Luke 2

This chapter contains an account of Jesus' birth that I'm sure you'll all find familiar. There's also, I think, a beauty to the telling of the story that triggers something in me when I hear it. Maybe it's just that I so identify this reading with the joy and wonder of Christmas.

But part of what I like is Luke's essentially journalistic approach to writing. Notice back in chapter 1 that he talks about eyewitnesses, "having investigated everything carefully from the beginning" and writing an account in "consecutive order" (v. 2-3). The technique places Jesus' birth in a historical context.

Now I know that at least one of you claims not to like history. But the fact that details about who was emperor and governor and that a census was being done can be confirmed outside of the Bible is important. Wanting or needing that confirmation may not sound like "faith" to you, but a point could come when it'll become more significant in your journey with Jesus -- for example, if doubting friends want you to defend the reality of Christ's story or of his very existence.

This chapter brings us through Jesus' young life fairly quickly. After the birth narrative, it details the baby being brought to the temple at 8 days old and by the end he's back in the temple again, this time as a 12-year-old. 

You may feel like you've heard these stories a million times before. But I would challenge you to read it all carefully and look for insights into who this Jesus is. 

Does this chapter reveal attributes of Christ that you don't think of much or haven't yet heard of? Tell us about those on Sunday (and include your comments here as a response to the blog, if you'd like).

Alternately, maybe you'd like to memorize some verses or a section of the chapter. Parts of the birth narrative, for example, or Simeon's song. The response from Simeon after seeing Jesus is something I know by heart. It was regularly sung as part of the communion liturgy at my Lutheran church while I was growing up.

Memorizing scripture may not sound appealing, but the knowledge of the Bible that you gain can deepen your faith. That's something I hope will occur as we read through Luke.