The Life of Christ in the Synoptic Gospels
BIRTH OF JESUS
The Life of Christ in the Synoptic Gospels
BIRTH OF JESUS
Lesson Plan:
1. The Circumstances of the Birth of Jesus (vs 1-7)
2. Heaven Announces the Great Event To Earth (vs 8-12)
3. The Song of the Chorus of Angels – Gloria in Excelsis (vs 13, 14)
4. The Shepherds Find Their Savior (vs 15-20)
Lesson Setting:
Time: Perhaps in December 5 B.C., four years before the date of our Christian era. Shepherds worked in the area day and night, all year round. Therefore it is not possible to draw any conclusions about the time of year by the fact that shepherds were living out in the fields. Note: It was centuries after Jesus was born that men began to date history from the birth of Christ; and the monk Dionysius Exiguus, who first published the calculations in 526 A.D., made a mistake of about four years, and it is too late change it.
Place: Bethlehem of Judah, the early home of King David, 5 or 6 miles south of Jerusalem. The modern town contains thousands of inhabitants, with churches and grottoes which are shown as connected with various events of the Nativity.
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-7
1. The Circumstances of the Birth of Jesus
The Circumstances of the Birth of Jesus was the son of Mary, and the Son of God. Joseph was the reputed father, and often spoken of as the father of Jesus, just as a father now who adopts a young child is spoken of as its father, in any community which does not know the facts. Jesus was the divine Son of God born to the virgin Mary (Lk. 1:26-38) in a human form, a most important fact to all who love, obey and trust Him. The union is a mystery, but no more mystery than the coming of the living soul into the body of every child that is born. Why Jesus the Messiah should be born in Bethlehem: it was promised over and over again that the Messiah Redeemer should be of the kingly house of David whose family home was Bethlehem. (See 2 Sam. 7:12-16; 1 Chron. 17:13, 14; 22:10 in which are promises to the Son of David of those things which are predicted of Jesus.) Joseph and Mary were both descendants of David through the line of the kings of Judah. How Jesus of Nazareth came to be born in Bethlehem:
v 1 ... "There went out a decree from Caesar Augustus," the Emperor of the Roman Empire in which was included the whole civilized and well known world.
v 1 ... "That all the world should be taxed," more accurately 'enrolled.' The verb refers to writing off, copying, or entering the names, professions, fortunes, and families of subjects in the public register ... mainly for purposes of taxation, for the Jews were exempt from military service, and enrollment for that purpose cannot be intended.
v 2 ... "And this taxing," etc. This was the first enrollment made when Cyrenius (another spelling of the Greek word is Quirinius) was governor of Syria. Fixing a precise date for this census is problematic. Publius Sulpicius Quirinius is known to have governed Syria during A.D. 6-9. A well-known census was taken in Palestine in A.D. 6. Josephus records that it sparked a violent Jewish revolt (mentioned by Luke, quoting Gamaliel, in Acts 5:37). Quirinius was responsible for administrating that census, and he also played a major role in quelling the subsequent rebellion. However, that cannot be the census Luke has in mind here, because it occurred about a decade after the death of Herod – much too late to fit Luke's chronology (cf. 1:5). In light of Luke’s meticulous care as a historian, it would be unreasonable to charge him such an obvious anachronism. Indeed, archeology has vindicated Luke. A fragment of stone discovered at Tivoli (near Rome) in A.D. 1764 contains an inscription in honor of a Roman officer who, it states, was twice governor of Syria and Phoenicia during the reign of Augustus. Such could have been Quirinius (Cyrenius). Further: The word used by Luke and translated into English as 'governor,' has a much wider meaning, including not only Governors, but Leaders, Legates, Generals, Administrators of the revenue in the name and with the authority of the Roman Emperor. The discovered inscription suggests that the Roman officer was at this time a special legate of Augustus serving as commander of the Syrian army during a war with a hill tribe of Cilicia, and directing the foreign policy of Syria, while Varus (7-4 B.C.) administered the civil affairs of the province. Roman history provides analogies for such a dual control of a province at a time of crisis. It has been objected that under a Roman census it would not have been necessary for Joseph to go to Bethlehem or for Mary to accompany him, for the Romans enrolled persons where they were living at the time. But the enrollment was not made after the Roman system; but, in order to please the Jews and avoid tumults and riots, was carried out after the Jewish custom according to tribes and households. The necessity for his is shown by the fact that the second census under Cyenius (Quirinius), A.D. 6-9, was accompanied by tumults and disorders. Bethlehem the Birthplace of Jesus. The greatest event in the world took place in a little country town.
v 3 ... "His own city." The city of His ancestors, where the family records were kept.
v 4 ... "The city of David," which is called Bethlehem. The mother of Jesus lived in Nazareth of Galilee, but the prophet had foretold that the Messiah should be born in Bethlehem, the city of David (Mic. 5:2), and this was the only fitting place, for He was the heir of David's kingdom, in whom should be fulfilled the promises to him that his house and his throne should be established forever (2 Sam. 7:16); for the Messiah's kingdom was to be the completion and fruition of David's kingdom.
v 5 ... "With Mary," who also was of the lineage of David. Bethlehem lies on a limestone hill in which are cut terraces planted with splendid olive trees, fig and other fruit trees and vines. It lies in a stony country. It has a background of bare hills. The streets are narrow, the houses strongly built of stone, with thick walls and ample doorways, and the dome-shaped roofs of stone for the construction of which the builders of Bethlehem are famous all over Palestine. The people are distinguished for ability, energy, enterprise and adaptability ... a powerful and vigorous lot, fearless and self-reliant, and perhaps almost too independent. Strongly built and active, the matrons of Bethlehem look very imposing. Bethlehem is 2,550 feet above sea level. Around it cluster many historical scenes. In its fields were Boaz and Ruth, and Naomi. Here David was born and as a shepherd boy watched his father's flocks. Here Rachel was buried. It was fortified by Rehoboam. Here was the well where David's three mighty men made their heroic exploit. Bethlehem was the retreat where Jerome in the 4th Century translated the Bible into Latin, called the Vulgate version, still used in the Roman Catholic Church.
v 7 ... "Wrapped him in swaddling clothes." Not clothes regularly made, but strips of cloth three or four inches wide and several feel long, wound around the child.
v 7 ... "And laid him in a manger," etc. The animals were out at the time, and the manger was not being used. The stable is often a limestone cave or grotto, and there is a very ancient tradition that this was the case in the khan of Bethlehem.
v 7 ... "Because there was no room for them in the inn." The word used here for 'inn' may mean a guest chamber in a private house as in Luke 22:11, in which case Joseph may have relied upon the hospitality of some acquaintance to place his 'guest-chamber' at his disposal. Such guest chambers were open freely to Jews visiting Jerusalem at the great feasts. If Joseph and Mary, arriving late, found the hoped for guest chamber already occupied they might have no resort but the Khan or public caravansary where, in the animal quarters, Jesus was born. Such khans were a large substantial square building, surrounded by a lofty wall. Passing through a strong gateway, the guest enters a large court, the sides of which are divided into numerous arched compartments open in front. In the center is a spacious raised platform used for sleeping upon. Between the outer wall and the compartments are wide vaulted arcades extending around the entire building where the beasts of burden are placed. The raised part of the room is called the 'Mustabeh,' where the family lives; in the lower part are stabled the horse, cow and goats – bins in the background were used for the stowing of family supplies.
No Room for Them in the Inn: It too often happens in these busy lives of ours, crowded with daily toils, and worldly cares and pleasures, that there is little room for the Lord Jesus. Private prayer, family prayers are crowded out. Sunday worship and rest are neglected; little time is found for the loving deeds of kindness and help which Christ would have us do; we are too tired to teach the Bible at home or do special Christian work. Jesus is left in the manger, because the main living rooms of our lives are overcrowded with other things.
One of the greatest dangers today is the overcrowded life. But in reality Jesus does not take up room. The farmer did not lose time spent sharpening the scythe. The time spent serving Jesus Christ, Sundays, prayers, doing good, Christian work, all drive out many useless things and enriches and transforms all that is good so that there is vastly more real value in life. His presence inspires new life so that much more can be accomplished than otherwise would be possible.
Why Jesus Began Life in This Humble Way: Jesus came to earth in the circumstances best fitting Him to be the Savior of man. He began His life in an humble way, and was brought up in humble life and honest toil, that He might be the friend of all men, but especially of the poor and suffering.
Illustration: A ne'er-do-well, driven from place to place, awoke one Christmas morning in a barn among the cattle, and hearing the bells ringing, recalled the story of Jesus. 'That he was not the first one who had lain in a manger ... he would go to him for help ... maybe he was thinking about me when he done it,' he thought. 'I guess the reason he slept in that manger was that he wanted to fix it so that a poor fellow like me could ask him for things when too low down to ask from anyone else.'
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:8-12
2. Heaven Announces the Great Event to Earth
The whole history of redemption in the Bible shows us how God and His angels have been intensely interested in the salvation of man from sin and its consequences. If there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth, how great must be their joy that the Redeemer came to save multitudes from their sin. For no one knows as much as they the needs, dangers and possibilities of man.
v 8 ... "And there were in the same country." In the fields near Bethlehem.
v 8 ... "Shepherds abiding in the field." The open country, with their flocks. There are no detached farmhouses in Palestine, as with us, but the farmers live in villages, and hence would have to abide in the fields to watch and defend their flocks from thieves and wild beasts and rocky crevasses.
The writer Edersheim shows from the Mishanah that the flocks under the care of these shepherds were destined for Temple Sacrifices and that these flocks lay out in the fields all year round. Perhaps these shepherds were many days from home, and abiding in the Bethlehem fields only for a night, maybe wrapped in their heavy cloaks and lying upon the ground, surrounded by their sheep. While there is no certainty as to the time of year, yet there is nothing in this statement that militates against Christ's birth being in December, for during the month of December the earth is clothed with rich verdure, and sowing and ploughing go on at intervals. The period around Christmas is often one of the loveliest periods of the whole year. In these fields David had kept watch many a night, and had fought a lion and a bear in defense of his flock.
v 9 ... "And, lo, the angel of the Lord." Angel signifies 'Messenger,' 'one sent,' from the Lord of heaven, and shown to be a heavenly being by the fact that "the glory of the Lord shone round about them," that is, the glory shinning from the angels irradiated the shepherds. The glory was the outshining of the true nature of the angels as in the Transfiguration, the glory of Jesus, as described by Paul in Acts 26:13 and by John in Revelation 1:13-16, was the shining of His true nature through His flesh and His garments, as by a light from within, as the sunlight through dull stained glass windows reveals the true glory of the picture. Dante describes an angel he met in Paradise, 'as a fine ruby smitten by the sun.'
v 9 ... "Came upon them," apparently coming upon them without their being aware of his approach.
v 9 ... "And they were sore afraid." The universal consciousness of sin and of unfitness for the eternal world makes all mankind afraid of any unexpected disclosure of the spiritual world or revelation of the nearness of God. They could not tell whether it was intended as a lightening flash of vengeance, or a ray from 'the Sun of righteousness with healing in His wings.'
v 10 ... "Good tidings." the word from which our word 'gospel' comes. They announced the best news the world had ever heard, the news of the Savior who would fill the whole world with heavenly glory, like that shining on the field of Bethlehem.
v 10 ... "To all people." To all ages, all nations, all classes, all colors. The Gospel is the universal religion, as broad as the human race; and the joy is more intense to each one because it is for all.
v 11 ... "For unto you is born ... a Savior." One who would save them from their sins, their worst and most dangerous enemies. 'Jesus' means Savior.
v 11 ... "Christ." 'The Anointed One,' the Messiah, whom they had long been hoping and praying for. He is called 'Anointed' because He had been divinely set apart for this work, as kings and high priests were set apart by anointing with oil.
v 11 ... "The Lord." The King of kings and Lord of lords.
v 12 ... "And this shall be a sign unto you," that the words spoken were true; and a guiding sign, like the sign to the wise men, showing how they might know what child was the one referred to. Notice how the shepherds received this blessing while faithfully performing their ordinary daily duties. There is no place or time where we may not receive the heavenly vision.
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:13, 14
3. The Song of the Chorus of Angels – Gloria in Excelsis v 13 ... "Suddenly," after waiting for the one angel's announcement, like a cloud breaking away and revealing all the stars of heaven,
v 13 ... "there was with the angel a multitude." The whole host of heaven was praising God, not merely that portion of it which was visible to the shepherds. Just as the many thousands of stars visible to the naked eye on the clearest night, are but a small portion of the many millions visible through telescopes. The scene here with the shepherds is illustrated by that earlier scene at Dothan when at Elisha's prayer his discouraged servant suddenly saw their unseen defenders, the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire.
v 13 ... "Praising God," for the greatest manifestation of Love ever known, revealing greater heights and depths of love than even they had known before.
v 14 ... The song of the angels, the Gloria in Excelsis, consists of two strains of three members each: Glory – To God – in the Highest Place ... Good Will – To Men – On Earth!
v 14 ... "Glory to God." Glory is the outward expression of the inner light of God's nature, the unveiling of the Father. For the coming of Jesus was the highest expression of God's glory, the fullness of His nature, His love, His goodness, which passed before Moses when he asked to see God's glory. In the highest heavens – In the highest heavens, in the highest strains, in the highest degree. In the highest heavens, the utmost reach of God's infinite nature and presence, among the most exalted intelligences, seraphim and cherubim. It is the noblest song and the brightest glory even there. In the highest strains – Only the most exquisite music and song are worthy to express this theme. In the highest degree – The plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, so infinitely wise, so infinitely loving, manifests God's glory more than all the measureless constellations or the wonders of creation, 'when all the sons of God shouted for joy.' For the souls of the saved shall 'shine like the brightness of the firmament and as the stars forever and ever,' even when the stars have faded and the heavens shall be no more. This song was but the prelude and rehearsal for the heavenly song (Rev. 5:13) when the work of Christ is complete, and not only the angels around the throne, but ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands of redeemed saints and every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, are heard saying, BLESSING, AND HONOR, AND GLORY, AND POWER, BE UNTO HIM THAT SITTETH UPON THE THRONE AND UNTO THE LAMB, FOR EVER AND EVER.
v 14 ... "And on earth peace." Peace with God; peace with nature by a life in harmony with its laws; peace with other men: peace in the individual soul, all its faculties and powers working together in perfect harmony; peace with conscience by forgiven sin; perfect victory over sin which is the destroyer of peace. It includes all the blessings, happiness, and prosperity, which perfect peace makes possible. It includes all that makes heaven be heaven in outward and inward joy. This peace is the fruit of the Gospel in each soul that receives it, and the ultimate result of the Gospel in all the world. And even now the rays of this peace are illuminating the mountain- tops of human experience – the pledge and the promise that at length the time is sure to come...
v 14 ... "Good will toward men," expresses God's feelings and purpose toward us; a divine revelation of what was but dimly known before; and exactly meets the deepest needs of man. The American Standard Version translates this way, 'And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.' Thus, limiting the phrase to those men who are the objects of the good pleasure of God. They may or may not be 'all' men, but the intention is not to assert that God's good pleasure rests on 'all.' However, the internal evidence in favor of the old translation seems overwhelming. It is hard to conceive that the angels in so brief a song revealing the feelings of heaven, would take the trouble to repeat so trite a saying, a truth well known on earth long before, which even the unbelievers know, that there was peace among those in whom God was well pleased. What the world needed to know was that God had goodwill toward all men; that the holy God loved this sinful, rebellious, unworthy world, lying in darkness and the shadow of death; that the Father loved His wandering, prodigal children, all defiled with sin. To bring this message, to publish the glad tidings that 'God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life' – this was worthy of the whole host of angel messengers to bring to man. The coming of the Christ has inaugurated that which shall be for the glory of God in the highest and shall bring peace on earth, and this shall be among men; and men are they in whom God has invested all, looking to them for the fulfillment of His hopes, the source of His delight, the accomplishment of His highest will. The age-long failure of men can never alter the fact that the end toward which all God's creative activity has moved, from the beginning even until now, is the fulfillment of God's will in and through men. God's Wonderful Love is shown in this song of His angels. That He with His infinite purity, could look upon a world of sin, on men whose hearts are full of lust, and cruelty, men who hate all He loves, and are opposed to all He wants men to be; a world so full of shames and crimes and fears and desolations and disaster, moral wounds, bruises and purifying sores, and even the imperfections of His saints – and yet love them with an infinite love and pity, is the marvel of the universe. His forgiving love should be proclaimed everywhere. It should be written on the moral skies in letters of everlasting light. It is best made known by those who love Him by imitating His example, and making their lives the echoes of the angel's song, and embodiments of the Father's love. The Angels belong to the Great Society of Encouragers, as they watch the great battle between good and evil in which man is engaged. Note: If the Angels take so much interest in our salvation, in our becoming servants and lovers of God, how unworthy for us to be indifferent and careless.
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:15-20
4. The Shepherds Find Their Savior v 15 ... "Let us now go ... and see." They wisely proceeded to investigate and see if what the angels said was true, and not a dream.
v 16 ... "They came with haste." Showing their zeal and ardor, as well as faith. We can never find the Savior too soon.
v 16 ... "And found" everything just as the angels had told them; and they then knew that the angel's message was true – the Savior had come. Their faith and obedience met with a rich reward.
v 17 ... "They made known abroad." They told those in the inn, and all they met, of the wonderful things they had seen and heard in the fields. The news was too good to keep: it belonged to the world. Whoso-ever has truly found the Savior burns to proclaim to all around what a Savior they have found (See Acts 4:20; 1 Jn. 1:1-3).
v 18 ... "All they that heard it wondered." They were astonished, and then man, doubtless, forgot all about it. They treated the good news as many now treat religion; they are interested in it, but do not seek for it as for hidden treasures.
v 19 ... "But Mary," in contrast with the others ... "kept all these things" in her memory. They were treasures whose value the following years revealed to her.
v 19 ... "Pondered them." Kept revolving them, comparing them with the promises of the Old Testament, and what had been announced to her.
v 20 ... "The shepherds returned." To their duty as shepherds, but with a new life and blessing in all their daily work. Feeding sheep could never again be commonplace toil to them. After our holiest communion with God, our views from the Pisgahs of life, our insight into the Word and Heaven on the mounts of transfiguration, we must return to our daily duties, but with a new life in them, a new blessing on them.
