Salvation

Salvation

1. The Annunciation

   • Allows Luke to show Jesus as the Messiah and Mary as the Lord's servant very early on.
     • Son of God, Son of the Most High etc
     • " I am the Lord's Servant"- Luke 1:38
     • Joseph is a descendant of King David
   • "In the sixth month" refers to the sixth month of Mary's relative Elizabeth's pregnancy of John the Baptist
     • Her husband Zechariah was a priest in the Temple, he was told that Elizabeth would have a son who would be filled with the holy spirit and act like Elijah to bring the Israelites back to their faith
   • The mention of Nazareth in Galilee is important because it was a place that was looked down on and regarded as not pure Jewish
   • Angels were believed to be how God communicated with humans; they brought messages, destruction, and were a sign of the presence of God
     • The word "angel" means "messenger"
   • "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"- Luke 1:34
     • Isiah 7:14 says that a young woman will have a child. The Greek word for young woman in "parthenos" which can also be translated as "virgin"
   • Luke places a lot of emphasis on the baby's name
     • Jesus
       • Greek version of the Hebrew name "Joshua"
         • Matthew adds "because he will save the people from their sins
         • Meaning God saves
     • Son of the Most High
       • "Most High" is a title for God used many times in Luke and the Old Testament
         • Jesus is clearly described as God's son
     • The throne of his father David
       • Luke was drawing attention to Josephs ancestry
       • shows Jesus to be a political Messiah
         • establishing God's rule and be king
         • However Jesus never claimed to be King
     • Son of God
       • This title is not only for Jesus, and has been used in the Old Testament to describe King David, Israel and other individuals
       • Son of God was the most dangerous, blasphemous term applied to Jesus.
       • Anyone claiming to be Son of God was claiming to be equal to God or using his name in a disrespectful way.
         • Jesus saying to the Sanhedrin that they "were right in saying" he was the Son of God lead to his conviction
   • The Feast of the Annunciation takes place on the 25th of March

2. The Birth of Jesus

   • Bethlehem
     • Known as the City of David
       • Where David was born, chosen by the Prophet Samuel to become King of Israel. He was anointed King and thereafter Bethlehem was known as his city
     • It was predicted by the prophet Micah that a ruler would be born there
       • 8th Century BC
       • Luke does not refer to this directly
     • I was important that Jesus was born in Bethlehem because it links him back to King David
       • Luke also places a lot of emphasis on how Jesus was descended from David
         • So he could be called Son of David
         • And be seen as the Messiah
   • The Date
     • In the Western Christian tradition Jesus' birth is celebrated on the 25th of December
       • This is meant to represent Jesus' light coming in darkness
       • It is known that this isn't the real date
         • The shepherds would have kept their flocks in the city for warmth
         • the census by Governor Quirinius was ordered in 6 CE, too late to be linked with Jesus' birth
     • In the Orthodox tradition Christmas is celebrated on January 7th
       • This is because it is dated with the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar
   • The Stable
     • There is no conclusive theory as to where Mary and Joseph were that night because of various translations and mistransations
     • However it is certain that Jesus was born into poverty among animals and laid in a manger instead of a cot
       • This is important because it shows UNIVERSALISM
         • The idea that even though Jesus was portrayed as a King he was born into poverty because he came to be HUMAN and SAVE EVERYBODY

3. The Shepherds

   • The Shepherds demonstrate UNIVERSALISM again as they lived on the fringes of society
     • They were seen as thugs as they often had to resort to violence to protect their flocks
     • Despite the fact that they were often very poor, shepherds were important in 1st Century Palestine as they provided food and wool.
     • Throughout the Old Testament God is often described as a shepherd
       • Jesus is described as "The Good Shepherd" throughout the New Testament
   • The Shepherds are visited by an angel who brings them good news. They are the first to hear of the birth
     • There are many parallels with the Annunciation and other angelic visits
       • The pattern is the same; an angelic visit; the fear of those visited; the instruction not to be afraid; the message that good news will bring excitement and joy
     • They are told to go into the City of David where they will find a baby wrapped in cloths and laid in a manger.
       • They were told that the baby was the Saviour and Christ the Lord. These are both messianic titles
     • The angels tell them that the Messiah will bring peace on Earth.
       • Peace at this time didn't just mean an absence of conflict; it meant harmony, wellbeing - a peaceful state of mind in which people could flourish.
     • The shepherds then return from the visit glorifying and praising God.
       • Note that they are joyous rather than terrified - showing the new nature of God
   • This story emphasises Luke's theme of God's Salvation is for all people, and that everyone can experience Salvation.