Nascimento de Jesus: o relato bíblico e seu significado
O relato bíblico do nascimento de Jesus
Jesus nasceu em Belém da Judeia, conforme os registros históricos dos evangelhos de Mateus e Lucas. O nascimento ocorreu durante o governo de Herodes e o recenseamento ordenado pelo imperador romano César Augusto, quando Maria, prometida em casamento a José, deu à luz o Messias concebido pelo Espírito Santo.
O anjo Gabriel anunciou previamente a Maria que ela geraria o Filho de Deus:
And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God; and behold, thou shalt conceive in the womb and bear a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for the ages, and of his kingdom there shall not be an end.(Luke 1:30-33)
José enfrentou um dilema ao descobrir a gravidez antes do casamento formal. Para não expor Maria publicamente, considerou romper o noivado em segredo, até receber a revelação divina em sonho:
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was thus: His mother, Mary, that is, having been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit.(Matthew 1:18)
but while he pondered on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take to thee Mary, thy wife, for that which is begotten in her is of theHoly Spirit. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this came to pass that that might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord, through the prophet, saying, Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which is, being interpreted, ‘God with us.’ But Joseph, having awoke up from his sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had enjoined him, and took to him his wife, and knew her not until she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.(Matthew 1:20-25)
O casal viajou cerca de 150 quilômetros de Nazaré a Belém por causa do alistamento civil. Como as acomodações locais estavam lotadas, a criança foi envolvida em faixas de pano e deitada em um cocho de alimentação de animais:
and Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city Nazareth to Judaea, to David’s city, the which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be inscribed in the census roll with Mary who was betrothed to him as his wife, she being great with child. And it came to pass, while they were there, the days of her giving birth to her child were fulfilled, and she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him up in swaddling-clothes and laid him in the manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.(Luke 2:4-7)
Os primeiros testemunhos: pastores e magos
A notícia do nascimento não foi entregue primeiro a líderes religiosos ou palácios imperiais, mas a pastores no campo, nos arredores de Belém:
And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I announce to you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people; for to-day a Saviour has been born to you in David’s city, who is Christ the Lord. And this is the sign to you: ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and lying in a manger.(Luke 2:10-12)
And it came to pass, as the angels departed from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, Let us make our way then now as far as Bethlehem, and let us see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us. And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger; and having seen it they made known about the country the thing which had been said to them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at the things said to them by the shepherds.(Luke 2:15-18)
Meses depois, sábios do oriente chegaram guiados por uma estrela até a residência onde o menino estava com Maria, prestando-lhe adoração e entregando ouro, incenso e mirra:
And they having heard the king went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went before them until it came and stood over the place where the little child was. And when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And having come into the house they saw the little child with Mary his mother, and falling down did him homage. And having opened their treasures, they offered to him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being divinely instructed in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.(Matthew 2:9-12)
O propósito da encarnação
Na teologia bíblica, o nascimento de Jesus não é apenas a vinda de um profeta ou mestre moral, mas a encarnação: Deus assumindo a condição humana no tempo histórico para executar o plano de redenção:
but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, come of woman, come under law, that he might redeem those under law, that we might receive sonship.(Galatians 4:4,5)
For let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus; who, subsisting in the form of God, did not esteem it an object of rapine to be on an equality with God; but emptied himself, taking a bondman’s form, taking his place in the likeness of men; and having been found in figure as a man, humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, and that the death of the cross.(Philippians 2:5-8)
Ao partilhar da mesma carne e sangue humanos, Cristo se tornou mediador entre Deus e a humanidade, enfrentando a morte para anular a condenação do pecado:
Since therefore the children partake of blood and flesh, he also, in like manner, took part in the same, that through death he might annul him who has the might of death, that is, the devil; and might set free all those who through fear of death through the whole of their life were subject to bondage.(Hebrews 2:14,15)
Wherefore it behoved him in all things to be made like to his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people;(Hebrews 2:17)
O próprio Jesus resumiu a razão do seu nascimento em seu julgamento diante do governador romano Pôncio Pilatos:
Pilate therefore said to him, Thou art then a king? Jesus answered, Thou sayest it, that I am a king. I have been born for this, and for this I have come into the world, that I might bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.(John 18:37)
O envio do Filho ao mundo revela a iniciativa de Deus em resgatar a humanidade por meio da fé:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes on him may not perish, but have life eternal.(John 3:16)
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