Luke 2 (August 2, 2020)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Luke tells us basically everything that we know about the early life of Jesus.
There is a whole lot that we do not know.
Having three kids, I cannot imagine what a sinless 2 year old would look like...
Can you?
Lots of parents who don’t believe in the doctrine of man’s depravity and original sin become convinced about the time their child turns 2.
==
I wonder how Jesus’ limited human brain increasingly understood who he was and what he was to do.
What were his prayers like as a child?
Did he ever exercise his power while growing up?
What did his relationships with his siblings look like?
When did Joseph die?
I have lots of questions, but we have to be content with what little we are told about Jesus life before the beginning of his public ministry.
Let’s read Luke chapter 2.
1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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 among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.
18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,
28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed
35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,
37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
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 according to custom.
43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,
44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”
49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.
51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
There are a lot of things we could discuss, and you’ve probably all heard several sermons on this chapter.
Of all the things that we could focus on, I want us to center on that last verse.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Let’s start with some things they do not need.
They do not need wealth.
They do not need wealth.
Remember, we are talking about what kids need.
There is nothing wrong with wealth, but we should understand there are far more important things.
Jesus was born in the humblest of circumstances.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
You and I could not pick where, when, or to whom we were born.
But
The second person of the Trinity did get to choose.
Why did he choose to be born in these circumstances?
I think it was so that we would learn a lesson.
The world tells us that our kids need the best toys and the best education we can provide.
There is nothing wrong with sacrificing for your kids...
But
There is a lot of temptation to do too much of a good thing.
We can spend way too much time earning money (for their benefit) rather than being with them.
Jesus was born to poor parents.
How do we know they were poor?
One way we know is by the sacrifice they brought to the temple.
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
Let’s look back at exactly what the Mosaic law requires.
6 “And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering,
7 and he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female.
8 And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”
They were supposed to bring a lamb unless they could not afford one.
Do you think Mary and Joseph were being cheap?
I think the only way they took option b here is that they were truly poor.
Mary and Joseph would have given the best they were able to give.
Your kids, or grand-kids, or great grand-kids do not need wealth.
And while wealth is not evil, the parents pursuit of wealth can crowd out the necessary things.
Believers often get off track because we take a good thing, or at least something that is not bad in itself, and elevate it to a position that it should not have.
We know it would be wrong to pursue our neighbor’s wife or to pursue wealth by stealing.
The more subtle danger for believers is to pursue something okay when we could be putting our effort and energy into something great, meaningful, and lasting.
They do not need parents who are influential and well-connected in wordly things.
They do not need parents who are influential and well-connected in wordly things.
Politics is a part of everything.
Your child’s school may be political - the teachers and administrators may treats kids very differently depending on who their parents are.
It shouldn’t be that way, but it sometimes is.
Parents have to prioritize how to spend their time and money partly based on whether they want to have the kind of influence that can help their kids.
There is nothing wrong with being influential and connected - probably helps your Christian witness - just don’t neglect the real needs of your kids for it.
Jesus chose to be born to parents who had no influence with anyone except God.
He was born to powerless parents in a powerless and oppressed nation.
Israel was under Roman dominion.
The Messiah could have been born during a time like when Solomon was king and Israel was at the height of its power.
That wasn’t the plan though, and God does everything precisely when and how he should.
I want you to notice with me that the announcement of the birth of the Creator into his world was made to the lowly, rather than the rich and famous.
Shepherds were the first to hear the news.
Shepherds were not highly thought of.
They were considered untrustworthy and their testimonies were not admissible in law courts.
God sent his angel to these guys with the news of the birth of the Messiah.
Again, I believe he wants us to see that we, regular people, can be used to do amazing things if we submit to God, depend on his power, and don’t trust in our own means and influence.
When Jesus grew up and chose his disciples, he chose unremarkable men.
He then empowered those men to do remarkable things.
That way He receives all the glory.
Now if you are brilliant and talented don’t despair - God can use you too - like Paul
But...
Mostly he uses ordinary people who are submitted to him to do extraordinary things.
==
Now let’s talk about what children do need in order to grow in wisdom and in favor with God and man.
Kids need godly parents.
Kids need godly parents.
Mary and Joseph obeyed God in
Naming Jesus - remember naming was a right of the one in charge.
Naming Jesus - remember naming was a right of the one in charge.
They were also obedient in observing God’s law
They were also obedient in observing God’s law
(circumcision)
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
We read already about the sacrifice that Mary and Joseph offered in the temple for the first-born.
They were fastidious in every detail.
39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
They continued to honor the Lord as Jesus grew.
41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
Your kids, grand-kids, or great grand-kids desperately need godly parents.
If you are a parent, work hard at being a godly parent.
If you are a grand-parent or great grand-parent, PRAY and use whatever influence you have to help them have godly parents.
Kids need purpose.
Kids need purpose.
What purpose are you laying out for your kids, grand-kids, or great grand-kids?
Does it have to do with...
marriage?
money?
material things?
How are you defining success for them?
Obviously we need to tell them they should be able to support themselves.
We should teach them that work is honorable.
But
Are we teaching them that regardless of their vocation, the most important calling on their lives is to know God and make Him known?
==
Those in the church can and should pour into your kids too.
Cat - Bible Reading - Starburst
In our passage, we see Simeon, Anna, and the teachers in the temple all contributing to Jesus and his family’s understanding of his purpose.
==
The purpose we need to show them is to know God and make him known.
The first part of that is knowing God.
Gospel