Luke 2:39-45

³⁹ So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. ⁴⁰ And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
⁴¹ 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 according to the custom of the feast. ⁴³ When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; ⁴⁴ but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. ⁴⁵ So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.

Mary and Joseph travel home from the Jerusalem temple carrying Jesus along. The scene repeats some years later, although this time there is no Jesus following the parents leading.

Mary and Joseph walked, according to custom, expecting Jesus to follow.

How do I do the same? How do I walk by the ritual ways of my faith, rather than consistently examining if Jesus is with me, if I am letting Him lead my life? After all, God’s people are those who not only keep His commandments but also are actively following Jesus (Rev. 14).

More boldly, how do churches (even my own) do the same? Do they continue in traditions and customs where God was once seen leading? Or do they seek where is God leading today? Are congregations active in scripture study and prayer, letting God lead them into new practices, new methodologies, and even new doctrines? Or do they continue to rely on an old creed or some other rigid set of beliefs as the leading force in how they understand God?

Please, don’t misunderstand me. I love church history. Individuals like Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Wesley, and Miller were led to bring to sight a clearer picture of God. But we cannot be content to stand where they stood. We must continue to let God lead. We must be ready to discard 99 long-cherished errors for 1 newly-understood truth. Challenge years of worship history for a day of worshipping in “spirit and truth”.

How? Mary and Joseph “returned to Jerusalem”. So also, let us return to the model of the apostolic church. Searching the scriptures, praying for God’s leading, ready to believe/do whatever He may reveal. As individuals and as communities, let’s go back to following the Christ rather than the creed.

Luke 2:36-38

³⁶ Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; ³⁷ and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. ³⁸ And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

 Simeon had testified that Jesus was Messiah, but a single testimony was not considered compelling in Judaism. Two or three were needed (cf. Deut. 19:15). Enter Anna, our second witness.

Like Simeon, she was old and faithful, making her testimony more compelling. But also, neither were in an official temple position (such as priest). Incredibly, we don't have the testimony of any priest who should have been the first to recognize the Christ baby. Instead we have a widow, who despite her faithfulness, vary well may have been marginalized by her religious community (how easy it is to do the same today to the old "odd balls" of the church!).

Perhaps that is why she wasn't able to witness to everyone about this child. Just "those who looked for redemption". Already we see two groups emerging. One who has fallen into the trap going through the ritual but forgetting the meaning ("time to go to temple, to pay tithe, etc."). And the other group who still longs for redemption.

As outward actions are probably similar, I'm sure it's difficult to separate the two groups, which is probably a good thing for us. So instead of judge, let's examine our own hearts and ask ourselves, "If my next time at Church an Anna speaks to me, will I listen? Do I long for redemption?"

Maybe it'll change our whole Church experience; especially the way we relate to the old "odd balls".

Luke 2:22-35

²² Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord ²³ (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who 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 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just 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 So he came by 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 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
       ³² A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
      And the glory of Your people Israel.”
³³ And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against ³⁵ (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

The book The Desire of Ages provides some powerful insights to these verses. Take a moment to read the relevant chapter here.

Luke 2:15-20

¹⁵ So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷ Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. ¹⁸ And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Notice the progression:

Hear. The shepherds had just heard the news from an angel that Christ was born in Bethlehem.

Believe. Now we witness them believing the reported event “has come to pass”.

Act. And so they determine to act in response, “Let us now go to Bethlehem”. The action is a manifestation of the belief.

Encounter. As a result, they encounter the Savior, “the Baby lying in a manger”. Had they had failed to act, they wouldn’t have encountered Him. But how can those who believe not act?

Share. Having “seen” Him, they make “widely known” the news. Notice, it is after this personal encounter with the Savior that they are able to share the news of Him in such a way that people “heard” and “marveled”. And so the process is primed to repeat.

Praise. The scene closes with our shepherds “glorifying and praising God” thanks to what they had “heard and seen”. Again we witness the news ("heard") accompanied by the encounter ("seen"); the repeated story along with the original personal testimony.

Hear. Believe. Act. Encounter. Share. Praise.

Luke 2:8-14

⁸ Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, 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, goodwill toward men!”

Jesus is born! Time to announce the news. The first to hear are “shepherds living in the country”. The news of “great joy” is that “Christ the Lord” has come as “a Savior” for “all people”. Not just all His favorite people. Not even all good people. But all people. This is the will of God, to save all (cf. 2 Peter 3:9).

Perhaps it is not surprising considering the manner of His birth that the news is first told to shepherds, rather than princes and kings. We’re beginning to catch on to the lowliness that will characterize Jesus’ life, contrary to our conceptions of God. Likewise, the shepherds would have expected to find “Christ the Lord” in some glorious set up, hence why the angel needed to warn them that He was in a “manger” (that is, an animal feeding trough).

But then there is glory. The shepherds were surrounded by the “glory of the Lord”. And the angels sung “Glory to God in the highest”.

Glory permeates the news of the birth, suggesting an important truth. The incarnation, God entering humanity as Jesus, was not contrary to His divinity. He didn’t lower Himself despite being God. He lowered Himself because He was God.

Commentators have explained that a possible translation for Paul’s description in Philippians 2 of the incarnation is “Christ Jesus, who—precisely because he was in very nature God—did not consider equality with God to be ground for grasping . . . ” (more on this).

God doesn’t have to be like this. His first priority could be Himself. And maybe such a god would still be glorious. Perhaps. But here we see God more interested in saving others than comforting Himself (after all, laying in a feeding trough is probably uncomfortable). Not disinterested in self, just more interested in others. It sounds offensive to God’s glory and supremacy, I know. But it is this selfless character that makes Him all the more glorious. That is why when then angels witnessed this truth (since even angels struggle to understand God’s character; cf. Rev. 12), they sung “Glory to God in the highest”.

Luke 2:1-7

¹ And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. ³ So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into 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 wife, who was with child. ⁶ So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. ⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The first chapter of Luke was building up to an event. Gabriel announced to Zacharias the coming of the Lord (1:16,17). Then this same messenger repeated the news to Mary, announcing the soon coming “Holy One” called “the Son of God” (1:35). Elizabeth declared Him the “blessed fruit of [Mary’s] womb” (1:42). And Zacharias concluded with a powerful prophesy about the “Dayspring” who would “give light to those who sit in darkness”.

Now chapter two opens “it came to pass”, language suggesting the fulfillment of the prophecies. Here it is, the moment we’ve been waiting for… “a decree went out for Caesar Augustus”. What? Boring historical details. Then something about Quirinius. Come on Luke, this isn’t the time to play historian. Announce the Dayspring, the Lord, the Holy One.

So we continue. Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem. Now this is promising. Long before it had been prophesized of this city,

“But you, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting”. (Micah 5:2)

So our excitement returns as we see the people move into place. Then it happens. He is born. Put “in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn”.

It’s a story I’m well familiar with, but never did I realize how shocking it is. No room in the inn? He should be born in a palace! Put in a manager? Outrageous! But that is the point. Had He been born in a palace, we would read and think, “Good, surely He deserves such treatment.” We would be wrong. This is divinity stepping down into humanity. The most magnificent palace falls exceedingly short of the home and glory He left behind. His unbecoming birth leads us to exclaim, “He deserves more!” Then we begin to realize how much more. The Holy One had every right to remain in heaven – distant, supreme, self-interested. But a selfless love compelled Him. A love for us. He lowered Himself to exalt us. He entered darkness to guide us into the light. “Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves.” (Desire of Ages)

Truly, we serve an awesome God!