Chapter 5: The Mission Begins Preparingthe Way Way of the of the Lord Lord  CONCEPT A  The Infancy Narratives

Only 2 Gospels Have Infancy Narratives: Matthew & Luke Written to:  Give faith answers to the interest in Jesus’ birth and early life

REMEMBER - Gospels Not  Jesus’ biographiesBut  Faith testimonies  proclamations of the Good News  written by people after they knew Jesus was the risen Lord.

REMEMBER – Each Gospel written  by a different person  at a different time  to a different group of people  for a different purpose.  stories about the meaning, significance & impact of Jesus’ life & teaching on people & events of his time

Mark: No Infancy Narratives  1st written – about 70 C.E.  to non-Jewish Christians  stressed Jesus’ humanity & suffering  Ch.1 has an introduction  then it goes right into the public ministry of Jesus

Mark: No Infancy Narratives  Is this where Jesus’ story begins – with his public ministry??  What about his birth & childhood?  early Christians asked these ?? as the Gospels began to develop.

John: No Infancy Narratives  Very different  Jesus: the Messiah & divine Son of God  Used poetic, symbolic language, stories

John: No Infancy Narratives  the “Word of God” to become human in Jesus.  Last Gospel written, about 95 C.E. – after years of reflection on Jesus & his message.

John: No Infancy Narratives  He goes back in time farther than Jesus’ human birth in Bethlehem.  He explores the origins of Jesus in the heart of God before the beginning of time.

John: No Infancy Narratives  As the divine word, Jesus reveals the reality of God.  He says Jesus is the Son of God at start of the gospel.  The other gospels slowly say Jesus is God’s Son.

Only 2 Gospels Have Infancy Narratives: Matthew & Luke Written to:  Give faith answers to the interest in Jesus’ birth and early life

Mark: No Infancy Narratives  Is this where Jesus’ story begins – with his public ministry??  What about his birth & childhood?  early Christians asked these ?? as the Gospels began to develop.

Infancy Narratives  These are stories about the birth & early life of Jesus.  There is a great deal of symbolism in stories of Jesus’ birth & early life.  Very few people besides Jesus’ parents were there to witness the events.

Infancy Narratives  They tell as much if not more about Jesus as the Christ of Faith as they do about the historical details of his birth.

Mt.’s Infancy Narratives Written about 90 C.E. to devout Jews, Jesus  fulfilled Moses’ law  is the long-awaited Messiah  born in Bethlehem  from the line of King David  whose roots go back to Abraham.

Mt.’s Infancy Narratives  No shepherds – only magi  The presence of non-Jewish magi shows that Gentiles accepted Jesus as the Messiah while many Jews did not.

Mt.’s Infancy Narratives  Story of Mary & Joseph  Description of conception & birth  Description of giving name

Mt.’s Infancy Narratives  Jesus as the new Moses – they go to Egypt as slaughter of innocents occurs.  Jesus is called out of Egypt after Herod’s death - like the Exodus – & returns to Nazareth in Galilee in Palestine.

Lk.’s Infancy Narratives  Written about 85 C.E.- about 15 years after Mk.  Directed to Gentiles  Jesus came for all – rich, poor, men, women, Jews, Gentiles - especially the poor & downtrodden – like the shepherds

Lk.’s Infancy Narratives  Genealogy goes back to Adam – father of all - not just Jews.

Lk.’s Infancy Narratives  in Lk. & not in Mt.  John the Baptist  Annunciation  Visitation  Magnificat  Several scenes about John the Baptist – birth, circumcision, naming, prophetic prayer of his father

Lk.’s Infancy Narratives  Only after all of this Lk. describes Jesus’ birth:  A baby wrapped in bands of cloth  No room in inn  No magi, only shepherds

Lk.’s Infancy Narratives  Circumcision, presentation of the child Jesus in the temple, prophecies of Simeon & Anna  Jesus at 12 years old in the temple in Jerusalem