Category Archives: Bible Study

Christmas Light

Posted on by
4


The Light, this year has been on my mind – the Star and the Light.

The Star– There is no end of ideas about the Star of Bethlehem. I have given one this year in the post Light and Dark.  Well, here is another thought.  I can get wrapped up in the time frame that Herod used when he killed the Innocents of Bethlehem, two years.  Since Herod was just mean he may have cushioned that number to make sure the Magi were not lying.  

We use Christmas Day for when the Star/Light appeared.  What if we have the Star appearing when Mary was told she would bear the Son (That was the actual birth.)!  I like to think that it was Gabriel standing guard over the Child.  If you are hung-up on time that would add nine months to the “great light” shining over the land of Galilee and those living in the “shadow of death”. This helps the travel time of the Wise Men since we do not know where they started from.   

The Light– JESUS (no darkness, no shadow) wants you to be part of the light.  He surrounds you, envelops you so there is no shadow or darkness.  I tend to think of light as having a point source, like the sun or a candle.  But if we are “found in Christ” why can’t we be completely enveloped in Light?  No part of us would make or cast a shadow.  The darkness that covered Egypt could be felt, it makes you wonder if light can be felt?  If darkness can cause fear and uncertainty, light surely would be the opposite and bring perfect peace! 

Christmas Characters – Caesar Augustus

Posted on by
Reply

Augustus is part of this story!  I am adding him as a reminder (to myself) that God is in control even of power-hungry political figures (Democrat and Republican).  The census is more than just taxation.  Augustus gets to know how many people he controls, a true “power trip”.  Even with Roman roads and a courier system, the thought and decree were probably started more than a year in advance of Jesus’ birth.  Herod was also part of Augustus’ handiwork.

I have a feeling Joseph was a practical man and would not have chosen that long trip unless he was made to do so.  Mary had already walked to Bethlehem once before she was “great with child” and would not have looked forward to a bouncy trip on the back of a donkey.  Prophesy, however, had to be fulfilled, Jesus was not to be born in Nazareth.  Caesar had to be part of the plan or Mary and Joseph would have stayed where they were!

If I was scripting a scene for a movie, Augustus’ part would have been the introduction.  All you would have seen was him signing a scroll and ordering an official to get it out fast.  The camera would then pan up to show Father God saying to Jesus, “Good, that is started are You ready?”

Further Thought – When has God used political problems to advance the Gospel?

http://rome.phillipmartin.info/rome_soldier.htm

http://www.LumoProject.com.

Christmas Characters – The Gospel Writers

Posted on by
Reply


I have written a Christmas post on Matthew and Luke, so these are further reflections on their work.

Matthew– (I also have a post on the three list of fourteen names in Matthew.) Scholars have said that Matthew’s genealogy is Joseph’s family tree, in part because it includes Solomon.  But it makes since because the focus is really on Joseph and his dreams/part of the story.  However, the probable source still was Mary!  She was the only eyewitness to these events. 

Mark– Mark/Peter are the only writers who do not include a narrative about Jesus’ birth or linage.  I believe that Mark witnessed much of the ministry of Jesus (I think he was the boy who supplied the fish and bread for the feeding of the five thousand and lost his clothes in the Garden.)  If Mark was the first Gospel written I could understand why it was started with John the Baptist, they got right to the ministry.  But to not down play the book Mark does confirm John the Baptist’s story and that Jesus “came from Nazareth”.  

Luke– The focus person in Luke’s Christmas story is Mary and her part of the tale.  So, it makes sense that the genealogy in 3:21 is Mary’s.  Her line comes through Nathan (also a child of “Uriah’s wife”).  Luke should also be the source for the year we chose for Jesus’ birth.  The two timestamps here are 2:1 (Caesar Augustus) and 3:1 (15thyear of Tiberius).  Augustus ruled until 14 A.D., he also helped the spread of the Gospel by continuing the building of the Roman road system.  

John– he also tells the Christmas story but from a different point of view.  Jesus’s genealogy is the most important one; it has God and Jesus the Word and Light.  John also talks about John the Baptist just like the other three Gospels. 1:4 is a different take on the Star and the angels.  In between all of this comes accomplishments that Jesus and John did before the symbolic baptism/parting of the Red Sea. 

Light and Dark #3 – Darkness then Light

Posted on by
1

Matthew 10: 27 (NIV) What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.

This verse is part of the instructions Jesus gave the disciples before He sent them out to be light! There will be dark times, they may be times of trial that we are enduring, or they could be chosen study times when you rise before the sun comes up.  Just because it is dark does not mean that Jesus is not with you.  Work to open up to Him and know what He wants you to get from the experience.  

In Light and Dark #2, I mentioned a pattern that God uses – dark then light.  He brought this into play when He created time.  Genesis 1 – the evening and the morning make up a day. (See Time and Biblical Calendar) This is how the Jews mark their day and one part of this concept is that we start our day with rest and finish with work.

FURTHER THOUGHT:  Exodus 10: 21 says that the darkness could be felt!  #6205 in the Hebrew part of Strong’s is used for “thick” darkness.  What would that feel like? Describe what that would mean to you.

∞Father, thank you for the dark times and the light times.  Help us to use them to know and spread Your Word. 

Light and Dark #2 – Darkness

Posted on by
4

The opposite of light, misery, shadow, a covering, all of these and more thoughts use darkness as a descriptor. DARKNESS, in most sermons, is a bad thing and is usually anti-God.  The problem with this thought is God created darkness and uses it for His purposes.  It is, however, associated with the devil and evil, negative things, so carefully read the verse and the context. 

By my count, there are fifteen words in the Old and New Testament for the word darkness. There are other words for dark and night.  Job has the most references to darkness and is where darkness becomes/is a negative thing. Most references in Genesis to Deuteronomy on darkness are not negative or evil but refer to what surrounds God.

Exodus 20:21 (NIV) – The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.  This idea is used several times to tell us that God hid from the people/us in darkness.  In the Strong’s that word is #6205 and is translated for us as thick darkness.  # 2822 is frequently the word used for darkness because of how it is used in verses; it can carry negative connotations. My thought on why God would hide in darkness is because of the unapproachable light He lives in. (See the other post that is listed in Light and Dark)

Genesis 1:2 uses #2822 for darkness.  (This post is not for a commentary on Creationism.)  The BIG point I want to make is God started with darkness!  He then called for LIGHT and separated them.  (I will use this idea in the following post.)  This verse can take a different direction if you put in the other thoughts associated with darkness.  

In Genesis 1: 4, 6, 7, 14 the NIV uses the word separate, KJV can use the word divide.  In the Strong’s it is number #914.  This word, to me, is a serious word. It is used about Aaron and his family and how they were to be different than the other Israelites.  To divide light and dark, day and night is a very clear separation.

FURTHER STUDY: Use a concordance to compare the three different words for “darkness” that is used in Job 10.