Bible Study - The Christmas Story Part 10 - Luke 2:8-38

Today we continue the Christmas story by looking at what happened right after the birth of Jesus, beginning with Luke 2:8. There were shepherds outdoors in a field near Bethlehem watching over their flock of sheep that night. Being a shepherd was a lowly occupation, but important in protecting sheep from thieves and other animals who could harm them. Sheep were not very smart and could sometimes wander off and endanger themselves and needed to be rescued and kept together.

The shepherds were having an ordinary evening until an angel of the Lord stepped up to them, standing by them. Angels are spirit beings who serve God. They are holy and in the presence of God, reflecting His glory, and sometimes serve as His messengers. We hear that “the glory of the Lord shone around” the shepherds, like the very bright cloud that appeared in the temple in the Old Testament or the pillars of cloud and fire that appeared in the wilderness during the time of Moses to show God’s presence with His people. The appearance of the angel in such brightness was very frightening to the shepherds. This is a typical reaction, as when angels appeared to Zechariah and to Mary, as we have heard, and when sinful people are in the presence of holiness (Luke 2:9).

The angel told the shepherds to stop being afraid and to pay attention because “good news” (the word we call “the Gospel”) of “great joy” was being brought unto them and to “all the people” - ultimately for the benefit of everyone in the world. For that very day in Bethlehem, the city from which came the great King David, the “Savior” had been born, as prophesied in Micah 5:2-5.

This is the one who would rescue people and “save them from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). This One is also “the Christ,” the One Who was “anointed” by God to do His special work of salvation. The Old Testament Hebrew word for this anointed person is “the Messiah.” (See Isaiah 61:1 and John 4:25-26, for example.) This one would also be the Lord God Himself, come to be that Savior of people. (See Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23, for example, as another name for Jesus is Immanuel, “God with us,” and Isaiah 40:3, where the special name for God, the LORD (Yahweh) is used.)

His way would be prepared by John the Baptist, as this passage is quoted about John and Jesus (Luke 2:10-11). (See passages like 1 Corinthians 12:3 and Philippians 2:9-11 and Revelation 17:7, as well). Note that Jesus was revealed first to the lowly shepherds and not to the proud and mighty in Jerusalem, not far away. This is evidence of what Mary spoke of in the Magnificat (Luke 1:51-52).

The angel also gave the shepherds a “sign” to help them find Jesus, the Savior, Christ the Lord. “You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” As lowly as He seemed to be, He was the One. Suddenly, to reinforce this Good News even more, the heavens were opened and with the one angel was “a multitude of the heavenly host (the heavenly “army” of angels), praising God and "saying" the words which follow. (We often think that they were singing, and maybe they were, but the Scriptures only say that they saying these words - with an emphasis upon the words themselves and their content and message.) They said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace.”

The last three words, in Greek, are understood by scholars in different ways. Some translate: “on earth peace, good will toward men.” Others translate: “on earth peace toward men of good will.” Still others translate (and this is the most popular, likely way to render the words): on earth peace to men on whom His good will rests” or ”men with whom He is pleased” or “men He delights in.” (Isaiah 62:4 uses this last phrase and verses 1-5 emphasize the care of God even for undeserving people and bringing “Good News” to them and all people, as the angels were doing, by sending a Savior to them. It is not our human “good will” toward others that brings true peace, but God’s care and work for us in the Savior, Jesus, that bring us peace and joy in Him.)

Some also think that passages like 1 Peter 4:11 and Acts 10:36 and following give us also a sense of what the angels were conveying from God - Glory to God in heaven, but peace and hope to us people on earth through the promised one, Jesus. One last note on these words. The word “men” here is the word for all human beings, both male and female. There is another word for “men” that can be used to refer to males only. The Savior who came at Christmas is Christ the Lord and is for all people (Luke 2:12-14).

The angels then went away from them into heaven, and the shepherds were saying to one another that they needed to go to Bethlehem, literally to see this saying, this Word “which the Lord had made known,” had revealed to them. Quickly they went to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger, and saw with their own eyes just what the angel had said. Then they spread to others “the saying, the words, that had been told them concerning this child.”

Note that they did not talk about Joseph or Mary. They told people the message about Jesus; and all who heard this wondered (marveled and were amazed) at what the shepherds “had told them.” Notice how much more the emphasis is upon the sayings of the angel and what the shepherds had heard, rather than just what they saw. The Word of God, God’s own explanation, is most important for us still today to listen to (Luke 2:15-18).

Mary recognized this, as well. Literally, she treasured up, protected and held firmly onto these “sayings,” these words, pondering them, considering them in her own heart. Some think that Luke may have recorded this verse because he much later heard directly from Mary these “sayings,” the words that he wrote in Luke, chapters one and two, as helped by Mary and inspired by God (Luke 2:19).

Finally, we hear that the shepherds returned to their field and sheep, glorifying and praising God. They rejoiced in what they saw, but especially in “all they had heard, as it had been told to them.” Again, God’s Word is key for them, as it still is for us (Luke 2:20).

We now hear of several Jewish rites that every family was expected to participate in at the birth of a son. Joseph and Mary tried to follow God’s Law, and so they did all of the things described here. In this way, God was also making sure that Jesus was also perfectly following God’s will, even at a very early age, as a substitute for our imperfections.

First, Jesus was circumcised when He was eight days old. This was required according to Genesis 17:9-14. If a baby boy was circumcised, he was part of God’s covenant people. If he was not, he was cut off from his people; he had broken God’s covenant. Circumcision could be done wherever the baby was. The name of the child, Jesus, was then given to him at that time, as John was named at his circumcision (Luke 1:59) and as the angel had instructed (Luke 2:21).

The other ceremonies needed to be done in the temple in Jerusalem, about 5 miles north of Bethlehem. A woman who had given birth to a child was considered unclean, spiritually. 40 days after giving birth, the mother needed to offer an animal for sacrifice at the temple, to be purified. For poor people, like Mary and Joseph, the sacrifice was of two turtle doves or young pigeons (Luke 2:22,24). Joseph was not considered unclean, but he still participated in this ceremony with Mary.

Then, baby Jesus needed to be presented to the Lord, as the firstborn son of Mary. See Exodus 13:2,12ff. Since the firstborn Jewish babies were spared from death at the time of the Exodus from Egypt, these babies were considered to belong to the Lord. Some time later, the tribe of Levi was considered the Lord’s, in place of the firstborn children, and became the priests serving in the tabernacle and then the temple (Numbers 3:12ff). The firstborn in this case, Jesus, still had to be presented to the Lord, and then a fee of 5 shekels (about $2.50 in those days) had to be paid at the temple to redeem Jesus, to set Him free from this obligation.

This ceremony did remind Jews, though, that they were still dependent on the Lord and belonged to Him (Numbers 18:16). All this needed to be done with regard to Jesus, because the Scriptures say that He was born “under the law,” which still required all this for Him and His family. Through His saving work, though, Jesus would “redeem” all people from these laws, including us. He paid the price for us by His death on the cross, and we do not need to worry about such rules any more (Galatians 4:4-5).

While Jesus and family were at the temple, though, two other people met them, by the guiding of the Lord. The first was Simeon, a devout Jewish man in whom the Holy Spirit was at work. Somehow, the Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the promised Messiah, the “Lord’s Christ.” Led by the Spirit, Simeon came to the temple that day and was able to recognize that Jesus was the Savior. He blessed God, spoke highly of Him, and picked up baby Jesus, and inspired by the Holy Spirit, spoke the words we call the “Nunc Dimittis” (Latin for “Now you can depart”), which we still use sometimes after Communion before the end of worship (Luke 2:25-28).

Simeon knew that he could now depart in peace, even if it meant that death was coming soon, because he knew the promises of God’s Word and had seen His Savior, who would be also the Savior for His fellow Jews and for non-Jews (Gentiles) - for “all peoples.” Jesus would be the “Light” revealing God’s Good News, coming through Him and His saving work. Simeon finally had the “consolation” he had been waiting for (v.25),
the comfort and eternal hope and help of Jesus, who had come for him (Luke 2:28-32). (See also Isaiah 40:1-5 and the words of Jesus in John 14:27.) Remember! We can sing these words of Simeon, too, because Jesus has come to save us, also, as we trust in His redeeming work for us. Read also the words of 1 John 5:11-13.

Joseph and Mary were amazed at what Simeon said about their son. They did not really understand about Him, themselves. Simeon spoke a blessing for them and then spoke a prophetic word to Mary, preparing her for difficult times ahead. God had “appointed” her son “for the fall and rising of many in Israel.” There would be no neutral ground with Jesus. See what he says in Luke 11:23. The true thoughts of hearts would be revealed by whether people trusted Him and stood with Him as Savior or opposed Him and spoke against Him. For Mary, there would be great sorrow, like “a sword piercing through her soul” when she saw her son, Jesus, die on the cross. See John 19:25. Yet that sorrow and suffering by Jesus would be necessary to pay for the sins of the world; and Mary would know His resurrection victory over death and be with other believers in joy later on (Luke 2:33-35 and Acts 1:14).

An elderly woman, a widow for many years, Anna, was also at the temple that day, as was her custom, worshipping and praying, night and day. She had special gifts from God, too, and realized that Jesus was the promised “Redeemer” and kept on thanking God and telling others who were also waiting for redemption, that Jesus was the one to hope and trust in (Luke 2:36-38). (See prophecies like Isaiah 52:9-10, also, and Jesus having to explain, even after His resurrection, that His suffering and death, and only then His resurrection were all necessary for His saving work. See Luke 24:20-21 and 25-27.)

One last thought. The temple in Jerusalem was a magnificent place, the center of religious activity for Judaism. Yet only a few people even noticed baby Jesus, the LORD, coming to His temple, fulfilling prophesy. Later on, it would be this child standing against most all the religious establishment of His day. It looked as if He had lost when He died on the cross. Yet He had won the victory for us and all who trust in Him. With this child, Jesus, there is always hope for us, too, no matter what we face.

Next week, we will hear of the coming of the Wise Men and more dangers for the child Jesus, in Matthew 2.