Good morning my “Walking with Jesus” friends on this day after Christmas.
For many retailers, today is crazy as millions of people will return unwanted or broken Christmas gifts! For others, today is the ‘taking down Christmas decorations’ day and used and discarded Christmas trees will start piling up on street curbs across the land. Amazingly you will rarely hear any Christmas music today. Many people are saying ‘Christmas is over, it’s time to move on to the next big event… New Year’s Eve!’ So, what will today be for you, my friends, and what do you suppose this ‘day after’ was like in Bethlehem that first Christmas?
The Bible has four main events which continue the “Grand Narrative” story of Joseph, Mary and little Jesus after His birth, do you know what they are and when they occurred?
Chronologically the first ‘next event’ occurred 40 days after that special birth night, and it is recorded for us in Luke 2:22-38. Joseph took Mary and infant Jesus to Jerusalem, to the grand Temple of God, for the purpose of consecrating infant Jesus to God and thanking God for Mary’s miracle, firstborn son!
The very special 8th day after birth circumcision and naming of infant Jesus is not recorded in the Gospels. Leviticus 12 gave the Israelites the instructions for where, when and why their infant firstborn boys were to be presented before God that 40th day after his birth.
What is unique about this event is WHO we meet in the Temple courts that day and WHAT that special man of God SIMEON said over Mary and Jesus as he consecrated this special infant boy to God and warned Mary of what she would be experiencing as His mother in years to come. Luke 2:26 says: “It had been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.” This encounter is the second of several public declarations of the Unique, Significant IDENTITY of infant Jesus! He was declared by the Holy Spirit to be the God promised Messiah for the people of Israel and the God sent Savior of the world!
Do you remember who gave the first announcement? Yes, the angels appearing to the shepherds. The angels had said: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord!” (Luke 2:11) I urge you to take time to read Luke’s account of this Simeon, Anna, Joseph, Mary and infant Jesus, very powerful encounter in the Temple that day, and understand what it meant for our world then and means for us today.
The second next significant event, after the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, recorded in the Bible is found in Matthew’s account, chapter 2 and it was the visit of Magi from a distant eastern land. These learned men concluded from their study, and a cosmic display they called a bright star, that a new king of the people of Israel had been born. They were determined to pay homage to this new king by traveling to Israel searching for him. Contrary to popular opinion the number of ‘wise men’ is not specified in God’s “Grand Narrative” story, nor the duration of their travels, nor when they left their home, nor even exactly when they arrived in Jerusalem.
Matthew 2:1-12 describes their visit and inquiry of King Herod in Jerusalem and then their subsequent journey to Bethlehem where they met little Jesus and presented their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. As you read Matthew’s story, you’ll notice King Herod was stunned by the news that these Magi were convinced a new king of the Jews had been born. He was oblivious to that news, frightened by it and determined to take quick action in defense of his throne! You’ll also notice Herod’s Jewish advisors knew exactly where the Messiah would be born, from their study of the Old Testament Scriptures and so the Magi were sent on their way to Bethlehem! You’ll also notice these Magi were warned by God to return home by a different route, and tomorrow we’ll take a look at WHY?
May I point out one other thing that you might miss in this story, but it is very significant? Matthew records: “On coming to the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts…” (Matt. 2:11) The fact that the Magi found Mary and little Jesus in a house is understood by most Bible scholars to suggest Joseph had stayed in Bethlehem with his little family, seeking to start a new life there with them. The fact that Joseph is not mentioned as being home at that visit, suggests he had found work, probably in his profession as a carpenter.
Carpentry was a valued skill, then. Everyone needed tables, chairs, bed frames, cabinets, doors and windows and there was no “Lowes” or “Home Depot”. Each of those would be individually custom made. Unknown in Bethlehem, Joseph may well have quickly found plenty of work. Whereas back in Nazareth, the unbelievable story Joseph and Mary told about Mary’s pregnancy with Jesus and the identity of her baby… well, it was so preposterous it’s safe for us to assume Joseph and Mary simply didn’t bother trying to explain the truth about Jesus being God conceived and the Son of God! A new life in Bethlehem would be far easier.
But Simeon had warned Joseph and Mary that providing a home for Jesus would be heartbreaking and continually difficult in our world, which then and now has been so resistant to God involving Himself in our human affairs.
So, we need to pause here, on this day after Christmas, to ask ourselves how are we inviting Jesus into our lives, our world? And what difference is Jesus making this Christmas? Or are we part of the global resistance to Jesus, even at Christmas?
More study notes are at the “Grand Narrative” link below and I’ve found a remarkable worship song that fits so well with our reflections today. And of course, I’ll be here waiting for you tomorrow…
Today’s Scripture: Luke 2 & Matt. 2.
Choose below to read or listen.
Luke 2
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Matt. 2
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Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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