Bible Studies for Life
Professor and Chair, Department of Philosophy, Samford University
Focus on Jesus
Luke 2:8–20, 33–35
If we were told that the savior of the world had been born, then we would expect him to have been born in a great palace, because only such a ruler would have enough power to save the world. To save the world, a king would need great armies and wealth. But Luke’s Gospel tells a different story. Instead of palatial glory, the Savior was born in a manger with animals; instead of great might, the Savior was born as a vulnerable baby. Luke recorded two memorable stories about the unlikely way the world’s Savior was born.
The Shepherds (8–20)
Christian art always has been fascinated with the story of the angel announcing to shepherds that “to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (11). The image depicts the meeting of the highest reaches of heaven with the lowest aspects of society. Though the shepherds were not a despised class, they were one of the lowest rungs of the social order. However, they received the angelic announcements and went to Bethlehem. There they saw what shepherds ordinarily saw — a poor woman giving birth to her child among animals. It is significant that the angel picked the shepherds rather than the powerful and dominating. God elected to redeem the world not from the position of those who have corrupted it but from the position of the lowly. The Savior is not just another king. He is the Messiah and Lord “wrapped in bands of cloth and lying a manger” (12). We would be wrong if we tried to change this story and turn Christ into something other than what the shepherds found in the manger. Christ is not like Herod in his palace, Pilate with his army or Caesar adorned in his majesty. God redeems the world through the meekness, suffering and truth of the baby born in Bethlehem. It is no wonder that Mary “treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart” (19), because they were so fantastic, novel and without precedent.
Simeon (33–35)
Along with the prophetess Anna (whom Luke described following this story), Simeon belonged to the simple people of Israel. They were ordinary people in terms of social class and power but extraordinary in their devotion and spiritual discernment. Simeon had equipped his heart for years to see something the ordinary person could not. He was a righteous and devout person, who looked for the coming Messiah. He was alert and anticipatory, and when Joseph and Mary walked into the temple, he immediately recognized the infant Jesus as the long-anticipated Messiah. It was not the temple guards, Roman soldiers or priests who identified the child as the Messiah. It was one of Israel’s simple people. Luke said, “the Holy Spirit rested on him,” which indicates that Simeon played a significant role in Christ’s birth. First Simeon played a similar role to the angels with the shepherds. He announced to those standing around in the temple that “my eyes have seen your salvation … a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel” (30, 32). Just as an angel’s duty is to be a messenger, Simeon proclaimed the new message that in this child, the long-awaited salvation had arrived. Second Simeon foretold Jesus’ judgment of Israel and His future suffering. He directed this prediction to Mary. She already was pondering in her heart the shepherd’s message from the angel that her son would be the Savior, Messiah and Lord. But now she heard sobering facts. Her son would cause the “falling and rising of many in Israel” and reveal the “thoughts of many.” Her infant would cause the splitting of Israel and endure agony for His role. Not everyone would welcome the salvation He would bring to Israel, and He would experience rejection and scorn because of it. Simeon not only foretold Jesus’ future Passion but also Mary’s passion. The “sword” of pain would grieve her as she watched her son fulfill His divine role. Mary would faithfully remain by her son’s side and eventually watch Him die. Not all the news proclaimed during Christ’s birth is cheery and celebrative. As Savior, Jesus has an important but costly role to play, and Mary pondered it in her heart as should we.
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