonement for sin. They were lambs without blemish, perfect, offered for the sins of others. Each of these lambs was a picture of this little child that would grow up and be called 'The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!' (John 1:29). The slaughter and sacrifice of each lamb pointed toward Jesus who would offer Himself as a one time and final sacrifice for all of mankind.
Luke 2:13-14
When a boy was born in a household, it was common for a people to come and sing (like Christmas carolers). But, as travelers, there were no minstrels available for this young boy and his parents. Instead, God provided a heavenly choir of angels. One angel was in view and then suddenly there was a multitude. This was a great number, a number beyond counting. If one angel surrounded with the glory of God brought fear to these shepherd men, what effect do you suppose the multitude had on them? These were tough and fearless men. As a shepherd, David killed a lion and a bear (1 Sam 17). These rough, tough men of the field were humbled and silenced by what they saw. What a sight this must have been! I hope there are replays in heaven. This was a night they would not forget; a night they would speak of all their lives.
The multitude of angels sang praise to God. This was a glorious day. They had also longed for this day. How would God redeem mankind? This was the thing 'angels desire to look into' (1 peter 1:10). So, they praised and glorified the Lord who had come to earth as a child in a manger. Those who would follow Him would find a peace that passed all understanding. This peace was like the Hebrew word shalom; it was wholeness, complete, wellness, harmony and security. It was the peace a Master could bring to a servant; a father to a child; a Creator to the created.
Luke 2:15-20
How quiet it must have been when the angels departed. How serene, yet empty it must have felt. They went from hearing and seeing the sights of heaven to the sights and sounds of the field at night. The talked amongst themselves and decided they had to go to Bethlehem. This child was not to be missed. They needed to find out more. They rushed to find Mary and Joseph, as well as Jesus lying in a manger. This was a sign of 2:12. It was true, as the angel said. This feels like a 'tada' moment. Yet it was kind of an anticlimax. They would have found nothing special. No pomp, no glowing aura around him. He was a baby. They might have been thinking, 'He's just a baby'. In this they would have been wrong. He was indeed a baby, but not just a baby. He was God in the flesh.
Upson seeing Jesus there, they had a very specific response. They made it 'widely' known to anyone and everyone, the good news of Jesus. Anyone hearing this news marveled. Mary watched this all unfold before her. She made no judgment, but only kept these things in her heart. This phrase is also used of her in 1:66 and 2:51. She meditated on the idea and the things she saw.
Luke 2:21
Jesus was circumcised on the 8th day as required by the law. This was the covenant sign given by God to Abraham and written in the law (Lev 12:3). Luke shows us that Jesus came as a Jew to the Jews. He is the fulfillment of part of the promises given to Abraham. He is the blessing that would come to all of mankind that would come from Abraham's descendants.
Luke also speaks of Mary and Joseph's belief in what was told to them when they named His Jesus as Gabriel had told them before she even conceived.
Luke 2:22-24
After giving birth, Mary had to wait 40 days as a time of purification (Lev 12:1-4); this time was longer when giving birth to a female child. At the end of this time, they brought Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem. There she offered a sacrifice for cleansing. The sacrifice was to be a lamb. But the offering of two turtle doves was allowed for the poor (Lev 12:8); one as a burnt offering and one as a sin offering. In addition, Jesus was presented to the Lord. This was the consecration of the firstborn to the Lord. Every first born was the Lords.
Jesus came to the least of mankind and reached out to all the world. The news came to women and men alike, to shepherds and kings, young and old, wise and ignorant. He would call the world to be one in Him.
Again, I'll defer to Kent Hughes who said it well:
It is not enough to hear about Jesus. It is not enough to peek in the manger and say, "Oh, how nice. What a lovely scene. It gives me such good feelings." The truth is, even if Christ were born in Bethlehem a thousand times but not within you, you would be eternally lost. The Christ who was born into the world must be born in your heart. Religious sentiment, even at Christmastime, without the living Christ is a yellow brick road to darkness.
Luke 2:25-26
There are two things going on in verses 22- 24 that lead us into verse 25.
- Mary was obligated by law to observe a 40-day period purification. At the end of which, she would make an offering and once again be allowed to enter the temple (Lev 12:6-8). The sacrifice was supposed to be a lamb, taken to the door and offered before the Lord to make atonement for her. She would then be clean and able to enter the temple. Because she was not able to bring a lamb, the law allowed her to bring two young pigeons. It is certainly noteworthy that she could not afford to bring a lamb, but, in fact, had brought the perfect lamb of God, Jesus.
- The law stated that the firstborn belonged to the Lord. The firstborn could be redeemed from the Lord for about a month's pay. It was to be paid to the priests a month after he was born, not before but not long after either. Upon entering the temple, she would present the child Jesus to the Lord (Exod 13:2, 12; Num 3:13). This is the is his consecration. It is thought that, prior to the priestly roles of the Levites, the eldest son would grow up to perform the priestly functions. The consecration after the priests were established was a ritual to establish the trajectory of a life. This consecration ritual was a purification; bathing, new clothes and remaining undefiled.
This is the context of the visit to the temple. While there, Joseph and Mary encounter the man Simeon. While there was, no doubt, a remnant of the truly devout, Luke tells of one in particular, Simeon. He stands as a representative and example of those who were waiting for the Consolation of Israel. This idea of 'consolation' comes from Isaiah 40-66 as the Lord announced a coming comfort to his people, a consoling of Israel. He was righteous and devout, living a pious life. This was a humble life of obedience to the ways of the Lord, careful and consistent in thought, word and deed. Simeon, in his relationship with the Lord had that deep longing for the messiah we find so often.
Simeon had received a message from the Lord at some point in his life; he would not pass from this world until he saw the messiah. This message came by the Holy Spirit, spoken to heart, whispered to his soul? We don't know and perhaps Simeon himself couldn't have said how he knew, as is so often the case, he just knew.
Luke 2:27-32
By the Spirit Simeon came to the temple as if called there by God at the time when Jesus had been brought there. There is no indication Simeon was a priest, so we don't know exactly how this encounter took place other than it was divine in nature. He took Jesus in his arms and offered his praise. He held the messiah, his longing, the Consolation of Israel, what a moment.
Peace had come. Simeon experienced the wholeness, completeness, wellness, harmony and security of which the angelic choir sang. It was the peace he would have associated with shalom. He acknowledged that he was ready to depart this world, the prophecy had been fulfilled. He was an old man and had lived to see the Lord's anointed as had been determined and spoken to him. In a sense, there was nothing this world could offer in comparison to what he had just experienced. He had held the glory of Israel and the hope of the world.
Simeon knew that Jesus was the fulfillment of the covenant promise to Abraham. All the world would be blessed by this son of Abraham. He was a light piercing the darkness as seen by Isaiah:
2 The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined. (Isaiah 9:2)
6 "I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness,
And will hold Your hand;
I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the Gentiles,
7 To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the prison,
Those who sit in darkness from the prison house. (Isaiah 42:6-7)
Indeed He says,
'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob,
And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;
I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,
That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.' " (Isaiah 49:6)
This revelation is the word 'apocalypse' meaning the unveiling, revealing. Jesus, this light, would not just bring glory to Israel, but would change the world.
Luke 2:33-35
Mary and Joseph are again taking it all in and marveling, wondering what life would be like for their child. How would this all play out? What part would they play? We can only imagine how inadequate they felt. Any parent has felt like a failure as they raise their child. Imagine the pressure of raising the Son of God! Yet, to them, at least for the time being, that child was just their son. All the attention that he received caused them to pause, wonder, marvel, take it all in and trust God.
The 'fall and rising of many' comes from Isaiah 8:14.
14He will be as a sanctuary,
But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense
To both the houses of Israel,
As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15And many among them shall stumble;
They shall fall and be broken,
Be snared and taken." (Isaiah 8:14-15)
Simeon acknowledged to Mary and Joseph the divided response of those in Israel; some would embrace the messiah, many would stumble and fall. Many leaders and officials would speak against him. This would bring the grief of crucifixion on Mary, a grief that would pierce her own soul.
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:23-24)
Also 1 Peter 2:8 and 2 Corinthians 2:16.
Luke 2:36-38
There were many devout women of Israel. Luke tells us of this one. Anna, a prophetess, stood as representative of them. The details of her lineage and heritage are not offered to show she was special in any way, but just the opposite. She was a Jewish woman, no one special as a Jew, but special as a woman of God waiting on the Lord. She longed for the Lord and watched for so long, as many had for generations. She came also and gave thanks, praising God that she was among the generation to see Him in the flesh.
Luke 2:39-40
It is between verse 38 and 39 that Matthew tells us of that Herod was made aware by the wise men from the east inquiring about a king that had been born. They told Herod how this birth was foretold by the prophet Micah (5:2). After the wise men worshiped the Lord, Joseph was warned of Herod's intention and told to flee to Egypt. It was then Herod killed all the children 2 years and under in Bethlehem and the area.
Joseph, Mary and Jesus stayed in Egypt until the death of Herod (4B.C.). If the scholar's estimates of the birth of Christ are accurate, then they weren't in Egypt all that long. Herod's kingdom was divided among his sons.
- Antipas was over Galilee and Perea
- Archelaus ruled Samara, Judea and Idumea
- Philip governed the region NE of the sea of Galilee
Archelaus was as cruel and wicked as his father, if not more so. When Joseph and Mary returned, they went back to Nazareth in Galilee (Antipas being the lesser of evils). Matthew said this departure from Egypt was a fulfillment of prophecy as written in Hosea 11:1 (a type of Exodus).
Joseph and Mary settled back into life in Nazareth, raising their son and having other children. Assuming a year to two from Bethlehem to Egypt and back to Nazareth, verse 40 represents 10 or 11 years of Jesus's life. This is all we really know of His childhood and all we apparently need to know. He grew; in doing so he became stronger in spirit, was filled with wisdom and God's grace was on Him. It's fascinating to imagine Jesus as a child, around the house, playing with his friends, working with his father. Jesus never dishonored his parents. He never sinned in any way. That's hard for us to imagine how that played out when all his family, all his friends were of a sinful nature. In my way of thinking, the temptations facing a child are just as challenging as the temptations that Satan brought to Christ. All of life is filled with temptations, yet he was sinless.
These stories and legends of the childhood of Jesus. One said, as a carpenter, Jesus knew how to make a yoke for the animals that would be yoked to an implement or wagon. A good carpenter could make a yoke that was 'easy' and 'light', never pinching or rubbing, chafing or bruising; but making the work like it was no work at all. This is a neat story. Is it true? We don't know. We should go back and remember, if the Lord wanted us to know all about the childhood of Jesus, we would be told in the bible. Some stories of the childhood of Jesus are tantalizing and fascinating to hear, but they come from spurious sources. Extreme caution should be used in reading and handling these stories.
Luke 2:41-50
Joseph and Mary were devout in their faith and journeyed to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover along with about 200,000 other faithful Jews. This trip was likely a large caravan of many people. At the end of the feast, the caravan started home. Mary and Joseph assumed Jesus was among the caravan. This would have been a normal assumption and isn't intended to make them appear as bad parents. We can imagine this big slow-moving caravan was like a traveling playground for 12-year-old boys. The first day's journey was barely a full day of travel, but at the end of the day they could not find Jesus. Each probably assumed the other had seen their son during the day. This is one of those moments when any parent panics, they've lost their child. They feel like a loser and everyone is whispering about how awful a parent they are, and so on. If a normal parent felt this, imagine feeling like you lost the messiah! You've misplaced the Son of God, the Savior!
His parents spend the next day traveling back to Jerusalem. After searching all day, they find him in the temple. Jesus was sitting amidst the teachers, listening and asking questions. There wasn't anything at all unusual about this. He was approaching the age when he would be considered a man. At age 13 he would be expected to abide by the law. He would have his bar mitzvah and become a 'son of the law'. Luke shows us that at age 12 he was already learning, not because he had to but because it was His desire. There was much to learn. These were normal session of informal teaching by the Rabbis at the temple. All who heard were 'astonished'. This is the same word Luke uses later to tell of the response to miracles. The questions Jesus asked and the understanding He possessed brought astonishment to them. His parents were also utterly amazed (different word).
Mary asked Jesus why this happened. She was hurt and determining if there was bad intent, although she had to know better. When we lose our 12-year old, we assume they are in trouble. They lost their 12-year-old and find him in church. I think this tends to diffuse any anger or accusation of malice. Regardless, the anxiety of a mother is very real.
The answer Jesus provided was confusing to His parents. It's as if they should have known He would be there. Where else would he be? Jesus appealed to a higher authority, His Father in heaven. Who could argue? Why did Luke tell us this detail? Why was is important to Mary to tell Luke about it during their interview? I think it was to convey that Jesus was on mission from the beginning. When He came to an age to understand and learn, it was clear that He knew His Father's business and he was about it. This was probably a significant marker in Mary's life; the day she thought she lost Him was the day the truth of her Son being the messiah became a reality in her life.
Luke 2:51-52
Now, in verse 51 we see that Jesus is submissive to them. His Father's business didn't trump the parenting of Joseph and Mary. Part of His Father's business was obedience to His parents. Mary kept these things in her heart. Please consider this verse again.
His mother kept all these things in her heart. (Luke 2:51)
First, I've wondered how Luke came to know of all the details about the birth of Christ. In verse two he told us his account was one of eyewitnesses. He knew of the manger, swaddling cloths and visits of shepherds. He knew of the circumcision and trip to the temple. It seems Luke had to have talked to Mary. He had to have spent some time with her when she told him these things. This verse 51 really convinces me of this conversation between the two. Only Mary can give a first hand account of what was in her heart (same with Luke 1:66 and 2:19).
I imagine Mary telling Luke that there was so much that happened along the way that she didn't understand at the time. Now, later, it all made sense.
Jesus continued to grow to be a young man. He wisdom and maturity. His favor with God and man was established. We saw Him in the presence of those who knew their need of a Savior; those who sought him and not before the self-sufficient of the world. This will become more and more obvious as His ministry begins to unfold.
©2019 Doug Ford
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