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, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no 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 the Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit.(Matthew 1:18)
But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Now all this took place so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: "Behold, the virgin willconceive and give birth to a Son, and they shall name HimImmanuel," which translated means, "God with us." And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he named Him 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:
Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a 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 so the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."(Luke 2:10-12)
When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let’s go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen Him, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it were amazed about the things which were told 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:
After hearing the king, they went on their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on ahead of them until it came to a stop over the place where the Child was to be found.When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And after they came into the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary; and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And after being warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by 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 fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons and daughters.(Galatians 4:4,5)
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant andbeing born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a 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:
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.(Hebrews 2:14,15)
Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brothers so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining 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:
Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to 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 Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.(John 3:16)
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