How Things Work: A Brief History of Reality
SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EDITION: Consideration #62 – "The Christmas Story"
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Tuesday, December 20, 2022
“…and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Luke 2:14
"When Christmas Calls"
by Frank Elkins ©2018It’s that time of year when snow falls, and Christmas calls...
Offering the hope and joy of the Season.
Remembering the better angels of our nature,
generosity and kindness overflowing –
Twinkling lights in cheerful windows,
and love in our hearts benevolently glowing.
Families and loved ones finally coming together –
“Merry Christmas” carolers warming cold inclement weather.
Gingerbread houses filled with wishes and dreams –
Watching long-treasured movies based on holiday themes.
Sharing gifts and mistletoe with those we’ve come to love and know –
In memory of a birthday celebrated...
on a Christmas, very long ago.
PREFACE
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to Everybody!
Whatever you are celebrating I wish you a warm and joyous Holiday Season! Think of this Special Christmas Edition Newsletter as perhaps a slightly more sophisticated version of “A Charlie Brown Christmas!” So, here’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown…
“What we think of as ‘the’ Christmas Story reflects a combination of the gospels Matthew and Luke, each adding their own unique metaphor and revelation to the miracle.”
The story that has come to be known as the “Christmas Story” is really a blending of narrative and influence. What we think of as “the” Christmas Story reflects a combination of the gospels Matthew and Luke, each adding their own unique metaphor and revelation to the miracle. However, the theological influence of Mark’s focus on redemption, and John’s focus on divine intervention, are also inherently embedded throughout the narrative. Therefore, in this sense, although only two gospels contain a birth narrative, the story we think of as the “Christmas Story” encompasses the essence of all four Gospels.
CONSIDERATION #62 – “The Christmas Story”
Matthew and the Three “Wise Men”
The story of the three Magi is Matthew’s main contribution to the Christmas Story. It is also very reminiscent of some of the Old Testament stories. Matthew’s story about the “baby Jesus” actually starts long after his birth, by approximately two years. Let’s consider what Matthew adds to the birth narrative of the Jewish Messiah.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:1-2
Each of the bolded words in this verse represent a specific sign or Jewish prophecy claimed to be fulfilled by this story. Much like Pharaoh in Exodus, King Herod is a cruel tyrant. However, the Magi from the east are wise men. Part of their wisdom includes astrology and the ability to recognize and interpret the stars.
“So, Jesus is already born, and wise men have traveled a long distance following the new king’s star for approximately two years trying to find him.”
Recognizing the cosmic proclamation of a new king in the sign of a new rising star, they have come to honor him with gifts and respect. The stature of the Magi, in addition to their humbleness toward the new king, demonstrates the magnitude of this event. So, Jesus is already born, and wise men have traveled a long distance following the new king’s star for approximately two years trying to find him. This was a major undertaking by the magi.
Thinking an event of this enormity would be recognized by other wise men and leaders as well, they go to the Jewish capital of Jerusalem to engage with King Herod, expecting that he also would have recognized the signs and want to honor the new Jewish king. However, King Herod is a corrupt and cruel leader who seeks to use the wisdom of wise men for his own personal gain. King Herod’s corruption symbolizes the corruption that has overtaken the entire Jewish hierarchy and leadership at the time.
“Herod calls his priests and scholars together, pretending to “help” the Magi…”
Seeking only personal power and influence, the “Jewish elite” are against Jesus from the very beginning. Herod calls his priests and scholars together, pretending to “help” the Magi find the new king; seeking the entire time only to deceive them into helping him find the new king – so that he could be murdered. Asking the chief priests what the scriptures prophesied as to where the new king was to be born, they responded:
This is what the prophet has written:
“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Matthew 2:5-6
King Herod verifies with the Magi that they have been following the star for two years, then encourages them to go and find the new king so that he too can worship him.
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
Matthew 2:7-8
So, the Magi continue their journey following the star, which leads them to a house, not a manger, where they find Jesus with his mother. After bowing, worshiping, and honoring the young king they present him with three gifts. Gold, the most precious metal, frankincense, a holy perfumed incense, and myrrh, an expensive anointing oil, which all would have been considered appropriate gifts for a king at that time.
“Having been warned in a dream not to give King Herod the location of Jesus, the Magi return directly home by a different road.”
Symbolically, gold is valuable, beautiful, pure, and eternal, representing royalty. Frankincense was the incense used in religious temple ceremonies, signifying Jesus’ priesthood. Myrrh is a bittersweet herb used in burial and embalming rituals, alluding to Jesus’ death and resurrection. Having been warned in a dream not to give King Herod the location of Jesus, the Magi return directly home by a different road.
Angry that he had been outwitted by the Magi, King Herod is furious and orders the death of every male child two years old or younger in Bethlehem. However, Jesus’ escape from the slaughter of a ruthless tyrant, who puts to death all male children two-years old and under, is more than just an analogy of the Moses story; according to Matthew it fulfills yet another Messianic prophecy.
… for this is what the prophet has written:
A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.
Matthew 2:5-6
Like the Pharaoh who wanted to kill Moses, the King who wanted to kill Jesus eventually dies. Once again “the angel of the Lord” appears to Joseph in a dream telling him to leave Egypt and return home to the Promised Land of Israel. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus settle in a district known as Galilee in a town called Nazareth. So ends the childhood narrative of Jesus in Matthew.
POSTSCRIPT
Luke and the Story of Bethlehem
Luke is immediately set apart from the other Gospels in its expanded and meticulous account of not only Jesus’ birth, but also the birth of John the Baptist. In Luke’s Gospel, the connection between John and Jesus is much more than spiritual, it is genetic. John and Jesus are cousins.
“It begins with Joseph and Mary traveling to Bethlehem because of a census dictated by Caesar Augustus.”
After the birth of John, Luke relates a birth narrative that fills in what we traditionally think of as the “Christmas Story.” It begins with Joseph and Mary traveling to Bethlehem because of a census dictated by Caesar Augustus. All inhabitants of the Roman World are required to return home to the city of their birth to register.
“Mary gives birth to Jesus in a manger, because there was no ‘guest room’ available for them.”
Luke identifies Bethlehem as the “City of David,” further connecting Joseph and Jesus to the lineage of Abraham and King David. Upon arriving in Bethlehem, Mary gives birth to Jesus in a manger, because there was no “guest room” available for them. Shepherds, in nearby fields, are visited by an “angel of the Lord” who proclaims the good news.
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
Luke 2:11-15
When we add Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth to Matthew’s, sprinkled with a little theological influence from Mark and John, we have what we think of as the “complete” Christmas Story. A story that has warmed the hearts, and soothed the souls, of both Christians and non-Christians alike for over two thousand years. A story of faith, hope, and ultimately, redemption.
Merry Christmas Everybody!
Next week we will return to our regularly scheduled newsletters, starting with Einstein’s most famous equation: E=mc2.
Expand the Conversation by Upgrading to “Reality by a Thread!”
Excerpt from Tomorrow’s Untangling the Knots of Reality – Podcast #28: “Untangling Descartes’ Influence on the Modern World"
This Week on “The Thread”:
•Untangling the Knots of Reality “Untangling Descartes’ Influence on the Modern World” (“Descartes’ influence was so cogent it not only transformed the traditional studies related to science (physics) and religion (metaphysics) but also inspired an entirely new form of inquiry that would become known as the social sciences. Social sciences attempted to apply Descartes’ scientific method to non-mathematical challenges facing human beings, in an attempt to overcome them by understanding the ‘machine’ called society…” )
•Reality by a Thread (Discussion Thread): Preview of Book V – “Wave-Particle Reality – Part 2” “What is the key to utilizing and surviving this new opportunity of understanding? It begins with re-establishing the importance and necessity for both rational and empirical realities. One does not exist without the other. They are not competing with Reality; they are generating Reality. Reality is an experience of Consciousness and Awareness at both the empirical and rational level of existence....”)
•FREE PDF Download of Book IV: “The Cosmic Symphony – Overtones of String Theory,” Book I “Dualism,” and my New Book “Untangling Eastern & Western Dualism” plus other discounts and benefits.
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