Category: Bible

The Temple incident

Yahshua was still at the beginning of his work, yet he was already growing in stature and favour. We should be growing in those same ways right now, and the only way that becomes possible is that we follow in his footsteps. However young or old you might be, and however far you may have already come with Yahshua, today, this very moment, is the start of the rest of your life. It’s a great opportunity.

Greek commentary on John’s gospel dated 1190-1200 (Bodleian Library)

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Cruising the gospel – luke 2:41-52

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The Temple incident

A fragment of Luke’s gospel
(Wikimedia)

2:41 – Yahshua (Jesus)’s parents Yosep (Joseph) and Maryam (Mary) always went up to Yerushelem (Jerusalem) for the Passover festival, along with many others from Natsrat (Nazareth).

When he was twelve-years-old, they made this journey as they always did, but this time after a day’s journey north towards home, Yosep and Maryam were unable to find him amongst the other travellers. Frantically they returned to Yerushelem to hunt for him there and, after three days searching, discovered him in the Temple deep in conversation with the teachers there.

People nearby listening to what was said were blown away by his understanding and answers. Maryam and Yosep were astonished. Maryam asked him why he’d treated them like this – ‘Your father and I have been frantically searching everywhere for you!’

His answer puzzled them. He asked why they had searched, to him it was natural that he’d be there in the Temple (my Father’s house).

He did what they told him, and they returned to Nasrat together, and Maryam stored it all away in her heart.

So what can we learn from all this?

First, let’s remind ourselves that as followers of Yahshua our whole purpose is to pay attention to everything he says and does and get out into the world around us to emulate him and do even more that he did. How is that possible? Yashua is greater than me, greater than you. How can we do more than he does?

The answer to that conundrum is simple, there’s only one of him, there are billions of us. He is the head, we are the arms and legs, eyes and ears. He is here to make decisions, we are here to carry out his commands. It’s really that simple! But it’s upside down in terms of our usual thinking, and astonishingly we can see the truth of this in Yashua even at the age of twelve!

We will probably be as puzzled and confused as Maryam and Josep were! Don’t expect to understand fully what the head is thinking. The body receives instructions and we need to learn to carry them out without question or understanding. We’re not accustomed to this. we’re used to organisations with managers at every level, taking commands from the top and seeing them trickle down to lower levels being interpreted step-by-step on the way down.

The CEO says, ‘Increase production and marketing of product x’. The production manager plans to build additional capacity, the buyers look for ways to obtain more raw material for product x for delivery beginning at the necessary time. The sales team prepares marketing material and designs product packaging, then finds companies to produce and print boxes.

But Jesus isn’t like a CEO, he is a King! He will lead us, he’ll come with us because he’s also our brother, he gives us gifts and he makes us fruitful. Those are the things we should learn to develop, improve in, and practice. The sequence is absolutely critical. It determines everything.

  • First we must meet Jesus and get to know him really, really well.
  • Second we must become disciples, learning to listen and follow.
  • Third we set out on mission, we reach the people around us, wherever we live, and work.
  • Fourth we must allow him to build us into church the way he wants it. That means, not the way we want it. That means not the way you and I want it.

(See JDMC for more on these four points.)

If we are honest, we can learn all of this from Jesus even as a 12-year-old. His parents had to learn this, so did the Temple teachers, so do we.

And notice Luke 2:41-52; Yahshua was still at the beginning of his work, yet he was already growing in stature and favour. We should be growing in those same ways right now, and the only thing that makes it possible is that we follow in his footsteps. However young or old you might be, and however far you may have already come with Yahshua, today, this very moment, is the start of the rest of your life. It’s a great opportunity. Make it a journey with the risen Lord and, long or short, it will be the most exciting and productive time of your life. So forget everything else, step out with Jesus and get going – right now!

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Making a start
John 16:16-24 – Sadness and joy
Pear-shaped

Jesus as a child

Perhaps, from Luke’s point of view, since Yahshua is in a sense the first-born of his heavenly Father, not of Yosep, there was no need for the five shekel fee. Maybe the Simeon passage (Luke 2:25-33) is included specifically to make this clear.

Greek commentary on John’s gospel dated 1190-1200 (Bodleian Library)

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Cruising the gospel – luke 2:21-40

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Circumcision and naming

A fragment of Luke’s gospel
(Wikimedia)

2:21 – Just as with Yohanan (John) and for every Jewish boy, on the eighth day after birth, Yahshua (Jesus) was circumcised and named. For the details of this read the previous post.

True to his word in his introduction, Luke arranges everything in proper chronological sequence, first the birth of Yashua, then his circumcision and naming, and then anything more he can find about him as a child. At sometime the family would have returned to Nasra (Nazareth) in the north near the shore of Lake Ginnosar (Galilee).

Temple offerings

There’s a lot to mull over in verses 22-24. There are two distinct obligations that must be fulfilled when Yahshua is about 40 days old. The first concerns Maryam’s purification following childbirth. After giving birth to a son, a mother was ceremonially unclean for 7 days. On the 8th day came circumcision as we have seen (Lev 12:3 and Luke 2:21). But a woman needed to wait a total of 40 days before she could touch anything holy or enter the sanctuary. (For a daughter those periods would be doubled to 14 and 80 days.)

An offering was required when the 40 days were up, she would bring a year-old lamb as a burnt offering and a pigeon or turtledove as a sin offering. The priest would make atonement for her, and she was then regarded as ritually clean (Lev 12:6–7). Poor people would not have been able to afford a lamb for the burnt offering, and in this case two turtledoves or two young pigeons were acceptable, one bird for the burnt offering and the other for the sin offering (Lev 12:8).

Luke mentions the concession for poverty so it seems Yosep and Maryam were needy at this time. The sin offering does not suggest any wrongdoing on Maryam’s part; it was simply a ritual uncleanness due to the loss of blood during the birth.

Redeeming the first-born

It was also necessary to redeem a first-born son (see Exodus 13:2, 12–15, repeated in Exodus 34:19–20, also Numbers 3:11–13, 40–51 and Numbers 18:15–16). However, the child did not need to be taken to the Temple for this redemption, and Luke doesn’t mention the five shekels being paid.

Perhaps, from Luke’s point of view, since Yahshua is in a sense the first-born of his heavenly Father, not of Yosep, there was no need for the five shekel fee. Maybe the Simeon passage (Luke 2:25-33) is included specifically to make this clear. Hearing this prophecy over the infant Yahshua clearly impressed Yosep and Maryam and gave them further pause for thought.

Hanna (Anna)’s words (Luke 2:36-38) will no doubt have reinforced these impressions and thoughts still further in Yosep and Maryam’s minds.

After fulfilling all the requirements for ritual cleansing and redemption, they returned home to Nasra (Nazareth), and Luke has no details to share about Yahshua’s early life there except for the generalisations that he grew, became strong, was filled with wisdom, and that Father’s grace was on him (Luke 2:40). There remains just one piece of additional detail, and we’ll look at that next time. We can also add, though Luke doesn’t tell us, that Yashua during his childhood years would have learned Yo-sep‘s trade as a general builder (not, as commonly thought, a carpenter, though carpentry would certainly have been included). He would also have been taught by a local scribe to read and write Hebrew and would have studied the Hebrew Bible exhaustively, learning considerable chunks by heart as all Jewish boys were required to do.

Question: Consider that Yahshua, as he grew up, worked with Yo-sep at building and repairing work. Do you think practice at building and repairing structures might have helped him later with the work of building and repairing relationships? Think about the skills involved in getting things to fit well, the need for firm, reliable foundations. Think about things like care, attention to detail, self-control, gentleness, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness. He came to repair relationships between everyday people and between those people and his Father in heaven. He said, ‘I will build my church’.

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Community spirit
John 16:12-15 – The Spirit
What does Jesus mean to me and how do I respond to him?

The birth of Jesus

‘Hey, don’t be afraid, guys; relax, nothing to worry about here.’ And he continued, ‘I’m bringing great news that will make everyone rejoice. Today, in David’s town, a Saviour has been born for you, Ha Maschiach (the Messiah), the Lord’.

Greek commentary on John’s gospel dated 1190-1200 (Bodleian Library)

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Cruising the gospel – luke 2:1-20

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A baby is born

A fragment of Luke’s gospel
(Wikimedia)

2:1-7 – Some three months after the birth of Yohanan (John) it was almost time for Maryam (Mary) to give birth to Yashua (Jesus) after her return to Nasra (Nazareth), and in due course her time of labour would begin. Luke begins the chapter by telling us that the Roman Emperor Augustus had decreed a census for the entire empire. There’s a bit of difficulty here for Bible scholars and historians alike.

The chronology

It’s generally agreed that Yahshua (Jesus) was born well before our year zero, probably in the period 6 to 4 BC. If you want a nice round number go for 5 BC, you will be less than a year out so it’s quite reasonable as a guess to keep things simple. But (and it’s a big ‘but’) historians of the early Roman Empire under Augustus have found no record of a census in those years. There was a census in 6 AD but that is a very poor fit for several reasons.

The most obvious reason is the timing difference. Most historians assume Luke has inadvertently referred to the later census mistaking the date with the earlier one. Theologians have tried to reconcile the two dates in several ways but there’s been little agreement. But bear in mind that it’s entirely possible there was an earlier census and the records have been lost.

According to Luke’s account, here in chapter 2, the Emperor Augustus ordered that everybody (oikoumenē) should be registered. Luke says this was the first registration, when (or possibly before) Quirinius was governor of Syria, and adds that everyone went to their own ancestral town. That explains why YoSEP (Joseph) and Maryam travelled from Nasra to BaytLEhem (Bethlehem). Later, in Acts 5:37 Luke mentions the later census in 6 AD. He tells us that Gahmlee’el (Gamaliel) mentioned Judas the Gallilean, who rose up in the days of the census. This refers to the census of 6 AD, not one around 5 BC.

There is one further possibility. The ‘census’ might have been an affirmation of loyalty, not a tax raising exercise. Josephus writes in Antiquities 17.42 that there was an oath of loyalty to Augustus and Herod around 7–6 BC, and the 5th-century writer Orosius links an oath to Jesus’ birth. Matthew puts the birth of Jesus during Herod the Great’s reign, and Herod died in 4 BC. But Matthew doesn’t mention a census at all: and in his account the family seems to live in Bethlehem already and only later moves to Nazareth. Mark, John and Paul do not mention any census.

Family of David

YoSEP’s family were descended from the line of DahWEEth (David) at the town of BaytLEhem (Bethlehem), so that’s where he and his wife-to-be had to go. It must have been a very difficult journey for the pair of them, with the baby so nearly full-term. And she did, in fact give birth while they were right there in BaytLEhem for registration. They were unable to find accomm0dation in the small town, it must have been very crowded, so Maryam wrapped the baby in bands of cloth and laid him down in the farm animal’s hay trough.

The shepherds

Luke 2:8-20 Almost everyone in the western world is familiar with the story of the shepherds coming from the fields to worship and wonder at the new baby. It has become a standard and popular part of the Christmas story. While shepherds watched their flocks by night is one of those carols that everyone knows and loves, and the events are acted out at school nativity plays. So let’s read Luke 2:8-20 now and see how much of that popular story is here in Luke’s gospel.

The shepherds had been living outside at night to keep an eye on the sheep at a time when they they might have been prey to wolves or other predators if left alone. One of Yahweh’s angels appeared, his Shekinah glory shone brightly and they were terrified by this experience. To see the glory meant instant death according to the teaching of the priests. But the angel was unconcerned, saying something that in colloquial English might have been, ‘Hey, don’t be afraid, guys; relax, nothing to worry about here.’ And he continued, ‘I’m bringing great news that will make everyone rejoice. Today, in David’s town, a Saviour has been born for you, Ha Maschiach (the Messiah), the Lord. Luke, writing in Greek, uses the word Kyrios for Lord, the angel would have spoken Aramaic to the shepherds and therefore used the equivalent term Mar-ay (or possibly the Hebrew Adon or Adonai).

He added, ‘Here’s a clue for you, you’ll find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a farm animal’s hay trough!’

And suddenly great crowds, a veritable army of angels, appeared in the sky, praising Yahweh (I Am) and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’ Once the angels had returned to the skies, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go and see this event that Mar-ay told us about!’

So the shepherds hurried to find YoSEP, Maryam, and the baby; and after seeing him they left and told others who were all amazed to hear the details. Maryam, meanwhile, stored it all away in her mind and quietly considered it. The shepherds returned to the fields, glorifying and praising Elohim for everything they’d witnessed which had come about just as they’d been told.

So what Luke writes here matches what we see in nativity plays in the 21st century apart from a bunch of farm animals in the outbuilding with the hay trough, and the three visiting kings (or wise men) with their gifts. But these visitors get a mention in Matthew’s account.

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Start with Jesus
APEST in Jesus
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The birth of John

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.’

Greek commentary on John’s gospel dated 1190-1200 (Bodleian Library)

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Cruising the gospel – luke 1:57-80

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A baby is born

A fragment of Luke’s gospel
(Wikimedia)

1:57-66 – Maryam (Mary) has returned to Nasra (Nazareth) , and the time came when Elishwa (Elizabeth) began her labour. The promised son was born and there was a lot of rejoicing by friends and family. Male babies were traditionally circumcised on the eighth day and a name had be chosen in advance as it was needed during the ceremony. Normally, a firstborn son would be named after his father and that’s what the relatives suggested and expected, but Elishwa said, ‘No! He’s to be called Yohanan (John).’

They pointed out, rightly, that Yohanan was not the name of anyone in the family and they ignored Elishwa’s objection and asked Zekharya (Zechariah) what name he wanted to give the baby. So they gave him a writing tablet and he wrote , ‘His name is Yohanan’.

Suddenly, Zekharya could speak again and loudly praised Elohim (God). The neighbours were awestruck (it must have been an amazing moment to witness the man who’d been dumb for so long suddenly speaking aloud again!) People discussed it far and wide over the Judean Hill Country. Everyone who heard about it wondered what the future would hold for this clearly unusual and special child. They could clearly see that Yahweh (The Lord)’s hand was on him!

1:67-80 – Zekharya was filled with Ruach (the Holy Spirit) and prophesied:

‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us –
to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness
before him all our days.

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.’

And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

We don’t know how old John was when he went to live in the wilderness or how long he remained at home as a child. But what we can see clearly is the difference between a gift of prophecy received at a particular time for a particular purpose (think of Zekarya’s words above as a good example) and coming as a prophet like Johanan. This distinction remains today, people sometimes prophecy in a meeting as the Holy Spirit gives them something to say, but Johanan was more like one of the Old Testament Prophets in many ways: his entire life was dedicated to a specific goal and purpose. In fact people thought he was Elijah come again. Prophets like this had not been seen in Israel for a very long time.

Background for the ceremony

The details are not entirely clear for the early first century AD. The ceremony was named in Hebrew בְּרִית מִילָה or brit milah which means ‘Covenant of circumcision’. There is no extant document describing the words or action of this ceremony in any detail, we have fragmentary references from Josephus, brief extracts from 2nd century rabbinic writings, some mentions by Philo and in the New Testament, and a few clues from architectural features and carved lettering.

But the eighth day timing after birth was normal following Genesis 17:12 and Leviticus 12:3; it was non-negotiable even if it fell on Shabbat (the Sabbath) or a festival.

The ceremony itself

In the first century the circumcision would normally be done by the child’s father or by a trusted individual nominated by the father. A flint knife was traditionally used, or sometimes a metal blade. Flint would have had several very practical advantages, a fresh flake taken from a flint core would be far sharper than any metal knife and would also be sterile (though 2000 years ago this would not have been understood, of course). It’s also conceivable, even likely, that the practice might date back to very early times. Bronze implements were available in Moshe (Moses)’s day, but iron was rare and very expensive (being sourced at that time from meteorites). Neither metal would take an edge even remotely as sharp as flaked flint. Traditions may last for very long periods of time and for a sharp and clean edge flint would have been a great choice. The significance of circumcision was entirely covenantal, proof of obedience and inclusion in the promises given to Avraham (Abraham) and all his descendants.

The process would have been quick, the blood flow diminished by light pressure, and often an olive oil or powder dressing would have been used. Suitable styptic powders available at the time might have included frankincense, alum, myrrh, cinnamon or cassia bark, ashes or burnt organic materials or colophony/rosin or plant gums. Many of these materials were used for dressing wounds, but we have no specific information on their use for circumcision.

The name was given at the circumcision. This is one of the better-attested features of the period: Luke 1:59 and 2:21 both place the naming at the eighth-day rite, and it fits what we know of Second Temple practice. Later Jewish custom moved the naming of girls to the synagogue, while boys’ naming stayed attached to the circumcision.

A celebratory meal with guests followed, and this had a semi-legal status as something that was appropriate for circumision.

We don’t know if there were specific words to be spoken, nor do we have an order of prayer or anything of that sort, we don’t know if wine was involved, or whether there were specific Old Testament readings. The current Jewish liturgy for Brit milah developed much later.

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Mark 1:1-20 – Cruising the Gospel