READING IN LUKE 2
READING IN LUKE 2
The prophetic utterance of Zacharias in chapter 1, coupled with that of Simeon in the temple, convey to us very largely the mind of God in regard to the birth of Christ. Zacharias speaks of the deliverance that had come in for Israel; Simeon goes out to the Gentiles. What they said, however, was not exactly in the nature of a new revelation; the prophets had abundantly testified to the things they spoke of Zacharias says, “Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, because he has visited and wrought redemption for his people, and raised up a horn of deliverance for us in the house of David his servant; as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who have been since the world began; deliverance from our enemies and out of the hand of all who hate us; to fulfil mercy with our fathers and remember his holy covenant, the oath which he swore to Abraham our father, to give us, that, saved from the hand of our enemies, we should serve him without fear in [p. 5] piety and righteousness before him all our days”, Luke 1: 68 - 75. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Zacharias was in the full light of the mind of God as indicated in the prophets. Simeon says, “mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples; a light for revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel”, chapter 2: 30. This is a wider view — wider even in regard to Israel. Zacharias speaks of the breaking of the enemy’s power, whereas Simeon views Christ as the glory of Israel.
Luke’s object is not to show the dark side of things in the world at the time of the Lord’s birth. Caesar Augustus had decreed that all the world should be taxed; a census should be made. The motives that may have been behind this are not in question. Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem, and we may say that the whole habitable world was moved to this end. Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem in humble simplicity, taking their place with the rest of mankind in recognising the established order of things. The conditions in which His parents were found were in every way accepted, there was no miraculous evading of them.
But there was no room in the world’s inn for Christ. We have to note the difference between the inn here and that spoken of in chapter 10. The inn spoken of in this chapter is in man’s world; that in chapter 10 belongs to God’s world. The Samaritan, we may say, had influence in the latter; he had sufficient confidence in the innkeeper to commit to his care the poor man he had befriended.
As we have been saying, the whole habitable earth was moved in connection with the birth of Christ. Augustus, doubtless, had personal motives in issuing his decree, but in heaven there was a sympathetic movement. It was a movement marked by intelligence and affection. He who is God had [p. 6] become Man; this was the most wonderful event that had ever taken place. God was seen of angels. What is remarkable about angels is, that they are always so in touch with God in what He is doing. At the creation “all the sons of God shouted for joy”, Job 38: 7. Here we have “a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men”.
We must distinguish between the angel who spoke to the shepherds and the multitude of the heavenly host; the former acted the part of an evangelist, for he was a bearer of glad tidings; the latter are moved in sympathetic and intelligent interest in what was transpiring. You feel that the angel who carried the glad tidings was wonderfully supported. There is in this affecting scene an analogy to the relation of the assembly to an evangelist. The evangelist is supported by the ardent sympathy of the saints. Here the angels are engaged in the most exalted service they ever rendered to God; they were praising Him in connection with a greater event even than the laying of the foundation of the earth. When the foundations of the earth were laid they showed their interest and sympathy in the divine counsels, and they followed along step by step as God’s ways and testimony were unfolded, and here there is a burst of rapturous praise that the Lord had taken the form of a Babe in this world. It must have been marvellous to them to see a divine movement like this. The scene affords great light as to angelic nature: they are entirely unselfish. If there ever was a moment to call forth jealousy from the angels it was this, for their Creator had become Man, instead of taking a place as one of themselves; but instead of this we find rapturous delight in what was transpiring. Later, some of their number watch the Lord’s grave.
[p. 7] Becoming Man, Christ took a place relatively lower than angels for the suffering of death, but He is crowned with glory and honour. Whatever the place, of inferiority in which the Lord was found here it did not affect His Person; being a divine Person, He ever remains unchanged. Taking man’s place, He was entirely for God’s will, and God made Him a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death. But He proved Himself worthy of exaltation, and now man in His Person is rightfully in the place of greatest glory and honour. In the future angels shall be seen ascending and descending on the Son of man.
The service of the angels here is in every way exalted, and it is marked by intelligence. They appreciated what was involved in what had occurred at Bethlehem. God’s glory should now be secured in man. Angels had not been charged with God’s testimony on earth, but men had been; and in this they had utterly broken down, all had failed. The angels had witnessed this; but now they saw One in manhood who would answer to every thought of God.
As to the shepherds, there was moral correspondence in them to what was going on around them. Their occupation is suggestive of this. They were qualified both by position and heart to receive such a visitation and message. “Let us make our way then now as far as Bethlehem, and let us see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us”. They came and saw, and then they became evangelists: “They made known about the country the thing which had been said to them about this Child”. Finally, they were engaged in praising God, verse 20. They came under the influence of the heavenly multitude in every way.