Scripture
Timeless Truth: The Word became flesh.
Heaven had been
very quiet for 400 years. No burning bushes. No splitting seas. No visions. No
dreams. No prophets. No message from
God…just silence.
Then, in a
magnificent yet inauspicious way, a word – but not just a word, The Word
came. At the time, the event seemed
inconsequential to all but a blue collar carpenter and his teenage bride. But in fact, the Word of God had taken on
flesh and blood and was first heard in a baby’s cry. His birth was unspectacular, yet His presence
dispelled darkness and cast an inescapable ray of light across history, past,
present and still unwritten. God’s promises to Abraham and David had found
fulfillment at long last. Jesus would
bless all nations and would take His rightful place on David’s throne. It is this event to which everything thus far
in The Story has pointed.
Mary was the first
to hear the news. In the midst of
wedding plans and setting up house, the angel Gabriel pronounced that she had
been chosen to give birth to the Son of God.
Nothing could have been further from her mind…or her to do list. Mary was engaged and a virgin. The power of
the Most High would take care of everything, he said. So Mary rejoiced. She accepted her position as God’s servant
and praised Him with purest trust in His plan. Joseph was the next to know. He considered
pursuing a legal dissolution of their relationship to save them both from the
humiliation of an illegitimate pregnancy.
But he received his own angelic visitor, who confirmed Mary’s innocence
and gave his blessing on their marriage.
Joseph married Mary and soon after made the journey to Bethlehem to pay
his taxes as required by law. The town was bustling, and the inn was full – so
the Son of God was born in a stable.
Angels delivered
the birth announcement, and shepherds became the welcoming committee for the
King of Kings. They hurried to see for themselves, and found a surprisingly
unassuming setting for a king: a baby in
a feeding trough, accompanied by his mother, earthly father, and the local
livestock. God also sent signs in the stars, and faraway wise men charted their
course with gifts in hand. King Herod
felt threatened by the birth of another monarch, so he ordered the massacre of
all the baby boys in the surrounding areas.
God sent angels again so His redemptive plan would stay its course. They
warned Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt until it was safe to return.
Joseph, Mary and Jesus returned to Israel only after Herod’s
death, and they made their home in Nazareth. Jesus grew up there as the precocious
son of pious Jews. He and His family traveled to Jerusalem every year to
celebrate Passover. When Jesus was 12,
He stayed behind in the temple unbeknownst to his frantic parents. They found
Him sitting with the teachers who were amazed at His words. Jesus grew up as
all boys do, and Scripture tells us that He increased in wisdom and favor with
God and with people.
God’s Upper Story
intersects with His Lower Story at the birth of Jesus Christ, the God-man.
God’s redemptive story approaches its climax as the Son of God from eternity
past becomes the Son of Man for eternity future. Messiah has finally come.
Questions
- These verses in the Gospel of John reveal one of the most important beliefs. How does page 255, or John 1:1-14, 18, help clarify the relationship between God and Jesus? Why is this so important?
- “In Him was life, and the life was the light of all people,” (p. 255, Jn. 1:4). Look up Jn. 5:21-29, 6:47-58, 10:10, 11:25, 14:6, 17:3, and 20:31. What does it mean, that in Him was life?
- List some of the names of Jesus and their meaning or significance (see also Isa. 9:6-7.)
- What things did Mary know about her child even before she conceived (p. 256)? Why was this important?
- In response to her situation, Mary offers a song of praise. (p.256) Compare Hannah’s praise song in 1 Sam. 2:1-10. How these songs are similar? Did Mary see herself as part of God’s Lower Story or part of His Upper Story?
- What do you suppose Joseph thought and felt about Mary’s pregnancy before and after the angelic visitation (p. 257)? What is the difference between having faith in people and having faith in God?
- Joseph was as a “righteous man,” (p. 257, Lu. 1:19) who was not necessarily considered to be so by others (Jn. 8:41). What examples can you find of his righteousness?
- Herod was not the first evil ruler to commit, or attempt, infanticide against Hebrew babies. What other examples can you recall? What does this teach you about God’s Upper Story plan of redemption?
- The text tells us “all who heard [Jesus] were amazed” (pg. 258). What do you suppose it was that surprised them?
