The Beginning of Saint Luke...chapter 2...and the controversy...

The beginning of Luke chapter 2 begins in controversy. For a number of centuries, some historians have commented that Luke's beginning description in the first few verses of this chapter is inaccurate. In particular, the story of the census being taken, the timing of the appointed official Quirinius, and the general requirement of Roman authority for all the Jewish people of the region to return to their home town to sign-up for the census (for tax purposes pertaining to the Roman Empire).
 The basis is two-fold as I understand it. First, the story written by Luke is challenged (indirectly) by the popular historian of the era Josephus. In fact, this is the major documentation that brings up question to Luke's information he gives to us in his Gospel.
 Josephus is controversial himself. Although some of his written manuscripts of the history in that era have proved helpful, there are certain questions that arise to what he may have wrote. Josephus was a non-believer in Christ Jesus, having Hebrew origin, who was in a military role in the attempted overthrow of Roman rule in the war between the Jewish people and Rome in 67-70 A.D. He is written to have given up his own men and join Rome after his capture by the Romans, and later lived in Rome itself. As I did research, I have come to the conclusion the controversy is not really strong enough to cause me to really question the info Luke recorded. The original manuscripts of the New Testament are so much more plentiful than that of Josephus, along with the general lack of information regarding this time in history, and the fact what Josephus recorded has questions to the timing of general events of this era as well.
 The other question is...was history tampered by others in later centuries (3rd and 4th centuries) to back the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church and her association to Christ Jesus?
 Overall, I still believe the information Luke recorded is accurate, for no other reason than he was dedicated to that precise thing....recording accurately what really happened. Besides, the manuscripts of the New Testament (up to now over 5000 original manuscripts found of different parts of the Bible), versus the few found by others such as Josephus recording of the history of that era, the actual translations of the Scriptures in Hebrew and Greek from their original language into the languages of today like English, and the moral obligations to relay to us today the actual events that happened, leads me to believe Luke has written accurately...what we need to know...in the early life of the One who became...one of us...the Lord Jesus Himself. 

                                A Gleaning of Luke 2: 1-7

 " In those days, the Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus decided it was again time for a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire...to update tax records needed...for the financial success of the Roman Empire.
 {NOTE: Caesar Augustus whose very name Augustus means "noble", had developed "Pax Romana" (Roman peace), for the Roman Empire had enjoyed a time of peace for approximately 40 years. It seems it had become a requirement for a census to be taken every 14 years. This was looked upon with disdain with the Jewish nation Israel. 
 The nation of Israel had been involved with a number of census taken in the Old Testament. In the Book of Numbers 1:1-3 the Lord God had initiated a census through Moses to get a number of warriors in the land of Israel, in II Chronicles 2:17-18 Solomon had taken a census of foreigners who lived within the land of Israel...in conjunction with the building of the Temple in Jerusalem, and in the Book of Ezra a census was taken as to the number of Israelites that had returned from their exile in Babylon. Yet, in II Samuel 24:1-2, King David had initiated a census that infuriated the Lord God. The Scriptures do not indicate the motive of David for wanting the census, but the consequences of David choosing to do so was dire.
 This "Davidic required census" was most likely the mindset of the nation of Israel when Emperor Augustus required this census around the time of Christ's birth.}                                 


 This was the first time a census was taken during the leadership role of Quirinius in the area of Syria. The census required all people (most likely the men or head of households of the family)  to return to their home towns to be registered.
 Because of Joseph being a descendant of King David, he then returned to his hometown of Bethlehem of Judea, the home of King David himself. The travel for Joseph was about 80 miles from Nazareth in Galilee.
 Joseph took with him his fiancee Mary, who was now obviously pregnant. {NOTE: Did Joseph have to take Mary along?...probably not. Yet, he knew the time of birth was near and obviously wanted to be there with Mary. I personally think it also depicts the tender heart of Joseph toward Mary, choosing not to leave her feeling abandoned, and perhaps not wanting her to be left alone to be accused and judged harshly by those around her as to how she became pregnant and..."Who's child is it?"}
 When the couple arrived in Bethlehem, it was now time for Mary to give birth.  She wrapped her firstborn in strings of cloth, commonly called swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger of a stable where animals were kept, for every inn was completely full in Bethlehem because of the census, the result being the animal stable was the only place Mary and Joseph could find a place to stay.

{NOTE: Swaddling Clothes: these were used actually to restrict the movement of a newborn's limbs, to give warmth, and to ensure the arms and legs would grow straight. Prior to wrapping the child in these strips of cloth, the umbilical cord was cut and tied, and the child was normally washed in a salt and water solution. In the Book of Ezekiel 16:4, Israel is described as "unswaddled", meaning abandoned.
 Manger: A manger during the time of Christ's birth was a feed trough found in an animal's stable was made of clay, held together with straw, and reinforced with stone. Just as we today would probably not recognize the manger that was actually used in that day, it is doubtful Mary and Joseph would recognize the nativity scene as we know it today.}

Luke 1:56-80....Zechariah announces the "Morning Light of Heaven"!

As I conclude chapter one of Luke, to say this was a "special moment" in Christian history...would be an understatement no doubt.......

                       A Gleaning from Luke 1: 56-80

 "Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about 3 months and then returned home. {NOTE: Mary was more than likely beginning to show, and knew there were going to be questions as to her being pregnant, she knew she was about to face some obstacles in her own home, and the 3 months (much like Elizabeth staying in seclusion for her first 6 months of pregnancy)...had done Mary good. Yet, it was time for her to return home...for she was now 3 months pregnant. Mary's departure was most likely before John was born...she probably didn't want the family, friends, and neighbors of Elizabeth to see her...before she first went home and faced what must of been a rather tough situation..."How did Mary become pregnant?" The last thing she needed was "second hand information"...just sayin'. }

 When the time had come for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. Elizabeth's neighbors, friends, and relatives had heard how the kindness of the Lord had come to her and how He showed His mercy toward her by giving her...a child, even at such a late age. Everyone was overwhelmed with joy for her and wanted to participate in the celebration of the birth.
 On the 8th day of the child's birth, the ceremony of circumcision took place...as was commanded in Jewish Law through the very commands of Moses...this ceremony dating back centuries to the very father of the Jewish nation...Abraham.

 Everyone around Elizabeth gave little thought to what the child's name would be...Zechariah of course, and the ceremony was the official day the child was to be named. Yet, in the middle of all this ceremony, Elizabeth suddenly intervened and spoke saying: "No, this child is to be named..."John!"
 Her friends, relatives and neighbors all reacted: "What?! You don't even have one in your entire family that goes by that name!" There was great commotion at that moment...
                                             Until.......

 all the people motioned to Zechariah. Zechariah, still unable to speak from the visit of the angel Gabriel, then responded. Zechariah asked for something to write on...and what he wrote surprised everyone. Zechariah wrote: His name is to be..."John!" 
 And at that precise moment...something miraculous happened!,  Zechariah was able to speak again! And, the first words that came from Zechariah's lips were...honor and praise to the Lord!

 At that point, a deep reverential fear and awe came upon everyone...in fact, the news of all this spread...throughout the Judean countryside.

 The big question now was: "Who is this child? What is his destiny? For surely the Lord's hand is upon him in a unique and special way."
 Then, Zechariah himself became filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to prophesy, just like the prophets of old, whose stories had been passed down yet no one had actually heard or seen...for centuries. Now, Zechariah had received the anointing of a prophet, and began to announce: " All Blessings and Praise are to be given to the Lord God...the Great God of Israel! For now He has come...to redeem and bring deliverance to His people. God has raised this very "Horn of Salvation"...right here...in the center of our very lives! The Lord is sending us a Mighty Savior, from the royal lines of King David, just as He promised from the prophets of long ago.
 Now we will be saved...from all our enemies, and from anyone who detests us...and pursues us with hatred.

 The Lord has always said He would find kindness in His heart...for us! He is also committed and faithful to the ancient covenant He had made with our father...Abraham.
 and now...Look!
   
 We find ourselves in position to be rescued from all of our enemies...and He provides us with a path...a path to Freedom...that we may give our lives to serve and honor Him. Fear no longer holds its power to hold and grip on to us, for He has delivered us to live our lives pleasing Him..we are looked upon by Him as a holy and righteous people, and His Presence is among us...and will be for all the days of our lives.
 As for this child the Lord has given me, this little child, he will be known as a prophet...a prophet of our Most High God. For John shall go from here and make the preparation necessary for His coming...the Messiah...who brings to us the joyous news of Salvation. And this Salvation will be available to all...to all of His people...and will lead us on the path of Forgiveness...that causes our hearts to turn away from sin.
 Because of God's tender mercy and loving kindness He gives to us, this "Morning Light of Heaven" is about to break as the dawn...to all who sit in Darkness and live in the Shadow of Death. For He will lead us..one step at a time...to a path that leads to Life...a Life saturated in...His Peace!"

 And as so prophesied, he little child grew...becoming strong in the Spirit of the Lord. As John grew, he found his home...in the desert. Then, his time came...to announce publicly "Repent, for the Lord is Coming!"

A "True Friend"...knows how to forgive....

I read of a woman's reaction when her closest friend referred to her as an "angel". She thought about the compliment her dearest friend had said of her...and remarked: " I am appreciative you regard me in such high esteem, and if this"angel" in me "breaks a wing", I hope my "angel attitude" remains true, and not jump on the nearest "broomstick", and continue to fly.".........

 As the saying goes: "Good friends are hard to find". What makes a person become a...close friend? What causes one to let down "the walls", expose the "real me", and not be afraid to do so....trusting the one you open and "bare your heart"?
 There are volumes of material written on this subject, and could easily become a lifetime study if researched in detail and all the various angles that make up this phrase..."a true friend". 
 I certainly do not understand all that makes up the title of a true friend, yet there are a couple of words that come to mind, one being trust, and the other being forgiveness.
 My focus at the moment is on...the power of forgiveness.

 Forgiveness brings many benefits... it is said forgiveness has the power to make us happier, can improve our physical health, sustain close relationships, resolve conflicts, can actually work as a "boost" in extending kindness to others, and in general forgiveness has a way of helping us stay connected with those around us, particularly those who are close to us...the ones we love and cherish
  In the ancient Aramaic language, the one Jesus used when He was "One of us", the word forgiveness is defined as: "to untie". I kind of like that...because to me this is what forgiveness is really about. You are simply undoing a knot...that makes a string or rope impossible to use...it won't fit through the hole, in this case the "holes" we encounter in everyday life. Instead of slipping the string through the hole to tie things( or us) more together, everything is left undone...and alone.

 Yet, forgiveness involves a process. It takes making hard choices, a willingness to let go of an issue when someone has done you wrong, and it takes practice...because having issues with others....happen, and they seem to happen a whole lot more than what we would like.
 Here are 12 tips that I have found beneficial when dealing with the subject of...forgiveness:

1. Take a moment and realize the anger you may be feeling at the moment...is just that...a feeling. Don't let feelings dictate decisions that need to be made. Simply "feeling angry" doesn't really harm anyone...except yourself.
2. Having obstacles that come into the center of friendships at times...is perfectly normal. It's just a part of being human. Step back a moment, give yourself some time to get a more objective view of what just happened, and begin to look for any possible solutions that can be applied.
3. This tip is easier said than done, yet if you can get to this point, the benefits are excellent. Look for ways when you have found yourself facing unforgiveness...to turn the situation around...and let this confrontation work for you...and not against you. In other words, learn from this tough experience, how it all started, what could have been done different, or how can it be resolved....and what does it "cost me" to be willing to resolve a conflict....like "Is the friendship worth more to me than choosing not to forgive"...stuff like that.
4. Weigh out the "positives" of why you are friends in the first place...is it worth it to you to want to remain friends?
5. This is tricky...but sometimes finding comfort in another's advice is extremely helpful... the trick is...share your thoughts with someone you can trust. You don't want to put your confidence in someone whose intent is to "spread the problem" to...the world. Just sayin'.
6. If the conflict is of value to you, take some quality time (vs. quantity) and look for ways to get through the "dark forest" and back into the light. If you can see a possible path, bring your emotions along with you...they need to go through this process as well. Above all, this is not the time to suppress your feelings and emotions, they just need to be adjusted and put in proper perspective.
7. When you have reached the conclusion to forgive someone...do it for yourself...not for them...at least not at first. You will need God's help to do this right. Find out how Jesus did it...in fact...remember He did this very thing...for you. If you can't get past yourself, your chances of forgiving someone else is greatly diminished. This includes forgiving yourself...get over the "self-pride" thing.
8. Learn to "balance your life". The reality of life is knowing that all the friendships we may encounter...are not always trustworthy...to you. Painful memories can serve to help you (in time)...and not hurt you.
9. "Shut it Down". Don't let the situation keep going over and over in your mind. And above all, don't keep telling the story to everyone else.
10. If you are unable to "shut it down", then try telling the story...from the other person's view...the one who you are having the issue with.
11. Here is one that I have personally found the toughest thing to do...yet when I "give it up" and do it, the results are amazing. Get down on your knees ( or something similar), extend your arms to the heavens, and ask God to bless the one you are in conflict with...speaking from the heart...not just lip service. I would dare anyone to try this one...I guarantee when you arise from your knees...you won't be the same.
12. Keep it all in balance. The conflict may have been both deep and personal...life still moves on...there is a whole world out there...and you are needed out there...there are people counting on....you! 

 There are "tons of verses" of Scripture on forgiveness...just type in "Bible verses on Forgiveness"...and as we all know....you will have enough choices for a lifetime. For me, I have always kept Proverbs 17:9 close to heart...here are a couple of versions I happen to like:

{Contemporary English}: " You will keep your friends if you forgive them, but you will lose your friends if you keep talking about what they did wrong."

{New Living Translation}: "Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it...separates the closest of friends."