Summary #38

Weekly Summary
Beginning of NT - Luke & John 1-5, Matt 1-4, Mark 1-2

Going from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we jump over a considerable span of years. When we pick up, the nation of Israel is living under a new regime: the Romans have conquered their part of the world, and they now live under the laws of the Caesars instead of the rule of the Babylonians or Persians or Assyrians.

Opening up the scene, the four gospel writers start at different places: Matthew starts with the genealogy that brings the reader from Adam to Joseph and Mary, Mark jumps in with a quick look at John the Baptist and makes no mention of Jesus' birth or childhood, Luke spends a great deal of time on the circumstances surrounding the birth of John the Baptist and of Jesus, and also carefully outlines the political situation as well, and John starts at creation with a dazzling literary passage that outlines the supernatural situation that prompts the ministry of Jesus. It is sort of amazing that these four writers tell the same story in such profoundly different ways.... and each highlights important aspects of Jesus' ministry and stories in different ways, as well.

Setting up the introduction of the Son of God into the earthly realm, we understand that Jesus' earthly family belongs to the tribe of Judah in Israel, and Joseph is in fact a descendant of King David. His cousin John (the Baptist), born to an elderly mother in a miraculous fashion, is a descendant of Aaron, and therefor a Levite, and the son of a priest. Mary, a devoted young follower of God's law, is notified that she will bear the Messiah after becoming pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, the man she is betrothed to, is told in a dream to take her as his wife even though this apparent disgrace of pregnancy before marriage gives him the right to reject her. Mary's cousin Elizabeth, the mother of John (the Baptist) is also given knowledge of the identity of the child that Mary carries, and the two of them rejoice -- although their physical situations are quite difficult, they are honored to be chosen as mothers for these promised ones.

Politics jumps in -- there is a census ordered, and (very) pregnant Mary must accompany Joseph to Bethlehem, where Jesus is born, with angels and a star confirming the birth of the Messiah to the low and high alike. When "wise men" from the east follow the announcement star to Israel, they stir up Herod's fear of a usurper, and he kills all male children under the age of two, but Mary and Joseph flee to Egypt until the danger passes. They raise Jesus in a devoted manner.

Established as a rabbi, or teacher, Jesus begins his ministry at around age 28 or 30 - he teaches in synagogues, and begins to gather disciples - although he gathers them not from the cream of the crop, but from ordinary men and boys. He spends time being tempted by the devil in the wilderness, where he exhibits not only a command of scriptures, but also the knowledge of their true intent. He submits himself to baptism by his cousin John, and is acknowledged physically by his Father, God. John has been delivering a pretty harsh message to the people of Israel: repent, repent, repent, for something great is about to happen. He directs people to Jesus, claiming that he is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

Locally, Jesus is gathering great crowds - healing the sick (including Peter's mother-in-law), casting out demons, and teaching. Always, always teaching. He associates with a Samaritan woman, which disgusts even his own disciples; he crosses the religious establishment of the day by flouting their laws on fasting and Sabbath observance, he cleanses people of leprosy, and he changes water into wine to save a reception from disaster at his mother's insistence... but most profoundly, he claims to be the Son of God - able to forgive sins, but in total agreement with the will and work of God the father. He leaves no doubt about his status.

Several times in the opening accounts, the gospel writers refer to prophecies that we have been reading over the past several months -- tying together this "new" testament with the writings that recount the history of God's people. As Jesus begins his earthly ministry in these pages, it feels a lot like the part of a novel when pieces start falling in place, where loose ends are tied up, and you begin to see how everything fits together. This really is a good book!