Luke 3:1-38

Dear Luke,

I can sense your frustration and fascination with this project—they both come through in your letters.  I know this is a giant leap from the kind of thinking you are accustomed to doing, and I know that it takes a lot to believe it to be true.  Stick with it, Luke, and I trust you will find it worthwhile.  I believe that the reward for a life of faith is even richer than we can imagine, but I don’t expect you not to have questions—this is immensely hard for anyone to wrap their minds around.  Even those who believe, like myself, still struggle with some questions, especially the ones you raised about not knowing more about his childhood.  I have so many questions to which there are no answers!  When you think about the extraordinary and very public life Jesus lived, you would imagine there to be more information, but remember that the pivotal events of his life did not occur until the end of it.  In the beginning, he was just a baby, just a boy, just a carpenter’s son—as amazed as Mary and Joseph were by the infant Jesus, I’m sure some of that wore off after cleaning up after him and chasing a baby boy around the house! 

There is a sizeable gap in what we know about Jesus as a young man.  You related a story from his twelfth year, and I wish I had volumes of information to give you that would follow up on the incredible story of the boy in Jerusalem.  Unfortunately for both of us, there is nothing I have found credible that gives account as to the life the boy lived as he grew into a man.  I assume that he follow his father into carpentry, but any specific questions will remain unanswered by me, and those that dare to give answers should be greeted with a healthy amount of skepticism.  Perhaps there is still more information out there that we have not discovered yet, but I will say that I have found nothing to satisfy my strong curiosity on the matter.

The next place the trustworthy facts pick up is actually the story of Jesus’ cousin, John, born to Elizabeth just before Jesus.  It’s as though the trail goes cold, and before we are permitted to pick it up once more we have to be warmed up, to have Jesus introduced, so that when he arrives on the scene we will not be shocked by what we find.  While we have a rather void space in the historical record of Jesus, the next three years are packed full of testimonials to how he lived, and John serves to transition us, to prepare us, for what is to come.

Tiberius had been emperor for fifteen years when John appeared on the public scene.  Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Galilee was ruled by Herod, while Philip ruled Ituraea and Trachonitis.  Abilene was ruled by Pysanias, while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests.  I say this merely to add historical weight to the record of events that I am about to describe.  John, the son of Elizabeth and Zechariah, had been in the wilderness for many years, living a strange and unique life.  The word of God came to him, though, and suddenly he was everywhere around the Jordan, preaching about forgiveness of sins and a baptism of repentance.  Had this not happened, John’s entire life might have passed by without many paying attention to him, but because God spoke in him, we find ourselves discussing him these many years later.  He spoke not with his own words, but rather used the words of the prophet Isaiah, discussing how the voice of one in the wilderness, by which I presume to understand that he means himself, called out to prepare the way of the Lord, to make his paths straight.  John talked about valleys being filled, about mountains brought down, about the crooked being straightened out and the rough places smoothed over.  All of this would lead to each person seeing the salvation of God.  It was the message he preached across the region, and there was something to it, because the crowds rushed out to hear him preach, to see this singular individual speak with passion and fury.  He didn’t flatter the crowds, didn’t use honeyed words to attract them, but rather called them broods of vipers and warned them to flee for their lives from the wrath that would descend upon them. 

You can imagine the reaction people had to this—they were stunned to hear such words from this man.  It’s hard to imagine that they stayed to listen, but they did, and they heard him preaching that they should be filled with the fruit of repentance, that their claim to Abraham is not enough to save them.  He didn’t differentiate between the people and the rocks that surrounded them, telling the people that God could do anything, and that he’ll cut the people down for destruction like a farmer cuts down a tree and burns it if they don’t bear good fruit.

Of course, the people wanted to know what to do.  It’s the same response you or I have to any sort of preaching that attacks our lifestyles.  John’s message was fairly simple—he told them to share with the poor and the needy.  This included sharing a coat with one who has none, or food with the hungry. 

Perhaps it was the simplicity of the message, or maybe people were simply drawn to the truth, but how they came!  They came and were baptized by this wild man.  Even the tax collectors came for baptism!  They asked what to do, and he didn’t tell them to stop collecting taxes as some might—rather, he told them to collect no more than they were supposed to, to leave their corruption and threats behind.  Soldiers would come and ask John how to live, and he’d tell them not to make threats or false accusations to extort money, to live a life that is within the means of their salaries.  It was a simple message, but it resonated with the people.  They felt like they could live by his demands, and that God was speaking through him.

You may not grasp the longing the people had in their hearts for a Messiah, for a deliverer, but I assure you that people had been waiting centuries for the Messiah to arrive.  Each public figure was scrutinized, and John was no different.  The people wanted to be saved, to be delivered from the Roman Empire, and they were questioning John from the bottoms of their hearts, wondering if he was finally it, their Savior.  John never claimed the title for himself, though, understanding his role as the predecessor of the Messiah.  Surely their hearts were overjoyed when they heard John say how close the Messiah was, but I wonder if they weren’t a bit scared by the language he used—he described the baptism with water he had brought, but he said that the Messiah would be more powerful, one whom John would be unworthy to even untie his sandals.  (Can you imagine someone before whom you felt so unworthy as to even take off his shoes?)  John spoke of the Messiah as one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire, and that his winnowing fork was in his hand, and the wheat would be gathered up and stockpiled, but the chaff would be burned with an undying fire. 

As you can tell, John didn’t mince words to make things easier on those who came to hear him.  He proclaimed Good News, but I wonder if many didn’t have to search hard for the good part of this news.  It was a hard message for many, and some of those in power didn’t approve of John’s message.  One of these was Herod, whom I described before—John rebuked Herod because he was doing things with his brother’s wife (Herodias) that he shouldn’t have been doing.  John also talked about evil things Herod had done, so Herod locked up John in prison, putting a muzzle on this barking figure.

But it wasn’t before Jesus could be baptized.  It’s hard to understand why Jesus would need to be baptized, but he came just as the others came, for remember that while he was the Son of God, he was human, too.  After Jesus’ baptism, while he was praying, it is said that the heavens themselves opened up, and a dove came down, believed by many to be the Holy Spirit in bodily form.  At the same time, a voice boomed from the open heavens that proclaimed, “You are my Son, the Beloved; I am well pleased with you.”

What I would give to have seen this!  To see the heavens open and such a sight descend, to hear God’s voice race from horizon to horizon, to see such wonders!  This side of heaven, I will have to imagine what it was like, but I assure you that I wonder about such things constantly.

I hope this has sated some of your curiosity.  I know that it does not answer the question about Jesus’ boyhood, but I assure you that when we reach the end of the story, you will know more than enough about the man that is Jesus Christ.  The end is even more spectacular than the beginning!

Just for your reference, I have included the list of Jesus’ ancestors below.  If you are ever interested, feel free to trace his heritage through Jewish history.  The stories that are contained in this family tree could occupy us for the next century.

Sincerely,

Theophilus

Jesus’ work began at the age of thirty.  He was the son (as everyone believed) of Joseph, son of Heli, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph, son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai, son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda, son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri, son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er, son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim, son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David, son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Sala, son of Nahshon, son of Amminadab, son ofAdmin, son of Arni, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah, son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor, son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah, son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.

Luke 2:41-52

Dear Theophilus,

I wonder what all this must have been like for Jesus’ parents.  Just think of all the expectations that surround this child!  You have his miraculous birth announced by an angelic visit, and then other prophets continue to show up and praise this infant.  They must have put themselves under immense pressure to keep him safe from harm, but I wonder if they had high expectations about him as an infant, or if they believed that any miraculous traits would arrive later.  I can picture Mary rocking the boy to sleep in the middle of the night and her wondering why the Son of God couldn’t have been a more peaceful baby! 

I suppose I digress—but I can’t help but wonder about these things.  Don’t you want to know what the boy was like as an infant?  Would that reveal more about him as a man?  Would it help us understand him?  I have heard other stories swirling among friends and acquiantences, but I do not believe any of them stand up to thorough examination.  There is one tale, though, that I believe might be true.  I wish there were more—there seems to be some sort of cloud over much of his childhood, and try as I might, the information seems to have vanished.  Maybe it’s because nothing was exceptional about him as a child, or maybe it’s because none of this is true.  I will admit to having my doubts when, time after time, leads turned into false hopes, and I was left once more wondering about how someone as well-known as him could have his entire childhood vanish. 

Shouldn’t there be more answers to my questions?  Wouldn’t God provide more information to make belief easier?  It takes such work to believe that this is all true—and then, even if one believes all the facts are true, there is another jump to believe that Jesus is more than just a historical figure.  I would argue that this leap is much smaller than the first, since, if one accepts the historical authenticity of some of these stories, many of them are so hard to believe that only a miraculous figure could be responsible for them.  But it’s still another leap of faith.  I do sometimes wish the bar were a bit lower.  It would make more sense to me for God to write his name in stars across the heavens so that all might believe and be saved.  Perhaps it is because he is not there.

But I digress from my earlier statement.  As I mentioned, there is one tale from his childhood that stands up to rigorous examination.  It is from the time when he was a boy of 12, that awkward age when everything seems to be changing and manhood lingers just beyond the horizon, but so much of a young boy remains that adults are never quite sure how to treat the boy, and even the boy himself is not always so sure how to act.  The lines are blended in this thin place of life, and Jesus himself was no different, although we could look back and place much of the blame on his parents if we so wished.  Perhaps raising a young, precocious boy led them to forget the events surrounding his birth, or perhaps this was the first time he truly lived into his core identity.  For whatever reason, the boy caused quite a scene!

His parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration every year, as many good Jews do.  This particular year, Jesus’ twelfth, there does not appear to be much to report from the Passover celebration itself.  It is what happened everywhere that garners attention.

After the festival, Mary and Joseph began their journey home.  As travelers of this ilk often would, the men journeyed together and the women journeyed together.  I do not doubt that rambunctious children, as those around the age of twelve often are, probably bounced back and forth between the two, and between everything else on the side of the road as well!  Mary and Joseph did not see Jesus for a day, but they must have assumed that he was running about, that he surely was responsible enough by this age to ensure that he would be among the crowd heading home.  He was not one to disobey. 

However, after a day’s journey, they began to be concerned.  Perhaps it was when everyone went to settle in for the night, and after all the children had disbursed themselves to the parents Mary and Joseph realized he was not the crowd, and that no one had seen in on the journey.  Panic must have gripped their hearts when relatives and friends revealed that they had not seen him all day.  Surely the grew more and more frantic each passing hour, and it was with anxious hearts that they made the decision to return to Jerusalem.  I wonder if they slept at all that night—surely they wouldn’t have dared to travel the road alone at night.  But I know the power of a mother’s love, and so it wouldn’t surprise me if Mary was in the lead, with Joseph behind her trying to convince her to rest for the night, but his words would have had no effect on a mother searching for her child, especially one with the added pressure of knowing that the child was the Son of God!

It took them three long days to find him, and when they did complete relief must have washed over every inch of their bodies.  You and I might say that they should rush to the temple first, but frantic parents have their own method, and I wouldn’t dare intervene in it!  When they showed up and saw him in the temple, he was sitting with the teachers as though he was a lifelong student, listening to their thoughts and arguments, answering them with questions of his own.  It must have been a remarkable sight to see this twelve year old amazing the teachers with his wisdom and his replies.  They certainly did not expect a twelve year old from Nazareth to display this type of knowledge about God, but they also didn’t know the stories that swirl around his birth.

When Mary and Joseph saw them, the relief that flooded them must have also come with some anger, seeing him sitting in the temple, not frantic or concerned about the whereabouts of his parents.  They were shocked, and his mother asked him why he had treated them so, especially considering that she and Joseph had been searching for him for three days, filled with fear and anxiety. 

Had I given the same reply that Jesus did to my parents when I was a boy, they might have turned and left me there in the temple!  He asked them why they were searching for him at all, wondering why they didn’t simply come to the temple, which he called ‘his father’s house’.

It’s a curious reply from a twelve year old.  It reveals some level of understanding of his identity—whether that came naturally or if Mary and Joseph told him, we can only guess.  We could explain it away as some sort of colloquial phrase, but I wonder if that is not to make it easier on us, rather than closer to the truth.  I would have loved to have heard the thoughts of those teachers and others who had been with him those three days—did they wonder at this boy for his reply, or were they too shocked at what many would consider rudeness.

Mary and Joseph would fall into the latter category—they didn’t grasp the meaning of his reply.  Their anxiety had fully gripped their hearts, and as relieved as they were, they had still spent three days in a panicked search for their child, and it takes days to release the fear and dread that comes with such a search.  Mary and Joseph instructed Jesus to come with them, perhaps with a twist of the ear, and Jesus was very obedient to them following this occurrence.  Mary must have treasured all of these moments in her heart, and I wonder if she spent considerable time pondering this trip to Jerusalem.

Jesus continued to grow, as teenage boys do.  He not only grew physically, but in wisdom and favor, too, both human and divine.  He wasn’t just another teenage boy, but was clearly something special.

Just how special is the question I continue to ask myself, and as we wind deeper into the tale, I think the answer will only grow more complicated with each letter we exchange.  I can only hope that this exercise is as thought-provoking for you as it is for me.

Sincerely,

Luke 

Luke 2:21-40

Dear Luke,

I certainly understand the healthy skepticism with which you view this account of the shepherds.  It is not how you or I would have planned it, and shepherds are hardly the most reliable source around, but I assure you that I, too, have had this event certified by many others.  At this point, it would take credible evidence for me to not believe the story.  I should warn you, Luke, that God is only warming up.  The individuals that God chooses to highlight and use in this tale are not the types that we might choose for a story about the Messiah.  There are surprises around every corner, and some of the main characters in the story are unable to even consider the matter’s truth due to the unexpected individuals who play a starring role.  You must try and set aside your expectations when you enter into this story, or else you will spend your entire investigation on the defensive.  Try and consider this with an open mind and a willing heart; your patience will reward you in this endeavor.

Let us move forward from the miraculous birth of the child.  Many other tales regarding the birth swirl about, some which are true and others which may have more legend than fact, but I feel that it is best for us to move forward, to another incredible event, one that took place at the time for the boy’s presentation in temple.  Jesus was being raised as a Jewish boy according to the rituals and customs of the faith, so he would not be unfamiliar with the rites and rituals.  He was circumcised on the eighth day and named Jesus, the same name given to Mary by the angel Gabriel.  No one should be able to debate whether he was rooted in the Jewish tradition.

At the time for the purification, Joseph and Mary brought the boy to the temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.  You and I know, and surely Mary did as well, how odd this must seem—presenting God’s child to God, but the law states that this is the proper treatment for the firstborn, and so they followed the tradition.  Being poor, their offering was only two pigeons to sacrifice.  Again, you and I think it odd that Jesus was born into poverty.  We would choose a family wealthy enough to at least afford a lamb to sacrifice.  Just set those questions aside, Luke—it will all be made clear later, I assure you.

The odd part of the story appears at this moment.  Who knows how many thousands of dedications occur in the temple each year, but this one was different.  There was a righteous, devout man named Simeon, a man who eagerly awaited the fulfillment of all the promises that have been made to Israel through the prophets of old.  Somehow along the way, God had revealed to Simeon that Simeon would not die until his eyes had rested upon the Messiah.  I do not know how this promise was made (perhaps it was our angel friend!), but it was common knowledge that Simeon believed the promise to be true.  I wonder if those who surrounded him believed it or not.

Regardless, Simeon was led by God to arrive in the temple that day, and when Mary and Joseph brought the child to fulfill the law, Simeon wrapped him up in his aged arms and began to praise God, much to the surprise and amazement of all, not least his parents!  Simeon’s words have been recorded:

God, your servant can now go in peace, by your word; I have seen your salvation, which you have made ready before all, glory for your chosen people, Israel, and a light even to the Gentiles.

Simeon blessed those who stared at him with open mouths, and then he turned to Mary and continued, just for her:  Countless in Israel will be lifted up and shattered because of this child.  He will find many adversaries, and the secret thoughts of many will be exposed to the world.  Your own soul will be pierced as well.

Curious words, I know, but a story such as this one has far reaching repercussions, and no one can hear it and not react to it.   Fortunately, we are not finished with oddities that occurred in the temple that morning.

A prophet named Anna appears as well.  Phanuel (from the tribe of Asher) was her father, and she was very old.  She had been married for seven years, but was a widow until now, when she was 84.  It’s hard to believe, but she was in the temple constantly worshipping and fasting and praying.  She, too, came forward and began to praise God, talking about Jesus to all who were present, each one wondering about the fulfillment of the prophecies regarding the salvation of Israel. 

I can only imagine how charged the atmosphere in the temple must have been.  Stories must have emanated from that place for months about what happened there.  No one would have expected these poor parents, with only two pigeons to offer, to create such a stir.  And one could say they didn’t—that they were merely the vessels through which God was creating waves in the world.  It began even before the child was born, and obviously continues to this day, as we discuss these very things.

After all that was required had been completed, Mary and Joseph returned to Galilee, to Nazareth, their home.  The child grew strong and wise, and clearly God’s favor rested on him. 

I hope this is not all too wonderful for you to take in, Luke.  I hope that it confirms the suspicions you have about the child, that he is not just an ordinary child who becomes an ordinary man.  May your curiosity lead you deeper into the tale, and may your questioning heart be still and listen for answers.

Sincerely,

Theophilus

Luke 2:8-20

Dear Theophilus,

If I had any question as to the authenticity of the events in the letter you just wrote me, that would be the end of my investigation.  I know, I know—it would be extremely short-sighted on my own behalf to end my exploration before I even got into the meat of the story, but such an event seems too far-fetched to be true.  What purpose does it serve for the son of God to be born in a stable, laid in manger?  It all seems rather risky and dangerous to me, and if I were God I certainly wouldn’t have taken the chance.  Enough women die in childbirth as it is, and to introduce so many more risk factors seems rather chancy on God’s part.  It’s stories like this that make it almost impossible for people like me to believe that God exists at all! 

But, alas, my investigation must go forward.  I have received multiple letters and heard this story related numerous times.  If any of the story is true, this part is the most likely in my view, simply due to the wide range of people in my life who validate it.  I may be ready to cast it off as a cruel legend, but so many others are willing to step up and assert that this is the way it happened that I must be willing to admit that there is some truth to it, even if it seems beyond the realm of common sense to me.  Even if this is far from the way that I think it should be done!

And to think that shepherds were involved, too!  Why not just have the baby in the gutters of the streets in Jerusalem and have the homeless come tend to her?

Perhaps I have reflected on this too much.  It seems to have happened, for whatever reason, and so I will move forward.  Have you heard of the shepherds?  You did not mention them in your correspondence, so I will assume that you did not hear of the unexpected visitors Mary, Joseph and the baby had that evening.  I would have expected someone a little more regal to drop in, but apparently shepherds are the new religious elite, according to my source.

As would be expected, since Bethlehem is not exactly a major metropolis, there were fields surrounding the city, each one filled with shepherds tending to their sheep that evening.  I hesitate to even mention this, for most of us would assume that the shepherds were hallucinating before ever thinking such a thing was true, but it has been impressed upon me with utmost urgency that this is a reliable story.  Anyway, apparently an angel of the Lord (it is unknown if this is the same angel that appeared to Mary and Elizabeth.  If so, I wonder if he hasn’t earned himself a nice vacation by now!) appeared before these humble shepherds and scared the daylights out of them, because some sort of light (God’s glory, as they called it) shone all around him, surrounding the shepherds as well. 

The first words the angel spoke were, “Do not be afraid,” a curious greeting that is very similar to the one offered to Mary.  I would think that if I were to meet an angel I would be too busy asking questions to be afraid!  Perhaps that is why they avoid me—they don’t want to be interviewed about the reality of God and his strange tactics.  But I digress—The angel announced that it was bringing joyous good news for everyone.  That must have had their attention!  The angel continued that a Savior, the long awaited Messiah, was born in Bethlehem on that evening, and that they would find the child in a manger, still swaddled in cloth. 

It’s hard for me to continue with this story.  Remove it from its context and I would probably suspect the shepherds of spending the evening with a bottle rather than the sheep.  Were a shepherd to relate this story directly to me, I would put about as much faith in it as I would a child’s idle tales.  But considered what I have already related to you as truth, it would be cruel to cast off these particular shepherds as drunkards because they have seen an angel.  Still, though, it’s hard for me to believe that they saw many angels surrounding the previous one angel, all of them singing as some sort of heavenly choir, Glory to God in heaven, and peace on earth to his favored ones.  It seems as though angels are appearing everywhere in this tale.

After the angels left, the shepherds could think of no good reason not to follow the angelic instructions and seek out the child which they had been told about, believing God to have directed them so.  (What about the sheep?  Did they take them with them?  Leave them on their own?  Choose one shepherd to stay behind and miss seeing the supposed Messiah?)  So they went as quickly as possible and found Mary and Joseph and the child, just as the angels had proposed they would, and they related all of this to Mary, each one talking over the other, trying in vain to describe the heavens shining around them as they listened to the angelic chorus.  I know I write this with skepticism on full display, but I would like to hear that, if such a thing truly happens. 

As you can imagine, anyone who heard the shepherds relating the tale was amazed, but Mary simply pondered these things, holding them closely in her heart.  In that moment, this was her child, regardless of everything that was being predicted for him.  She was just a young girl with her precious infant, and I can think of no stronger bond in the world. 

Before long the shepherds returned to the field, filled with an energy that escaped them all other nights.  They were praising God for what they witnessed, amazed that everything had been just as the angels said it would.

There you have it, Theophilus.  I believe it is well beyond the scope of good sense to have shepherds be the first visitors to the child, but considering that God didn’t even make provision for them to have the child in a decent room, why not shepherds?  It escapes me to determine why God would do this thing in this manner, and I will freely admit that my skepticism grows.  Perhaps it is all true, but this doesn’t seem like the actions of a God that I am in a big hurry to offer my life to in service.

I hope that my attitude towards this particular event does not disturb you.  I do look forward to your reply, and hope that I might be able to come to some sort of understanding about all of this.

Sincerely,

Luke