December 21, 2008: The Birth of Jesus
The text for this lesson is Luke 2:1–20.
Key Points
- The Son of God became what we are—human—to make us what He is: a child of the heavenly Father. Furthermore, He revealed where He is to be found: in His Word and Sacraments.
- Law: In the beginning, God created man in His own image, and ever since, we have been trying to return the favor. But the “God” we fashion in our own minds is a caricature—a warped, deformed, blasphemous image of the reality we look for in all the wrong places.
- Gospel: In the beginning, God created man in His own image. And in the fullness of time, God assumed that image Himself. The Son of God became also a Son of Adam, Son of David, and Son of Mary. In so doing, He reimaged us re-created us to be as He is. He became what we are to make us what He is: children of the heavenly Father. And He revealed where He is to be found: swaddled in His Gospel and Sacraments.
Context
Luke has set the stage. The two nativities, John’s and Jesus’, have been foretold. The two mothers, one aged (like the old covenant), the other young (like the new covenant), come together. Salvation history is coming to a head. The old covenant (represented by Zechariah, Elizabeth, and John, the last Old Testament prophet) is waning, making way for the new (represented in Mary and Jesus). A new beginning, new creation, and new covenant have arrived in Jesus.
The Lord uses the often self-serving ends of worldly government to serve His saving ends. Caesar is God’s toll in arranging to have His Christ born in the village of Bethlehem, as Micah had long foretold (Micah 5:2).
Discussion Points and Questions
- How does God take our simple and imperfect work and make it His own perfect work of mercy?
- Read Micah 5:2. The Savior is to come out of Bethlehem of Judah, but Mary lived in the Galilean town of Nazareth (Luke 1:26–27), as did Joseph. What happened that they ended up in Bethlehem, right at the ninth month of Mary’s pregnancy? What kind of a journey would this have been at that time for a woman nine months pregnant?
- Luke mentions two historical figured external to the immediate action of Jesus’ birth. Who are they? Why does Luke mention them? What contrast is being made between these rulers and Jesus?
- Luke mentions, seemingly as an aside, that there was no room in the inn (Luke 2:7). But what is the significance of the fact that no room could be found for Jesus and His family? Read Luke 10:25–37. Contrast this story that includes an inn with the account of Jesus’ birth.
- What is the significance of shepherds being the first to hear the news of Jesus’ birth? For whom is this “Good news of great joy”?
- Notice the contrast in the statement of Luke 2:11–12. The Savior, Christ the Lord, is born in the city of David, and yet the sign by which He will be recognized is that He will be lying in a manger! How does this contrasting statement reveal God to us?
- What is the response of the shepherds to the message of the angels (Luke 2:15–16)? How is this like the responses of others who were visited by the angels whom we have studied in previous episodes?
- Read Luke 2:14 again. Where is this sung in the liturgy? What does the angel mean when he says, “Peace among those with whom He is pleased”? When is this part omitted from the liturgy?
- Read Luke 2:17–20 again. What are the different reactions by the various parties to the events of that night? What does this teach us about our own response of faith to the Word of God?
- What are some ways that we acknowledge the presence of Jesus in our own lives, even though we are separated by more than two thousand years from His birth? How is Jesus “born” in our hearts? How are we reborn into Jesus Christ?
For next week, read Luke 2:22–40, the presentation of Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem. You may also want to read Leviticus 12, which describes the sacrifice required for this presentation. Think about the meaning of this sacrifice and presentation of the firstborn, especially as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ birth and presentation.
