Luke 2

“When we stop growing, we stop living and start existing.” If you were to make a list of all the ways you are growing (perhaps some unneeded desserts and long overdue exercise have caused you to grow in ways you would just as soon forget!) Try to think of at least 7 ways you are growing mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Think of how Jesus grew. The perfect Son of God Who became a man needed to grow just as you do.
Jesus grew physically. If you are over eighteen, then you probably aren’t growing in stature. But are you keeping your body in good physical condition—that body that is God’s very temple?
Jesus grew in wisdom. If you are reading your Bible each day, that shows you are concerned about growing in your knowledge of God. But are you putting that knowledge to work in your service for God?
Jesus grew in favor with God and man. Is your love for God growing? Is your circle of friends and witnessing contacts widening?
It is never too late to increase in wisdom and in the grace of God.
THE LORD IS COME: Chapter two of Luke may be the most familiar and beloved portion in this Gospel. Many still read the first 22 verses together each Christmas Eve. The story is old, but it is forever new! God’s people never tire of it.
Dr. Luke gives us 3 glimpses into the early years of the Lord Jesus Christ.
v.1-20 Our Savior was born “as weak as a baby” humanly speaking, He was also the also the center of power as far as heaven was concerned.
v.1-7 Augustus Caesar’s edict moved Mary and Joseph 80 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem to fulfill His Word. Rome took a census every 14 years for both military and tax purposes, and each Jewish male had to return to the city of his fathers to record his name, occupation, property, and family.
Mary had said, “Be it unto me according to Thy word” in 1:38 – and it was…her life would be a part of the fulfillment of divine prophecy. God said that the Savior would be human, not an angel, a Jew not a Gentile, from the tribe of Judea and the family of David…born of a virgin in Bethlehem. And so it was!
v.8-14 The angels of heaven declared His birth to shepherds…Why not priest and kings? This act revealed the grace of God to all mankind! Shepherds were outcasts…kept them from the temple for weeks so they were viewed as unclean…God does not call just the rich and clean but the poor, the dirty, the sinners no matter what their station. Shepherds are not easily fooled. They are practical men of the world who have little to do with fantasy. If they said that they saw angels and went and found the Messiah, then you could believe them. God selected hardworking men to be the first witnesses that His Son had come into the world. Brave shepherds were afraid at what they saw and heard..added weight to the testimony.
Again we hear the recurring words Fear Not. “Great joy to ALL people” – a Savior for ALL!
Peace Shalom = means much more than a truce in the battles of life. It means well-being, health, prosperity, security, soundness, and completeness. Has more to do with character than circumstances.
The angels had praised God at Creation and now they praised Him at the beginning of the new creation. God’s glory was returned to earth in the Person of His Son. That lowly manger was a holy of holies because Jesus was there. Last week we talked about Mary being “overshadowed” in her becoming pregnant without an earthly Daddy – overshadowed as the Holy of Holies was overshadowed by the presence of God…her womb became the holy of holies because of This “holy thing” that would be in residence there for 9 months.
The shepherds are good examples for us today. They received by faith the message God sent them and then responded with immediate obedience. After finding the Baby, they reported the good news to others. Then they humbly returned to their duties, new men going back to the same old jobs. Telling others about the Savior is a solemn obligation as well as a great privilege, and we who are believers must be faithful to do so!
THE CHILD: v. 21-38 Dr. Luke tells us about 3 important meetings in the temple in Jerusalem:
*(1)the Baby taken for dedication at 40 days age according to the law of Moses. Our Lord’s relationship to the Law is an important part of His saving ministry. He was made under the Law (Gal. 4:4) and tho He rejected man’s religious traditions, He obeyed God’s Law perfectly. He bore the curse of the Law for us Gal 3:13 and set us free from bondage Gal 5:1.
*(2)Simeon was around 113 years old (tradition says) when his prayer was answered. His words are like a song of worship…he blesses God for keeping His promise and sending the Messiah. He joyfully praises God that he has been privileged to see the Lord. It is a song of salvation, “For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation. Now Simeon is ready to die! V.31-32 a song of a missionary…A devout Jew standing in the temple…he sees this great salvation going out to the Gentiles…Jesus has restored the glory to Israel and brought the Light to the Gentiles so that ALL people can be saved.
Simeon began prophesying: +the Stone…our Savior would be a rejected Cornerstone…and the nation of Israel would stumble over Him…even today God’s people Israel stumble over the Cross and do not understand that Jesus is their Rock. +the sign means “a miracle”. Our Lord’s miracles in John’s Gospel are called signs because they reveal special truths about Him. Jesus is God’s Miracle. He is not only the salvation stone and the judgment stone but He is the touchstone that exposes what people are really like. “What will you do with Jesus?” exposes what people are like. He was rejected, spoken against! +Sword – for Mary alone…she would suffer, she would ponder and store up and put it all together, but she would suffer all along the way of Jesus’ life.
*(3)Anna v.36-38 Her name means grace…godly widow of elderly age. Widows did not have an easy time in that day…often neglected and exploited. Anna devoted herself to serving God by worship…fasting and prayers. Remained in the temple…waiting for the appearing of God’s promised Messiah. She came up while Simeon was speaking. Anna began to speak or sing with Simeon. She was a prophetess and she was spreading the Good news!
THE YOUTH: v. 39-52 The family returned to Nazareth where the Lord lived until the beginning of His ministry. Jesus of Nazareth and His followers were called Nazarenes.
What happened during the hidden years? Dr. Luke reports that the lad developed physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually 2:40, 52. Apparently Jesus did not perform any miracles as a Boy, traditions notwithstanding, because the turning of water into wine was the beginning of His miracles. He worked with Joseph in the carpenter shop Matt. 13:55, Mark 6:3. And apparently ran the business after Joseph died. Joseph and Mary had other children during those years.
One story from those years… Joseph and Mary were devout Jews who observed the Passover in Jerusalem every year. 3 times a year the men were required to go to Jerusalem to worship but they could not afford to go to all three – usually chose the Passover…traveled in caravans. Jesus discovered missing…parents “greatly distressed…sorrowing. When found he was in the midst of the teachers, asking them questions and listening to their answers and the teachers were amazed at both His questions and His answers. In His response to Mary Jesus was affirming His divine Sonship and His mission to do the will of the Father.
Must was often used by the Lord…I MUST preach, MUST suffer, MUST be lifted up.
Jesus is a wonderful example for all young people to follow. He grew in a balanced way v. 53. Without neglecting any part of life and His priority was to do the will of His Father. He knew how to listen and how to ask the right questions. He learned how to work, and He was obedient to His parents.
The Boy Jesus grew up in a large family, in a despised city, nurtured by parents who were probably poor. The Jewish religion was at an all time low, the Roman government was in control, and society was in a state of fear and change. Yet when Jesus emerged from Nazareth, 18 years later, the Father was able to say of Him, “Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased…May our precious Lord be able to say that about you and me!