Burunche’s Blog

Matthew 2: Scholars from the East

2 1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory—this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”

3-4 When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

5-6 They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly:

It’s you, Bethlehem, in Judah’s land, no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.”

7-8 Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, “Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.”

It’s 1956, and my third-grade class is performing at the Christmas program at my grade school in our small Midwestern town. Now the boys are singing/shouting, “We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts, we travel afar. Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.” It’s a wonderful Christmas carol, one that helps us remember those Persian scholars, the magi, who were searching for a Savior. We know these men found the infant Jesus. But who was King Herod the Great? How many wise men were there? Where did they come from? Why did God warn them not to return to Herod? For the next few days, we’re going to take a close look at this story, for it hold the key to much of Jesus’ future ministry. While it’s true that we celebrate the coming of the Magi on the Feast of Epiphany January 6^th, we’re going to speed things up a little.

Pastor David Guzik in his Enduring Word Bible Commentary gives us some excellent information. For the complete discussion, see https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/matthew-2/  

We need to know King Herod’s nature. “This was the one known as Herod the Great. Herod was indeed great; in some ways great as a ruler, builder, and administrator; in other ways great in politics and cruelty.

i. “He was wealthy, politically gifted, intensely loyal, an excellent administrator, and clever enough to remain in the good graces of successive Roman emperors. His famine relief was superb and his building projects (including the temple, begun 20 B.C.) were admired even by his foes. But he loved power, inflicted incredibly heavy taxes on the people, and resented the fact that many Jews considered him a usurper. In his last years, suffering an illness that compounded his paranoia, he turned to cruelty and in fits of rage and jealousy killed close associates.” (Carson)

ii. “Augustus, the Roman Emperor, had said, bitterly, that it was safer to be Herod’s pig than Herod’s son. (The saying is even more epigrammatic in Greek, for in Greek hus is the word for a pig, and huios is the word for a son).” (Barclay)”

2. (3) Herod is troubled at the news brought by the wise men. When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

a. When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled: Herod was constantly on guard against threats to his rule, especially from his own family. He assassinated many family members whom he suspected of disloyalty. His being troubled is completely in character.

i. Herod, who wanted to be accepted by the Jews whom he ruled, was not a Jew at all but an Edomite, and Rome recognized him as a vassal king over Judea. The Jews tempered their great hatred of him with admiration for his building projects, such as the magnificent improvements made to the second temple.

ii. Barclay reminds us of what a bloody, violent ruler Herod was: “He had no sooner come to the throne than he began by annihilating the Sanhedrin…he slaughtered three hundred court officers…he murdered his wife Mariamne, and her mother Alexandra, his eldest son Antipater, and two other sons, Alexander and Aristobulus.”

b. He was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him: The fact that all Jerusalem was troubled with Herod is significant. This was due either to the fact that the people of Jerusalem rightly feared what sort of paranoid outburst might come from Herod upon hearing of a rival king being born, or because of the size and dignity of this caravan from the East.

i. This trouble is again testimony to the greatness of Jesus, even as a young child. “Jesus of Nazareth is so potent a factor in the world of mind that, no sooner is he there in his utmost weakness, a new-born King, than he begins to reign. Before he mounts the throne, friends bring him presents, and his enemies compass his death.” (Spurgeon)

Reading how terrible Herod was, we might ask, “Why would God use someone like this in any fashion?” But we must remember Isaiah 55:9, which tells us that God’s ways are far higher than ours. God uses Herod’s paranoid query to his court scholars to help the magi learn where to look for baby Jesus.

Herod has already annihilated the Sanhedrin, has slaughtered 300 court officers, and has murdered several of his own family members. When Herod summons the remaining priests and Jewish religious scholars to his palace demanding to know the birthplace of the Messiah, these men rush to the court. These men quote Micah 5:1 “But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah, least among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times.”

Bethlehem was known as the City of David, and the Messiah was to come from David’s royal lineage. In Herod’s day, Bethlehem was a tiny village about 6 miles from Jerusalem. Modern Bethlehem is practically a Jerusalem suburb. The wise men take off for Bethlehem while Herod rubs his hands in glee, thinking that he has duped these crazy astronomers into doing his investigation for him. At the same time, Herod is likely wondering, “Bethlehem? Why Bethlehem? Why not Jerusalem or some other major city. Bethlehem has nothing to recommend it-what a scraggly little place!

When we read the Christmas story, we frequently read only from Luke 2 and stop once the angels have returned to heaven and the shepherds have returned to their sheep. But if we unpack that story, there are many more miracles to discover. Here, God uses one of the most despicable rulers living to help the magi find Baby Jesus. Are the magi taken in by Herod’s oily pronouncements? Are you kidding? The magi are men of experience and Herod’s reputation has even reached Persia. So the magi take the advice of Herod’s scholars and try to distance themselves from Herod as they continue their quest.

We must always be prepared for God to do amazing things in our lives, using the most unlikely people. Here a tyrannical murderer plays a role he fails to understand. What is sad is that the religious scholars who advise the magi on the Messiah’s location refuse to heed their own advice, but remain in Jerusalem where they piously continue to await a Messiah who has already come just a short distance from their courts.

At Christmas and throughout the year, we have a choice: will we be like the magi, willing to risk everything to come to Jesus, or will we copy those religious scholars who could have come to Jesus but who failed to do so because they cherished other notions about what the Messiah would look like? As another Christmas carol urges, “O come, let us adore him!”

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord Jesus, we adore You for coming to earth as a helpless baby and enduring all the stresses of a human life. Thank You for Your great gift of salvation. In Your mighty and precious Name, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Luke 2:21-40Blessings

21 When the eighth day arrived, the day of circumcision, the child was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived.

22-24 Then when the days stipulated by Moses for purification were complete, they took him up to Jerusalem to offer him to God as commanded in God’s Law: “Every male who opens the womb shall be a holy offering to God,” and also to sacrifice the “pair of doves or two young pigeons” prescribed in God’s Law.

As Jewish law demanded, Jesus underwent circumcision at the age of eight days, but why the mention of purification? We read this and don’t even consider purification, but both Mary and Joseph required purification. The website https://www.bibleversestudy.com/luke/luke2-purification-of-mary.htm gives us this information: “What is meant by “their purification” (Luke 2:22)?
The purification of Mary and Joseph. Mary was ceremonially unclean after having given birth and Joseph was also ceremonially unclean for having touched Mary while she was bleeding, so the Jewish law required the purification of Mary, as well as Joseph.

How long did their purification require?
The purification of Mary required forty days: Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If a woman has conceived and borne a son, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her customary impurity she shall be unclean. And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. Then she shall continue in the blood of her purification thirty-three days. She shall not touch any holy thing nor come into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are completed’” (Leviticus 12:1-4). The purification of Joseph required less than one day: “If a woman has a discharge, and the discharge from her body is blood, she shall be set apart seven days, and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening” (Leviticus 15:19). So as a couple, “the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were completed” (Luke 2:22) forty days – the longer of the two-after Mary gave birth to Jesus.”

So, forty days after Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary went to the temple to offer Jesus to God and sacrifice two young doves or pigeons as a blood offering on Jesus’ behalf. But God was about to do something wonderful.

Luke2:25-32 In Jerusalem at the time, there was a man, Simeon by name, a good man, a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him. The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God before he died. Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the rituals of the Law, Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God: God, you can now release your servant; release me in peace as you promised. With my own eyes I’ve seen your salvation; it’s now out in the open for everyone to see: A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, and of glory for your people Israel.

33-35 Jesus’ father and mother were speechless with surprise at these words. Simeon went on to bless them, and said to Mary his mother, “This child marks both the failure and the recovery of many in Israel, a figure misunderstood and contradicted—the pain of a sword-thrust through you—But the rejection will force honesty, as God reveals who they really are.”

36-38 Anna the prophetess was also there, a daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was by now a very old woman. She had been married seven years and a widow for eighty-four. She never left the Temple area, worshiping night and day with her fastings and prayers. At the very time Simeon was praying, she showed up, broke into an anthem of praise to God, and talked about the child to all who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem.

39-40 When they finished everything required by God in the Law, they returned to Galilee and their own town, Nazareth. There the child grew strong in body and wise in spirit. And the grace of God was on him.

First, Luke introduces us to Simeon, a faithful believer who has been longing for the advent of the Messiah, living “in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel.” Year after year, Simeon has waited. God has promised Simeon that he will see the Messiah before he dies. Perhaps God made that promise to Simeon when he was a young man. And now, Simeon is elderly and still hoping. Some days, Simeon’s knees rebel when he climbs those temple steps, but Simeon continues to appear in the temple every day. After all, if Messiah truly comes, won’t he come to the temple first?

There Is something special in the atmosphere of Jerusalem that morning. The Jerusalem stones seem to glow with a special light. As Simeon climbs the stairs that morning, he prays as he has for years. “Blessed are You, Lord God of the Universe! Let today be the day I am privileged to greet Your Messiah!”

Simeon has just entered the temple and is looking around when he sees a young couple coming with a newborn baby. The baby’s mother is just a teen-age girl, and her husband standing close to her is little older. But as Simeon stares at the couple, suddenly the light of the Holy Spirit illumines the little family, and Simeon knows beyond any doubt that this infant is God’s promised Messiah. With deep peace in his heart, Simeon approaches the couple. Greeting them courteously, Simeon asks if he might hold the baby to give it an elder’s blessing. Simeon takes the baby in his arms and speaks words that have echoed down the centuries. “God, you can now release your servant; release me in peace as you promised. With my own eyes I’ve seen your salvation; it’s now out in the open for everyone to see: A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, and of glory for your people Israel.”

This pronouncement is shocking enough, but there is more to follow. Simeon turns his attention to Mary and Joseph. “This child marks both the failure and the recovery of many in Israel, a figure misunderstood and contradicted—the pain of a sword-thrust through you—But the rejection will force honesty, as God reveals who they really are.”

While Mary and Joseph are struggling to absorb everything Simeon has said, the Prophetess Anna, age 104, approaches as well. Everybody knows Anna, for she has spent the last eighty-four years in the temple, praying and fasting and being fed by the priests and fellow worshipers. But true prophets are rare at this time, and prophetesses even more so. Anna is greatly respected, for her prophecies are few but very accurate. Now Anna begins singing hymns of praise to God over the child and prophesying about him to the other worshipers.

Once more, blood figures prominently in the story of Jesus’ life. Because Joseph was forced to deliver Jesus, he was exposed to Mary’s blood and became ritually unclean, requiring purification. Mary required purification as a routine matter. Then there was the small amount of blood Jesus would lose during the circumcision. And finally, this poor couple would sacrifice two young doves or pigeons as a blood sacrifice. Even though the adult Jesus would shed his blood for the sins of the world, offering purification for sin. But in the beginning, others shed blood for him.

The stories of Simeon and Anna are short but thrilling. Here are two faithful believers who have waited most of their lives to see the fulfillment of God’s promises, and today, their hopes and dreams have been fulfilled. We never hear about either of these people again; perhaps, having spoken blessings over Jesus, they both die that same night, Simeon at his home and Anna in some quiet corner of the temple where she has a few blankets and cloths on which she sleeps. But I want to believe that when family and friends find these two faithful elders, they are smiling and the glory of God is on their faces.

Aging is a strange and challenging process. As our time on earth begins to draw to a close, we need to examine ourselves. Are we, like Simeon and Anna, longing to see God work in people’s lives? Are we looking for evidences of the Messiah, or are we too distracted?

Some of us can identify with Simeon, if not with Anna. We long to see manifestations of the Holy Spirit, and we wonder, “Will this be the day?” Simeon and Anna both died, satisfied with the knowledge that Messiah was come. For those of us who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One, the Sone of God, we long for the day when heavenly trumpets will sound, the skies will open, and Jesus will return, not as a helpless baby but as a conquering king. And we bow with Simeon and cry in our hearts, “Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!”

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to share the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus wherever we go. Lord, bring as many people as possible to repentance and to salvation in Jesus Christ. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Luke 2:1-5 Christ Born of Mary

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

This photo has been taken at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. It shows the interior of the stable/cave where Jesus was born. The only thing wrong with the photo is the manger, for all indications are that the manger would have been a stone feed trough rather than a wooden construction. Stone is far more durable and wood was at a premium even in Jesus’ day.

When you look at that place, there’s nothing warm or Christmasy about it, although there were probably animals that helped keep the place warm. At least the cave wouldn’t have been drafty and the temperature would have been constant. But contrast that place with a modern delivery suite like the one pictured below. Two midwives and a doctor are assisting this lady to deliver in a nice clean well-lighted room. To quote the carol, “All is calm, all is bright.”

Had Mary delivered at home, there would have been ta local midwife to help, and her mother and other female relatives would have been there as well. The lighting might not have been much; however, the place would have been as clean as several women could make it, and there would have been plenty of clean cloths to catch the blood. Once baby Jesus was born, he would have been cleaned and then rubbed with salt before being wrapped in swaddling cloths.

But that night, Mary had only Joseph to help her. The pains had begun earlier that afternoon. Mary sat on the donkey while Joseph desperately searched for a place for them to stay. By the time the inn keeper grudgingly gave permission for them to occupy the stable, Mary was becoming frantic. As the couple entered the stable, Mary felt a gush of warm liquid flowing down her legs, and she knew her membranes had ruptured. Gasping, Mary waited as Joseph lit an oil lamp and spread cloths on the cleanest part of the floor so she could lie down. Although Mary was young, she had watched many women give birth back in the village and now she was the one who had to instruct Joseph. Mary could feel the pains getting stronger and closer together.

“Joseph,” Mary moaned, “the baby is about to come. Do you have string to tie the cord? Do you have a knife? And do you have any cloths laid out?”

“Yes, yes, and yes,” Joseph replied. “I might be a man, but your mother warned me I might have to become a midwife. And I have cloths laid out on this manger; it seems clean.”

“That’s …..fine!” Mary grunted as the pains intensified.

“Yahweh, help us!” cried Joseph.

Suddenly, Mary screamed, “Joseph!” Mary’s body stiffened as she gave first one giant push and then a second one. After that last push, Mary felt relief; meanwhile, Joseph was busy laying the baby on a cloth, wiping its nose and mouth, and swatting it on the bottom.

“Come on, you, breathe!” Joseph muttered as he worked on the baby. And the baby responded by crying loudly. Joseph tied the umbilical cord and cut it, then swiftly wiped the baby down, wrapping it firmly in the swaddling cloths and laying it in the stone feed trough near Mary.

Turning to Mary, Joseph was shocked at the blood that was flowing, but then the afterbirth came out, and the bleeding stopped. Joseph helped Mary clean herself up and then the two of them began admiring the baby.

I can sympathize with Joseph. As a doctor in a remote rural area, I have delivered babies in all sorts of places. One lady was on her way to the hospital but had to stop two miles out and lie down under a tree. Someone brought word and we arrived just in time for me to catch the baby. Another lady was walking to our maternity ward when she squatted; I saw her just in time to sprint to her side and collect the baby without gloves or any protective clothing whatsoever. And then there was the night when I was at our Children’s Ward, only for a ten-year-old boy to run in, shouting that a lady wanted to deliver outside. Again, I found myself shoving a rubber apron under the lady’s bottom just in time to catch the baby. Alone in the dark, 20 meters from the Children’s Ward, I pinched the umbilical cord with my fingers and shouted for help. Thankfully, someone called a midwife, who came with all the necessary equipment.

We view Nativity scenes, forgetting the sheer terror of the young couple. These tableaus are sanitized for public consumption; meanwhile, things began with a young mother and her husband delivering a baby by themselves. Although some people have theorized that surely a woman-perhaps the inn keeper’s wife-might have assisted, I doubt it. That night in Bethlehem was sheer chaos, and the innkeeper’s wife was probably tied up feeding people and directing servants.

And then there’s the blood. Depending on where the placenta attaches and how deeply it attaches to the uterus, all kinds of problems can occur, any one of them leading to catastrophic hemorrhage. Although God in His infinite mercy allowed Mary’s placenta to attach and detach normally, she still would have bled. So Mary shed her blood for her son Jesus long before he would shed his blood for the sins of the world.

During the pregnancy, Mary and Joseph had been tried in the court of public opinion in Nazareth and had become an object of scorn and ridicule. According to custom, the young couple should not have had sex until after they had gone through the marriage ceremony, having spent the betrothal year simply preparing. In a small town, nobody would have believed Mary’s story about an angel or the Holy Ghost impregnating her. And now they were in Bethlehem, where Joseph’s family came from originally. If Joseph had any relatives left in Bethlehem, they were already tied up with other relatives. And then there was the scandal of Mary’s pregnancy. No, far better to let Mary and Joseph find their own place to stay.

The sacrifices of reputation, comfort, health, and safety are an important part of the Christmas story. So is the blood that Mary shed soaking whatever cloth she laid on. Good things always cost. Great things cost a great deal. Joseph and Mary gave everything they had to bring Jesus into the world. And when Jesus became a man, he returned that favor by dying for the sins of all of us. May God bless all of us as we celebrate the unspeakable gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, we have no words sufficient to praise You for the gifts You have given us! Your love, Your mercy, Your forgiveness, and eternal life. Forgive our sins and help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Luke 2:1-20 The Birth of Jesus

2 1-5 About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So, Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.

6-7 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.

8-12 There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

13-14 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

15-18 As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the shepherds talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the shepherds were impressed.

19-20 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The shepherds returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!

One pastor friend has an extensive collection of Nativity sets form at least 50 different countries, and I have always enjoyed looking at them. But are they accurate? Forget the nativity sets showing the Holy Family in an open wooden structure with a thatched roof. That stable in Bethlehem was a cave, one of many in the area. Caves are climate-controlled, so the body heat from the animals would naturally keep it comfortable. The manger was not a wooden crate but a stone feed trough. But what about those shepherds? Weren’t they simply dirty and uneducated? Not really.

https://steppesoffaith.substack.com/p/the-real-truth-about-the-shepherds gives fascinating details about those shepherds, the angelic message, and the swaddling cloths:
Most wealthy and influential Jewish people tended to look upon shepherds as lowly and sometimes dangerous. But the shepherds in Luke 2 were quite different. According to the Mishnah, these shepherds had the unique job of performing Temple duties.

The Mishnah is a group of recorded ancient oral traditions that governed the Jewish people following the Maccabean Revolt in 132 B.C. One of its regulations “expressly forbids the keeping of flocks throughout the land of Israel except in the wilderness—and the only flocks otherwise kept would be those for the Temple services” (Bab K.7:7; 80a).

Only priests were allowed to keep the sheep for Temple services. Further, the shepherds were in the nearby fields surrounding Bethlehem, not out in the wilderness where regular sheep were legally kept.

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields…” (v8)

These were not every-day shepherds, as many suppose. These were shepherd-priests charged with tending sheep set aside for Temple use, i.e., ceremonial sacrifices to God. It was the priests’ job to make sure the lambs were without blemish and completely unharmed until the appointed time. It was not an easy job, by any means. It required special men.

Additionally, the fact that they were watching sheep in a field and not in pens suggests that the season was warm, further indicating that the sheep were likely in preparation for Passover.

It is easy to assume that the shepherds were lowly and dirty outcasts. The Mishnah claims otherwise. These were unique people assigned the essential job of caring for holy lambs set apart for God. It seems fitting to choose such people to declare the arrival of the long-awaited Lamb of God.

Watching Over Their Flock

Another statement in the Mishnah says the Messiah would be revealed from the “Migdal Eder,” which translates as “tower of the flock.” It was a lookout tower that stood just outside the city within the Temple priests’ fields.

It was a shepherd-priest’s job to stay in the Migdal Eder all night. With the tower being so tall, the shepherd was literally “watching over the flock by night” (Luke 2:8) while the other shepherds were keeping watch on the ground.

The shepherd-priests stayed in the fields continually, yet their service to the Temple held great cultural and social significance. Even so, due to the nature of their duties, they were still dirty shepherds tending sheep.

And that is when the angels showed up with some very good news.Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Good Tidings of Great Joy

As the shepherds tended their duties, an angel from heaven appeared, saying, “Do not be afraid.” This was a typical greeting to people who initially felt alarmed at their appearance, most recently to Zacharias (1:13) and Mary (1:30). The angel heralded the birth of the Messiah; however, he also gave an update to Moses’ Law.

In beautiful brilliance, the angel hand-delivered a message, telling the shepherd-priests the time for animal sacrifice was nearly over. The Savior, Christ the Lord, had come to be the ultimate and universal sacrifice for sin.

“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

Note the three titles the angel uses in the announcement—Savior, Christ, and Lord. This combination of titles is found only here in Luke 2 and nowhere else in the New Testament. Together, they declare Jesus’ deity, authority, mission, and royalty. To this point, only Caesar required being hailed as the Roman Empire’s savior and lord. However, the angel declared that Jesus is the true Savior and Lord.

The shepherd priests would have immediately understood the titles and their contrasting meanings. The appearance of God’s heavenly army singing praise would have further emphasized the enormity of the event.

The Christ, the promised Messiah, the one the priests had heard about from the prophets, the Savior of the world, was finally born. God had come to the earth to save His people, and He would now be the perfect sacrifice to pay for man’s sin once and for all through His death and resurrection.

The Messiah had come! It is little wonder these priests ran “with haste (v16)” to see the baby the angel spoke of.

The Swaddling Cloths

When the shepherd priests found Mary and Joseph with their new baby, they likely noticed Jesus wrapped in swaddling cloths just as the angel told them (v12). But these were not rags or towels Mary and Joseph brought from home or happened to find in the stable, as many suppose. These cloths were extraordinary.

The Greek word for swaddling cloths in Luke 2:7 is sparganoo (“spar-gan-o-o”), meaning “infant clothes.” It was not common for children of poor parents to have anything resembling a diaper or undergarments, leading some to believe that Joseph and Mary borrowed the cloths from someone wealthy, perhaps a Temple priest like Zacharias.

Although it is unknown where Mary and Joseph got the cloths, some scholars speculate that Zacharias and his wife, Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin, gave Mary cloths from the Temple when she visited them earlier in her pregnancy (Lk 1:39-40). Priests used the cloths to keep lambs free of blemishes as they prepared them for ceremonial sacrifice. As High Priest, Zacharias would have had access to them.

Cloths from the Temple symbolized Jesus’ holiness and God’s plan for Him to be the perfect sacrifice for sin. The shepherd-priests would have quickly noticed the allegory.

After the shepherds saw the Messiah with their own eyes, the Bible says they “returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen (v. 20).” Author Eugene Peterson wrote in his book, The Message, that the shepherds “let loose, glorifying and praising God,” a reasonable response after having a personal encounter with the Lord, knowing He has come to save us.

How wonderful it is that Jesus the Messiah has come! The perfect Lamb of God without blemish and sin has come to cover our sins with His righteousness so that we never have to be separated from the Father again.

May we all “let loose, glorifying and praising” Him for His indescribable gift.

 PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, we praise You for working out all the details to keep Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus safe and to bring special shepherds to share their joy. Help us to rejoice in the salvation Jesus has given to us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 1:18-25 The Birth of Jesus

18-19 The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they enjoyed their wedding night, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.

20-23 While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God’s angel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—‘God saves’—because he will save his people from their sins.” This would bring the prophet’s embryonic revelation to full term:

Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son; they will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for “God is with us”).

24-25 Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God’s angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.

If ever there was a juicy piece of gossip for the Nazareth busy bodies to sink their teeth into, this is it! Mary, the daughter of Anne, that paragon of virtue, that model daughter-sweet, biddable, hard-working, kind, loving Mary-is PREGNANT!!! This is scandalous! And what’s more, she claims she is still a virgin, that God has impregnated her…..wait for it…. to bear the Messiah! Well. The ladies at the well have heard all kinds of excuses throughout the years, but this is a new one.

While the ladies at the well are chortling over this revelation, let’s examine Jewish marriage customs in this age. David Guzik in his Enduring Word Commentary gives us the following information: “There were essentially three steps to marriage in the Jewish world of Jesus’ time.

· Engagement: This could happen when the bride and groom to be were quite young, and was often arranged by the parents.

· Betrothal: This made the previous engagement official and binding. During the time of betrothal the couple were known as husband and wife, and a betrothal could only be broken by divorce. Betrothal typically lasted a year. (The year of betrothal was used by both bride and groom to prepare everything they would need once they became a married couple; however, the bride and groom might not even see each other during that year, let alone have sex with each other.)

· Marriage: This took place after the wedding, after the year of betrothal.

 i. We should consider what a great trial this was for a godly young woman like Mary, and for Joseph her betrothed. “Her situation was the most distressing and humiliating that can be conceived. Nothing but the fullest consciousness of her own integrity, and the strongest confidence in God, could have supported her in such trying circumstances, where her reputation, her honour, and her life were at stake.” (Clarke)

ii. The truth of the supernatural conception of Jesus was disbelieved by many then and was later twisted into lies about the parentage of Jesus. References are made to these suspicions in passages like John 8:19 and 8:41. Lies spread that Mary had become pregnant from a Roman soldier. Here, Matthew set the story straight – both then and now.

iii. “There was no other way of his being born; for had he been of a sinful father, how should he have possessed a sinless nature? He is born of a woman, that he might be human; but not by man, that he might not be sinful.” (Spurgeon)

2. (19) Joseph seeks a quiet divorce.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

a. Joseph her husband: The previous verse told us that Mary was betrothed to Joseph. This comment shows that even though they were not formally married, Joseph was still considered Mary’s husband by betrothal.

b. Being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example: Being a just man, Joseph knew that if Mary had been unfaithful to him, it would be impossible to go through with the marriage. Yet his nature as a just man also did not want to make this an unnecessary hardship or stigma upon Mary. Joseph made the understandable decision to seek a quiet divorce.

c. To put her away secretly: This refers to breaking an engagement by divorce. In Jewish culture of that time, a betrothal was binding and one needed a divorce to break the arrangement.

 Many times, we get so caught up in nativity scenes that we forget that Mary’s pregnancy begins by her becoming the talk of the village. Joseph was a wonderful young man; however, he was ready to find the kindest way to break the betrothal when God sent an angel to reassure him. Before things were through, Joseph would have to take Mary to Bethlehem, help deliver Mary’s baby, and then flee with his young family to Egypt, where they would live until King Herod died.

While we focus on Mary and Joseph, we should also remember their families. We know nothing about Joseph’s family apart from his genealogy; however, we do know that Mary’s mother’s name was Anne. For God to choose these two young people means that they were both exemplary individuals from equally exemplary families. How difficult it must have been for those families to face the gossips, the critics, and those envious of them! But we never hear anything about either family abandoning either Mary or Joseph. Once more, we see that God calls groups of people to sacrifice obediently, even when that means disgrace.

May God help us so that we will obey, even when obedience means public disgrace.

PRAYER:  Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, we thank You that Mary and Joseph and their families obeyed. Help us to follow closely after You, no matter what. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Isaiah 20:1-2   In the year the field commander, sent by King Sargon of Assyria, came to Ashdod and fought and took it, God told Isaiah son of Amoz, “Go, take off your clothes and sandals,” and Isaiah did it, going about naked and barefooted.

3-6 Then God said, “Just as my servant Isaiah has walked around town naked and barefooted for three years as a warning sign to Egypt and Ethiopia, so the king of Assyria is going to come and take the Egyptians as captives and the Ethiopians as exiles. He’ll take young and old alike and march them out of there naked and barefooted, exposed to mockery and jeers—the bared buttocks of Egypt on parade! Everyone who has put hope in Ethiopia and expected help from Egypt will be thrown into confusion. Everyone who lives along this coast will say, ‘Look at them! Naked and barefooted, shuffling off to exile! And we thought they were our best hope, that they’d rescue us from the king of Assyria. Now what’s going to happen to us? How are we going to get out of this?’”

In 711 B.C. the Assyrians captured the Philistine city of Ashdod on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. To reach Ashdod, the Assyrian armies had to pass near or through Israel, leaving the Israelites shaking in their sandals and wondering when they would become the next Assyrian target. Naturally, the Israelites might begin searching for more powerful nations that could save them, such as Egypt or Ethiopia. That’s where this prophetic demonstration comes in.

Anybody who claims to be a prophet had better watch out! It’s great to swan around getting credit for things over which you really have no control, claiming that your prophecies have been fulfilled; however, true prophets sometimes suffer a lot. God wants the Israelites to realize that trusting Egypt and Ethiopia are worthless endeavors and that only He can save them.

God knows that the Israelites are thick-headed and rebellious once they fixate on something, so He instructs Isaiah to take off his outer garment and walk around barefooted wearing only his inner garment and a loin cloth for three years. Three years is long enough for Isaiah to walk through a good share of Israel, underscoring the futility of trusting in outside powers. Isaiah is appearing in public as if he were a captive of a foreign power. In those days, captives were forced to wear only their undergarments and go barefoot as a sign of complete subjugation and humiliation. Sometimes, a conquering army would even chop off the simple tunic to expose the captives’ buttocks and also shave half their beards.

2 Samuel 10:1-4 describes such treatment: “Some time after this, the king of the Ammonites died and Hanun, his son, succeeded him as king. David said, “I’d like to show some kindness to Hanun, the son of Nahash—treat him as well and as kindly as his father treated me.” So David sent Hanun condolences regarding his father.

But when David’s servants got to the land of the Ammonites, the Ammonite leaders warned Hanun, their head delegate, “Do you for a minute suppose that David is honoring your father by sending you comforters? Don’t you think it’s because he wants to snoop around the city and size it up that David has sent his emissaries to you?”

So Hanun seized David’s men, shaved off half their beards, cut off their robes halfway up their buttocks, and sent them packing.”

King David was only sending a delegation to sympathize with the Ammonite king on the death of his father, David’s friend. But King Hanun listened to short-sighted advisors who were likely doing everything they could to gain an early advantage with this new king. After all, what could be more dramatic than abusing some Israelite couriers? What began as an innocent diplomatic gesture wound up as a major insult to King David, the ruler of a neighboring power. David had to allow his emissaries to stay outside Jerusalem until their beards grew back.

The weather in Israel can bebitterly cold. Walking around barefoot and undressed sounds like an invitation to pneumonia. Some scholars think perhaps Isaiah only did this for part of the day; however, no matter how many hours Isaiah spent each day undressed like this, he would suffer.

During the Advent and Christmas season, we read the Messianic prophecies Isaiah has recorded and rejoice in them. At last count, there are at least 41 such prophecies. We read Isaiah’s description of his calling as a prophet in Isaiah 6 and marvel at the glorious description of God’s appearance to Isaiah. But it’s easy to ignore the humiliation and suffering Isaiah endured during his ministry of 55-60 years. And then Isaiah may have died as a martyr at the hands of wicked King Manasseh.

Gotquestions.org tells us: The Bible does not disclose how the prophet Isaiah died, but Hebrews 11 may offer a clue. This chapter, often referred to as the “hall of faith,” presents an extraordinary list of Old Testament champions of faith, including a description of several anonymous martyrs and persecuted saints. Hebrews 11:37 states, “Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword” (NLT). According to some extrabiblical sources, one of those unnamed persons sawed in half was Isaiah the prophet.

Isaiah, whose name means “the Lord is salvation,” is the masterful author of the book of Isaiah. His 55-to-60-year prophetic ministry presented the hope of salvation to the people of Judah in the reigns of the kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Ancient Jewish-Christian tradition suggests that Isaiah was martyred by King Manasseh, son of Hezekiah. According to the tradition, Isaiah was tied inside a sack, placed within the hollow of a tree trunk, and then sawed in two. This story traces back to a first-century, noncanonical book called the Ascension of Isaiah, which claims to tell the story of Isaiah’s death.

Isaiah came from a prominent family in Jerusalem and was married with two children. So not only did Isaiah suffer humiliation and hardship, but his family did as well. Imagine the gossip at the local well when his wife was collecting water or the temple school attended by his children. And Isaiah’s two sons bore names of prophecy as well.

This Christmas, read as many of the Messianic prophecies in Isaiah as possible. https://www.preceptaustin.org/messianic-prophecies-in-isaiah has a complete list. But while you’re reading those prophecies, remember poor Isaiah walking around semi-naked and barefoot for three years. Remember Isaiah’s family. And remember that obedience is the best sacrifice and sometimes that obedience costs a great deal.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to remain obedient, even when it costs us our social position or our reputation. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

Luke 1:5-7 During the rule of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest assigned service in the regiment of Abijah. His name was Zachariah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth. Together they lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God. But they were childless because Elizabeth could never conceive, and now they were quite old.

How old is “quite old?” Despite this description, Zachariah is still serving as a priest, indicating that he is less than 50 years of age, the age at which priests must stop serving. The main point here is that both Zachariah and Elizabeth “live honorably before God, keeping the commandments, and enjoying a clear conscience before God.” Elizabeth might be post-menopausal, which would definitely render any pregnancy miraculous.

8-12 It so happened that as Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment, it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense. The congregation was gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering. Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense. Zachariah was paralyzed in fear.

13-15 But the angel reassured him, “Don’t fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John. You’re going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you—many will delight in his birth. He’ll achieve great stature with God.

15-17 “He’ll drink neither wine nor beer. He’ll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother’s womb. He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God. He will herald God’s arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he’ll get the people ready for God.”

18 Zachariah said to the angel, “Do you expect me to believe this? I’m an old man and my wife is an old woman.”

19-20 But the angel said, “I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won’t believe me, you’ll be unable to say a word until the day of your son’s birth. Every word I’ve spoken to you will come true on time—God’s time.”

21-22 Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zachariah was getting restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary. When he came out and couldn’t speak, they knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language with the people.

23-25 When the course of his priestly assignment was completed, he went back home. It wasn’t long before his wife, Elizabeth, conceived. She went off by herself for five months, relishing her pregnancy. “So, this is how God acts to remedy my unfortunate condition!” she said.

When an angel appears to Zachariah while he’s serving in the temple, Zachariah is terrified and then astounded. The angel Gabriel announces that Zachariah and Elizabeth will have a son that will “herald God’s arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he’ll get the people ready for God.”

Zachariah returns home to tell Elizabeth, who undoubtedly laughs quietly to herself. But when Elizabeth becomes pregnant, she withdraws for five months, partially to be sure she won’t miscarry.

Why is this story an example of someone yielding their bodies to God as living sacrifices? Consider the response of Zachariah and Elizabeth’s friends and family. While Elizabeth is thrilled, she might also be embarrassed. After all, Elizabeth must be in her 40’s and has responsibilities as a matron. Now where will Elizabeth go for comfort or fellowship? Many of the other mothers are so young that they could be Elizabeth’s daughters; what does she have in common with them? Will people make fun of Elizabeth? At least, Zachariah can bask in the admiration of his fellow priests. After years of shame for not fathering a child, now Zachariah can strut a bit. Of course, there is one small problem: Zachariah has been struck mute until the baby is born and receives the name of John.

Notice something: When the Angel Gabriel meets the Virgin Mary, Mary is given a chance to agree or to refuse. But with Zachariah and Elizabeth, God doesn’t give them a choice but simply a prediction. Why the difference?

 Zachariah and Elizabeth are one or two generations older than Mary, and are secure in their faith. God knows that if He orders something, this couple will obey promptly without arguing or questioning. Not only will this couple obey promptly, but they will also obey completely, raising John as a Nazarite, a rather unusual choice for a priestly family and one that might leave John’s parents open to criticism.

As we approach Christmas, we must ask ourselves this: How much of ourselves are we willing to give to God? If God asks us to do something, will we agree and obey swiftly and completely, particularly if we might wind up looking ridiculous?  May God help us to be obedient at all times!

PRAYER:  Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to be open to Your leading, sensitive to Your Will, and obedient under all circumstances. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Samuel 23:8-17 This is the listing of David’s top men. Josheb-Basshebeth, the Tahkemonite. He was chief of the Three. He once put his spear to work against eight hundred—killed them all in a day.

9-10 Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite was the next of the elite Three. He was with David when the Philistines poked fun at them at Pas Dammim. When the Philistines drew up for battle, Israel retreated. But Eleazar stood his ground and killed Philistines right and left until he was exhausted—but he never let go of his sword! A big win for God that day. The army then rejoined Eleazar, but all there was left to do was the cleanup.

11-12 Shammah son of Agee the Hararite was the third of the Three. The Philistines had mustered for battle at Lehi, where there was a field full of lentils. Israel fled before the Philistines, but Shammah took his stand at the center of the field, successfully defended it, and routed the Philistines. Another great victory for God!

One day during harvest, the Three parted from the Thirty and joined David at the Cave of Adullam. A squad of Philistines had set up camp in the Valley of Rephaim. While David was holed up in the Cave, the Philistines had their base camp in Bethlehem. David had a sudden craving and said, “Would I ever like a drink of water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem!” So the Three penetrated the Philistine lines, drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But David wouldn’t drink it; he poured it out as an offering to God, saying, “There is no way, God, that I’ll drink this! This isn’t mere water, it’s their life-blood—they risked their very lives to bring it!” So David refused to drink it.

This story comes towards the end of David’s life when the writer of 2 Samuel is reflecting on David’s life and describing David’s mighty men. David’s top three soldiers are battle-hardened, as tough as the rocks, and ready for any challenge. These men also passionately love David as their fearless commander-in-chief and will do anything to protect or please him. Countless times, David has risked his life for the lives of his followers, and these men want to return the favor.

David is holed up in the Cave of Adullam, about 13 miles, or 25 kilometers southwest of his home town of Bethlehem. But the Philistines are headquartered in Bethlehem. After years of running, fighting, and hiding to fight again, David is sad, frustrated, and homesick. When are things going to get better? Will there ever be a time when David will not be fighting for his life? One of David’s top three hears David murmuring to himself about how much he would like a drink of water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. Without waiting or debating, these three soldiers walk and run for three hours to reach Bethlehem. Then these men penetrate the Philistine lines, draw water from the well at the city gate, pouring it into a goat skin container, and run back to the Cave of Adullam.

When the three commanders present David with the water they have secured, David is both astounded and humbled. Never in David’s wildest dreams has he expected anyone to risk their lives in this fashion. Looking at the bright faces of his friends and brothers in battle, David begins to weep silently. This water is a gift beyond price, for these men have risked their lives to get it.

“Well, David,” one of the soldiers says, “go ahead! We’ve gotten this just for you. Is it true that this water tastes unusually good?” David looks at his friends through his tears. “Truly, I have always thought so. But this water is too precious to drink.”

“What do you mean?” the soldier asks.

“This water represents your life-blood,” David replies. “You’ve risked your very lives to bring it. For me to drink it would be sacrilege.” David embraces each of the three men and then returns to the water container. Opening the goatskin, David tips it so that the water begins to flow onto the ground. “The only fitting thing to do with this water is to pour it out as a drink offering,” David says. “For you have risked your lives to bring this water.”

When we consider the life of King David, we might think of his later failing with Bathsheba. But long before the Bathsheba incident, David was a leader who sincerely loved those serving with him, engendering deep loyalty. This story illustrates one of the reasons for that loyalty. At this point in David’s life, he possesses little apart from his weapons, his harp, and the clothes he is wearing. Sometimes feeding and watering an army presents severe challenges; yet, David doesn’t hesitate when offered the chance to satisfy a craving. Pouring that water out onto the ground is just as valid a sacrifice as if David had built an altar, slaughtered prime beasts, and had made a burnt offering.

This Christmas, are we giving ourselves or simply handing out meaningless tokens? Are we giving our time and our love? Most people are far more interested in time spent with them than they are fancy presents. And what are we giving God for Christmas? It’s easy to become so focused on getting things that we fail to understand what God wants from us. God wants our hearts, our minds, our total devotion to Him. God isn’t concerned about our financial status, our level of education, or any of the trappings of our lives.

When David poured out that water from the well at Bethlehem’s gate, he was sacrificing the most precious thing he owned. Are we so in love with God that we will willingly offer our most precious possessions? May God help us to realize that when we give Him something, we will receive far more than we have ever given. We cannot out-give God.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, here are our hearts. Please take our hearts and our lives and use us for Your glory. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.