Matthew, 0-65 A.D.
Being a historian of sorts, Luke tells us of his reasons for recording the events surrounding the Savior's birth:
"Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order... that thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed." (Luke 1:1-4)
I can picture in my mind and heart what it must have felt like for both Matthew and Luke to undertake the research and writing of their respective gospels, contacting eyewitnesses and corroborating stories across multiple accounts.
But before they actually wrote it down, I can't help but think there's another scene that played out in both households at least once or twice at Christmas time: the children gather around before going to bed for the night, pleading, "Grandpa, tell us the story of Jesus again!"
What would it have been like to sit at the feet of Matthew or Mark, Luke or John, as one of their grandchildren, and hear them speak these words? Perhaps more importantly, what would it have been like to have grown up believing the words of the prophets concerning the coming of the Savior, only to hear the rumors coming out of Bethlehem, or to go and see for yourself "this thing which the Lord hath made known unto us?"
A Virgin Birth
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily."
"But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins."
"Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus." (Matthew 1:18-25)
Laid in a Manger; No Room for Them in The Inn
"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7)
Shepherds Abiding in a Field
In fulfillment of king David's prophecy that the Father would proclaim the birth of His Son, saying "Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee...", God the Father sent angels to announce the birth of a Savior, even Christ the Lord:
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:8-14, Psalms 2:7)
Shepherds, Why Your Jubilee?
In "mak[ing] known abroad the saying... concerning this child", the shepherds unwittingly fulfilled king David's prophecy saying, "Lo we heard of it at Ephrata...":
"And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb." (Luke 2:15-21, Psalms 132:1-11)
Jesus Christ, The Available God
Jesus Christ chose to be born under what was at the time rather ordinary circumstances. He chose to be laid in a lowly place, ceremonially unclean by Jewish standards. He chose "to walk upon His footstool and be like man almost" - to be as one of us. His coming down to our level I believe is symbolic of our need to let Him see our shame and our failures, to let Him come down and work with us side by side to find our way into salvation from the weakness of mortality.
The apostle John said of the Savior, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." He considered Himself to be one of us. Humble yet mighty, He directed His awesome power and wisdom to our service, not claiming it for Himself - not claiming even the right of His own life for Himself.
I believe the reason the Lord chose to be born in a stable and laid in a manger as opposed to palace and crib was to help us see Him as the Available God, a God willing to accept us as we are, if we are willing to let Him change us, willing to let Him make us as He is. Christ taught, "no man cometh unto the Father but by me". He came down to us to invite us to come unto Him. "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved... For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (John 1:11, John 14:6, John 3:17, 2 Corinthians 5:21, LDS Hymns #175)
Also of Interest
LDS Lower Light: Jesus of Nazareth, Our Savior and Friend!
www.christmas.mormon.org - Purpose of a Savior
Being a historian of sorts, Luke tells us of his reasons for recording the events surrounding the Savior's birth:
"Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order... that thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed." (Luke 1:1-4)
I can picture in my mind and heart what it must have felt like for both Matthew and Luke to undertake the research and writing of their respective gospels, contacting eyewitnesses and corroborating stories across multiple accounts.
But before they actually wrote it down, I can't help but think there's another scene that played out in both households at least once or twice at Christmas time: the children gather around before going to bed for the night, pleading, "Grandpa, tell us the story of Jesus again!"
What would it have been like to sit at the feet of Matthew or Mark, Luke or John, as one of their grandchildren, and hear them speak these words? Perhaps more importantly, what would it have been like to have grown up believing the words of the prophets concerning the coming of the Savior, only to hear the rumors coming out of Bethlehem, or to go and see for yourself "this thing which the Lord hath made known unto us?"
A Virgin Birth
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily."
"But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins."
"Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus." (Matthew 1:18-25)
Laid in a Manger; No Room for Them in The Inn
"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7)
Shepherds Abiding in a Field
In fulfillment of king David's prophecy that the Father would proclaim the birth of His Son, saying "Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee...", God the Father sent angels to announce the birth of a Savior, even Christ the Lord:
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:8-14, Psalms 2:7)
Shepherds, Why Your Jubilee?
In "mak[ing] known abroad the saying... concerning this child", the shepherds unwittingly fulfilled king David's prophecy saying, "Lo we heard of it at Ephrata...":
"And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb." (Luke 2:15-21, Psalms 132:1-11)
Jesus Christ, The Available God
Jesus Christ chose to be born under what was at the time rather ordinary circumstances. He chose to be laid in a lowly place, ceremonially unclean by Jewish standards. He chose "to walk upon His footstool and be like man almost" - to be as one of us. His coming down to our level I believe is symbolic of our need to let Him see our shame and our failures, to let Him come down and work with us side by side to find our way into salvation from the weakness of mortality.
The apostle John said of the Savior, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." He considered Himself to be one of us. Humble yet mighty, He directed His awesome power and wisdom to our service, not claiming it for Himself - not claiming even the right of His own life for Himself.
I believe the reason the Lord chose to be born in a stable and laid in a manger as opposed to palace and crib was to help us see Him as the Available God, a God willing to accept us as we are, if we are willing to let Him change us, willing to let Him make us as He is. Christ taught, "no man cometh unto the Father but by me". He came down to us to invite us to come unto Him. "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved... For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (John 1:11, John 14:6, John 3:17, 2 Corinthians 5:21, LDS Hymns #175)
Also of Interest
LDS Lower Light: Jesus of Nazareth, Our Savior and Friend!
www.christmas.mormon.org - Purpose of a Savior
No comments:
Post a Comment