Day Five – Luke 2:22-52

Today’s scripture is Luke 2:22-52; and is broken into two sections. 

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

    you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

For my eyes have seen your salvation,

    which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

    and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[d] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

These two stories tell us many things. Simeon and Anna seemingly both knew what it meant to wait on God’s deliverance. They both display a persistent faith in God’s promises. But for today, consider their joy. Simeon was promised by the Spirit that he would one day see the savior. The Messiah would come in his lifetime. And he got to hold Jesus!

Likewise, Anna dedicated herself to worship, to prayer and to fasting. And she got to worship God looking at the Christ face-to-face. Their experience was deep joy as they beheld their Savior.
How much joy do you have in beholding Christ in your life? How much joy do you have in your own salvation? As you enter into this time, behold Christ’s presence and ask that God would expand your joy in knowing Jesus.

The Scripture continues…

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

This section can put any parent at ease. Not only did they lose the Savior, but they didn’t know where to find him. Imagine those 3 days running around Jerusalem searching for Jesus, only to find him sitting in the temple courts among the teachers in conversations about life, the Torah and God. Don’t you imagine Mary and Joseph out of breath, crazy-eyed running stumbling into the temple only to find Jesus calm, engaged and content. Jesus thought it was assumable where he’d be. His words were “Didn’t you know I would be in my Father’s house?”

When you attend church and your times of worship, do you expect Jesus to be present there- waiting to meet with you. I’m curious- what does worship and church mean to you in this season of life? As we frantically run through life, desperately looking for hope, might we expect to find it in our Father’s house with Jesus waiting for us as well?