The forgetting of Jesus’ birth
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A dreadful pandemic; a deadly plague. (One of the deadly plagues.) A plague about 1,800 years ago.
I am confident that Jonathon Kennedy (link below) is right about the ancient disease and its impact - its political impact and impact on public religion in the Empire. They easily become the same thing.
However, surely Jesus’ birth was actually forgotten. None of the witnesses remained. There were no public records of his coming into the world. There was rebellion and wholesale destruction in ancient Judaea. Relatively few and insignificant were those who carried the story forward. At first, no powerful individuals were converted.
Doubtless, it is fair to say that at Jesus’ execution his “movement” was small, comparatively tiny. How numerous was it? Presumably Jonathon Kennedy lifted his 120 from Luke’s report in Acts chapter 1 of the post resurrection period. There, a mixed group of 120 people were gathered in Jerusalem (hiding?) as they waited for what would follow. Apart from the Eleven +1 +1, their identities are not given.
Is it really credible that every follower Jesus gained and retained was then there in Jerusalem? Reading the records (Gospels), we see many, many people, mostly unnamed, in many places aligning themselves with Jesus and being welcomed by him. They especially belonged to areas away from from Jerusalem. They even included (closer by) Samaritans - it would be a stretch to imagine them coming and going to and from Jerusalem at any time!
If those early followers had been inclined to find the manger and conserve it (put a heritage order on it), I fail to see how they could. Why would they, anyway?
As the days, weeks, months and years passed many people accepted Jesus as the Christ and even more accepted him as Saviour and Lord. Some were local to Jerusalem; many were not. (For example, even before he went there, Paul could write to a sizeable, named group, in far off Rome itself.)
We read in the account how membership in God’s own people was open to all, without any prior requirement to first become a Jew. (That understanding was not reached without soul-searching by the veteran followers.)
It can not really matter how many true followers there were (or are). God knew each one. God knows each one. God knows God’s own and God’s known know God. They were, and are, uncounted, despite, even, Census taking.
Jesus asserted that his sheep were here to stay, come what may. (And very hard times did come and do come.) Receiving official acceptance did not equal what Jesus told his followers to do. He wanted people made disciples.
How much did it help the “Jesus movement” to have official recognition and even status? Was a seat at "the big table" part of God's plan? Was it the followers of the Way who were given power? Did holding power help? What does wearing the purple prove?
How much in 2024 does it help to have prominent spokespersons, with all their attendant stuff? See for example the recent Church of England (Anglican) pathetic stoush: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/25/c-of-e-must-kneel-in-penitence-after-difficult-year-says-archbishop-of-york?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
And, the point?
Christ cameChrist died for usChrist is risenChrist will come again.
Bethlehem is clearly known today. Sadly, the terror there did not end with Herod (see Yet in the dark streets shining, Bishra Awad, 2021).
Without Luke (and probably Matthew) we could not know what Mary kept in mind over those years. I think it likely that many (even most) early followers knew nothing of a manger; nor shepherds; nor even of Magi, and little about Joseph. (I take this as the implication of no birth account in John, and, especially, not in Mark.)
Why should they? How vital is that information to becoming enrolled in God's plan?
Nonetheless the coming of Jesus, Saviour and Christ, was always central, as was his genuine human-ness. Thus, anyone who thought about it knew he had been born, even if they lacked the detail. The explanation was valued and shared with all. It must have been easy for the account, in some form, to become public knowledge.
Public religion? Did Jesus want his movement to replace the ancient customs? How can public religion fill God's plan? Does not the truth from Isaiah apply?
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV).
The interesting Kennedy Empire pandemic article:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/25/birth-jesus-plague-roman-empire-christianity?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Photo by Marcus Chis on Unsplash
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