BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 4

A Childhood in the Likeness of God

Luke 2:21-40

As strange as it may seem some of my fondnest memories of growing up are related to the church.  Two events stand out for me.  The first was my baptism at the age of nine.  My cousin and I went forward on the same Sunday.  Although I did not understand everything that it meant, I did know for certain that I belonged to Jesus.  I am not sure at that moment a whole lot changed in my life.  Even though I was saved the process of working out what salvation meant for me is still going on.  I can very well relate to Paul’s words in Philippians when he said, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Phil. (2:13) Whereas Jesus was perfect before His circumcision and dedication, I certainly am not.  His grace therefore is of upmost importance in my life.

The second event was my confirmation into the Episcopal Church.  Here again I was too young to understand the full implication of what that ceremony meant.  As I write this lesson it has dawned on me that it was really the beginning of service to Christ.  He had drawn me to Himself at the time of baptism and then He was allowing me to begin a life of service even in the simplest ways.  It was during that time that He began to indicate to me the love of teaching and learning.  It would be many years before either of these would come to fruition but in those early days of my faith God was already at work.

Southern Baptist churches only have two ordinances that are to be practiced.  Neither are binding on the person as was the rituals that we shall look at today.  We perform baptism as a witness to what has already occurred in a person’s life.  The act of submerging a person under the water does not save him or her.  Only the turning over of one’s life to Jesus will bring about salvation.  The second also does not have anything to do with eternal, but is a visual reminder of the work that Christ did on the cross.  He gave us the command to eat the bread and drink the juice as so that we would remember the giving of His body and the shedding of His blood for us. 

Luke 2:21

According to Jewish tradition, which dated back to the covenant given to Abraham, every male child was to be circumcised on the eight day of his life. (See Genesis 17:10-12)  This was also codified into the Levitical law in Leviticus 12:3. This operation would identify the child as a member of the Jewish nation therefore one of the chosen people of God.

Jesus parents brought Jesus to have the act performed on Him.  It was also on that date that the child received his official name.  He was given the name they had received from the angel, Gabriel.  He was to be called Jesus for He would be the one to bring salvation into the world. (See Matt. 1:21)

Jesus was to be identified with His people.  He would also live His life under the law.  Of course He did not need the law or the rituals to remind Him of man’s sinful nature, because He was sinless throughout His entire life. In order to totally fulfill the law He was not only born under it but lived His whole life in perfect obedience to it.

1. Why was it important for a boy born into a Jewish family to be circumcised?
2. Where did the practice start?
3. Why was it necessary for Jesus to be circumcised?
4. In what ways did it show His identification with the people He was sent to save?

Luke 2:22-24

The second ceremony was a combination of purification of the mother after giving birth and the dedication of the first born son to the Lord.  The Old Testament in the same chapter of Leviticus spelled out what was to be done by the mother. (Lev. 12:1-8).  The dedication of the son is shared in Exodus 13:2, 12 and Numbers 3:13; 8:17. It would have occurred when the child was forty days old.  

The offering Mary made would have been two turtledoves or pigeons indicating that she could not afford to bring a lamb for sacrifice. Jesus was born into a family of humble means.  One of the pigeons would have been offered as a sin offering for cleansing. The other was given as a burnt offering representing restoration of her ability to once again worship in the temple.  The fact that Mary brought the birds would tell us that she was in need of the forgiveness of sin and the salvation that would come through her Son.

1. Why was the second ceremony delayed?
2. What did the dedication of the son mean?
3. What did the idea of the child being holy to the Lord mean?
4. Why was it necessary for Mary to bring sacrifices to the temple?
5. What indicated that Joseph and Mary were poor?
6. Why did God make provisions for the poor as He did?
7. What do the offerings tell us about the need that Mary had in her life?

Luke 2:25-32

While they were there a man named Simeon approached them.  He was described as righteous and devout.  He was also one of those who was looking for the coming Messiah who would provide them comfort in their distress but also free them from the oppression of the Roman Government under which they lived. 

The Holy Spirit revealed to him that the child in the arms of His parents was the one for whom he was waiting. He had been told that he would not die until he had seen the hope of Israel. When he approached Joseph and Mary he took the baby into his arms and “blessed God.”  His words expressed his innermost feelings at seeing the promised Messiah. He said,

• He could die in peace having seen the Child.
• The Child he held was to provide the salvation of the Lord for not only the Jews but the Gentiles as well.

 

1. What attributes describe Simeon’s life?
2. How did he know which child to approach?
3. What would have been different about Jesus?
4. Why did God allow Simeon to live long enough to see Jesus?
5. What did he believe the Child would bring to the world?
6. How could he know what to say about Jesus?
7. Why were his words important?

Luke 2:33-35

His parents were amazed at the words spoken by Simeon.  Although by this time, how could anything surprise them?  Even with the miraculous birth and events surrounding it they still could not totally grasp the totality of what it all meant.  This would be true of anyone facing similar situations.

Simeon then turned his focus to Mary and Joseph and then spoke directly to Mary. She was told some things that would be in the future of her Son.  Speaking only to Mary may be an indication, that all of the prophecies concerning Jesus would occur after the death of Joseph. Simeon said that He was:

• Chosen by God to bring about the fall and rise of the people of Israel.  All who would come to Him would have to fall and be broken before they could receive the salvation that He was to bring.
• There would those who would reject Him completely.
• Events would occur that would cut her deeply.
• He would completely expose the of sin man by His life and death and resurrection.

 

1. Why would the words of Simeon amaze the parents of Jesus?
2. Why did he speak words directly to Mary?
3. What do the things told to Mary say about what the life of Jesus would mean?
4. Why did he speak of the fall and then the rise of the people of Israel?
5. What does the sword signify?
6. What did Simeon understand would be the result of Jesus’ life?

Luke 2:36-38

There was one more person there that day, who had an understanding of all she heard.  The Bible does not say that she actually approached the family.  She may have just overheard what was taking place.  Her name was Anna. She is described as a prophetess who had been married for seven years. After that period of time her husband died.  From that point on until she was eighty-four, she spent all her time in the temple fasting and praying.  When she heard the words of Simeon she began giving thanks to God and telling everyone of the redemption of Israel that was being played out in their life time. Once again it would have taken the Holy Spirit giving her understanding to be able to speak as she did.

1. How would you describe Anna?
2. Why did she spend her time in the temple?
3. In what ways was she like Simeon?
4. Why do we not see this type of dedication to the Lord, today?
5. What was it in the words of Simeon that would have caused her to begin sharing the good news with those around her?

Luke 2-39-40

Luke wrote that the family returned to Nazareth after those events. He probably left the trip into Egypt out of his gospel because it did fit into what he was trying to say. (See Matthew 2 for the events that occurred in the first few years of Jesus’ life.)  Luke’s purpose in what he included in his gospel was to tell about what Jesus did.  The description of those early years is lacking in detail. One can only surmise the influence His earthly parents had in shaping a character that was already perfect.  The things he learned from them certainly influenced His later ministry.  Luke  said that Jesus,

• Grew- This would have been physically
• Became strong –  Anyone involved in the work of a carpenter in those days would grow strong
• Increased in wisdom – He was growing spiritually and in His understanding of man.
• Had the grace of God upon Him – Paul wrote in Colossians, “For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him.” (Col. 1:19)  In the next chapter he said, “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.” (Col. 2:9)  God left nothing to chance but poured out on His Son all that He needed to perfectly serve Him.

 

1. What are the attributes Luke used to describe Jesus’ childhood?
2. In what ways would this speak to the desires of your heart for your children or those you know who have children.
3. What does it mean for Jesus to be increasing in wisdom?
4. In what ways was Jesus equipped to face the challenges ahead of Him even as a child?
5. Why do people lack some of these characteristics in their lives even after they are grown?
6. What did James say is the main reason we lack wisdom? See James 1:5

• In the verses being studied we are confronted with five righteous people.  Each one was in need of the grace that only Jesus would be able to provide.  Through Him and Him only would they receive forgiveness from sin and the salvation.  We have to remember our righteousness will not gain salvation for us anymore than it would for them.  We too need forgiveness and salvation in order to become righteous.
• Remember without Christ no one will obtain salvation.  Each of them lived under the law.  Jesus came to fulfill the law that we might have grace free from the law.
• Remember that it is not traditions or rituals that save us but the promised One.
• Understand that Jesus is the fulfillment of all prophecy in the Old and New Testament.
• Part of loving God is to use your mind.  Ponder the things given to us in God’s Word and hide them in your heart.
• Pray that you will continue grow in wisdom.
• Pray with thanksgiving for the grace of God that has been poured out upon you.

Simeon and Anna should be an example for each of us in the church.  They sought the coming of the Lord to provide comfort and restoration for the people.  We should be those who are comforted and consoled by the Holy Spirit. He is at work among God’s people to restore the lost and forgotten into the relationship that Jesus came to bring.

How do we become aware of what God is trying to do?  It comes from being sensitive to the Holy Spirit.  Only as we focus on His word and meditate will He speak to us in the way that Simeon and the others heard Him.  If we truly continue to seek Him in this way, the Church will be the shining example that this world needs to see.

The last thing to remember is that the church is all about Him.  None of the people mentioned in the text today pointed to themselves as any one of value, but to Jesus as the only hope for the world.  Let us do the same.

Additional notes:

GC-Is righteous and devout and is looking for the redemption and restoration of all people.       (Luke 2:25)

RT-Aspects of worship

1. Come in the Spirit
2. Blesses God
3. Seeing salvation in actions of those who are God’s possession.
4. Fastings and prayers (Luke 2:26-38)

M-Moved by directions from the Holy Spirit (Luke 2:49)-This should be our attitude as we come to worship.  We are to come in the Spirit to God’s holy place. (Luke 2:27)

RT-Simeon with anticipation saw the future when God’s salvation would be at work in the hearts of men. (Luke 2:30)

GC-As one grows he increases in wisdom and is filled with God’s grace. (Luke 2:40; 2:52)