Reflection on Luke 2:1-20

 

 

Luke 2:1-20 (NRSVue)

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place in the guest room.

  8 Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
  and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

  15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them, 19 and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.

Reflection

“I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10).  Those were some of the first, amazing words that the angel gave to the shepherds.  This good news was a joyful word for “all people” throughout the world, but notice that it was also given to them…to “you.”  “I am bringing you…” 

And what was this great news?  The angel continued, “to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:11).  Again, the Messiah, the Lord, the baby who is born, has come “to you.”  “To you is born.”

Jesus comes to be with us and to save us.  Jesus comes even to you.

Now, we do not get to read about the reaction on the shepherd’s faces when they finally get to see the baby, the one who is to be their Lord, but I imagine that it is the face of delight that everyone gets when a baby, after gazing around, eventually stares at you, focusing on you with wonder and amazement.  That sort of recognition can melt the hearts of even the toughest of guys.

I had an uncle who was one of those tough, hardworking construction guys.  He was the type of uncle who would not yell, but if us kids ran past and brushed up against him while playing our games through the house on Christmas, he would provide a gruff sort of grumble with his low smoker’s voice.  It was an angry grumble.  Sort of like what a bear would let out lowly just to keep little pests away.  And little pests we were.

No wonder why the guy rarely smiled.  But the one time that I clearly remember him smiling a huge grin was when his grandson was first placed in his hands.  He held the child in front of him and gazed into the baby’s eyes.  The baby gave a sweet little grunt and smile and nestled into his hands, and my uncle looked up with the biggest of grins.  It was as if you had given him a new Dewalt Double Bevel Sliding Compound Mider Saw with XPS technology.

That is the beautiful thing about tiny babies.  They just accept whoever you are.  They do not know your past.  They do not know your hangups.  They do not your grumblings.  They just love that you are with them, holding them.  They just love you in that warm, simple, infant way.

A fellow pastor once confided that they love the baby Jesus so much, that they secretly picture the baby Jesus even when listening to the words of the adult Jesus. 

The pastor explained, “Jesus never lost that accepting and loving nature that little babies have.  Who else loves enemies but little babies who do not know any better and Jesus?  Who else spends time with sinners and those with sordid pasts without any judgment at all accept little babies and Jesus?  Who else forgives so readily but babies and Jesus?  Babies are just so happy that you are willing to spend time with them and be with them.  So is Jesus.  So, yes, I imagine baby Jesus whenever I hear the words and actions of the adult Jesus.  Who else but someone with the heart of a child would be willing to go to the cross and die for others, out of pure love.  That sort of pure love and acceptance of us is the love of a baby.”

I must admit that the picture that he unintentionally painted in my mind of the Christ Child hanging on the cross has stuck with me for years and years.

And if what that pastor said is true, if that image of the baby Jesus’ love for us is true, then it is also true that Jesus comes to be with and save even you.

It was true for Mary.  She was just a young woman, making her way through life, when an angel suddenly showed up and said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus” (Luke 1:30-31).  The angel continued to explain that “He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:33). 

The angel told Mary that Mary had found favor with God, and that this savior would come to her, within her own womb! 

And if the baby Jesus comes to bless a normal, young woman like Mary, then I am willing to bet that Jesus is willing to come even to you.

She was not the only one who got such a gift.  Do you remember those poor, homeless shepherds who resorted to, “living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8)?  Well, the Bible says that the angel came to them as well.

"Do not be afraid;” the angel declared while they lay in the tall grass of their exterior bedroom, “for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and 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 heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" (Luke 2:10-14).

So, they left their sheep in the fields and went to find the one who was born and had come as a savior and Messiah for them, and the whole world. 

And if the baby Jesus comes to bless some homeless guys, sleeping out in the fields, then I am willing to bet that Jesus is willing to come even to you.

Jesus did not cease providing this kind of gift after he grew to become a man.  While being put to death on a cross, Jesus hung next to a couple of thieves, who were hanging on crosses as well.  It was a scene of lingering death.  It was a scene of despair.  It was a scene of absolute hopelessness.  Yet, Jesus made sure to be there.

One of the thieves mocked Jesus, but the other admitted the kind of person he had been.  He admitted how low he had slumped in life.  He pleaded to Jesus: “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.”  And Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-43).

Jesus made sure to come and be present with that man.  And if Jesus comes to bless a guy such as him with eternal life, then I am certain that Jesus comes even to you.

As a baby, Jesus comes even to you.  On the cross, Jesus comes even to you.  Out pure love, Jesus comes even to you.

So, as you sing out your praises tonight for the “Son of God” and “Love’s true light,” take a moment to ponder with Mary, and hear all that was said about this child, the child that God gave to Mary, the child that God gave to the shepherds, the child that God gave to that thief on the cross, and take some time to marvel that Jesus comes even to you with an infant’s love.  It is a love who sees no past mistakes, sees no rough exteriors, but simply loves with a purity that can save you, redeem you, and even has the power to restore all of creation.

Love has come this night.  Love has come to the world.  And love has come even to you.