in the manger (or crib). After they perceived Him, they made known abroad what had been told them about the child, and all who heard it wondered at what had been told them by the shepherds (who promulged the saying of the angel after they had verified it). But Mary (did not divulge all she knew about the child, but) kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, praising and glorifying God for all things which they had heard and perceived to be as it had been told them1. Chapter iv. The admission of Jesus of Nazareth into the Mosaic Covenant. WHEN eight days had been accomplished for the circumcising of the child, and His name 1 (The reader cannot well fail to observe that each succeeding incident at the birth of Jesus of Nazareth introduces from the unseen world fresh and cumulative evidence which stamps with the image and superscription of truth wonders incredible to unaided reason. It is satisfactory that after adverse criticism and after the closest scrutiny, often repeated, no fallacies can be detected in these revelations; they are in perfect harmony with each other, and accord with the moral condition of mankind. They throw, however, a deeper shade over the mystery which envelopes the character of Jesus. They suggest to every one the conduct of Mary, to keep all these things, "pondering them in her heart," until they be made manifest by facts recorded in the sequel.) had been called Jesus (the Saviour), for Joseph' 2 a called His name Jesus, the name by which He had been called by the angel before He was conceived in the womb; and when the days of their a (Mary and her Son's) purification were fulfilled according to the law of Moses; they (the parents) brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him before the Lord;-as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male which opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;"—and also to give a (victim for) sacrifice, according to what is named in the law of the Lord (for the poor '), "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." Lo, there was (at that time) in Jerusalem a man, by name Symeon, who was righteous and devout, expecting the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Ghost was upon him; moreover it had been announced to him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. He, being in the Spirit, came into the temple at the time when the parents were bringing in the child Jesus, that they might do for Him after the custom of the law. Symeon himself reblessed God, saying, ceived Him in his arms and "Now art Thou setting free (from the burden of the flesh) Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy saying, in peace, because mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation (the Child), which Thou hast prepared 'Mat. i. 25. b Lev. xii. 2, 6, 8. 2 Luke ii. 21. * αὐτῶν. Symeon and Anna. 17 before the face of all the peoples (of the earth), (first) a light for the enlightenment of Gentiles, and (secondly) a glory of Thy people Israel." (The enlightening of the Gentiles precedes the glory of Israel, which agrees with the prophecy in the temple 3.) And Joseph and His mother were in wonder at what was talked about Him. But Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, His mother, “Behold this (Child) lies (as a stumblingblock) for the falling (from a state of supposed legal acceptance) and for the rising again of many in Israel (to the righteousness of God), and for a sign to be spoken against (by unbelievers). Even your own soul shall a two-edged sword pierce (elsewhere and on Calvary), according as the thoughts (of the disobedient and perverse) have been revealed from many hearts. There was also (in the temple) Anna the prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was far advanced in length of days', having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and she had been a widow about eighty-four years, who separated not herself from the temple, attending upon its services with fasting and prayers night and day, she at that very time standing over against them responded and confessed to (Him as) the Lord, and talked about ε πάντων τῶν λαῶν. VOL. I. 3 Luke xxi. 24. 5 λατρεύουσα. · ἀνθωμολογεῖτο. C Him to all who were expecting deliverance in Jerusalem. (Angels and shepherds announced to Israel the advent of a Saviour, but the Holy Spirit and the prophetess made Him personally known to all in Jerusalem who looked for redemption. Shall not they who look for the second advent have the sign of the presence of the Son of Man revealed independent of the world, and antecedent to the manifestation of His glory to all flesh ?) When Joseph and Mary had completed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee to their own city Nazareth (and abode there until they were summoned in the autumn of the same year, at the feast of tabernacles, to register their son). Chapter v. The Manifestation of the Birth of Jesus of Nazareth to the Gentiles, and His sojourn amongst them. a (JESUS continued at Nazareth some months, but about the time of the next registration Joseph appears to have gone again with Mary to Bethlehem for the purpose of registering Jesus, whose name was in after years found at Antioch See Matt. xxiv. 27-30. a App. 15. b App. 2. Chron. sec. 1, 2. upon the roll of the province of Syria. He was registered as the "Son of Joseph and Mary.") C d After that Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judæa, in the days of Herod the king, lo! Magi from the east arrived at Jerusalem (about or soon after the feast of tabernacles, October, u.c. 750, at which feast Herod was usually present, but who at this period of his life ordinarily resided at Jericho), saying, "Where is He who is by birth King of the Jews? For we saw His star at its rising, and have come to worship Him" (with divine service). When Herod the king heard it, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he was inquiring from them, where the Christ should be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judæa, for thus it has been written by the prophet, Bethlehem of the land of Judah, you are by no means the least among the leaders (or thousands) of Judah, for out of you shall come a ruler, who shall be the shepherd' of my people Israel."" g Then Herod called the Magi secretly, and inquired strictly from them the time of the star's becoming visible (nightly in the heavens), and (when he ascertained the time) he sent them (at that time) to Bethlehem ", and said (cunningly with |