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 to be through him, and without him nothing came to be…John 1:1-2
In time, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you… Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God… 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 Son of the Most High! Luke 1:28
LUKE 2:1-20 THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD
In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled in a census. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town…Joseph and Mary too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem…While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son; Mary wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people…Today, in the city of David, a Savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord…Luke 2:2-8, suddenly a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praised God, saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace to those on whom his favor rests.”…
In Christ, God took on human attributes; in Christ humans can now take on the divine qualities of mercy, love, insight, and immortality. In exchange for the humanity He takes, the Incarnate Word gives us a share in his divinity. God is born in time so we can be reborn in eternity. For to us a child is born… and his name shall be called Wonder Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:1-7
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light!”
Isaiah 9:1-2
COMMENTARY
In Jesus’ own words He affirms He is that light. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 Jesus is the Word made flesh…the Word Incarnate ….Through Him comes Life….
And this Life is the Light of the World ….darkness cannot keep out the Light….those who choose Light ….become children of the Light….and testify to the Light… Let us be people of the Light who walk in the Light and give witness to the Light everywhere we go! AMEN!
THE CHILD JESUS
Before I take up Jesus’ public ministry in the next chapter, I must point out some very significant events that occurred when Jesus was a child. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, was born homeless (Mt.8:20) and then became a refugee with Mary and Joseph in flight to Egypt to avoid Herod’s infanticide of male children!
Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, was born in a borrowed manger, had no fixed address once he began his public ministry, and was buried in another man’s grave. It is quite an irony; He, who made the universe, became a homeless person.
In the Old Testament “the glory of God left the temple” Ezekiel 10:18, at the time of the Babylonian occupation of Jerusalem. God continues through his prophets during the seventy years of captivity in Babylon to promise the restoration of Jerusalem and its Temple. God will be with His holy people again.
In the Feast of the Presentation in the Temple of Jesus in the New Testament, we celebrate God’s return to the Temple as witnessed by Simeon the prophet,” Now You shall dismiss your servant, in peace O Lord according to your word: for my eyes have seen your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the confidence of things not seen” Hebrews 11:1
The Finding of the child Jesus in the Temple in Luke’s Gospel has some rich tidbits too. “”After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” Luke 2:46-47 At age twelve, Jesus is listening to teaching in the temple during Passover. But 20 years or so later, he is the Teacher in these same courts, and His many, many hearers are still struck with his insight and authority.
THE CHILD JESUS TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE
Jesus asks Mary and Joseph, ‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’ But they did not understand what he was saying to them.” The personal intimacy of the phrase “my Father” referring to God is unprecedented in Jewish literature. It is this amazing claim of intimate filial relationship to the Father that gets him accused of blasphemy later in life John 10:29-39.
Jesus was sensing his call to obey the Father. But part of that obedience involved submitting to his parents: “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them” Luke 2:51. Jesus is “filled with wisdom” Luke 2:40, and yet he still grows in wisdom Luke 2:52. This passage covers the next two decades from age twelve until he is about 30 years of age and enters upon his public ministry.
As a boy. Jesus grew in wisdom (discernment) making choices leading Him to the Father. The grace of God was upon Him. By grace, (Spirit of God upon Him) he was enabled to “grow in wisdom” like no other boy in history before or since.
In CHAPTER FOUR of THE STORY OF SALVATION I will take up Jesus’ public ministry.
JESUS HEALER, MIRACLE WORKER, TEACHER, SAVIOR