very presence

December 26, 2018

Everyone wondered (Lk 2:18-2:18

“All who heard it

Were amazed

At what

The shepherds

Told them.”

 

καὶ πάντες οἱ ἀκούσαντες ἐθαύμασαν περὶ τῶν λαληθέντων ὑπὸ τῶν ποιμένων πρὸς αὐτούς·

 

Luke indicated that everyone who heard the news (καὶ πάντες οἱ ἀκούσαντες) from the shepherds were amazed or marveled (ἐθαύμασαν) at what these shepherds had told them (περὶ τῶν λαληθέντων ὑπὸ τῶν ποιμένων πρὸς αὐτούς).  This is the opposite of Mark, who did not want people to know that Jesus was the Messiah.  Here everyone was amazed about this new messianic child.  Mark had people amazed by the actions and words of Jesus, but Luke has them amazed at Jesus’ very presence.

October 5, 2016

The redeeming savior (Isa 63:8-63:10)

“Yahweh said.

‘Surely they are my people.

Children will not deal falsely.’

He became their Savior

In all their distress.

It was no messenger.

It was no angel.

But it was his presence that saved them.

In his love,

In his pity,

He redeemed them.

He lifted them up.

He carried them

All the days of old.

But they rebelled.

They grieved his Holy Spirit.

Therefore he became their enemy.

He himself fought against them.”

Yahweh responded that surely his people and children would not respond falsely. He was their savior in times of distress. He did not merely send a messenger or an angel. It was his very presence that saved them. He showed them love and pity as he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them away as in the good old days. However, they rebelled against him as they saddened the Holy Spirit. They became his enemy so that Yahweh had to fight against them.