Luke 2:1-21

originally written on 9/18/07

In this passage it tells us of Jesus birth. Luke reads more like a historical account than the other gospels. He doesn’t give a lot of emotional details. God is always able to work out his plan perfectly. Caesar had decreed that everyone be registered so Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem. I wonder what they were thinking as they left their home. I imagine they were a little unnerved since Mary was very very pregnant at this time. Did they realize how long it would be before they got to see their home again? I know that most of the people were nomadic but I am sure that they had friends and loved ones that they had to leave behind. In verse 5 it talks about Mary being Joseph betrothed wife which means that Mary and Joseph weren’t married yet. In that time era engagement was a binding contract that could only be reversed by divorcing. Jesus is born without fan fare, in a simple and uncomplicated way. This is the precursor of how his life will be lived as a common man with an extraordinary message. We know that the Sheppard’s came to see Jesus, but we don’t know exactly how much time had passed since his birth in this passage it records Jesus circumcision, which would have been carried out eight days after birth, after the Sheppard’s had already seen Jesus. The Sheppard’s were told of Jesus birth by an angel and I think the reason God did this was to have some witnesses to testify about Jesus birth. Think of it would anyone have believed Mary or possibly even Joseph about what had occurred and how important this child was, they in the public’s eyes had been tainted. All in all Luke describes the things he was aware of in chronological order. I think that we need to remember that Jesus was born of a lowly birth. He was a living example of living a simple life.
Interpretation now 7/6/2010
I am still amazed at the way that God chose to orchestrate his plan and how even with Jesus birth he let us see little glimpses at what was to come. I think sometimes we let our fears, others expectations of how we should act and our own ideas of where our paths should be get in the way of God's plan. Now you want to see something really amazing see how God uses all of that to make his plan, no matter what we throw at him, turn out perfectly. God please continue to mold us no matter how we try to get in your way. May we remember the living example of how following you is simple if we keep our eyes and ears on you. Amen.