Introduction to Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2:

The birth of Jesus is narrated at the beginning of the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke, but is not mentioned in Mark, and alluded to very differently in John. Although the story may seem familiar, a close analysis shows that there are many significant differences between the Matthean and Lukan accounts, with hardly anything in common between them. The following are the only commonalities, and even these contain significant differences in the details:

Common Elements in Both Infancy Narratives:

• Main characters: Mary, Joseph, Jesus
• Supporting characters: Angels, Holy Spirit
• Titles attributed to Jesus: Christ, son of David
• Heritage: children of Abraham/Israel, house of David
• Place names: Nazareth in Galilee, Bethlehem in Judea
• Historical period: during the reign of King Herod

Different Contents of the Two Accounts:

Different Theological Emphases of Each Narrative:

.	Matthew 1–2	Luke 1–2
Driving Force:	Hebrew Scriptures are fulfilled (1:22-23; 2:5-6, 15, 17-18, 23)	Holy Spirit is at work (1:1, 35, 41, 67; 2:25-27)
Jesus' Heritage:	* Son of David, son of Abraham (1:1-17) * Legal son of Joseph, but child of the Holy Spirit (1:18-25)	* Son of God, son of Mary by the Holy Spirit (1:26-38) * Heir to David's throne, over the house of Judah (1:32-33; 2:4)
Names & Titles:	* Messiah (1:1, 16-18; 2:4) * Jesus: "For he will save his people from their sins" (1:21, 25) * Emmanuel: "God with us" (1:23) * King of the Jews (2:2) * "A ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel" (2:6) * Nazorean (2:23)	* Jesus (1:31; 2:21) * Son of the Most High; Son of God (1:32, 35) * He will be great, holy, full of wisdom and grace (1:32, 35; 2:40) * "Of his kingdom there will be no end" (1:33) * A Savior is born... who is Messiah and Lord (2:11, 26) * A light for revelation to Gentiles and for glory to Israel (2:32)
Characters Emphasized:	Men: King David, Joseph of Nazareth, Magi from the East, King Herod, chief priests & scribes, Ethnarch Archelaus	Women: Virgin Mary of Nazareth, Elizabeth, Anna Poor & Aged: Shepherds, Zechariah, Simeon
Themes:	obstacles, conflict, fear, murder, politics	glory, praise, joy;  poverty, humility, faith
OT Parallels:	Dreamer Joseph (Genesis 37–41); Baby Moses (Exodus 1–2)	Birth of Samson (Judges 13); Birth of Samuel (1 Sam 1–2)
Distinctive Images:

What does Mark's Gospel Say?

The Gospel according to Mark does not contain a narrative of Jesus' birth, but it does make a few brief references to his family heritage:

• Mark's Gospel does not directly tell us where Jesus was born, and it never mentions the town Bethlehem;
  • Several times it calls him "Jesus of Nazareth" (1:24; 10:47; 16:6) or "the Nazarene" (14:67).
  • These references do not necessarily imply that Jesus was born there, but at least indicate that he grew up in the town of Nazareth in Galilee (cf. 1:9).
• Mark's Gospel says nothing about who Jesus' earthly father was, nor does it ever mention Joseph by name;
  • In contrast, Jesus several times refers to God as his "Father" (8:38; 14:36; see also 11:25; 13:32).
• Only once does Mark's Gospel mention the name of Jesus' mother, calling him "the son of Mary" (6:3).
• His mother is referred to in only one other pericope, when she (along with his "brothers and sisters") comes to see Jesus while he is preaching in Capernaum (3:31-35).
• Although Mark tells us that Jesus had "brothers and sisters" (3:31-32), and even names four of his "brothers" (6:3; James, Joses, Judas, and Simon), it never specifies if these were older or younger siblings, nor whether these were children of his own mother and/or father, or other close relatives (using "brother/sister" in an extended sense for what we might call "cousins," as was common in ancient Jewish culture).
• At the crucifixion and burial of Jesus, Mark's Gospel mentions the presence of a certain "Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses" (15:40; cfr. 15:47; 16:1); some scholars argue that these references are to Mary, the mother of Jesus, while other scholars believe it refers to another Mary (since these were all very common names at the time).
• Mark mentions Jesus' occupation only once, calling him a "carpenter" (6:3; the Greek word tektwn could also mean "craftsman" or "construction worker").
  • In contrast, Matthew's Gospel only calls Jesus "the carpenter's son" (Matt 13:55), while Luke and John say nothing about what occupation Jesus had before beginning his public ministry.

Johannine References to Jesus' Birth:

Although the Fourth Gospel does not contain a narrative of Jesus' birth, it does mention his "coming into the world" and "becoming flesh" (Latin: incarnatus est), as well as several debates about his heritage (Is he Judean or Galilean? human or divine?):

• The Incarnation: "The Word Made Flesh"
  "The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
  He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.
  He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.
  But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,
  who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
  And the Word became flesh and lived among us,
  and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth." (1:9-14)
   
• The Ancestry of Jesus: Son of Joseph or Son of God?
  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth."
  Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
  When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!"
  Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you."
  Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" (1:45-49; cf. 6:42)
   
• The Messiah's Origin: Bethlehem or Galilee?
  When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, "This is really the prophet."
  Others said, "This is the Messiah." But some asked, "Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he?
  Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?" (7:40-42; cf. 7:52)

Use of the Infancy Narratives in the Lectionary for Mass:

• Fourth Sunday of Advent: Matthew 1 & Luke 1
• Weekdays of Advent, Dec. 17-24: also Matthew 1 & Luke 1
• Christmas Eve, Day, and Season: Matthew 1-2 & Luke 2 & John 1

Non-Biblical Elements in Popular Conceptions of Christmas:

• Combining Details from Matthew & Luke (such as depicting both the Matthean wise men and the Lukan shepherds and angels, as in the card below, and many other Christmas cards, pagents, movies, etc.)
• The "Three Kings": Caspar, Melchior, Balthazar
  • The NT mentions "magi from the East," but does not give their names, nor say that they were kings, nor say there were exactly three of them (read Matt 2:1-12 carefully).
  • Matthew mentions "gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh," which eventually led to the assumption that these three costly treasures must have been brought, one each, by three rich and powerful men.
  • The traditional names are first mentioned in manuscripts and mosaics of the 6th or early 7th centuries.
• The Ox & Ass in a Stable (from St. Francis of Assisi; 1181-1226)
• The Story of the Other Wise Man (by Henry Van Dyke, 1852-1933; full text online; movie version: The Fourth Wise Man, 1985)
• The Little Drummer Boy (by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati, and Harry Simeone, 1958; online lyrics; movie version, 1968)

All images borrowed from http://www.earlenesroots.com/christmas.html

Questions for Reflection and Discussion:

1. What is the main message of the Infancy Narrative in Matthew's Gospel? What is Matthew emphasizing through the way he has told the story?
2. What is the main message of the Infancy Narrative in Luke's Gospel? What is Luke emphasizing through the way he has told the story?
3. Why is the birth of Jesus not narrated in Mark's Gospel? What does Mark say about Jesus' family and heritage?
4. How is the "incarnation" of Jesus told very distinctively in John's Gospel? (see esp. John 1:14-18)
5. Look at some Christmas cards: Are the details of their depictions based on Matthew, or Luke, or both, or neither?

 
See also my collection of
Resources for Prayer and Liturgy during Advent and Christmas
or more detailed analysis of
The Infancy Narratives in Luke's Gospel