Bethlehem (House of Bread) Birthplace of Bread of Life - Luke 2:1-7

JOSEPH

Bethlehem (House of Bread)

Birthplace of Bread of Life

Luke 2:1-7

Luke 2:1-3 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

Susie: Luke sets the birth of the Savior into a historical timeframe, naming the Caesar and the governor for accuracy. Rome had conquered Israel and appointed a Roman governor. They allowed their conquered nations to retain some of their own control and religious practices as long as they did not clash with that of Rome.

Luke 2:4-5 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Susie: The Roman emperor wanted to have an accurate count of every family in order to impose taxes on them. The fact that Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem reiterates that he was descended from King David and fulfills the Old Testament prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. 

Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Susan: Bethlehem in Hebrew means “house of bread”. Jesus would later refer to Himself as the Bread of Life. 

John 6:35 (VOICE) Jesus: I am the bread that gives life. If you come to My table and eat, you will never go hungry. Believe in Me, and you will never go thirsty.

Susie: He also compared Himself to manna at one point.  

John 6:57-58 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

Susan: Jesus is our provision and sustenance, not only for our daily bread but also for all we need spiritually and emotionally. Jesus, the Bread of Life, embodies the grace that saves believers giving them eternal life. Come with me and fast forward about 33 years from the point of Jesus’s birth. As He shared a last Passover meal with His disciples before His arrest and crucifixion, He used the unleavened bread as a tangible symbol of the sacrifice of His own body upon the cross for all who would believe.

Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Susie: The bread used for the Passover was unleavened partly as a symbol of the Jews fleeing Egypt in a hurry and not allowing bread to rise. However, leaven symbolizes sin. Jesus was the sinless, spotless sacrifice. Therefore, it is fitting that He used unleavened bread to symbolize His body, the Bread of Life.

Luke 2:6-7 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Susie: Mary had traveled with Joseph even in the final month of her pregnancy. By the time they reached Bethlehem, she must have been exhausted, but they had no place to stay except a stable. I am sure the inns were packed because David had many descendants (as the Lord had promised him) that had to travel there.

Susan: Jesus was laid in a feeding trough, which goes back to the Bread of Life again. The Eternal being placed in a feeding trough because He is the food, the life source of man. 

Susie: Is there a significance to wrapping Him in swaddling clothes? Stayed tuned for more on that in the next lesson about the shepherds.

PONDER THIS: There was no room for God the Son in the inn, but how often do we have so much “stuff” crammed into our heart which is supposed to be His home, that Jesus is crowded out of our consciousness?

Zacharias Finds His Voice - Luke 1:67-80

ZACHARIAS

Zacharias Finds His Voice

Luke 1:67-80

Luke 1:67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

Susan: Once the Lord opened His servant  Zacharias’s mouth; His priest became a megaphone, prophesying by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Susie: Note that when each of these people in Luke’s gospel are filled with the Spirit, they begin to worship, praise, compose songs, and sometimes even speak prophecy.

Ephesians 5:18-20 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Luke 1:68-69 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

Susie: Just as Mary’s praise song is called the “Magnificat” for the first word in the Latin translation, Zacharias’s pronouncement is called the “Benedictus” for the first Latin word.

Susan: This is a new discovery for me that there is a special name for Zacharias’s speech.

Susie: It was news to me as well. Zacharias blessed the Lord.

Susan: Minister to the Lord, bless the Lord, first and then minister to others because it is the Lord who ministers through you.

Susie: In prophesy mode, Zacharias saw the redemption purchased by Jesus as a “done deal.” He spoke in the past tense because although the fulfillment of his words was to be in the future, in God’s timetable it was assuredly completed.

Susan: A “horn of salvation” was an Old Testament term for strength. When Zachariah links this strength to the House of David, it is, in reality, a reference to the Messiah.

2 Samuel 22:3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

The Intervarsity Press New Testament Commentary Series:

This Messiah is a picture of strength, which is why Zechariah mentions the horn. The horns of an ox are used for protection and for defeating opponents (Deut 33:17). The same image is used for a warrior (2 Sam 22:3; Ps 75:4-5, 10; 148:14) or a king who saves (1 Sam 2:10; Ps 132:17). Luke's starting point for thinking about Jesus is that he is a king.

Luke 1:70-71 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

Susie: The people hearing Zacharias speak may have been thinking that God was sending the Messiah as a conquering King to get Rome out of their hair once and for all. However, the Jews had greater enemies than Rome!

Ephesians 6:11-13 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Susan: Christ came not to conquer the physical, human enemy of Roman rule, but to defeat the enemies of our souls—Satan, sin, and death!

Luke 1:72-75 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

Genesis 12:1-3 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Susie: God’s promise to Abraham was not just that the Israelites would be a great nation on the earth, but that through them all nations would be blessed.

Susan: Through Jesus’s sacrifice as the perfect Lamb, He gave people of every nation, tribe, and tongue the opportunity to be free from slavery to sin and Satan that results in being separated from God forever through death.

Susie: When Jesus rose from the dead and ascended back to Heaven, He opened the only way to true peace and eternal life—belief and complete trust in Him.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Susan: And now Jesus is interceding on our behalf that we will understand and live that truth as His ambassadors to those who do not yet know Him.

Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Luke 1:76-78a And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God;

Susie: Malachi had foretold that the prophet Elijah would precede the coming of the messiah.

Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

Susie: Jesus confirmed to Peter, James, and John that John the Baptist was indeed the one who came in the spirit of Elijah, with that same boldness, to prepare hearts for His coming.

Matthew 17:10-13 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

Luke 1:78b-79 whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Susie: “Dayspring” or in some translations “Sunrise” is a messianic reference.

Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Isaiah 60:1-3 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Malachi 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Susie: The prophets foretold that the Messiah would shine light in darkness. From the close of the Old Testament until Mary, Zacharias, and Simeon spoke prophesy there had been 400 years of silence, the Lord had not spoken through a prophet. The Messiah would expose the darkness of sin and unbelief and shed light on God’s plan of salvation.

Susan: Jesus identified and declared Himself to be the Light that takes away all darkness.

John 8:12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Susie: In the Revelation that John received on the Isle of Patmos, Jesus referred to Himself as the “bright and morning star.” He further confirmed that He fulfilled messianic prophesies by pointing out He was descended from King David.

Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Luke 1:80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

Susie: Elizabeth’s miracle son grew stronger and stronger in the Lord. As a man, he spent time with God in the desert until it was the appointed time for him to prepare the way of the Messiah.

Susan: John (who became known as the Baptist or the Baptizer) spent much time alone with his God, and God prepared his heart to preach the good news and be the first to point to Jesus as the Perfect Lamb of God. You can read about this in the first few chapters of the Gospel of John (the disciple, not this John).

QUESTIONS

1.  What was a common factor in Mary’s song and Zacharias’s song?

2. List references to the Messiah in Zacharias’s song.

3. Choose one of the Messianic references and explain its significance as related to Jesus.

4. In whose spirit would John preach?

ZACHARIAS: NAME THE BABY JOHN - LUKE 1:57-66

ZACHARIAS

Name the Baby John

Luke 1:57-66

Luke 1:57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

Susie: Just as the angel had told Zacharias, Elizabeth gave birth to a boy. Like her ancestor Sarah before her, she had a healthy pregnancy despite being past the age of childbearing.

Susan: This was a miraculous pregnancy by the grace of God, not just conceiving at that age, but the physical stamina God gave Elizabeth to deliver a healthy baby.

Luke 1:58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

Susie: As the angel had predicted, this baby brought great joy, not only to Zacharias and Elizabeth, . . .

Susan: …but also to their extended family and community. Everybody wanted a piece of that baby to love.

Susie: They all recognized God’s hand in bringing this joy to Zacharias and Elizabeth.

Luke 1:59-60 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

Susie: God had commanded Abraham that all baby boys born into the chosen people would be circumcised on the eighth day as a sign of the covenant. By the time Zacharias’s son was born, it had also been customary to name the child at this time.

Susan: Perhaps this was the forerunner of our modern baby dedication. Whoever spoke first wanted to make the baby Zacharias’s namesake, but Elizabeth spoke up and said that he was to be called John instead.

Susie: This must have shocked the midwives because tradition was to name the firstborn after his father.

Susan: However, Elizabeth was obeying what the angel had told Zacharias in the temple.

Susie: Her husband must have communicated the command of the angel to her even though he still could not speak. Perhaps he wrote her a note, or they were able to communicate with gestures since they had bee married a long time.

Luke 1:61-62 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

Susie: Not only was John not one of Zacharias’s names, but the name was found nowhere in their family tree as far as anyone near them knew. So, in improvised sign language, they asked Zacharias what to name the baby. They did not take Elizabeth’s word for it.

Susan: Never make assumptions about someone’s limitations. The priests must have assumed that since Zacharias could not speak that he was deaf as well. Wrong.

Luke 1:63-64 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

Susie: Zacharias motioned for a writing table and let them all know that he wanted to name the baby John just as Elizabeth had said. People were disconcerted at this, but the most astonishing thing happened next. His obedience in naming the child John in accordance with the angel Gabriel’s declaration enabled him to speak again!

Susan: This time, instead of doubting, Zacharias affirmed the work of the Lord through his praises.

Luke 1:65-66 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Susan: The neighbors were filled with the fear of the Lord and spread the news of this miraculous birth everywhere they went. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, to this is not a negative thing. This opens them up to truly engaging in relationship with the Lord.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Susie: They made a point to remember the events of Zacharias being unable to speak and then healed of dumbness as soon as he confirmed the name of baby John. They wondered what John might grow up to be! They probably were not envisioning camel hair clothing and eating locusts and honey!

Susan: Those who were discerning, in tune with the Spirit of the Lord, knew that God was with John even throughout his childhood among them.

QUESTIONS

1. Compare Luke 1:14 with Luke 1:58. How is verse 58 a fulfillment of the angel’s words to Zacharias?

2. What Jewish tradition was carried out on the day the baby John was named?

3. Why the neighbors surprised when Elizabeth said to name the baby John?

4. What happened when Zacharias confirmed Elizabeth’s choice of John for the baby’s name?

JOSEPH: Mary’s Prophetic Poem Luke 1:46-56

JOSEPH

Mary’s Prophetic Poem

Luke 1:46-56

John MacArthur Study Bible

1:46–55 Mary’s Magnificat (the first word in the Latin translation) is filled with OT allusions and quotations. It reveals that Mary’s heart and mind were saturated with the Word of God. It contains repeated echoes of Hannah’s prayers, e.g., 1 Sam. 1:11; 2:1–10. These verses also contain numerous allusions to the law, the psalms, and the prophets. The entire passage is a point-by-point reciting of the covenant promises of God.

Luke 1:46-47 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Susie: Mary broke out rejoicing in song, humbly praising the Lord for all He was doing through her.  This is known as the Magnificat because that is the first word of Mary’s praise song in Latin.

Susan: Mary says that her soul magnifies, exalts the Lord. She identifies God as Savior, highlighting the purpose for which God was coming in human form as the Son, Jesus. I think it is significant that the one chosen to bear the Messiah sees her own need for salvation and knows that God is meeting that need. Every fiber of Mary’s being declared the greatness of her God who had transformed her into the mother of her own Savior. One of no special significance was carrying the One of supreme significance.

Luke 1:48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

Susan: Mary viewed herself as God’s servant, his handmaiden.

Susie: She was probably poor, not significant in any way. Therefore, she realized she was extremely blessed to be chosen to conceive and carry her Redeemer in her womb. She acknowledged that this was not her doing but was the choice and work of God in her life.

Susan: She needed the Seed of God she carried as much as the world He would be born into needed her Baby.

Susie: Mary magnified the Lord as the Holy One—pure, sacred, blameless.

Luke 1:50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

Susie: Mary may have had several passages from the Psalms in mind. We looked up “them that fear him” on www.biblegateway.com and came up with these as well as others: Psalms 25:14, 33:18, 34:7, 34:9, 85:9, 103:11, 13 & 17, 111:5, 145:19, and 147:11. Psalm 103 has been a favorite of mine (Susie’s) for a long time:

Psalm 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

Psalm 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

Psalm 103:17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

Susan: The best tool to interpret scripture is the scripture itself.

Susie: This is the reason we often present cross-references in our studies.

Luke 1:51-53 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

Psalm 103:5-6 (KJV) Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

Susie: In Jewish thought, riches were a reward from God, which in essence they are. However, they believed the opposite was true as well, that poverty was a curse from God. Mary espoused the truth that God would bring down the proud and boastful and elevate the poor and downtrodden. The poor are not forgotten or forsaken by our Lord.

Susan: In the Magnificat, Mary was announcing prophetic reality that God would bring forth, in the fullness of time, the bringing down of the proud and elevation of the humble. God’s salvation would be for all people who believed.

Luke 1:54 He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever.

Susie: God would fulfill His promise to Abraham to redeem His people. 

Susan: The time was drawing near for the Messiah to be revealed. The baby Mary was carrying was the long awaited Anointed One promised to Abraham and Sarah, the Savior who would be descended from their son Isaac.

Galatians 4:4-5 (NASB) “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”

Luke 1:56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

Susan: Mary stayed with Elizabeth her final trimester of pregnancy and probably until John was born.

Susie: Then she went back home to Nazareth where she stayed until she and Joseph were married and ended up having to make a long, arduous journey during the final days of her pregnancy. More on that later.

QUESTIONS

1.  Why is Mary’s speech called “The Magnificat”?

2.  What was Mary’s view of herself?

3.  How does she describe her relationship to God?

4.  What did Mary prophesy concerning the poor and lowly people?

Ponder this: One of my favorite Christian singer/songwriters is Michael Card. Reflect on this line from his song The Mystery:

No fiction as fantastic and wild,

A mother made by her own child,

The helpless Babe who cried

Was God incarnate, man and deified.

You can listen to the entire song here:

https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hsimp=yhs-att_001&hspart=att&p=The+mystery+by+Michael+Card#id=1&vid=1e57dea890087119df296b7ab23fed24&action=view