Places in Luke Story 5
Continuing on Luke Story 5 (2:1-20):
Follow yesterday’s post, the writer of this Story also has places associated with the events described yesterday.
The first, then, is associated with the expectation of the ‘birth of the Messiah’-- Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem,
The second is associated with the life, passion and death of Jesus-- to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah
The third is associated with the risen Jesus-Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing
If what I proposed to yesterday is correct, then we might be able to figure out why the writer has told us that the city of David is Bethlehem instead of Jerusalem in the Focus section of this Story.
I suggest that the coming of a prophet king who is a suffering servant has to be associated with Jerusalem. Think about Matthew 23:37, --“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!”
The second place associated with the expectation of the coming of the Messiah will of course be Bethlehem of Judea, Matthew 2:6, --“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
The expectation of the Hebrew Scriptures giving birth to the Messiah would suggest the use of both names, the city of David and Bethlehem. And, it does.
The sign of the Messiah would be his life, passion and death, and that suggests Jerusalem as it’s location. This also matches.
The belief in the Messiah from believing Jesus’ words and seeing him after he had risen would suggest any number of locations including Jerusalem…but, since the location in the Scriptures for the birth of the Messiah, the Christ, is given as Bethlehem, this could be an all inclusive name for where the disciples would come to believe that he had risen. If so, then all the locations agree with the previous understanding of this Story that I’ve given you.
Follow yesterday’s post, the writer of this Story also has places associated with the events described yesterday.
The first, then, is associated with the expectation of the ‘birth of the Messiah’-- Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem,
The second is associated with the life, passion and death of Jesus-- to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah
The third is associated with the risen Jesus-Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing
If what I proposed to yesterday is correct, then we might be able to figure out why the writer has told us that the city of David is Bethlehem instead of Jerusalem in the Focus section of this Story.
I suggest that the coming of a prophet king who is a suffering servant has to be associated with Jerusalem. Think about Matthew 23:37, --“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!”
The second place associated with the expectation of the coming of the Messiah will of course be Bethlehem of Judea, Matthew 2:6, --“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
The expectation of the Hebrew Scriptures giving birth to the Messiah would suggest the use of both names, the city of David and Bethlehem. And, it does.
The sign of the Messiah would be his life, passion and death, and that suggests Jerusalem as it’s location. This also matches.
The belief in the Messiah from believing Jesus’ words and seeing him after he had risen would suggest any number of locations including Jerusalem…but, since the location in the Scriptures for the birth of the Messiah, the Christ, is given as Bethlehem, this could be an all inclusive name for where the disciples would come to believe that he had risen. If so, then all the locations agree with the previous understanding of this Story that I’ve given you.
posted by Anne and Mike at 12:46 AM
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