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LUKE’S GOSPEL…THE BABIES – 3

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Once again, Luke tells the stories of the birth of the babies, side by side. 

“When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.  On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” …Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭57‬-‭60‬, ‭62‬-‭63‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Elizabeth’s baby was born at home, amid the joy and celebration of family and friends. Everyone in the vicinity gathered around to share in the happy event. The  ceremonies surrounding the circumcision and naming of the child were carried out according to the culture of the people, everyone present and participating in this momentous occasion. Even Zechariah’s dumbness was miraculously resolved at the moment when he named the baby “John” as Gabriel had instructed him.  

John went on, through an unrecorded childhood, to become the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, albeit only for six months, and then perished at the instigation of a deranged woman. 

What about Mary’s baby?

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This little baby boy came into the world in very different circumstances. He was born, not at home, not surrounded by rejoicing family and friends, not with the help of a midwife for this fragile, young new mother, but in a strange town, not even in a bedroom but in a downstairs room where the animals were sheltered at night. What an ignominious entry for the King of kings! 

Mary was on her own in this new experience with only the help of Joseph, her husband. What did he know about childbirth! She wasn’t even equipped to receive this baby. She had no layette with her on this journey, only strips of cloth which she probably tore from her own clothes. She had no crib carefully prepared with soft covering…only an animal stone feed trough stuffed with straw.

Joseph and Mary were forced to leave home and travel to Bethlehem, under government orders, during the final days of her pregnancy. So, Jesus came into the world in a strange place with an even stranger audience. 

However, God had arranged a reception to celebrate His Son’s arrival on earth far more spectacular than John’s welcoming party… a whole angelic choir that lit up the night sky and sang their song to the earth and to shepherds outside Bethlehem…not family, not friendly neighbours…just a few men who were low on the pecking order. 

Why did God arrange these circumstances for Jesus’ birth? John the Baptist occupies a few verses in one prophetic book in the Bible. He had a place in history and a ministry that took all of six months before he was executed in a lonely prison cell. He was buried by a few grieving friends and was forgotten by most. His story, important as it was, has a small space in God’s book. 

Jesus, by contrast, is the focus of the whole Bible, starting in Genesis as both Creator,  God’s agent in creation…the Word…and culminating as Lord of the universe reigning over all things from His throne in glory. How did He reach this point as the Son of God and the Son of Man?  

Jesus started small, a nobody, the son of nobodies in the eyes of the world, relegated to the animal shelter because the house was full. Yet, embodied in this newborn child was a calling to embrace the whole world through His coming. Born in the presence of animals, yet welcomed to the whole earth by an angelic choir, the circumstances of His birth begin and embody His story. 

Jesus came, as the Father declared, not for family and friends only, but for all who fit into the category of humans between animals and angels. He was born in humility and died in disgrace, not just to fill a space in history but to rule history. He has never been forgotten! There has been a groundswell of acclaim throughout all generations from the moment He walked out of the tomb. Unlike John, who was buried without his head, and whose bones lie somewhere in a forgotten grave to await the resurrection day, Jesus rose from the grave to take His place as the Head of His body, the church. 

John was born in comfort, surrounded by friends. Jesus was born in a rented shelter surrounded by animals. John died alone in a prison cell. Jesus died on a cross, in public view, accompanied by two criminals and surrounded by taunting enemies. John will one day be in the throng around the throne who worship Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords. His was the voice that announced the King. Jesus is the King who occupies the throne and whose word controls and rules the universe. 

 To be continued…

THE GOSPEL OF MARK – IF ONLY HE HAD KNOWN!

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IF ONLY HE HAD KNOWN!

King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

15 Others said, “He is Elijah.”

And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”
16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!” Mark 6:14-17

What a stir Jesus was causing throughout the whole country. From north to south, east to west, everyone was talking about Him. They did not know what to make of Him. Never in their lifetime or on the 400 years since the last prophet spoke authoritatively from God, had anyone arisen in Israel like Him! It’s no wonder they thought He was Elijah or one of their great prophets returned from the dead. The last thing on their minds was that He was their long-awaited Messiah.

Herod’s conscience was his biggest enemy. He knew he had murdered John the Baptist through Herodias’ trickery and he must have been haunted day and night by the memory of John’s head on a platter, sightless eyes staring at him, silent lips accusing him, and he knew he was as guilty as if he had swung the sword that severed John’s head from his body.

Was it comforting or terrifying for Herod to believe that Jesus was the resurrected John? John had once indicted him for adultery. What would he accuse him of now? He knew he was a murderer and nothing could erase his guilt. His very conviction that John had come back was an admission of guilt but that brought him no relief.

One of the most comforting statements of Scripture is this: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:17. If only Herod had known that his desperate feeling of guilt was God’s merciful way of alerting him to his need of forgiveness. The very one who terrified him because he thought Jesus was John, was the one who could offer the forgiveness he craved, that could release him from his burden and give him peace.

This is the wonder and the miracle of the one who came from God to declare to the world that God is not angry with us. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not counting men’s sins against them.”  2 Corinthians 5:19.