THE MANGER AND THE INN

The Christmas story has always captured our imagination. And no wonder. The coming of Jesus into the world is the defining event of all history. But a beloved story such as this, told and retold over vast centuries, in varying nations and cultures, is likely to attract embellishments.

Most people these days know that the gospel never specifies how many Magi came to see the baby Jesus. We assume there were three because three gifts were mentioned. We also understand that the “wise men” came to a house rather than a stable (Matt 2:11) and that the visit occurred some considerable time after Jesus had been born.

But Kenneth E Bailey, in his book “Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes”, questions other aspects of the popular version of the nativity story.

Luke 2:6 says that, while Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, “the days were completed for her to be delivered.” This seems to suggest that the birth wasn’t as urgent as is often portrayed.

Also, when Luke writes (2:7) that there was no room “in the inn”, he does not use the word for a commercial inn, pandocheion, as in the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:34). Instead, he uses the word kataluma, which simply means a lodging place or guest chamber.

Bailey makes the point that typical middle eastern homes, then and even now in some places, would often have one main room, a guest room, and an attached section into which the family would bring their ox or donkey at night. Jesus may well have referred to this in Luke 13:15, when He said: “Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?” In other words, you bring your animals out to water every day, including the Sabbath. Apparently, no-one in the synagogue that day was able to deny Jesus His point.

By the way, the word for ‘stall’ in 13:15 is phatne, the same word that is used for ‘manger’ in Luke 2:7. The manger, where Jesus was laid was thus more likely part of the house where Mary and Joseph were being lodged. And incidentally, there is no mention in the Bible account of a stable.

The picture we are left with is that Mary and Joseph would have been staying with relatives, but not in their kataluma guest room, which would have been already full. According to Bailey, it would be unthinkable for a descendant of David, coming to David’s home town, would be denied basic hospitality among relatives.

Does any of this change the importance and relevance of the Christmas story? Not at all, but it does remove some of the sentimentality of the common version we hear. The point is that God sent His Son into the world to save us.

Emmanuel, God is with us.

JESUS IN THE SERVANT SONGS

First, an apology. This post, by its very nature, is much, much longer than normal. Perhaps one day I will get around to publishing my Isaiah sermons in book form. I have previously shared the following in various contexts but it seemed appropriate to share it here as well.

In Isaiah, we find four special passages which have come to be known as the Servant Songs.  They are found in 42:1-6, 49:1-6, 50:4-9 and 52:13-53:12.  (It would have been better if chapter 53 had started three verses earlier!)

There are 66 chapters in Isaiah and I found 66 facts about Jesus in the four Servant Songs. Here they are, roughly in order of fulfilment. If this isn’t testimony to the inspired brilliance of the Bible, I don’t know what is!

What do we know about God’s Servant (Jesus) from Isaiah’s Servant songs?

 

1.        He is God’s Servant – 42:1, 49:3,5,6, 52:13, 53:11 (Matt 12:18, Phil 2:7)

2.        The Chosen One – 42:1 (1 Pet 2:4)

3.        In whom God’s very soul delights – 42:1 (Matt 3:17, 17:5)

4.        He was called by God from the womb – 49:1,5 (Luke 1:31)

5.        He was righteous and called in righteousness – 42:6, 53:11 (Heb 1:9)

6.        He represented Israel – 49:3

7.        And His commission was to bring Israel back to God – 49:5 (John 11:52)

8.        He was given as a covenant to the peoples – 42:6 (Matt 26:28)

9.        And as a light to the nations – 42:6, 49:6 (Acts 26:23)

10.      He brought justice to the nations (NLT) – 42:1,3,4 (Matt 12:18)

11.      And was, in Himself, God’s salvation to the ends of the earth – 49:6 (Acts 13:47)

12.        When He was growing up, He did not appear unusual in any way – 53:2 (Mark 6:3)

13.      But God placed His Spirit upon Him – 42:1 (Matt 3:16)

14.      He awakened each morning to God’s Word – 50:4

15.      And His speech was with all the wisdom and learning of God – 50:4 (Luke 4:22, John 7:46)

16.      His mouth was like a sharpened sword or arrow, initially concealed – 49:2 (Rev 19:15)

17.      He was gentle, not shouting in public – 42:2 (Matt 12:16-20)

18.      He wouldn’t crush the weak or quench the smallest hope (NLT) – 42:3

19.      He encouraged the weary – 50:4 (Matt 11:28)

20.      He was never violent to anyone – 53:9 (Heb 7:26)

21.      Nor did He deceive anyone – 53:9 (1 Pet 2:22)

22.      He could have been discouraged by His apparent lack of success – 49:4 (John 1:11)

23.      But he committed the reward and results of His ministry to God – 49:4 (1 Pet 2:23)

24.      So He was upheld and strengthened (NLT) by God – 42:1,6 49:5

25.      The Lord helped Him and held His hand – 42:6, 50:7,9

26.      So that He did not fail or become discouraged – 42:4 (Heb 12:2)

27.      He was glorious in the sight of God – 49:5 (Matt 17:5)

28.      He set Himself with determination to fulfil all God’s will – 50:7 (Luke 9:51)

29.      And achieved success through His wise dealings – 52:13

30.      He did not rebel against God’s instructions – 50:5 (Heb 5:8)

31.      Nor did He turn away from God’s will – 50:5 (Heb 10:7)

32.      He was despised and rejected by men – 53:3 (Matt 27:39-44)

33.      Acquainted with sorrow and grief – 53:3,10 (Matt 26:37,38)

34.      He remained silent before His accusers – 53:7 (Matt 26:63, 27:12)

35.      He was denied natural justice – 53:8 (Matt 25:65,66)

36.      He gave His back to those who would beat Him – 50:6 (Matt 27:26)

37.      He was struck on the face – 50:6 (Luke 22:64)

38.      He was spat upon – 50:6 (Matt 26:67)

39.      Yet He was not ashamed or confounded (NLT) in His trials – 50:7

40.      He went meekly to His death, like a lamb – 53:7 (Acts 8:32)

41.      He was numbered with transgressors (two thieves) – 53:12 (Mark 15:28)

42.      He was smitten by God, bruised and afflicted – 53:3,7,10

43.      People were astonished at Him – 52:14 (Matt 7:28, 27:14)

44.      His appearance was marred more than any man (NLT - so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person) – 52:14

45.      He bore our griefs and pains in His own body – 53:4 (1 Pet 2:24)

46.      He was wounded for our transgressions – 53:5,8 (Heb 9:12-15)

47.      His punishment brought peace for us – 53:5 (Rom 5:8-10)

48.      And His stripes (from being whipped) were for our healing – 53:5 (1 Pet 2:24)

49.      The iniquities of all God’s people were laid on Him – 53:6,11 (Tit 2:14)

50.      He ‘sprinkled’ many nations with His cleansing blood – 52:15 (1 Pet 1:2)

51.      He justified many – 53:11 (Rom 5:19)

52.      And accomplished all God’s purpose – 53:10 (John 6:37-40)

53.      God was and is glorified through Him – 49:3 (John 13:32)

54.      He was cut off from the living – 53:8 (Matt 27:50)

55.      Pouring out His soul unto death – 53:12 (Heb 2:9)

56.      He was buried like a criminal (NLT) – 53:9

57.      And placed in a rich man’s grave (NLT) – 53:9 (John 19:38-42)

58.      But He prolonged His days (ie. He was resurrected) – 53:10 (Acts 13:30, Rev 1:18)

59.      He lived to see His descendants (all those who accept Him as their offering for sin) – 53:10 (Heb 12:2)

60.      He was satisfied with what He had accomplished (salvation for the multitudes) – 53:11 (John 16:21)

61.      He was rewarded with great honour – 53:12 (Phil 2:9)

62.      And exalted very highly – 52:13 (Phil 2:9,10)

63.      Kings were silenced before Him – 52:15

64.      Distant lands beyond the sea waited for His teachings (NLT) – 42:4, cf 49:1 (Acts 28:22)

65.      He caused the nations to see and understand new truth – 52:15 (Rom 15:20,21)

66.      And He made intercession for the transgressors – 53:12 (Luke 23:34, Rom 8:34, Heb 7:25)

(Note: feel free to share this, but with due acknowledgement, please.)

REPEAT AFTER ME. REPEAT…

Have you ever noticed the Holy-Spirit inspired repetition that occurs in the Bible?  Here are a few interesting examples.

In Luke 19, the inspired writer mentions four times that Jesus was getting close to Jerusalem (v11, vs 28 and 29, v37 and v41.  Even the account of the meeting with Zacchaeus (vs 1-10) adds to the build-up to Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem.  “He was going to pass that way.” There are four references to Jesus drawing near but, surprisingly, Luke doesn't actually record the arrival after all that.  He just goes on in v45 to say that Jesus went into the temple. As we read this, whether we realize it or not, we get the sense that something really important is going to happen.

In the book of Ruth, we meet the title character in the first four verses of chapter 1. Already, we know that she is a Moabitess (a woman from the land of Moab) and that Naomi is her mother-in-law. Yet, as the story unfolds, we read four more times that she was a Moabitess (1:22, 2:2, 2:21, 4:5, 4:10).  We are also reminded over and over again that she is Naomi’s daughter-in-law and that Naomi is her mother-in-law (see 2:18-23, where the relationship that we already knew about is emphasised six more times in just six verses.) If that wasn’t enough, we are reminded in the very next verse (3:1) that Naomi was Ruth’s mother-in-law – just in case we hadn’t yet absorbed that fact! Why all this repetition? The Holy Spirit is stressing the fact that Ruth was not a real daughter of Israel, yet, by the grace of God and by her faithful heart of commitment, she was able to enter into the blessings of God’s covenant people.

Hmm. I think we can see a message there about salvation by grace through faith.

There are many examples of this kind of repetition in Scripture. The phrase: “I am the Lord and there is no other” (or its equivalent) is repeated six times in Isaiah 45. The gospel and epistles of John contain heavy repetitions of words like ‘light’, ‘truth’ and ‘believe’. I could go on and on.

We tend to rebuke people who repeat themselves – and I admit to getting annoyed when people insist on endlessly repeating what I already understood – but the fact remains that God repeats Himself. Frequently! And not just in His Word. I’ve noticed that, when God wants to get my attention, He often arranges things. Maybe it’s a person or a place that I haven’t thought about for months, and suddenly, there are reminders everywhere I look. The “two or three witnesses” thing is for those of us who are most spiritually alert. The rest of us apparently need six or seven!

As you read the Scriptures, I invite you to keep an eye out for the repetitions. They are never accidental. Rather, we can think of them as the Holy Spirit underlining things with a bold red texta. Pay special attention here!

LESSONS ON MOTHERHOOD AND SOULWINNING

Hannah was greatly loved by her husband but she was barren (1 Sam 1:5). The Lord had not given her any children. A mother’s heart cannot be satisfied, even with a double portion of worldly goods, if there is no child to love.

Hannah had a rival because her husband had another wife, one who bore children. So Hannah was deeply grieved and wept in prayer continually. Her desire was strong and she was willing to devote the child that would be born wholly to God. She would claim no ownership over the child she so desperately wanted.

Even being accused of drunkenness (1:14-16) by the priest did not overly concern Hannah because her desire was so strong. And it all came to pass according to the prophetic word spoken over her by Eli (1:17). She had a son, Samuel, and he was dedicated to the Lord after a few years of nurturing and weaning (1:21-24).

Hannah shows us a mother’s heart but we can also see something of a soulwinner’s heart in her. She knew she was loved (ie, by God) but yearned passionately for fruitfulness (ie, souls). When we see various sports, hobbies and social causes recruiting people by the hundreds, do we feel provoked? Does it make us even more determined to win the lost for Jesus?

Hannah wept and laboured in prayer for this goal (see Ps 126:5,6). When her prayer was answered, she carefully and lovingly nurtured the child (discipleship) and then released him for God’s service, but still keeping in touch on a regular basis.

May we have the same passion for souls that Hannah had for children! Even as God blessed Hannah with other sons and daughters (1 Sam 2:21) may the Lord bring other souls to those who have soul-winner’s hearts.

THE TWO VOICES

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

In Proverbs 9, these same words are used to describe both the voice of wisdom and the voice of foolishness (vs 4 and 16). Both are depicted as women crying out from the highest places in the city, calling people to listen. Both offer an interpretation of what it means to truly enjoy life.

What an absolutely brilliant literary device this is, a memorable juxtaposition of two contrasting lifestyles. The voice of wisdom invites people to come and partake of the blessings of righteous living, while the voice of foolishness invites people to partake of hidden pleasures. We can live for what is right or we can live for selfish desires. We can live for God or we can live for ourselves.

Both women, both voices, call out to “whoever is simple”. The Hebrew word implies people who are easily led, wavering, gullible or inexperienced. It might be young people wondering where their lives will take them, or older people standing at a crossroads thinking “where to now?”

Both women, both voices, call for a definite commitment. “Turn in here” means a change of lifestyle, a commitment one way or the other. It might be possible to roam up and down the street, hearing both voices but responding to neither. What isn’t possible, though, is accepting both invitations. It really is one or the other.

Which voice are you listening to?