Theological Outlines • by • Francis J. Hall

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August 22, 2005

Ch. XX. Q. 114. Of His Childhood

THE events of our Lord's earthly life are called mysteries because they constitute revelations of His Person and mission; and the relations which they are described in the Gospels as having to Old Testament prophecies — not always susceptible of either discovery or verification by the methods of critical scholarship — constitute an inspired context in which to interpret what Christ did, experienced and said. No doubt this inspiration is in certain instances one of selection and divinely sanctioned reinterpretation, rather than of guidance to the original meaning of Old Testament writers. These thoughts explain the non-critical adoption in this chapter of Gospel interpretations of prophecy which cannot be successfully verified by critical methods.1

2. The nativity of Christ2 occurred in Bethlehem, in fulfilment of prophecy, in order to show His Davidic lineage and heirship to David's kingship over Israel.3 The name Bethlehem, house of bread, fittingly identifies the earthly birthplace of the true Bread, which came down from heaven to give life unto the world.4 His lowly manner of birth accords with His mission to the humble and poor;5 and the determination of His birthplace by the exigencies of taxation fits in with His submission to the law for man.6

3. The message of the angels teaches us that Jesus was Saviour, the Messiah and Lord, and that His mission was one of peace.7 His circumcision signifies that He came in order (a) to fulfil the law; (b) to shed covenant blood for His people; (c) It shows the reality of His flesh.8 The human name Jesus, then given Him, signifies in His case that He is Jehovah and the Saviour of His people.9

4. He was presented in the Temple, in obedience to the law, as Mary's Firstborn,10 and was to be the Firstborn from the dead. The accompanying gifts were suited to the poverty of His family; but His presence in the Temple made it more glorious than that of Solomon, because He, "the light to lighten the gentiles and the glory of God's people Israel," is the Being for whose worship it was built.11

5. The leading by a star to Bethlehem of the Magi,12 who appear to have belonged to a Persian priestly caste, initiated the manifestation to the gentiles of Him from whom true priesthood is derived. Their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh lend themselves to symbolic interpretation, as respectively signifying the royal dignity, the true Godhead and the coming passion of the Babe whom they worshipped.13

6. The holy Child's hearing the doctors, and asking them questions,14 displays His submission to the intellectual conditions of childhood; while His understanding and answers reveal His possession already of supernatural endowments of mind. His words, "Wist ye not that I must be in the things of My Father," show that His human mind was already growing into a distinct consciousness of divine Sonship and mission. In the light of this consciousness, His continued subjection to His parents strikingly reveals the self-surrender with which He accepted human conditions.15

Posted by AKMA at August 22, 2005 02:35 AM

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