November 2024: Light for Revelation

Published on 11/01/2024 by Dr-Shirley-Cheng.

What was the world like when our Lord Jesus and his forerunner were born?

Jesus and John were born into the world while Judea was under the rule of the Romans. Judea was what the Romans called the land of Judah when it became one of its many provinces. The powerful Roman empire had replaced the Greek empire as the world's most dominant empire. The then-emperor was Caesar Augustus, who reigned from 44 BC to 14 AD. Though they conquered the Greeks, the Romans kept Greek as their empire's official language.

In those days, the land of Israel was divided into mainly three sections: Judea in the south (the modern-day West Bank), Samaria in central Israel (also the West Bank), and Galilee in the north. Originally, Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, but following the Assyrian captivity, it became the central region of Israel, heavily populated by the Samaritans who were greatly disdained by the Jews, reason being that they were an ethnic hybrid of Israelites and gentiles who caused trouble to the Jews when they returned from exile. However, the Jews of Judea and Galilee did not mix well, either. The Jews in Judea looked down upon the Jews of Galilee because they were of vastly different social class. The Jews of Judea were the more elite and more orthodox, as they had the Jerusalem temple and the priesthood operating, whereas the Jews in Galilee were less educated country folks, such as farmers and fishermen.

Since they were far from Jerusalem, the Galileans only went to the temple three times a year to observe the three pilgrim feasts, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. On all other days, they worshipped at the synagogues. Numerous synagogues were scattered throughout the land of Israel, not just in Galilee, but it does not appear that Samaria had them since they were the invention of the Jews. The Jews formed synagogues (sacred gatherings) during the Babylonian captivity. Because they no longer had the temple and were exiled far away from the Promised Land, the exiles created synagogues in foreign lands in order to worship Yahweh. Though synagogues lacked the priesthood and animal sacrifices, it permitted devout Jews to fellowship and observe the Torah to a certain extent. When Yahweh restored some of the Jews to Judah after seventy years of captivity in 536 BC, the Jews took the synagogues with them, building many in the Promised Land. Thus, by the time that Jesus was born, hundreds or thousands of synagogues dotted Israel.

Under the Roman emperor, petty kings or governors ruled over provinces. From 40 BC, the Herodian dynasty ruled over Judea, its first king was Herod the Great, who was the son of Antipater. Antipater was an Idumean (an Edomite), so all the kings in this dynasty were Idumeans. Edom was the nation formed by Esau's descendents; Esau was the elder twin brother of Jacob/Israel, so Edomites and Israelites were family, yet Edom had been hostile to Israel even before Israel established their nation in the Promised Land. The Edomites were forced out of their own land following the Babylonian invasion, and they took up residency in southern Judah. The Greeks called this region Idumea. In short, Herod and his successors were Edomites, people who were greatly antagonistic toward Israel. By the time of Jesus, the Idumeans were incorporated into Israel by the Maccabees, who had earlier overthrown the Greeks.

"Herod" means "heroic." But Herod the Great was anything but heroic. He was a worldly administrator who displayed great cruelty and suspicion. He had slaughtered the Jews who opposed his reign, and murdered his Jewish wife, Mariamne, a descendent of the Maccabees, along with the two sons she bore to him. The only good he did for the Jews was his reconstruction and beautification of the second temple, but despite this benevolence, he never gained the favor of the Jews. Jesus and John were born in the final leg of his vicious reign.

By the time Christ was born, the land of Israel had been possessed and dominated by a series of empires: Babylon, Persian-Medo, Greek and now the Romans. So at this point, the hope for the Messiah reached a feverish pitch. The Jews longed to be delivered from foreign oppression and regain their independence, and they believed that their help lay in the Messiah. As we study Lord Jesus' account, keep in mind of the political and social situation of Israel at this time.

Jesus' Earliest Human Existence

"When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, 'Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord'), and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, 'A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.'" (Luke 2:22-24, WEB)

Under the Mosaic covenant that's between God and ancient Israel, a woman who gave birth to a son was ritually unclean for a period of forty days, and the first seven of those days she would transfer her ritual uncleanness to others. During these forty days, she could not go to the temple or touch any holy thing belonging to God. After the forty-day period was over, the woman should go to the priest and offer a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering and a turtledove or pigeon as a sin offering, which would entirely cleanse her of her ritual uncleanness. In accordance with the Torah, Mary the mother of Jesus did exactly this. But note that she presented what the Torah graciously prescribed for the poor: "two turtledoves, or two young pigeons; the one for a burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering." (Leviticus 12:8) This was what the poor could offer if they could not afford a lamb. When Mary observed this ordinance for the poor, this tells us that she and her husband were poor.

Thus, in every way, Jesus had a lowly start. He was born in a section of the house where people kept their livestock, and laid up in a manger. He was born to poor, country parents who resided in Galilee. And his birth was announced to humble shepherds rather than dignitaries.

Joseph and Mary brought Jesus with them to the temple when Mary offered up her burnt and sin offerings. According to the Torah, every firstborn of man and livestock belonged to Yahweh. Hence, Jesus the firstborn of Joseph was presented to Yahweh, and then would have been redeemed by his parents with five shekels (Numbers 18:16; Luke 2:22-23). From this account, we see that Joseph and Mary were Torah-observant, righteous people.

As Joseph and Mary with their baby were at the temple grounds, the Holy Spirit led a devout and righteous man to the child. This man, Simeon, had been waiting for the redemption of Israel, and had been made known by the Spirit that he would not pass away until he saw with his own eyes Lord Yahweh's Messiah. Thus, while the baby Messiah was there, the Spirit impelled him to go to the temple. Simeon took up the baby in his arms, and praised God, saying:

"Now you are releasing your servant, Master,
according to your word, in peace;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;
a light for revelation to the nations,
and the glory of your people Israel." (Luke 2:29-32)

Yahweh had kept His promise to the righteous man by showing him His Messiah, the source of His salvation, the One Yahweh destined to be the light of revelation to the gentiles and the glory of Israel. Now that he had seen the Messiah, Simeon could depart life in peace. He was witnessing the hand of Yahweh in history.

Joseph and Mary marvelled at the prophecies Simeon spoke of their child. Baby Jesus looked so vulnerable at that moment, depending on his parents for his physical nourishment. Who could have thought that they were holding the Messiah in their arms?

Following Simeon, God led another righteous person to the temple that very moment to see His Christ: Anna, a prophetess from the tribe of Asher of Israel. Anna would either be a descendent of the remnant of Asher who survived the Assyrian captivity of Israel or the descendent of the remnant of Asher that lived among the Jews and survived the Babylonian captivity. Anna was a Torah-observant Israelite who made the temple as a second home, going there frequently to pray and worship God. She had been a widow for eighty-four years, according to some Bible translations (some translations say that she was eighty-four). Rather than getting remarried, she devoted her time to the worship of Yahweh. Seeing the baby Jesus, she gave thanks to Lord Yahweh and spoke of the Messiah to those in Jerusalem who were awaiting Israel's redemption.

After prophesying Jesus' destiny and blessing Jesus' parents, Simeon turned to Mary to address her specifically. He foretold, "Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2:34-35)

We must consider Simeon's prophecy in light of the sad truth that the apostle John wrote: "The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn't recognize him. He came to his own, and those who were his own didn't receive him." (John 1:9-11)

The light of the world--Jesus who gives true enlightenment and revelation of God--was--and is still--being rejected by the world he created with his Father. Though he came into the world to live among those who were created through him, many did not acknowledge or accept him but were hostile to him. They failed to see him as the life and light of the world, that they owed their existence to him.

What Jesus was destined to do (to turn people's hearts to God) would initially cause conflict in Israel rather than peace. Due to his ministry and the people's response to him, some would rise while others would fall. Those who accepted him as the Messiah would be exalted, while those who rejected him would be brought down. People's minds would be revealed; it would be apparent who embraced Jesus or who embraced their own agendas. The value of people's faith in Yahweh would be exposed; some would be proven to have genuine faith, and the rest would have their sham faith revealed.

Simeon foretold that a sword would pierce through Mary's heart. She would witness the rejection of her son and his cruel execution by those who hated him. She would feel his pain, and the pain she felt would be piercing.

The Lord's First Enemy

When Joseph and Mary were raising up Jesus who was now a toddler in Bethlehem, wise men from the east traveled to Jerusalem in search of him to worship him, ending up before Herod the Great. These wise men (note that the text doesn't tell us how many there were) were likely astrologers from Babylon, for they claimed that they saw Jesus' star in the east. Astrologers believe that every person has a unique star, and one's destiny is determined by that star and its alignment with other stars or planets. Astrology is of the demons rather than of God, and God explicitly forbids His people from practicing such things. If these wise men were being led by a star of God, they would not have followed a star that led them to the wrong place, Jerusalem rather than Bethlehem, and to the wrong person, Herod; their action would cause the slaughter of many innocent children.

The astrologers asked Herod, "Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him." (Matthew 2:2) The highly paranoid Herod grew alarmed upon hearing this. He had dealt violently against any supposed threat to his reign. He had murdered many whom he merely suspected of uprising or betrayal, including his own wife. So when he heard of the birth of the King of the Jews, he felt threatened. Others in Jerusalem were also troubled. They perhaps feared that the unstable and ruthless Herod would do something that would end up harming their community. Also, some of the people would be among the wicked who weren't looking forward to the righteous reign of the Messiah, knowing that they wouldn't overcome God's Wrath.

Herod consulted the priests and scribes who were learned in the Tanakh and asked them which town the Scriptures prophesied that the King of the Jews would be born. The priests and scribes said that the birthplace was Bethlehem, quoting Micah 5:2. Next, Herod summoned the wise men to him and found out when the star first appeared. He told them to go to Bethlehem and exhorted them to search for the child diligently, telling them to inform him of their finding so he could worship the child as well. The king had something totally different in mind if he found the child.

Yahweh can use any method for any purpose. In this case, He used the star that the wise men saw in the east to guide them to the Messiah. The star "led" them to the house where Joseph, Mary, and Jesus resided. Apparently, after Jesus was born, the couple stayed in Bethlehem, perhaps remaining at the house where Jesus was born, which was likely Joseph's ancestral house. The astrologers greatly rejoiced when they saw the child and worshipped him, presenting to him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

When Yahweh prevented the wise men from returning to Herod with information about the Messiah's whereabouts and Herod realized that the wise men had scorned his command, he threw into a rage. He had his men go to Bethlehem and its surrounding towns, and there, they slaughtered all the boys who were within age two. Herod believed that this massacre would have ensured the death of the Messiah. He forgot one very important fact: that nothing can thwart God's plans.

After visiting the child Messiah at Joseph's and Mary's residence in Bethlehem, the astrologers were warned in a dream that they must not return to Herod. They heeded the divine warning by returning to their home from another route, rather than passing through Jerusalem.

After the wise men left, Joseph himself had a dream where an angel instructed him to take the child and Mary to Egypt, for Herod was going to hunt the child to kill him. Joseph obeyed the angel, taking his family by night to Egypt, and the family lived in Egypt until an angel told him that Herod had died and so it was safe to return to Israel. Once back in Israel, however, Joseph was divinely warned about Archelaus, the son and successor of Herod the Great, so he brought his family to live in his former hometown of Nazareth, away from Judea where the king ruled. Archelaus took after the cruel disposition of his father. Once, he murdered three thousand Jews at the temple during Passover. So Joseph had every good reason to avoid his territory.

Which side of Jesus are you on? Since you're reading this newsletter, I conclude that you're his disciple or someone who's interested in knowing him more to decide whether you'd like to become his disciple. If you're the latter, I exhort you to examine the evidences yourself and study the life of Christ. Apart from him, you'll find none other to deliver you from your sins and bring you everlasting joy and glory. He's the light for revelation to all peoples. Let him illuminate your path. Let him be your light. Let today be the day of your salvation; embrace God's Messiah today!


~*~ Q&A with Dr. Shirley ~*~

Question: What does Matthew 10:34 mean?

Answer: Isaiah foretold that the Messiah will be called the Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6). Yet, Jesus said to his apostles, "Don't think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn't come to send peace, but a sword." (Matthew 10:34, WEB) To understand what he meant, we must study the context.

Alluding to Micah's words in Micah 7:6, Jesus further told his apostles, "For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s foes will be those of his own household." (Matthew 10:35-36)

Though Jesus will bring about universal and enduring peace in the world, his coming has initially caused unrest in the world. Such unrest is due to the conflict between the righteous (those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior) and the wicked (those who deny Jesus as the Messiah). Sword, not peace, is the fruit of this spiritual combat.

Such combat rages even among the closest of family members, between parent and child, husband and wife. When one member of the household puts faith in the Christ, they will have enemies in their own family when other members oppose Jesus. Many disciples of Christ have been ostracized by their families or even murdered. This happens even today in countries where Christianity is illegal.

Though Jesus applied Micah's words to the spiritual conflict between his disciples and the world, Micah's words didn't prophesy it. Micah ministered to the kingdom of Judah in a time of great social turmoil where people acted in deceit toward one another. The prophet had admonished Israel:
"Don't trust in a neighbor.
Don't put confidence in a friend.
With the woman lying in your embrace,
be careful of the words of your mouth!
For the son dishonors the father,
the daughter rises up against her mother,
the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
a man’s enemies are the men of his own house." (Micah 7:5-6)

Micah warned the people not to trust even their closest friends or family members, for everyone was a deceiver. On the outside, they were sweet, but inside they hid daggers for one another. They must be on the watch for one another and not pour out their secrets with their mouths, as no one could be anyone's confidante. One's enemies were in their own families; children dishonored their parents and rose up against their in-laws. There was no respect for the elderly in the household.

These words of the prophet and his warning can be applied to Jesus' disciples. While we're not to get paranoid of others, we have to live prudently amidst the dark world. The sad fact is that those whom we love can and sometimes do oppose us due to our faith in the Messiah. We have to stand firm in our faith and not let our families stop us from living out our faith in the sight of everyone.

Do you have Bible questions and want answers? Contact Dr. Shirley and she'll be happy to answer your questions by the grace of God.

Did you enjoy this newsletter? Then you may subscribe to Dr. Shirley's newsletter by filling out the contact form at the bottom of this page.

Do you have Bible questions and want answers? Contact Dr. Shirley and she'll be happy to answer your questions by the grace of God.

Did you enjoy this newsletter? Then you may subscribe to Dr. Shirley's newsletter by filling out the contact form at the bottom of this page.