Luke 1-2
These first two chapters of Luke set the stage for the life and mission of Jesus on earth. We, as readers, must look closely at what the author is trying to communicate about the character of Jesus through his origin tale in Luke 1-2. There are lots of moving parts, characters, and Old Testament references packed into these first 3 pages. But there is one motif that seems to pull all of these details together:
Jesus has come to usurp the world's power structure by coming to the world by way of humility and servanthood.
How do we get to this conclusion? Let’s look at a few key details from the text.
1. The story starts “in the days of Herod.” (Luke 1:5)
Herod was a Roman king occupying Judea. Jerusalem, the place where God promised to redeem his people, is in this region. The Jewish people were oppressed by the Roman occupation, and were eagerly anticipating the coming of their Messiah to rescue them from the authoritarian Roman government. Herod represents the abuse of power and human pride.
Shortly after learning that this story occurs during the days of Herod’s rule, the story introduces us to Zechariah and Elizabeth. They stand in contrast to Herod. Luke writes,
“And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.”
Luke 1:6
Zechariah and Elizabeth are also a call-back to the story of Abraham and Sarah. In a time of chaos, God blesses Abraham and Sarah with a child, promising that through their lineage all nations will be blessed. Here, Luke is showing us that in a similar fashion, God is choosing to use the humble to pave the way for the reconciling work of the Messiah through their child. In the face of a violent and powerful king, God is paving the way for the Jewish king in a very upside down fashion: old people & a baby.
2. Jesus & his family have no social or political power. But they do have humble submission to God.
Let’s read again this portion of Mary’s song:
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed…
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
(italics added)
Mary was a humble, unmarried teenager. She recognizes that God’s election of her to bring the messiah into the world was a very subversive move. But in doing so, God is showing that true power comes not from mightiness, political power, or riches, but from God, who exalts the humble and humbles the proud.
3. Jesus’ birth is celebrated by shepherds, an elderly Jewish man, and a widow.
None of these people held much power in Jerusalem at the time. The shepherds had no nobility, the Hebrews were oppressed by the Romans, and widowed women often had little access to resources because of their age and lack of connection to a man’s status. Yet, these are exactly the type of people who Jesus came for. He came for the outcasts and the powerless. His humble arrival showed that you didn’t need nobility or status to be connected to the King.
In our pride, we all tend to crave power and riches. Yet, in Jesus' kingdom, the poor and powerless are the ones who first taste the mercy of God. This is why Jesus goes on to teach:
[35] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. [36] For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:35-36)
May we not covet the power of this world, but instead receive the power of God through humility and submission to Him. May we walk in the way of Jesus and his upside down kingdom, where humility overtakes pride.
