Thursday 25 December 2008

Background

On Christmas Day, we read Luke's account of the birth of Christwhich stresses how significant it was for both heaven and earth. Itwas a fact of human history as well as a miracle proclaimed theangelic heavenly host.

Unfortunately, the places, names and events which Luke uses to dateChrist's birth are not without controversy. Augustus was the Romanemperor from 31 BC to AD 14 and Governor Quirinius is indeed knownto have held a major census to facilitate the collection of taxes,but in AD 6, which is too late to correspond with Jesus' birth.Scholars have made various suggestions to account for thisinaccuracy but there is no real consensus of opinion.

The belief that Joseph and Mary undertook a three-day journey toBethlehem in Judaea has similarly been challenged recently byarchaeologists and theologians. They believe that Jesus was mostlikely to have been born in the town of Bethlehem, which was inGalilee, just a few miles outside of Nazareth. The 'inn' probablyreferred to the open space in a family home where livestock waskept rather than anything resembling a guest house.

All of this is but the context however for what Luke really wantsto stress - the importance of Christ to both heaven and earth. Thebirth of Jesus marks the fulfilment of the promises of God forsalvation. The shepherds, for Luke, are a reminder that King Davidwas a shepherd when God first called him (1 Samuel 17:34-37)and that God's salvation is intended for all people, whatever theirstatus. The birth of the Messiah is such good news that it firstprovokes the heavenly choir, and later the shepherds to sing forjoy and glorify God.

The overpowering, awe-inspiring significance of Christ's birth isemphasised by Luke by the necessity of the first words that theangel of the Lord speaks to the shepherds - "Do not be afraid".These echo the words spoken by the angel Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1:30). It wasperhaps on hearing those particular words again in the account ofthe shepherds which caused Mary to treasure them and ponder them inher heart.

To Ponder

What words of God do you treasure and ponder inyour heart - and why?

What difference would it make to Christianity ifthe Church was 100% certain of the facts dating and locating thebirth of Jesus?

How would you react if you were spoken to by anangel?