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| Roman coin denoting the divine sonship status of Augustus |
Here it is. The Christmas gospel! It starts with political history, who were the world leaders---both civil and religious. This orients the story in time and gives it some historical significance. Based on the references, historians suggest that the year was likely 4 or 6 BC. (How could Jesus be born BC, "Before Christ"? Its likely that our calendar is a little wrong).
Then we enter into a family story. A forced migration for tax purposes brings the young, pregnant couple to the ancient town of Bethlehem---home of Israel's greatest King, David. Placing this birth in this town gives it even more significance---a son of David is born, and therefore a future King of Israel. Right under the noses of the Emperor Augustus, his rival is born, known only to insignificant shepherds. They are the poor laborers in the fields, but also reminders to us that David was a shepherd. This is ongoing confirmation that this birth is meaningful. Just as David the shepherd was anointed King, so this child will be a King. Messiah means anointed one. And this baby is the Messiah. Even oppressive imperial decrees serve God's purposes in this story.
Angels sing about peace on earth and goodwill to all people---another suggestion that Roman peace and goodwill is insufficient and not of divine origin. (Augustus Caesar was known as the divine son of God). This newborn will usher in a new age of divine peace, unlike the Romans. This is a political message hidden inside a birth story. A story that ties the baby to both God and royalty.
Faithful elders, prophets, seers, recognize this baby as God's savior. We cannot fail to notice that a savior is needed when a people or nation needs to be saved. This is a nation in trouble, oppressed, living in fear on the margins of existence. Roman assimilation threatens to destroy whole cultures, religions, languages, traditions, holy places, and ethnic practices. Judaism is both a religious faith and an ethnicity with traditions, laws and language. All of this is threatened by Roman occupation. Salvation means rescue from Roman imperialism and all that it means to Jewish life. The Words of Simeon, "Now Lord let your servant depart in peace..."is one of the earliest hymns of Christian prayer for centuries, along with the songs of Zechariah (1:68-79), and Mary (1:46-55). We can't underestimate these words spoken in the temple, the holiest place in Judaism. It is considered the dwelling place of God. God has acted on behalf of God's people through the birth of this child. (Not unlike the birth of Moses or Samuel). This is the Nativity, the Christmas story, the birth of the Messiah. Do you have a beloved Christmas carol? "Away in a Manger" or "O Little Town of Bethlehem" or "Silent Night"? The images are found here in Luke 2!
Finally, we skip from birth in Bethlehem to eighth day circumcision in Jerusalem to a twelve year old boy in the temple. Every way, he is fulfilling requirements of the Messiah. Born in the right place at the right time, obeying the rules. At age thirteen a Jewish boy becomes bar mitzvah, a son or practitioner of the commandments. Jesus is acting like this a year earlier. It is a sign that he is preparing to be a disciple, a student of the Torah---the first five books of the bible and the core of Jewish teachings. When he is twelve, his obedience to God makes him disobey his parents, since he fails to travel with them on their journey home. "Did you not know that I must be in my father's house," he says. What a strange kid! He is not like the others. He's different. There is significance to this chapter. It is simply layered with meaning, allusion, and connection---telling us that this birth is important. Everything that happened here tells us that this child is born for a divine purpose. But if he was, then so were Mary and Joseph. So were Elizabeth and Zechariah. So were those shepherds and Simeon and Anna. Somehow his birth gives greater significance to all those named and unnamed in the story. And by extension, perhaps his birth is significant to us. And perhaps our births matter too.
Tomorrow, chapter 3. The Baptist and the Son.
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