You Tube Theology

The Christmas season is now with us! The reading for the first Sunday in the Christmas season (Christmas 1) is Luke 2.41–52—though it is arguable that we should actually start our reading at verse 40, since it forms an 'inclusio' (bracket) with the final verse of the reading.

This is a very carefully crafted passage, and we can see evidence of Luke's compositional intentions. But it also fits very clearly within the historical realities of the situation, both in terms of Jesus' age and in depicting the family as pious observant Jews. What do we learn here about Jesus' awareness, identity, and self-understanding, and what clues does it give us about his future ministry?

Come and join Ian and James as they explore these questions! Revd James Blandford-Baker is vicar of Histon and Impington, two villages just north of Cambridge. Revd Dr Ian Paul is Associate Minister of St Nic's, Nottingham, and writes the widely-read blog www.psephizo.com.

Full written commentary behind the discussion can be found on the blog.