Luke-2-Study-Notes
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Luke 2 Jesus’ Birth and Childhood Luke 2 tells us of Jesus’ birth and childhood; again, we see that Luke spent time with Mary to get these stories. Verses 1&2 Events at the time of Jesus’ Birth • Luke lets us know what is going on during the time Jesus was born and how it affected the. • Caesar Augustus was a powerful ruler; he took over an empire in chaos, infrastructure and farms were largely neglected of damaged by war. Roads and streets were unsafe at night; travelers kidnapped and sold into slavery. Morals were very loose due to wealth and luxury for a few and poverty and little hope for others. • Guzik states; Caesar brought order by; 1) defeating all of his rivals, 2) he had great political and administrative skill, and 3) he brought vast sums of money from Egypt to pay soldiers and help the economy of Rome. • Rome had always been a republic; but that wasn’t enough for Caesar and he made it happen and was made emperor; Caesar Augustus (Augustus literally means exalted). • The order Caesar brought did not solve the real problems; he just stopped them for a time with more government bureaucracy. Under his rule he did expand the empire and helped the Roman people in many ways. • Caesar issues a decree for a census; in effect this wasn’t to count people and get data like our census; but the point of a census was to tax people in an efficient manner. All of this is historically recorded as well as Biblically. • The governor in the Roman region near Galilee at the time was Quirinius and this is also historically recorded. • The world responds to Caesar and all go to their own city. • It is interesting how God uses Caesar and his decree to fulfill the prophecy of Micah 5:2; that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. After all, I’m sure Joseph and Mary didn’t want to make the trip nearly nine months pregnant. 1 • Guzik notes that for many, this wasn’t a bad trip; yes, they had to pay taxes, but it was also an opportunity to gather with family because each returned to the city of family origin. Verses 4-7 Jesus’ Birth • Joseph was of the lineage of King David (remember the promise made to David that someone from his family would rule forever – this lineage is important – fulfills prophecy) and so he went to Bethlehem, the town of David. • Bethlehem is south-southwest of Nazareth about 80 miles. This was an expensive trip and took them a considerable amount of time; just to go pay taxes. • Stop and think for a moment; Mary was nearly nine months pregnant. She didn’t have to go with Joseph according to Roman law. On the other hand, it did get both Joseph and Mary away from people and all the social pressure that went along with Mary being pregnant. • Walter Liefeld confirms; “It is possible that Joseph used the emperors order as a means of removing Mary from possible gossip and emotional stress in her own village. He had already accepted her as his wife (Matthew 1:24), but apparently continued in betrothal (Luke 2:5), pledged to be married, till after the birth.” • Luke does not waste a whole lot of words describing the birth; “And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son.” • She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes. Guzik notes; “this comes from the ancient Greek word “to tear,” meaning they were torn strips of cloth wrapped around Jesus.: • Given the fact that the Bible states firstborn indicates that Mary had other children. • He was placed in a manger; a feeding trough for an animal. • Obviously, Joseph could find no other place to stay; “no room for them in the inn.” 2 Verses 8-14 Birth announced to the Shepherds • Whether these were the shepherds that cared for the temple flocks, we don’t know. Guzik notes that Bethlehem shepherds were known to care for the temple flock. If so, the lambs they cared for were the ones used in temple sacrifice. • This would have been quite a shock to them to have a shining angel appear before them. • The angel knew this so the first thing he says is; “Do not be afraid.” • He continues; “I bring you good news of great joy.” Good news is where we get the word gospel from. • According to Leon Morris this was very ironic to use shepherds as the first witnesses. “As a class shepherds had a bad reputation…More regrettable was their habit of confusing ‘mine’ with ‘thine’ as they moved throughout the country. They were considered unreliable and were not allowed to give testimony in the law courts.” God appears to the common people from society right away. • “Born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior.” The term Savior reflects that Jesus will deliver His people; this theme is prominent in both Mary and Zechariah’s songs from chapter one. • God provides humanity a Savior, to save us from our sins. Not what the people then had in mind or perhaps many people today, but God knew just Who we needed even before we were born. • If it wasn’t shocking enough for the shepherds, now a heavenly host appears in the sky; praising God! They said; “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” • What the world needed most; especially in this war torn, devastated region was the peace of Christ. • Guzik writes; “Even the pagans of the first century world sensed this need for peace and a savior.” Epictetus, a first century pagan writer, expressed this: “While the emperor may give peace from war on land and sea, he is unable to give peace from passion, grief, and envy; he cannot give peace of heart, for which man yearn for more than even outward peace.” • I like John Trapp’s statement; “Let God have all the glory, so we may have all the peace, and grace or good will.” 3 Note: Darrel Bock brings out an interesting point on Jesus whole birth story; he asks us to contrast God’s plan versus how we would script the story. God chooses a very simple (very faithful) women to give birth to the Messiah in a normal village in the strangest of settings with witnesses from common shepherds to wise men. Bock also points out the sense of community; the birth and the first day is usually a very private moment. In Jesus case; shepherds and angels were all part of the day’s events. The whole script God designed; shows how He identifies with humanity and the fact that what is important is life, family, and community, not the accoutrements that come with life. Verse 15-20 The Shepherds Response • When the angels had gone away to heaven; the shepherds immediately went to Bethlehem (“Let us now go”) to see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord revealed to them. • The angel told them they’d find the baby in a manger – not something you see every day; a baby in a feeding trough. • William Barclay writes; “It is a lovely thought that the shepherds who looked after the Temple lambs were the first to see the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” • The shepherds were obviously inspired by what the angels had told them and by what they had seen and they immediately went and told others. • People also listened to the shepherds and were astonished and filled with wonder at what they said about this Child. • Mary was obviously impacted by their visit and everything that was happening pondered the events; trying to figure it all out. • Trapp makes a good point; God revealed the birth of Jesus through shepherds and wise men; poor/rich, un-respected/respected, learned/unlearned, Jewish/Gentile, and living near/living far off. • Look at the impact on the shepherds; they returned to their flocks and they glorified and praised God, because everything angels told them was true. • John Calvin calls us all to account here regarding the response of the shepherds; “If the cradle of Christ had such an effect upon them, as to make them rise from the stable and the manger to heaven, how much 4 more powerful ought the death and resurrection of Christ to be in raising us to God?” Verses 21-24 Jesus’ Purification at the Temple • On the eighth day; Jewish children were to be circumcised. Joseph and Mary were devout in their faith and would have followed the Law of Moses. • They brought Jesus to the temple for purification as well; a reminder that we are all born into the world as sinner; except for Jesus. All this is written in Leviticus 12. • Even though Jesus was without sin; he always identified with the people he came to save (sinners). He went through circumcision, purification, and was baptized. He even identified with sinners by being crucified on a cross. • Purification included the sacrifice of a lamb; unless the family was poor, in which case two doves or young pigeon could be sacrificed. • The fact that two young pigeons were used, tells us of the poverty that Jesus was born into. • Guzik notes; all this would have happened before the wise men came for a couple of reasons; 1) they would not have gone to Jerusalem after being warned by an angel. 2) being the faithful people they are, they would not have offered two pigeons given the rich gift they received from the three wise men.