Bethlehem: A Place of Humility
December 22, 2024 Advent 4
In our book study this week David Allshouse asked a question that drifts through our minds this time of year. A pertinent question about how Jesus can be the Son of God and also a descendant of the house of David. You see the biblical genealogies in Matthew (1:1-17) and Luke (3:23-38) appear to trace Jesus’ lineage back through Joseph even though Joseph was not Jesus’ biological father. Mary and Joseph make the trip to Bethlehem because Joseph “was descended from the house and family of David” (4). Since I have wondered the same thing, I was humbled to say I did not have a very good answer to that question. So, when studying this passage, I thought I would look for a better answer. I need to confess there are several theories on this. But I want to share what makes sense to me. First, mothers determine if someone is Jewish, so maternity matters. Second, Joseph is clearly from the lineage of David, and because he did not dismiss Mary when he found out she was pregnant, he claimed Jesus as his son and raised him as such. Adoption was common at the time. Even kings adopted sons who would inherit kingdoms. Third, Mathew’s genealogy traces Joseph’s line back to David and Abraham. Yet it is believed that Luke’s genealogy traces Mary’s lineage. You might not even be aware of Luke’s genealogy. Joseph’s father according to Luke is Heli, while Joseph’s father according to Matthew is Jacob. How can that be? Here I learned of a nuance. In the Greek, the phrase “the son” is frequently used in genealogies. But in English we do not “use a definite article (“the”) before a proper name (“the” Matthew, “the” Luke, and “the” Mary). However, it is quite permissible in Greek grammar. In the Greek text of Luke’s genealogy, every single name mentioned has the Greek definite article “the” with one exception: the name of Joseph (Luke 3:23). Someone reading the original would understand by the missing definite article from Joseph’s name that this was not really Joseph’s genealogy, but his wife Mary’s” (https://christianity.stackexchange.com/, David Conner). The Church Fathers also mention Mary’s mother, Anne, as being descended from David (Josiah Greenbrier). So, let’s get excited Mary is representing here! This means Joseph and Mary were probably cousins and BOTH were descendants of David.
We learned last week how small Nazareth was, so being related is not that hard to imagine. With this possible explanation, I hope we can trust in Jesus’ genealogy as both from the house of David and the Son of God.
Learning this helped me with understanding Rob Fuquay’s words, “Jesus’s DNA contains racial ethnicity, immigrant assistance, religious faithfulness and loving mercy” (On the Way to Bethlehem, OTWTB, 94). Fuquay wrote this after telling the story of Naomi and Ruth that planted Jesus’ lineage in Bethlehem. You recall Ruth, the Moabite, promises to stay with her mother-in law Naomi after both of their husbands die. She promises, “Your people will be my people and your God my God” (1:16). They return to Naomi’s home of Bethlehem and Ruth marries Boaz, one of Naomi’s relatives. Boaz is in both genealogies of Jesus. But until I was humbled by this explanation of lineage, I dismissed this information, because Jesus did not have Joseph’s DNA. But he does have Mary’s DNA. DNA that goes back to David. Now I see it in its glory. Ruth was a foreigner who received compassion and who was then woven into Jesus’ family history. When Boaz and Ruth marry and have a son, Jesus’ lineage shows us that “Bethlehem is a place where faith is restored and a place where everyone is included in God’s provision and hope” (OTWTB, 93).
Bethlehem was also a humble place. Micah declares Bethlehem as “one of the little clans of Judah” (5:2). A place where the “one who will rule Israel” is from. It makes sense that Jesus would have a humble beginning because he spent his entire ministry lifting the least of these. Welcoming the outcasts, healing the blind and sick, challenging authority and declaring, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:3). Jesus showed a humble love to all he met. As the Savior of the world, Jesus never forgot his humble roots. He honored the value of simple service and faithfulness to God.
Fittingly, baby Jesus’ first visitors were humble shepherds. Shepherds were simple at best or scorned and shiftless at worst. The fact angels sent shepherds to welcome baby Jesus shows God’s promise and incarnation was not for the rich and mighty, but rather for everyone. Think who were not invited to welcome Jesus, High Priests and government officials. Shepherds, Fuquay writes, “were the first congregation to praise God for the Christ-child because they represented God’s desire to come and restore (all) people… The Christmas story reminds us that we’re all shepherds at heart. Our adoration is meant to be reserved for the only One who can restore in us the value we desperately desire… God blesses those who recognize their need to be bless. God blesses those who understand their need for God is more important than wealth, success or recognition…Those most blessed by Jesus are those most willing to depend on him.” (OTWTB, 100-101).
When I visited the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the church built over where Jesus was believed to be born, I was surprised to find that you had to stoop down to get inside. It has a giant door at the main entrance, but within it is another door just four feet high called the “Door of Humility.” I have a picture of colleagues squatting, bending, to get through the door. During the crusades, knights would receive a blessing before going into battle. That became so commonplace, the knights would not even dismount, which infuriated the priests. So, they boarded up the door and made a small entrance. The message was clear if you wanted a blessing you must get on your knees. Today anyone who wants to see where Jesus was born must bow before they come in, as a check to one’s pride and ego. Humility is required to enter.
Humility serves us well in our faith. It is different from humiliation. C. S. Lewis writes, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” “God comes as a frail baby needing care and love. Do you embrace Jesus, not just because he needs our care, but because you need God’s? The power of the Christmas story comes down to each one of us (humbly) admitting our need for God’s grace and help” (OTWTB, 107). Monica Baldwin writes, “What makes humility so desirable is the marvelous thing it does to us; it creates in us a capacity for the closest possible intimacy with God.” Humility creates intimacy with God. The Incarnation creates intimacy with God in human form. Christmas is a refresher course in humility and intimacy with God.
Final thought, both Mary and Joseph were visited by an angel, promising the birth of God’s Son. Yet their precious son was born into a lowly manger. They might have even wondered, “If this is God’s Son, why wouldn’t God have looked after us better?” (OTWTB, 103). But the shepherd’s visit, the angel’s promise of great joy, and the choir singing ‘Glory to God’ must have reassured Jesus’ parents, that God was still with them. Maybe that is why Mary treasured all these words in her heart. The lowly shepherds affirmed the godliness of Mary’s child.
So this Christmas season, has “God given you any prompting to go to others and witness to the godliness you see in them? Share the love, the talents, the godliness you see in those close to you. You never know how God will use your words of encouragement and maybe even usher in great joy. You can be the light of Christmas that shines on the worth of humble people when you show this kind of humble love to others. Amen.
