Third Presbyterian Sunday Morning Bible Study - December 19, 2021

Below is the Bible Study written by Jim Rudiger for his Sunday School Class which meets at Third Presbyterian Church, Norfolk, Virginia. It's based on Luke 2:1-20.

Before we start the study, I need to share something with you. There are many grand beginnings in our life. One for me was in 1960 when I was asked to teach a Senior Highs Sunday School class. That began 61 years of lessons and studies. Each one was an exiting adventure where I found out something new in each scripture. However, in this last year, I began notice that my mental and physical abilities began to diminish. By the end of this year, two truths became very clear to me. The first truth was that aging is not reversible. This fact opened the second truth: The teaching phase of my Christian service has come to an end. Accordingly, next week will be my final Bible study.

I want to thank you for allowing me to share scripture with you, particularly this last year and a half. A special thank you goes to my son, Rev. Ed Rudiger, for putting our study on his blog allowing it to be read by many people. He also was the one who added those pictures, cartoons and maps which enhanced our understanding of the scripture we were studying. And now, brothers and sisters in Christ, may you stay in the word and be richly blessed. Amen.

Jim Rudiger

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Growing up, when did your parents put up the Christmas tree? When I was a little guy, the trees were live and in my grandmother’s house, the tree was nailed to a cross. No water to prolong the life of the poor thing. So, a week before Christmas it was put up in the corner of the living room as far from the pot bellied stove as possible. It was always a balsam fir because that is what Berman’s Grocery Store sold. Mr. Berman may have been Jewish but he didn’t let that stand in the way of offering Christmas trees and green cellophane window wreaths. As Christmas approached, it was a race to see if the fat guy in the red suit could get here before all of the needles fell off of the tree. The strings of lights on the tree were the small series type. If one went out, the whole string went dark. And you could bet that a light would give up the ghost on Christmas Eve and my Uncle Win would have to start replacing one bulb at a time until the dead soldier was found.

How were your presents wrapped? Mine were always wrapped in green or red tissue paper and since Scotch tape hadn’t been invented yet, Christmas seals shaped like Santa Clause heads had to be licked and stuck on the seams to hold the tissue paper together. With tissue paper, you didn’t have to unwrap anything to see what was inside. I could plainly see the cover of the box showing a genuine Gene Autry cowboy suit complete with silver pistols just like Gene used to shoot the guns from the hands of the guys in black hats. But that was OK. It was still fun to tear away at the paper to get at the goodies.

In today’s study we will look at the original Christmas Eve. Luke’s account is maybe the most lovely telling of the birth of Jesus. It is certainly the most popular. There are no Christmas trees. No colored lights or wreathes on the door. But there is a manger scene. This manger scene doesn’t have camels, shepherds or wise men. Only a frightened couple facing a birth under the worst possible conditions. But, this lonely birth in an obscure small village will be celebrated as long as there are people on this planet.

Luke 2: 1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor 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 for them in the inn.

Our lesson opens with Joseph and Mary traveling to Bethlehem. It is possible that Joseph had been married before and his wife had died. Some theologians explain that James and the other children of Mary and Joseph may have been Joseph’s children by his first wife. Some Roman Catholics accept this view so that Mary remains a virgin even after she and Joseph marry. It should be noted that if Joseph had children by a first wife, they would have been with Joseph when he traveled to Bethlehem for the census. None are mentioned in either Luke’s or Matthew’s accounts.

How does Luke tie down the date of the birth? It was during a census. It was when Augustus was Emperor. Quirinius was governor of Syria. In those days Syria was a province ruled by Rome and Palestine fell in that province. Luke wants his reader to know that this event took place in real time. He is going to be as exact about the date as he can.

In the Roman Empire, periodic censuses were taken for two reasons, making sure everybody who should be taxed is taxed and finding out who was eligible for the draft. Palestinians were exempt from the draft, so for them, the census was just for taxation purposes. The census was taken generally every fourteen years. There exists census documents from Egypt that cover every census between 20 AD and 270 AD. How the Romans conducted the census in Egypt was probably the same as they did in all of their provinces including Syria. The census decree required everybody to return to their home town for the census. Why couldn’t they stay where they were and be counted? We have an actual Roman government edict from Egypt concerning this requirement which states: “Seeing that the time has come for the house to house census, it is necessary to compel all those, who for any cause whatsoever are residing outside their districts to return to their homes, that they may both carry out the regular order of the census, and may also diligently attend to the cultivation of their allotments.” In other words, so they could pay their taxes. Rome wanted it to be as easy as possible for the government to get it’s money so that meant having the whole family together in one place. Rome didn’t want to be chasing all over the country side trying to get it’s money.

Knowing that the census took place every fourteen years and that there was one in 20 AD, we can count back and see that there would have been a census in 6 AD and in 8 BC. We also know that in 8 BC Augustus was Emperor and Quirinius, while he wasn’t yet governor (he didn’t become governor until 6 AD), he held an important political position in Syria at that time.

Now, Joseph was of the linage of David and Bethlehem was David’s hometown. So Joseph had to travel from his home in Nazareth all the way to Bethlehem. Not only Joseph, but, Mary his betrothed who was very close to her delivery date. The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was about 80 miles, about the distance from here to Richmond. Because of the census, Bethlehem was over crowded. When scripture speaks about an “inn” it isn’t talking about a Motel 6. Inns in those days meant homes with guest rooms that caravan workers could rent when they passed through town. These inns were more like room and board homes. Since these caravans included animals, these stop-overs were set up for men with animals. Behind the house would be a court yard with stables or mangers so the caravan animals could eat and rest. Any guest staying at the inn would be responsible for his own food. The inn keeper provided only food for the animals and the fire for cooking the meals of the caravan workers. All of the guest rooms in Bethlehem were booked, so, Joseph and Mary were forced to spend the night in the court yard set aside for the animals.

Are Luke and Mary married yet? No. They are still betrothed. Why aren’t they married? The betrothal lasted for one year and that year wasn’t up yet. It could be up to three months before the marriage will take place. So, why is Mary going with Joseph if she isn’t his wife? Being betrothed was essentially being married without physically consummating the marriage. As far as Rome was concerned, Joseph and Mary were a married couple.

Luke doesn’t tell us how long Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem before the baby Jesus was born. Sometimes we get the idea that as soon as they unpacked their bags in the court yard, Mary went into labor. But there could have been days or weeks before the birth. Luke only says that while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to give birth to the baby. Imagine what Mary is going through. While this is the Son of God, he is going to be born like any other baby. Mary won’t be spared the birthing pains or the anxiety. Joseph is going to do all that he can to make her comfortable. He holds her hand as Mary sweats and strains. Here are two people, all alone on the most important night this old earth has seen preparing to deliver the Son of God!

In due time, the baby is born. The first time you ever heard this story, how was the baby wrapped? In swaddling clothes. How does our study say the new born baby wrapped? Bands of cloth and laid in a manger. Same thing. Ain’t no baby showers now featuring swaddling clothes or bands of cloth, so what were they anyway and how were they used? There was a custom in Palestine then to wrap the baby’s arms and legs with these cloths to insure that they stayed straight. Swaddling cloths consisted of a square piece of cloth with a long bandage-like strip coming diagonally off of one corner. The baby would be set diagonally in the square and three corners brought up to it’s chest. It’s head rested on the other corner. The long strip would then be wound round and round the baby. The manger would actually be a trough used to feed the animals. The feed in the trough, the straw, would act like a pillow to lay the baby on. Just think about it. On this night, the beginning of Jesus’ time on this earth, the world had no place for him.

Luke 2: 8 In that 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 jpy for all of 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 the 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!”

The scene now shifts to shepherds out in the fields. As far as orthodox Jews of that day were concerned, shepherds were the most despised people possible. Why would they be so despised? Mainly, it was because their job prevented them from doing all the ritualistic cleansing required by the law in order to be considered a good Jew. Good Jews were big on ritualistic hand washing as well as ritualistic bathing at the Temple. Shepherds had to be on the job in the pastures and didn’t have time to get down to the Temple several times a day to take a bath. These shepherds were simple men with no special talents doing a poor paying job as well as they could. Living all the time with sheep probably didn’t make them smell too good either. They overlooked the slights they got when they went into town and the “Good Jews” avoided them or whispered behind their backs.

Just think about it. It was to these simple hard working men at the bottom of the social ladder who received God’s first declaration about the birth of his Son. Not the priests in the Temple or the rich merchants who made a display of their wealth in the Temple. Gives us a little incite in who God considered the most important.

Maybe these weren’t the run of the mill shepherds, though. At the Temple in the morning and in the evening, sacrifices were made to God. These sacrifices had to be an unblemished lamb and only the lambs bought from the Temple met the priest’s requirements. If you wanted to make a sacrifice, you couldn’t use one of your own sheep no matter how unblemished it was. You had to buy a lamb from the priest. The priests had a good thing going but they needed a supply of sheep. So they had their own flocks and we know from ancient accounts that these flocks were grazed on the hills just outside of Bethlehem. They might even have been grazed in the same hills that David had worked as a shepherd. These shepherds, the ones described in our scripture, may have been the shepherds for the Temple flock. If they were, wouldn’t it be ironic if the shepherds who looked after the sacrificial lambs for the Temple would be the first to see the Lamb of God who will be sacrificed for the sins of the world.

What time of day is it? Night time. They are out in the fields at night. With this description, Luke gives us a clue about the time of year it was. Shepherds took their sheep out to the hills for grazing from April to November while the weather was milder. Why are they grazing at night, then? As summer came along and the days became hot, the shepherds would wait until night when it was cooler to move the sheep out on the hill. Does this sound like December 25th weather? No. So why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25th? Some say that it coincides with a popular heathen celebration, but, a lot of Christian theologians don’t accept that. It just became a tradition that stuck. Really, for the early Christians, it’s the birth that is important not the calendar date.

It’s dark that night. Each shepherd is watching his flock. He has to be ready at any minute to rush in if a wolf invades the flock looking for dinner. We don’t know how many shepherds there were that night, but, it must have been several. There were no wolves that night threatening the sheep but the sheep were acting funny. They seemed a little skittish and unsettled. The shepherds were on their toes alert to something that seemed to be spooking the sheep. All of the sudden from nowhere, an angel appears. Scripture tells us that the glory of the Lord shown around them. There was a radiance that seemed to pour out of the angel and light the hills around them. The shepherds weren’t grouped together on one hill. They were spread out and yet each saw an angel. Was it the same angel? If it was, then the angel would have had to have been high enough up in the air for all the shepherds see him.

These are simple men being exposed to a phenomenon that few people had ever seen or will ever see. How would you have reacted if you were all alone and suddenly the earth lit up and in the middle of that light was a man seeming to be floating in the air? Scared to death. Knees, now is the time to start knocking They probably were looking right and left for someplace to hide.

The angel says the same thing to them that was said to Mary and Zachariah. What did the angel tell them? Don’t be afraid. Further, he had some good news for them. And, this good news is not only for them but for the whole world. A very special birth has taken place. The long awaited birth of the Messiah. But, there must have been a lot of other babies being born in and around Bethlehem, how will they know which one is the Messiah? The angel tells them exactly where and what to look for. We can take it that there wasn’t any other new babies laying in a manger and dressed like this in Bethlehem that night. This is unique description suiting a unique birth.

There was a tradition among the Jews that when a child was born musicians congregated at the house and greeted the little baby with simple songs. Jesus was born in a stable far from home. Far from Joseph’s and Mary’s families. No family members or friends to crowd around him and play music and sing to this little baby boy. But God took care of that, too. What does God do? He has choirs of angels from heaven sing for Jesus songs that humans could have never sung.

Luke 2: 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 had told them. 19 But Mary treasured all of these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

As quickly and as dramatically as the angel had appeared, in a blink of the eye, he was gone and so was the heavenly choir. The hill sides were dark. The only sounds were the bleating of the sheep. The shepherds looked at each other. Had they been dreaming? Was there really a little baby born in Bethlehem who was the Messiah? How can they check this out? The only way they were going to know for sure was to go as fast as they could into town and find the baby that the angel described. This meant leaving the sheep by themselves on the hills. Leaving the sheep might cost them their jobs, or, or at the least cost them some money. If a sheep is lost, the shepherd would have to pay the owner for the cost of the lost sheep and they didn’t make enough to pay for too many sheep. But, this was something that they had to do. The map the angel had given them led them straight to that manger behind the inn. And laying there was a little baby. Beside the stall was Mary and Joseph. Everything was just as the angel had said right down to the swaddling cloth.

They were excited as they started to describing what had happened to them out on the hills. The angel. The bright light. The heavenly choir singing. In their excitement, they blurted out all of the details that they could remember. The shepherds are in the courtyard behind the inn telling their story and we are told that “all who heard it were amazed.” We know there were the shepherds, Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus. Who were the “all” who also were there? It is quite likely that Joseph and Mary weren’t the only people forced to be in that courtyard because all the rooms in all of the homes were taken. Other families might have been there camping out with Joseph and Mary. They had witnessed the birth of Jesus, but, were tired and their only concern was that the baby might keep them awake as they tried to get some much needed sleep. It wasn’t until the shepherds came and told them about what had happened to them on the hillside that they recognize the special nature of this little baby.

Scripture tells us that Mary pondered these things in her heart. What does “ponder” mean? Think deeply about something. What do you think Mary was pondering about? Maybe, if her son is the Son of God why was the birth so lonely? Couldn’t the Son of God have been born with supporting family around? Why wasn’t there a room for him so that he could have at least been born with some dignity? And the main question. How in the world do you raise God’s Son? There was an awful lot to ponder about. But, for right then, there is a squirming little bundle cradled in her arms. Before the Son of God can care for the world, Mary and Joseph will have to care for him. In a few weeks King Herod will hear from the three wise men that a very special baby has been born. A baby destined to be the King of the Jews, the title Herod now held. There are dangers and trials ahead for this family. But on that special night in that remote little village two, thousand years ago, God had come into our world.

After finding the Messiah, the shepherds went back to work. But, as that walked down those trails back into the hills, they continued to sing praises about what they had been a part of that night. I believe that for the rest of their life, they would sit by camp fires with other younger shepherds and tell them of the night when an angel of the Lord told them where they would find the Messiah. It might well be that one of these same shepherds thirty years later sat down with Luke and described the events of that night.

Live Christmas trees don’t whither and die as fast today as they did when I was young. Some even come with perfect man made branches and needles already lit with strings of lights that stay lit even if one light goes out - sometimes. Presents are wrapped with all kinds of colored pictured paper held together with invisible tape and crowned with the most beautiful bows that money can buy. But the simplicity and tenderness of that first Christmas touches all Christians and even those who don’t share our faith. But with all of the manger scenes, the carols and the greening of the church, the miracle was not so much in the birth of Jesus but in his death and resurrection. You see, that was God’s greatest Christmas gift to all of us.

Prayer: Thank you for the Babe of Bethlehem. May we, as we celebrate his birth this week, be humbled by such a wonderful gift. Amen