December 2: Luke 2 Devotional

The Historical Context

¹ And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

² (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

The Birth of Jesus Christ

⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

¹⁵ And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

¹⁶ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

¹⁷ And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

¹⁸ And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

²¹ And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

²² And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

²³ (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

²⁴ And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

The Prophecy of Simeon and Anna

²⁵ And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

²⁶ And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

²⁷ And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

²⁸ Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

²⁹ Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

³⁰ For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

³¹ Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

³² A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

³³ And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

³⁴ And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

³⁵ (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

³⁶ And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

³⁷ And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

³⁸ And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

³⁹ And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

⁴⁰ And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Story of Jesus at the Temple

⁴¹ Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

⁴² And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

⁴³ And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

⁴⁴ But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

⁴⁵ And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

⁴⁶ And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

⁴⁷ And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

⁴⁸ And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

⁴⁹ And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

⁵⁰ And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

⁵¹ And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

The Historical Context

Israel was under Roman rule. The emperor at the time was Caesar Augustus, who had issued a decree for a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire. This census required everyone to return to their ancestral hometowns in order to be counted. So, Joseph and Mary, who were from Bethlehem, had to make the journey there from Nazareth while Mary was pregnant with Jesus. Bethlehem held great significance in Jewish history as it was the birthplace of King David. This adds an extra layer of importance to Jesus being born there.

The Birth of Jesus Christ

Mary, a young virgin, had received a visit from the angel Gabriel, who told her that she would conceive a child by the power of the Holy Spirit. Despite her initial confusion and fear, Mary accepts God’s plan with unwavering faith and humility. Joseph, her betrothed, also received divine guidance through an angel in his dreams to take Mary as his wife and to name their child Jesus.

It is through this humble birth that we witness God’s immense love for us—His willingness to enter our broken world as one like us—vulnerable yet filled with immeasurable grace and truth.

The Shepherds and the Angels

This iconic scene between ordinary shepherds and celestial beings reminds us that God’s love extends to everyone, regardless of social status or occupation. It is a beautiful reminder that Christmas is about celebrating Jesus’ birth with childlike wonder and awe.

May we approach this holiday season with open hearts like those shepherds did so long ago, ready to receive His message of hope, peace, and salvation.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

At the temple in Jerusalem, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to present him to the Lord. This was a customary act for Jewish parents, as stated in the Law of Moses.

The Prophecy of Simeon and Anna

Now we encounter two remarkable individuals: Simeon and Anna. These devout believers were eagerly awaiting the coming of the Messiah in Jerusalem. They were present at the temple when Mary and Joseph presented Jesus, following the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Simeon, a righteous man filled with faith, took baby Jesus in his arms and praised God for fulfilling His promise of salvation through this child. He prophesied that Jesus would be a light to bring revelation to both Jews and Gentiles alike.

Anna, an aged prophetess who had devoted her life to worshiping God in the temple day and night, also recognized Jesus as the long-awaited Redeemer. She shared this good news with all who were waiting for redemption in Jerusalem.

This encounter between these obedient servants of God and the infant Christ is significant because it confirms Jesus’ status as the Savior foretold in antiquity.

The prophecy of Simeon and Anna serves as a reminder that God keeps His promises even when they seem impossible or take longer than expected to fulfill. It teaches us about patience, faithfulness, and trusting in God’s timing.

As we reflect on The Prophecy of Simeon and Anna during this Christmas season, let us remember that their story reminds us not only of Christ’s birth but also His purpose—to bring light into darkness so that all may experience salvation through Him.

Story of Jesus at the Temple

We need to prioritize our relationship with God and His Word above all else. Just as Jesus was found in His Father’s house, we too should seek to spend time in prayer, studying the Scriptures, and participating in fellowship with other believers.

Jesus willingly submitted Himself to His parents’ guidance and direction. This teaches us that regardless of our age or position, humility and obedience are key virtues that lead us closer to God.

Furthermore, this passage reminds us of the significance of spiritual growth throughout our lives as followers of Christ. Just as Jesus grew both physically and spiritually during His childhood years, so must we continually strive for personal growth in faith through prayer, Bible study, worship, and serving others.

Lessons and Themes from St. Luke chapter 2

By studying this passage from Luke’s Gospel, contemporary Christians can glean important lessons applicable in our daily lives:

1. The significance of honoring our heritage: Just like Mary and Joseph observed Jewish traditions by going up to Jerusalem for Passover annually, we should value our own religious heritage or cultural practices that keep us connected with our roots.

2. The importance of seeking wisdom: Even though Jesus was just twelve years old in this story, He sought knowledge by engaging with teachers at the temple. As followers of Christ, it is crucial that we continue seeking wisdom through prayerful study and engagement with Scripture.

3. Embracing humility: In submitting Himself under human authority as a child growing up under Mary and Joseph’s care, Jesus teaches us about embracing humility in every situation we encounter. Humility allows us to foster healthy relationships within our families, communities, workplaces, and churches.

4. Transformative power through learning experiences: When young Jesus discussed profound matters with learned teachers at the temple, it astonished them. This reminds us that age is not a limitation when it comes to growing in faith. We should embrace opportunities to learn from others, regardless of their age or status.

5. Spiritual growth: The passage ends with the statement that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. This serves as a reminder for us to prioritize our spiritual growth, continuously seeking to deepen our relationship with God and grow in our understanding of His will for our lives.

In conclusion, the story of Jesus at the temple teaches us essential lessons about obedience, submission, humility, and spiritual growth. As we reflect on this story, may we be inspired to emulate these qualities in our own lives and strive towards becoming more like Christ every day.