The Jesuit Institute South Africa has published a 74-page book titled ‘A Child Born for Us’ that explores the infancy narratives in the Gospel and how reading these in conjunction with Old Testament texts can offer new and exciting insights for Christians.

The book's content arose primarily from a series of lectures by Fr. David Neuhaus SJ, which were delivered online last Advent on behalf of the Institute. Fr. David wrote the book in collaboration with Debbie French and Terence Creamer.

Fr. David, who was born in Johannesburg and lives in Jerusalem, teaches Scripture at various academic institutions in Israel and Palestine and has published widely in books and journals.

‘A Child Born for Us: Reading the Infancy Gospel Backwards from the Beginning’ allows readers to explore how the plots, characters and places of the Old and New Testaments intersect in the infancy narratives to reveal new depths of meaning about the birth of Jesus.

In its pages, we encounter Joseph, son of Jacob, who (like Joseph, son of Jacob in the Old Testament) is a righteous man and a dreamer. By listening to God in their dreams, both Josephs can act in ways that protect their families from harm. Indeed, without the Joseph of the New Testament, the infant Jesus would not have received the protection he needed against the new wicked ‘pharaoh’, Herod.

Discover, too, Mary the Prophetess, who (like the Mary (Miryam) in the Book of Exodus, whose tambourine dance transformed the people of Israel from slaves to free children of God) is a model for walking with one’s head held high. Mary’s prophetic actions are also on vivid display at the birth of Jesus, when she wraps him in linen cloth in a way that portends his future burial and then, surprisingly, lays him in a manger, a place for food.

Readers will also be reminded of the significance of the name Jesus and its echoes in the Old Testament. Joshua (the Hebrew name for Jesus) takes over from Moses and leads his people into the land God promised them. He does this by way of a baptism through the River Jordan. Likewise, readers will be able to explore how Jesus’ genealogy comes alive when they ‘read backwards from the beginning’ through the prism of the Old Testament.

Besides reflecting on the characters intimately associated with the birth of Jesus, the book also explores places of significance, or lack thereof, such as Bethlehem, Egypt, Jerusalem, and Nazareth, and explains them to offer readers a deeper insight into their role in the history of salvation.

Bishop Robert Mphiwe of Rustenburg wrote the book's foreword, and Cardinal Stephen Brislin, Fr. Nicholas King SJ, and Rev Trevor Hudson endorsed it. Each chapter is followed by questions for discussion, and a QR code links to Fr. David Neuhaus' online talks. The book is ideal for individuals or faith-sharing groups.

A Child Born for Us: Reading the Infancy Gospel Backwards from the Beginning is available from the Jesuit Institute South Africa at R120 (excluding postage) or from Catholic book shops. Orders can be made through admin@jesuitinstitute.org.za.