Simple Acts Of Christmas

What do we know about the birth of Jesus? It may be easier to list what we do not know about his birth. Because no date is given we do not know when he was born. We don’t know who was with him at his birth. My guess is Joseph and Mary were in a house with his relatives (who were also descendants of David) and that a midwife and other women aided Mary in the birth. They’re not mentioned. Then again neither are donkeys, sheep, or a kid with a snare drum.

What we do know is that after giving birth a group of shepherds came into Bethlehem with an extraordinary experience of the glory of God, and angelic announcements. We know the news they gave Mary caused her to ponder what she heard; while the shepherds returned praising God for what they heard.

We also know that royal births take place in palaces and fortresses. They are attended by other royals and people of importance and influence. Yet, “the birth of Jesus takes place with no part given to the secular or religious rulers of the land (Nolland 106)." Luke begins by naming Caesar Augustus as the one behind the census. He himself was proclaimed a ‘savior’ upon his birth. One inscription speaks of providence “giving us Augustus…sending him as a savior, both for us and our descendants (Evans).” Later it speaks of the “he birthday of the god Augustus (ibid.) as the beginning of good tidings (gospel) for the world.

To a world in which the political leader was looked to for salvation comes God, made flesh. That is the news of Christmas. It is announced to a virgin named Mary. It is revealed to her relative who is also miraculously pregnant. It was made known to Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father. And here, in Luke 2, it is declared to a group of shepherds.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

Two amazing events are told to these shepherds. First is Jesus is born. The extraordinary news comes from the midst of heaven itself. The Shekinah glory of God, present on Mount Sinai and in the temple, comes upon these men and surrounds them with this news. There is no temple or royalty gathered at his birth.

Jesus’ birth is also ordinary. We have his parents, and I would surmise midwives or other women who have helped to bring children into our world, The second announcement describes who this child is.

He is none other than a Savior, who is the Messiah that is Christ in Greek. This is the only place in Luke in which Jesus is identified as Savior, by name. But his saving nature and presence is a continual reality for Luke in the gospel and Acts (Nolland).

This is one for whom Israel has waited for. He was to be the restorer of Israel’s glory. He was to be the one who caused the world to see just how special God’s people were.

THE AUDIENCE

Once again, we see a divergence between the way the world does things and the ways of God. The angels are speaking to Herod or any other Roman political power. They aren’t appearing to the Sanhedrin or the High Priest. They have sought out a group of shepherds among the hillside to share God’s news of love.

These were the same hills around which King David would have watched sheep as a young man. Yet in split second and with the brilliance of light an ordinary evening becomes extraordinary. These men hear the word of an angel declare that we have “nothing to fear when God moves in grace (Bock 84).”

The angel is then joined with “a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

Glory to God in the Highest

And on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased” v 13-14.

Verse 14 is difficult because there are “no definite articles or verbs to help with the syntax (Nolland 1098).” They are two lines with the second starting, “and on earth”. Yet it’s meaning is clear. Among those of humanity with whom God’s favor rests find peace. Peace which “evoke a whole social order of well-being and prosperity, security and harmony (Nolland 108).”

The second audience for this news is Jesus’ parents and those with them. The shepherds head to Bethlehem to see this child. Once there they explain to mom and dad everything that had happened to them in the fields outside of the town. In particular Luke says “they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child” v 17. The result is “all who heard it wondered…”.

As these shepherds leave for their fields with joy and praise for God Mary is left pondering and treasuring up all that has happened. I imagine the words of Gabriel came back to her about the nature of the child she had just given birth too.