Last Christmas I was asked to give a Christmas talk. I was a little concerned at first, but with some study and prayer I was blessed to make the following connections to share with my ward. I felt they might also help others to reflect on the wonders of this event we celebrate and help strengthen relationships with the Lord.
Years ago when I was a young adult between high school and serving a mission I had the great privilege of being called as a primary teacher. My class consisted of 11-year-olds who were at the top of the primary’s pecking order. One Sunday I was giving a lesson on Easter when one of the boys in my class spoke up to say that they all knew the Easter story and this was so boring and repetitive as he rolled his eyes and recounted key elements of the Resurrection account. I think it can at times be easy to fall into the trap of thinking we know more than we really do as there is so much to learn even in stories we've heard many times.
One thing I've really found useful this past year for getting more out of the scriptures is to see what I can learn through symbols, metaphors, and motifs. The Savior was a master of teaching this way:
- “Ye are the salt of the earth”
- “I am the Living Water”
- “I will make you fishers of men”
One of the best things I have found with teaching done in this way is that new layers of understanding can come to those who are ready to see, to learn, and live by more and that the same words can act as a catalyst for the spirit to unfold different lessons tailored to multiple individuals with their varying needs, or even teaching new lessons to the same person at different stages in their life.
While approaching the Christmas story this year in this way it was easy for me to spot themes such as following a star (symbolizing light) to come to the Savior and the world not having room for the Messiah (no room at the inn) and so on which are wonderful insights. However, there are a few key discoveries that struck me this year that I wanted to focus on. The first has to do with the Babe in Bethlehem lying in a Manger. Manger in French literally means to eat, yet it was not just any manger, but a manger in “Bethlehem”, which I recently learned in Hebrew means House of Bread. He who would one day declare himself the bread of life was already teaching symbolically in his birthing moments that he came as the bread of life into a feeder for those who would come unto him to partake of his grace.
My next Christmas Story insight stems from the fact that Bethlehem is also known as the City of David and the lineage of Jesus was clearly in the House of David. While I've always understood this to have importance to indicate Jesus was the rightful King of the Jews the new layer of understanding I was shown is that David was not only King but he was a shepherd given divine strength to protect his flock. Thus, Jesus coming forth in the lineage and city of David is putting him in place as the Good Shepherd in the line of the shepherd King. This also adds to how fitting it is that Shepherds were among the first recipients of heavenly visitation with the invitation to come and see the Salvation of Israel.
Left at that these are kind of cool points of information but more of an academic exercise than a life-changing discovery without some added context. What connects these insights for me is the idea of Covenant. Each Sabbath we partake of the sacrament - the bread of life and the living water.
~ He that cometh to me shall never hunger he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
We partake through Covenant. David's kingship was also marked by covenant. After proving faithful and uniting the tribes, David entered into a covenant with the Lord following the pattern of near eastern vassal-emperor relationships. In such a covenant a vassal king entering into a covenant with a more powerful emperor or king of kings, would be agreeing to certain terms of the covenant such as coming to the aid of other areas of the empire or offering tribute. In return the emperor would essentially be agreeing to take the vassal king on as his own son and would protect his kingdom for the sake of the vassal king, the citizens of the vassal king enjoyed a place within the kingdom of the vassal king and greater empire by abiding the laws of their king. As David was faithful to God, and the people were faithful to David, Israel was protected and grew in a temporal sense with the twelve tribes coming together and expanding territory and being protected against the philistines. As David proved his faithfulness in these things he was granted the unconditional promise that in his seed the kingdom and Throne of David would continue forever. We know this promise is fulfilled in Christ who is the Son of the most powerful emperor and whose promises will all be fulfilled and the only way by which eternal safety can be secured.
Too often I find we view covenants as transactional or as legal agreements.
A two-way promise, "I do this, you do that” and vice versa.
However, looking at examples of covenant relationships in the scriptures I'm convinced that the most critical aspect of our covenants is not the actions in and of themselves, but the relationship between the covenant parties. A look at the strength of covenant between David and Jonathan (Saul's son) shows it was built on love and respect, not tit-for-tat scorekeeping.
In 1 Samuel 18 we read:
Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
There is significance in the exchange of robes and weapons and armor. Clothing in this time was not mass produced, so Jonathan’s robe would have been unique and for those seeing him from a distance would have identified him as the king’s son. In this way for Jonathan to give David his robe could signify sharing his identity. By accepting the robe, David was taking on an aspect of this identity upon himself. They were knitting their souls and identities together. In sharing weapons and armor they signified they would protect each other and fight each other’s battles.
This covenant was tested as at the time it was made Saul, Jonathan’s father, was on good terms with David. However, as we know Saul became jealous of David and became his enemy. Jonathan showed his faithfulness to his covenant with David by first having words with Saul in which Saul agreed that no harm would come to David and David was reinstated in his place, but Saul again was taken with jealousy requiring Jonathan to again intervene by warning David in code with shooting arrows and giving certain commands to his servant fetching the arrows. Jonathan showed that he was willing, through the strength of his relationship with David and their binding covenant, to put David above even his own father.
The relationship theme in covenants can also be seen in references to the Savior being the bridegroom that is always welcoming to His wife (the church/ congregation of Israel) and always offering refuge no matter what so long as the wife will return to Him. This conjures images of the marriage covenant being held together by the strength of the relationship between a man and woman who take their covenant seriously and stick through the hard times. Consider that the Savior taught, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” not, “if ye want to be exalted and share in my glory, keep my commandments” In both cases, the commandments (the legal aspect of the covenant arrangement) would be attempted, and ultimately failed. But in the way the Savior taught, even in the attempt we show love by offering our wills to His and improving with consistent effort, while we fall short keeping the law to perfection, we strengthen our relationship with the master by showing love and learning to love His ways in the process.
A pointed example that coincides with this Christmas message is that of the resurrected Saviour visiting with Peter the chief apostle. In John chapter 21 starting in verse 15 we read:
15So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep
Again the impetus for keeping the commandment is the relationship, for Peter to show his love. Not in a manipulative, prove your love to me kind of way, but in a patient and understanding way of helping Peter discover his own capacity for love. And what was it that Peter was to do? To feed the Good Shepherd’s lambs and sheep. What was he to feed them? The Good News, that salvation was available to all and greater still to those willing to partake of the fullness of the feed offered up in a manger in the little town of Bethlehem.
To close out this idea of covenants being about the strength of the relationship I wanted to briefly explore the concept of Faith, particularly in Jesus Christ. Once again, faith is one of those terms that seem to be easily watered down. So often, I hear people expressing faith in Jesus Christ as believing that he exists. Yet, we wouldn’t say I have faith in my spouse, or friend, or politician of the day as simply believing they are or were a real person. Faith in someone refers to being able to rely on them. Faith suggests a relationship. As the relationship strengthens, so to does faith that the other will come through, and that we will be there for them which further strengthens the relationship.
Putting this all together, my takeaway for this Christmas is to partake of the bread of life from the manger in Bethlehem by following the Good Shepherd, by strengthening my relationship with the Lord. It is my prayer that we can all strengthen our covenant relationship with the Good Shepherd and partake of the gift given to us in a Manger which we celebrate this time of year. Perhaps, the next time we look at a nativity scene and see the centerpiece of a baby lying in a manger, we will pause to think about how we can partake of the offering within, or strengthening our resolve to enter into and abide in a covenant relationship with the King of Kings, or whatever symbol or metaphor resonates best with you, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Add comment
Comments