In Today's Email:
Luke 2 Notes
In this chapter are Christ’s birth and childhood.
vs. 1-7 – This would occur around the Feast of Tabernacles in September or October based on the timeline from John the Baptist’s birth. There is a Roman census taking place which was mandated by Caesar Augustus. The first four verses of this chapter have been attacked by critics for centuries as inaccurate. However, we must remember that these accusations are modern and not ancient. Those living in this time with records that are now lost to us found no mistakes here. There were initiatives by Augustus to get an accurate census of empire to calculate taxes. The Romans would allow local areas to conduct such orders according to their local customs, so the Jews would do so honoring their tribal ancestries. Cyrenius (Latin Quirinus) was certainly the governor of Syria, though some say it was early than this. Ancient timelines are notoriously difficult to synchronize, and there is a possibility he served in this office twice. The town of Bethlehem (“house of bread”) would have been overwhelmed by people arriving for the census. It would have been difficult to find a place to stay, though this likely not as often dramatized today. Christ is born in Bethlehem as prophesied in Micah 5:2. The humble site was some sort of stable as Christ’s first bed was a manger.
vs. 8-20 – Bethlehem was a place where lambs were raised to be sacrificed in the Temple. These required extra care, so the shepherds watched over them at all times. Angels appear and announce that Christ had been born. The shepherds rush into town and are the first visitors to worship the Messiah. They become the first heralds of the Lamb of God.
vs. 21 – Christ was born a Jew, subject to the Mosaic Law. He kept this perfectly, including being circumcised. He is named Jesus as the angel Gabriel has said.
vs. 22-38 – There are two reasons for the for this trip to the Temple. First, Mary needed to offer sacrifices to fulfill her ritual purification (Leviticus 12:4-8). Second, to “redeem” the first-born son by giving and offering of five shekels, which is about $120 today (Numbers 18:15-16). We understand that Mary and Joseph were not wealthy by their offering of two turtledoves, the humblest of the acceptable offerings. This visit is also marked by the praises offered by the aged Simeon and Anna.
vs. 39-40 – This parallels Matthew 2:21-23. This return to Galilee is after the flight to Egypt in Matthew 2:13-20. We note the human development that Christ humbled Himself to experience in verse 40.
vs. 41-51 – When Christ is 12, He and His family go to Jerusalem for the Passover, which is one of the three pilgrimage feasts of Israel. It is not stated thus, but this event could mark something like the modern Bar Mitzvah. Jewish custom has been that a boy becomes an adult and responsible for following the Law at age 13. The interaction with the sages in the Temple could be a test of His knowledge of the Torah, which was upended when He was more of an expert than the experts were. It is to be noted in the culture that the questions that you asked were as important as the answers you gave in gauging your knowledge. Mary and Joseph had started their return journey, which, according to Jewish tradition, you did not go very far on the first day in case you forgot something. There would be thousands of people travelling and it would be assumed that Christ was with other family members. Christ’s response is to tell His earthly parents that they need not worry about Him as would surely accomplish everything God intended for Him to do.
vs. 52 – This verse summarizes the rest of Jesus’s life, from age twelve to age thirty.
Luke 3 Notes
In this chapter Christ begins His ministry.
vs. 1-2 - Luke begins by setting the timing of John the Baptist beginning his ministry in the custom of the time by identifying rulers. Tiberius became Caesar alongside Augustus in A.D. 12. This lasted two years before Augustus died and he became the sole ruler. The fifteenth year of his reign counts those two as co-ruler, making this A.D. 26. Pontius Pilate was prefect of Judaea from A.D. 26-36. Herod Antipas ruled Galilee. Philip, today called Herod Philip II, ruled an area north and east of the Sea of Galilee. Lysanias ruled a small territory north of the Sea of Galilee. The Jewish High Priest was Caiphas, who held the office from A.D. 18-36. Annas, his father-in-law, had been High Priest from A.D. 6-15, but continued to exert influence through his family until at least A.D. 44. This is the setting in which John the Baptist arrives.
vs. 1-18 – This parallels Mathew 3:1-12, Mark 1:1-8, and John 19:19-34. John is now 30 years old, the age at which a priest would begin their Temple service. His message was repentance of sin for the hope of the coming Kingdom of God. Luke points to his fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 40:3-5. We have here a sample of his preaching, which encouraged living a righteous life. He warned the people to prepare for the Messiah’s arrival. He confessed that he only baptized with water, but that the Messiah would baptize with the Spirit (salvation) and with fire (judgment, damnation).
vs. 19-20 – Matthew 4:12, 14:3-5; Mark 6:17-20; Luke 3:14, 3:19-20; John 4:14, and 3:19-20. This section jumps ahead in time maybe a year to mention John being incarcerated by Herod Antipas. John preached against Herod and Herodias’s marriage and their divorces of their previous spouses that made it possible.
vs. 21-22 - This parallels Matthew 3:13-17 and Mark 1:12-13. Christ is baptized by John the Baptist. The event is marked by an appearance of the Trinity: the Son in the water, the Spirit descending like a dove, and the Father speaking His approval.
vs. 23-38. This parallels Matthew 1:1-17. Christ is about 30 years old when He begins His public ministry, meaning that it is only about six months that John the Baptist had preached about His arrival. Luke here records a genealogy of Christ that differs somewhat from the one in Matthew. I believe this is Mary’s lineage as indicated in verse 23 by noting that Joseph was not His biological father. There are 77 names in this list. This line goes through David’s son Nathan instead of Solomon, though the two genealogies do meet briefly with Salathiel and Zorobabel at the close of the Babylonian Captivity.
Closing Thoughts
One of the reasons I love Luke’s writing so much is his attention to detail. He could have just said Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but he takes the time to tell us the date through listing the current rulers and also the reason in the census. He could have just noted that John the Baptist started preaching, but again he spends time to point to the exact year and setting. If it almost too marvelous to believe that God became man and came to die for our sins. But this is real history! Christ really was born in Bethlehem around 4 B.C. He really did die and rise again. He really does offer salvation to those that put their trust in Him. It is all true, both the history and theology.
Hymn for Today
Our hymn today is “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,” written by Charles Wesley in 1744.
Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
born to set Thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us;
let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth Thou art,
dear Desire of ev'ry nation,
joy of every longing heart.
Joy to those who long to see Thee,
Dayspring from on high, appear;
come, Thou promised Rod of Jesse,
of Thy birth we long to hear!
O'er the hills the angels singing
news, glad tidings of a birth:
"Go to Him, your praises bringing;
Christ the Lord has come to earth."
Come to earth to taste our sadness,
He whose glories knew no end;
by His life He brings us gladness,
our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.
Leaving riches without number,
born within a cattle stall;
this the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.
Born Thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit,
rule in all our hearts alone;
by Thine own eternal merit,
raise us to Thy glorious throne.