December – 23 – Love God for the Gift of Jesus

Sunday School Lesson

December 23

Love God for the Gift of Jesus

Luke 1:26-31, 2:22, 25-35

 

Devotional Reading: Isaiah 49:1–7

Background Scripture: Luke 1:26–31; 2:21–35

 

Luke 1:26–31

26. And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

 

27. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

 

28. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

 

29. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

 

30. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

 

31. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

Luke 2:22, 25–35

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;

 

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.

 

Key Verses

Mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people.—Luke 2:30, 31

 

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

 

1. Tell the story of how Mary learned of her miraculous pregnancy.

 

2. Explain why Simeon was emotionally moved when he encountered baby Jesus.

 

3. Share with another person how meeting Jesus changes lives.

 

HOW TO SAY IT

Annunciation	Uh-nun-see-ay-shun.
Gabriel	Gay-bree-ul.
Galilean	Gal-uh-lee-un.
Galilee	Gal-uh-lee.
medieval	mee-dee-vul or mee-dee-ee-vul.
Nazareth	Naz-uh-reth.
Nephthalim	Nef-thuh-lim.
Nunc Dimittis	Nuhnk Dih-mit-us.
Samaritan	Suh-mare-uh-tun.
Simeon	Sim-ee-un.
Zabulon	Zab-you-lon.

Introduction

1. Introduction to the Church

A church tradition from years past involved the happy fuss made over a baby’s first Sunday in church. Usually a week or two after birth, the proud mother and father would carefully pack up their new child (along with a diaper bag) and present their bundle of joy to the women who staffed the church nursery department. The child might even be enrolled in the “cradle roll,” with the parents receiving a certificate and a photograph to mark the event.

Later, the minister might ask the new parents to bring their infant to the main worship service where he would announce to the church that a new little person was in their midst. The biggest fuss would come after the service, when the people of the church would surround the proud parents in the foyer to get a peek at the baby and congratulate the mom and dad. For various reasons, that practice of decades gone by will not be so easy for the year 2019 in many cases!

Even so, this integration is important. While a baby may not be a “member” of the church in the sense of a regularly attending and faithfully giving adult, these little ones must find a welcome home among the people of God. They should not need to wait until their teenage or adult years to garner acceptance. Today’s lesson points us to one who underwent a mixture: one who was to live his short life both accepted and rejected, in both infancy and adulthood.

 

1. Lesson Context: Nazareth in Galilee

First-century Palestine consisted of three provinces: Galilee, Samaria, and Judea. Jesus ministered in all these areas, but began in Galilee. This was “The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles” (Matthew 4:15). This was hill country, receiving enough rain to sustain successful farming rather than just grazing; therefore, it was primarily rural in character. Galilee was geographically separated from the main Jewish area surrounding Jerusalem by Samaritan territory.

Luke locates the home of Mary in the Galilean village of Nazareth (Luke 1:26; see Mark 1:9). The insignificance of tiny Nazareth, its distance from Jerusalem, and its location in a less-than-pure Jewish area make Nazareth an unlikely home for the woman chosen to be the mother of the promised Messiah of Israel. On the reputation of Nazareth, see John 1:46.

 

1. Lesson Context: Jerusalem in Judea

The Jewish people understood the need for incorporation of babies into the people of God. Backdrops for today’s lesson are the things Jesus’ parents did in accordance with Jewish custom. They have Him circumcised on the eighth day (Luke 2:21; see Leviticus 12:3; compare Philippians 3:5), officially marking him as a son of the covenant. This would have been a time of celebration for the little family, attended by friends and relatives as available. It was also at this time that the baby was formally named Jesus.

The circumcision and naming happened while the parents were still residing in Bethlehem, a two- or three-hour walk from the temple in Jerusalem. Luke indicates they stayed in David’s city until Mary was ready to undergo purification at the temple (Luke 2:22). That was 33 days after the baby’s circumcision, so 40 days after His birth (Leviticus 12:4).

 

1. The Angel Announces

(Luke 1:26–31)

1. Visit from Gabriel (vv. 26, 27)
2. And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth.

 

While angels are mentioned over 300 times in the Bible, only two of these servants of God are named: Gabriel and Michael (see Daniel 9:21; 12:1). While Michael appears in the role of a heavenly combatant (Revelation 12:7), Gabriel appears in the Bible as a messenger of the Lord sent with specific information for chosen people.

This verse introduces Gabriel in this messenger role, being sent from God to Nazareth in the sixth month. This is a reference to the two-thirds point of the pregnancy of Mary’s relative Elisabeth, the mother of John the Baptist (see Luke 1:19, 24). Nazareth, generously referred to by Luke as a city, is a village of perhaps 400–500 people.

27. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

 

Before telling us what Gabriel’s message is, Luke introduces Mary, the soon-to-be mother of Jesus. The fact that she is a virgin is entirely consistent with the fact that she is unmarried in a small Jewish village in the first century. She is young, just reaching the age where marriage would be both expected and acceptable.

Although unmarried, Mary is espoused to a man named Joseph. This is somewhat equivalent to our engagement practices leading to marriage, with some important differences. To be espoused means that Joseph has struck a deal with Mary’s father, and she is his wife in every way except living and sleeping with him.

The fact that Joseph is of the house of David means that King David is a distant ancestor. This cherished fact undoubtedly has been preserved in his family records for many generations (see Luke 2:4; 3:23, 31). It is important for us because being an heir of David is a prophetic prerequisite for the Messiah (see 2 Samuel 7:16, 17; Psalm 132:11).

 

1. Favor with God (vv. 28–31)
2. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

 

This event is known in church tradition as the Annunciation, the announcement of God’s messenger to Mary of her status as the chosen mother of the Messiah. Luke’s description of the angel coming in is an indication that Mary is indoors when Gabriel comes unto her. Artistic presentations often depict Mary in a lavish, spacious home with stone columns and carpets, but this is unlikely. Nazareth has few homes like this (if any), and later details in Luke indicate the poverty of Mary and Joseph.

The salutation in context is both simple and revealing. Hail is a greeting word like “hi” or “hello” or “hola.” To follow this by saying that the unsuspecting young woman is favoured by the Lord is intended to be good news.

 

29. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

 

Rather than comforting Mary, the greeting does the opposite. It sets her mind spinning in an effort to bring meaning to the angel’s words.

Mary cannot dismiss this experience as some sort of mind trick, for she sees the angel as well as hears him. Despite this inner turmoil, she waits for more information, not challenging the angel or his purpose (contrast Luke 1:18).

 

What Do You Think? What will you do the next time you are “troubled” by something in God’s Word?   Digging Deeper Under what circumstances, if any, is it a good idea to keep your concerns to yourself? Why?

30, 31. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

 

The fuller explanation comes quickly; the favour with God is revealed: Mary will conceive a son and call his name Jesus. But no father is mentioned. Mary is as good as married to Joseph, an honorable villager. But they have not come together in an intimate way, for Luke has made it clear she is still a virgin. Joseph will not be the father.

If we read a little further, we find that Mary’s questions are answered. The baby in her womb will come from an act of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). Mary’s response to this troubling situation rings throughout history as an example of faith: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (1:38).

 

An Exciting Announcement

When my husband and I found out we were expecting our first child, we debated about waiting to tell family and friends. We decided to tell them right away; it was too exciting to keep secret.

I had been working on a family tree, so I printed out a version of it for each parent. Instead of placing my name and my husband’s name as the latest generation of our families, we wrote “Baby” and the baby’s anticipated due date.

We took the family tree with us to a family get-together. As we were chatting, I told my mom I’d been making a family tree and wanted her to see it. I handed her the rolled-up paper and watched her unroll it. She surveyed each generation, and then her eyes fell on the last one. She looked up in disbelief. “Does this say ‘Baby’? Does that mean what I think it means?” she asked. We nodded. She jumped up and hugged us. What an announcement! Her first grandchild was on the way!

The announcement to Mary must have sparked an intense mix of emotions. Luke, the author, does not dwell on these at this point, merely summing them up with the phrase “she was troubled.” We see an implication of fear in the angel’s encouraging “fear not.” Much more emotion is evident in Mary’s Song of Luke 1:46–55. Is it even possible to consider the Christ Child anew this Christmas season and notshare Mary’s emotions on some level?

—L. M. W.

What Do You Think? How can you make progress in learning not to fear those things you should not?   Digging Deeper Can the discoveries and principles of secular psychology help us in this, or should we stick to Scripture as our only guide? Why?

1. The Spirit Reveals

(Luke 2:22, 25–35)

 

1. Baby Is Presented (v. 22)
2. 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.

Today’s lesson does not include the well-known Christmas stories of the trip to Bethlehem, the birth in a stable, and the story of the shepherds (Luke 2:1–20). Our focus is on events following Jesus’ birth. The trip to the temple in Jerusalem serves for Mary’s ritual purification sacrifice and for the presentation of the baby Jesus.

The purification process includes a waiting period in which the mother is considered unclean. This is likened to a woman’s period of “uncleanness” for a week each month due to her menstrual cycle (Leviticus 12:1, 2). The blood involved is associated with ritual impurity (see 15:25).

The standard sacrificial animals for a mother’s purification is a lamb and a bird, but the law allows for substitution of two birds in cases of hardship (Leviticus 12:6–8). The offering of two birds for Mary (Luke 2:24, not in today’s text) reveals the humble financial situation of the new parents.

The fact that Joseph brings Jesus for presentation at the temple indicates he has embraced the role of father and considers Jesus to be his legitimate son.

 

What Do You Think? What are ways the church can support men serving as fathers to children who are not their biological offspring?   Digging Deeper What Scripture passages, if any, inform your answer?

1. Wait Is Over (vv. 25–27)
2. 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.

 

Public venues often have regular visitors who are well-known to the community. Luke tells us of two such characters at the Jerusalem temple: Anna the prophetess (Luke 2:36–38) and Simeon (Luke 2:25–35). Our lesson looks at the second.

Five things about Simeon are disclosed. First, he is a resident of Jerusalem. Our impression is not that he is necessarily a lifelong resident of the city, but that he has come there in his old age to await the Messiah. Second, he is just and devout. To be just means he cares about righteous living and justice in his community. To be devout implies he is a man of prayer and faith, and that he participates in the worship activities associated with the temple.

Third, he waits for the consolation of Israel. This refers to a new era, a promised time when the Lord will move to console or comfort the distressed Jewish people (see Isaiah 49:13; 57:18; 61:2, 3). Fourth, Simeon has the Holy Ghost resting upon him. The Holy Spirit is a comforting and revealing presence in human lives, and we see both elements here. The presence of the Holy Spirit is a strong theme in both Luke and Acts (also written by Luke). The power of the Holy Spirit gives Simeon both strength and understanding.

 

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.

Fifth, the Holy Spirit has granted Simeon supernatural insight into God’s plan for comforting Israel: it centers on the coming of the Lord’s Christ. The Greek word Christ and the Hebrew word Messiah both mean “the anointed one,” the one commissioned to redeem Israel. Simeon understands his role in the unfolding of God’s plans, for he has been promised that the Messiah would be born before his death. Further, Simeon believes he will meet this individual personally.

 

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.

 

All of this comes together when Joseph, Mary, and Jesus enter the temple courtyards. Simeon is there by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is there to fulfill the obligation of His parents as prescribed in the law of Moses, the consecration of the firstborn son (Exodus 13:2; Luke 2:23, 24).

 

1. Salvation Is Seen (vv. 28–32)
2. Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said.

 

Much is unsaid in this verse, including why a new mother would allow a stranger to take her baby up in his arms. Simeon either has a recognized role in the temple precincts or his demeanor suggests trustworthiness (perhaps encouraged by the Holy Spirit). He holds the baby for the blessing rather than simply placing a hand on his head, an intimate and beautiful act. Simeon blesses God in the sense of offering praise as it springs from his heart on this long-awaited occasion.

 

What Do You Think? What more can your church do to surround infants with the love of the larger body of members of the congregation?   Digging Deeper What reasonable (and perhaps additional) safeguards should be in place while doing so?

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

 

The content of Simeon’s praise begins here and goes through the three verses that follow. All this is presented to us as poetry, sometimes called the Song of Simeon (also known by the Latin Nunc Dimittis). It is likely these words were used as a praise song in the early church, so when Luke’s first readers come to them, they are already familiar with the words and appreciate understanding them in their original setting.

First, Simeon acknowledges to the Lord that with the promise having been kept (according to thy word), he is now ready to die (depart in peace). The reason why is given in the next verse.

 

30, 31. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people.

 

Seeing the Messiah is what Simeon has been waiting for, what he has been living for. For him to say he has seen the Lord’s salvation does not mean that he believes all of God’s saving activity is now accomplished. Simeon condenses this salvation to a person, a baby whom the Holy Spirit has revealed as the Savior in the sight of all people. To see the baby on this day is possible for anyone in the temple courtyard. But to know this is the Savior requires supernatural insight from the Spirit.

 

What Do You Think? Accomplishing what additional things of God would make you ready to finish life “in peace”?   Digging Deeper Which individual listed in Hebrews 11 most inspires you in this regard? Why? How does 2 Timothy 4:6–8 influence your answer?

The Doctor And The Baby

The doctor who delivered our youngest child spent the hours prior to her birth shuffling between the maternity floor and the floor where his mother-in-law lay dying. She had lived a long, full life. She looked forward to seeing loved ones again in Heaven. Her family gathered around her, showing their love for her and for each other.

After examining our daughter shortly after her birth, the nurse put a little knit hat on her head and wrapped her in a pink blanket. The newborn fell asleep as my husband and I took turns holding her. Then the doctor came back, fresh from a visit to his mother-in-law’s bedside. He asked if he could hold the baby. My husband handed our hour-old daughter to him.

He held her quietly, looking intently at her at length. Finally he said, “It’s so amazing. Upstairs one life is fading, and here one is just beginning.”

The doctor was feeling the impermanence of life, the fleeting nature of our days. He realized that the infant’s potential would someday be “in the books,” just as his mother-in-law’s now was.

We cannot see the future of an individual as Simeon was enabled. But we can see potential. What remaining potential do you see in the Lord’s servant whose image you behold every time you look in a mirror?

—L. M. W.

 

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

 

Simeon understands at some level that God’s Savior will benefit both Gentiles and the people of Israel(Jews). This is a universal application, because everyone falls into one of those two categories. Jesus will bring light to the nations as prophesied (Isaiah 9:1, 2; Matthew 4:13–16). The revealing of the Messiah to the world is a glory for Israel; it culminates their purpose to be a light to all nations (Isaiah 49:6).

 

1. Thoughts Are Revealed (vv. 33–35)
2. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

 

Joseph and Mary must feel they have embarked on a journey that continues to amaze them. What they are hearing is astonishing pieces of a larger puzzle. This larger picture includes the words of the angel and the report of the shepherds (Luke 2:16–18). Luke’s language may indicate an interview with Mary herself in his process of writing, for he earlier tells us that she has treasured and pondered these things (Luke 2:19).

 

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

 

Having blessed God, Simeon blesses the little family. He then offers prophetic words, in four parts, concerning this child.

First, the child is set for both the fall and the rising again of many of his people. This may be a reference to prophecies of the Messiah as a “stone.” This may be a stumbling block (Isaiah 8:14; Romans 9:33), or it may be a cornerstone (Psalm 118:22; Acts 4:11) upon which the new people of God will be built. Second, Jesus will be a sign that causes opposition (see Luke 11:30).

Third, Mary will suffer great sorrow on account of her son, likened unto a sword piercing her soul. She has already been through a lot (surprise pregnancy, relocation to Bethlehem away from her family, humble birth in a stable), but more pain is to come. Finally, through Jesus the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. Hypocrisy will be unmasked as part of Jesus’ ministry (see Luke 12:1, 56).

The sum of these four is that Jesus’ ministry will not bring joy to all. Many will feel threatened by Him (John 11:48); His rejection will be particularly painful for His mother.

 

Conclusion

1. Encountering Jesus

Simeon’s encounter with Jesus is remarkable when we consider the Messiah was still a baby. It is wrong to portray Jesus as we see Him in some medieval art: sitting on His mother’s lap, back straight as a tent pole, hand in a teaching posture, and with a look of adult wisdom on His face. Simeon saw a baby. It was the Holy Spirit who revealed the significance of this infant to him, not His appearance or His words.

We encounter Jesus in different ways yet today. We may experience Him in a powerful way by reading what the Bible says about Him. We may understand Him better when we hear other believers give a testimony. We may grow in our relationship through prayer and a quiet time with Him. There is no greater thing than knowing Jesus.

 

1. Prayer

Father, may the Holy Spirit prod our hearts to learn more of Your Son so that we may be more like Him in word and deed. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

1. Thought to Remember

Encountering Jesus changes lives.

 

 

 

KID’S CORNER

Becoming Lucky to See Jesus

December 23, 2018

Luke 1:26-31, 2:22, 25-35

 

Luke 1:26-31, 2:22, 25-35

(Luke 1:26) Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,

During the sixth month after Elizabeth had conceived John the Baptist, the angel Gabriel, who had appeared to Zechariah in the temple and had foretold the conception and birth of John the Baptist, was sent by God to visit the virgin Mary, who would soon become the mother of Jesus the Messiah. Whereas John’s parents were of the tribe of Levi and lived in Judea, Mary and Joseph were of the tribe of Judah and they lived north of Judea in land formerly occupied by the northern kingdom, called the Kingdom of Israel. Since Elizabeth and Mary were related, Mary may also have had some Levite priests in her ancestry. Joseph, who would become Jesus’ legal father, was of the house of David of the tribe of Judah.

(Luke 1:27) to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

Some Bible teachers state that the virgin Mary was probably only 12 or 13 years old when the angel Gabriel appeared to her; however, just because some rabbis say a girl at that time could be engaged or betrothed to be married at the age of 12 and married at the age of 13 is no indication that Mary was that young. Mary was probably younger than 20 years old, but the Bible does not indicate her age. In my opinion, God would have chosen an older girl to bear the infant Jesus for her sake as well as for the sake of her Son. Mary would travel great distances for that historical period of time, and she would face hardships both before and after Jesus’ birth. An older girl could probably deal with these hardships easier than a very young girl. Mary would probably travel 90 to 100 miles (a 3 or 4 day journey at least) to visit Elizabeth before John’s birth and then travel back to Nazareth. She would travel about that same distance again when she traveled to Bethlehem with Joseph (a 3 or 4 day journey at least) immediately before the birth of Jesus. After Jesus’ birth, she would travel to Egypt to save Him from the murderous King Herod. If Mary were a mother older than 13 years old, she would be stronger emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually and better able to do all these things. One can ask themselves, “What age of a girl would God most likely choose in this unique situation; especially since God knew beforehand what Mary would face in the future after she conceived Jesus?” The name “Mary” means “exalted one.” The name “Joseph” means “May he (God) add (sons).” Though tradition seems to teach that Joseph was a much older man than Mary, the Bible does not tell us his age either; so, he may have been close to Mary’s age. Since the Bible simply does not tell us the ages of Joseph and Mary, all guesses are merely speculative. Joseph was of the house of David, and the Bible foretold that the Messiah would be of the house of David. Joseph would legally adopt Jesus, the Son of God. Later, God would legally adopt all who would believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and receive Him as their Lord and Savior. Jesus declared that He was the root of (or the foundation of or the beginning of or the life-giving means of sustaining) the House of David as well as a descendant of the House of David, saying “I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star” (Revelation 22:16).

(Luke 1:28) And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

The angel Gabriel did not appear to Mary in a way that would frighten her. We are not told that he appeared to her in a dream. He may have simply knocked on the door of her home and greeted her. His words encouraged her with a standard formal greeting, plus the revelation that his visit was to bring her a blessing from God and not the judgment of God, for God was with her and favored her. For the Lord to be with you is an indication that the Lord will help you. Mary may have wondered what God wanted and why she would especially need God’s help.

(Luke 1:29) But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.

Mary’s first response to the angel was perplexity or confusion. She had no idea what the angel might want or what message God had sent the angel to bring her. The title “angel” means “messenger.” As far as we know, nothing in her previous experience had prepared her to expect a meeting with an angel. She had a brief moment to wonder why God favored her and an angel had appeared to her.

(Luke 1:30) The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

Perhaps the initial appearance of the angel did not frighten Mary, but perplexity could lead to fear. The angel came to give her a message, and he did not want her to be frightened by his message or by him. He had not come to give her bad news, but good news that she had found favor with God; God intended to bless her and give her the opportunity to serve Him. To comfort and encourage her, the angel mentioned twice that she was favored. God had His own reasons for “favoring” Mary above all other women; but surely, He had prepared her mentally, physically, morally, and spiritually in advance to be the mother of His Son—just as He had prepared Moses in advance to save His people from bondage in Egypt. Jesus would save His people from their sins, so I believe God gave His Son the best mother possible to nurture and train Him in God’s law, love, and mercy. The parents of John the Baptist were “righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord” (Luke 1:6). We have good reasons to believe that these spiritual traits and righteous way of life would also characterize the mother that God had prepared to be the mother of His only begotten Son, Jesus.

(Luke 1:31) “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.

Mary had found favor with God because God had chosen and prepared her to be the mother of Jesus before she was born, as the psalmist so eloquently declared about himself and all of God’s chosen ones: “For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). The Bible does not say that Mary was filled with the Holy Spirit before she was born (as the Bible teaches about John the Baptist), but God could so arrange events and people in Mary’s life to prepare her to serve as the mother of the Son of God. Mary had the moral, spiritual, mental, and physical qualities that would make her a perfect mother for the Son of God. The angel told her to name her son “Jesus,” which means “Yahweh (or God) Saves.”

(Luke 2:22) And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

In Jesus’ day, the circumcision of a baby boy would be at home and usually be performed by the head of the family on the eighth day. The rite of purification was done by a priest forty days after the birth of a male child, according to Leviticus 12:1-8. Jesus would have been taken to the temple 32 days after His circumcision when Mary could legally enter the temple courtyard for the priest to make atonement for her. Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to be seen by a priest for the ceremony. In everything, they obeyed the law of Moses. To present Jesus to the Lord was to present Him to God, His heavenly Father, which the law required of all firstborn males (see Exodus 13). Knowing Jesus was the Son of God, Mary had much more to ponder as she took part in the ceremony.

(Luke 2:25) And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

Luke continued to describe the moral and spiritual character of those who made comments about or had a significant relationship to the baby Jesus. Simeon was a righteous man, which meant he lived by faith in God, and he demonstrated his faith in God by his obedience to God’s Law. He was devout because he did what God required beyond mere human expectations of what it meant to be “religious.” He lived in faith and the Holy Spirit rested on him. He lived daily with the expectation that the Messiah would come as God had promised him. Because his way of life was consistent with the truth and the Law of God, people respected him and saw that he was particularly loyal to God and sought to serve God to the best of his ability.

(Luke 2:26) 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.

The Holy Spirit revealed the truth about the coming Messiah to Simeon. The Holy Spirit also inspired Luke to record God’s assessment of Simeon. Because Simeon lived by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit, God called him to meet Jesus and His parents to encourage them and bear witness to them that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah. They probably needed this reassurance then, because they would soon need to flee to Egypt because of the danger to Jesus’ life (as recorded by the Gospel of Matthew).

(Luke 2:27) And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,

Luke described the work of the Holy Spirit in Simeon as “rested on him” and “revealed to him” and “guided” him. The Holy Spirit can do all of these things and more in the lives of those who live by faith in the Messiah as Simeon did (he lived with faith in the Messiah who was to come, as did the prophets and people of faith in the Old Testament). The Holy Spirit works in the lives of believers so they can live righteous and devout lives (as He did in Simeon’s life). God arranged the perfect timing for Simeon to meet Jesus and His parents when they went to the temple in obedience to the ceremonial law of God. All of them obeyed God’s law and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in faith, and they all received a blessing from God.

(Luke 2:28) then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Simeon was obviously a follower of the Holy Spirit, who devoutly worshiped God in the temple. Because the Holy Spirit rested on him, when he took Jesus into his arms, Mary and Joseph obviously trusted him. Simeon’s response to holding the baby Jesus was praise to God, which is the response of all believers when they hold a baby; they know that every child is a gift of God. But Simeon’s response was more than this because he knew that God had fulfilled His promise to him as he held the baby Jesus in his arms.

(Luke 2:29) “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word;

Simeon praised God and then explained that God had fulfilled His promise to him. He was holding in his arms the LORD’s Messiah (Luke 2:26). He was seeing the consolation of Israel: God’s solution to the slavery of His people–not just the solution to their enslavement by Rome or their enslavement by corrupt religious leaders, but also the solution to the slavery to sin that afflicted all people and that would eventually lead the religious leaders to crucify Jesus. Having fulfilled His promise to Simeon, Simeon said that God was also preparing him to die in peace according to His promise.

(Luke 2:30) For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

Jesus is God’s salvation. Jesus’ name means “God saves” or “God is salvation.” Jesus, in His own Person, is God’s salvation. Salvation is by and through Jesus and His work. By the very nature of who Jesus is, the Son of God and the promised Messiah, Jesus would do all that God promised and required to make salvation justly and mercifully possible for all who would believe in Him as Lord and Savior: as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, as Salvation.

(Luke 2:31) Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

Simeon revealed that Jesus was born in the presence of all peoples in the sense that He was seen by those of lowly and humble estate and He would be seen by the wise and wealthy as Matthew recorded regarding the wise men that came from the east to see the baby Jesus. During his ministry, Jesus (as the salvation of God) would be seen by people of every class and rank, and some would confess that Jesus Christ was their Lord and Savior.

(Luke 2:32) A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

God declared that Abraham’s descendants were to bless all nations, which included the Gentiles (all who are not Israelites). Even though the Israelites did not shine the light for revelation to all nations, and even though Jews and Gentiles despised one another, God fulfilled His intentions and promises through one of Abraham’s descendants, Jesus the Messiah. Jesus came to bless all peoples and all nations by revealing the truth about God to the Gentiles who did not have the Scriptures, and by bringing glory to Israel because the Savior of the world was from the tribe of Judah.

(Luke 2:33) And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.

The more we read and understand the Bible as the Holy Spirit helps us, and the more we learn about our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the more amazed and grateful we feel because we know that we do not deserve the grace of God and our increasing knowledge of God. In a similar way, we can understand how Joseph and Mary felt every time they heard the truth from God’s people and learned more about their son and His Heavenly Father’s expectations of Him.

(Luke 2:34) And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—

Simeon blessed both parents and child. The Bible says Mary witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus, and through Simeon’s prophecy, God prepared her for the rejection of her Son as the Messiah. Joseph is not mentioned during Jesus’ public ministry as being alive and involved in Jesus’ life, but some people knew about Joseph as Jesus’ father (as they supposed). Simeon told Mary that because of her Son some people would fall from prominence or fall further away from God; while others would rise to prominence and rise or draw closer to God as servants of the Messiah. He said that Jesus was a sign from God and as a sign from God Jesus would be opposed by some.

(Luke 2:35) and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Through the Holy Spirit, God wanted to prepare Joseph and Mary for the difficult future for them and Jesus. Life would not be easy for them because Mary had given birth to the Messiah, the Son of God. Living by faith in their Son the Messiah would lead to difficulties for them in this world. For example, King Herod would want to kill and try to kill the infant Jesus because he wanted to kill the Messiah. Mary would suffer grief, but the Holy Spirit did not reveal how or when she would suffer heartbreak because of Jesus. She would stand at the foot of His cross, and Jesus would entrust her to the care of John (which also indicated that Joseph may have died by that time).

 

Becoming Lucky to See Jesus

December 23, 2018

Luke 1:26-31, 2:22, 25-35

“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. 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” (Luke 2:25-26). Some people have all the luck! Shortly after Jesus was born, Simeon saw Jesus in the temple. Situations like this happen quite often to some people. Are they simply lucky? No. Look closely at Simeon. The Bible says he was righteous and devout. Simeon had the habit of doing what was good, right, and according to the Law of God. Simeon also had the habit of showing the LORD how much he loved Him by regular worship at the temple in Jerusalem. Though he never saw the Messiah until the moment he saw the infant Jesus, he waited patiently for the LORD’s Messiah, called “the consolation of Israel” to come and be revealed. Like many of the saints in the Hebrew Scriptures, Simeon lived by faith in the Messiah who was to come according to the LORD’s promises to the prophets. As he held the baby Jesus, he proclaimed, “my eyes have seen your salvation.” Simeon wasn’t “lucky” to see Jesus; rather, his life of devotion to the LORD and his expectant faith had prepared him to see Jesus when He came. In addition, the Bible says the Holy Spirit was upon Simeon and the Holy Spirit had promised Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. It wasn’t luck; rather, as Simeon worshiped in the temple the Holy Spirit led Simeon to Jesus, where he blessed Him and His family.

 

Thinking Further

Becoming Lucky to See Jesus

December 23, 2018

Luke 1:26-31, 2:22, 25-35

Name __________________________

1. If you were God the Father, what type of girl or woman would you want to choose to be the mother of Your only begotten Son?

 

2. What did the angel say to Mary so she would not be afraid?

 

3. What type of person was Simeon?

 

4. What did Simeon say he had seen?

 

5. What did Simeon say would happen to people who met Jesus?

 

Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further

1. If you were God the Father, what type of girl or woman would you want to choose to be the mother of Your only begotten Son? I would want to choose a young woman I had begun to prepare before she was born. One with parents who would train her in the way she should live as a devout believer in God and follower of the Ten Commandments in a believing and loving family. One who would mature in every way, and one who showed mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional maturity and stamina even before the angel visited her. One who would be able to trust in God and find her strength and faith in God the Father through dark days. One who would love her Son and her family and raise her Son to grow in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and others. One who served others outside of her home and showed hospitality to others.
2. What did the angel say to Mary so she would not be afraid? He reassured her that she had found favor with God, which would affirm for her at least that she had been living the right way and God did not have any reason to judge or punish her for her behavior. He also affirmed that God would be with her.
3. What type of person was Simeon? He was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. He followed the leading of the Holy Spirit.
4. What did Simeon say he had seen? God’s Salvation. The name Jesus means: “God saves” or “God is salvation.”
5. What did Simeon say would happen to people who met Jesus? He would be a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel. He was appointed for the fall 3 and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that would be opposed. The thoughts from many hearts would be revealed. Mary would suffer when Jesus was rejected and crucified.

 

Word Search

Becoming Lucky to See Jesus

December 23, 2018

Luke 1:26-31, 2:22, 25-35

      Name __________________________

 

B S T E K F M T G V K O N H A

S A P J E X Z E J T M D I T W

O I Y I K L N F I R K W G E G

E Q M L R T I O C L O Z R R M

L C U E I I S L V G C T I A L

S N G L O A T P A J U Z V Z X

Z U E A D N D Y X G D L X A T

N S S I B E T R O T H E D N F

X S C E Z R J A K F Y X Y W H

D T U W J N I M N S H R B I V

F S Z S O X R E F E M Q A L W

T I H P E S O J L S V S H M H

G R G T H J A Q D O A G L U G

T H J O P G R E Y M Z U C Y E

L C N C D J D J D A V I D L U

 

Gabriel

Galilee

Nazareth

virgin

betrothed

Mary

Joseph

David

Spirit

Gentiles

God

Jesus

Christ

Moses

Simeon

 

 

True and False Test

Becoming Lucky to See Jesus

December 23, 2018

Luke 1:26-31, 2:22, 25-35

Name __________________________

 

Circle the true or false answers. Correct the false statements by restating them.

 

1. Gabriel went from Nazareth to the city of Galilee to talk to Mary. True or False

 

2. The virgin Mary had not yet married Joseph when Gabriel went to talk with her. True or False

 

3. Gabriel told Mary not to be afraid, that she had found favor with God, and the Lord was with her. True or False

 

4. Gabriel told Mary to name her son Jesus. True or False

 

5. Mary and Joseph brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. True or False

 

6. Simeon was righteous and devout, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. True or False

 

7. Simeon followed God’s law when he brought Jesus into the temple. True or False
8. As Mary held Jesus in her arms, Simeon placed his hands on Jesus’ head and blessed Him. True or False

 

9. God sent Jesus as a light for revelation to the Gentiles. True or False

 

10. Simeon prophesied that Jesus was appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel and thoughts from many hearts would be revealed. True or False

 

True and False Test Answers

Luke 1:26-31, 2:22, 25-35

 

1. False
2. True
3. True
4. True
5. True
6. True
7. False
8. False
9. True
10. True

 

Prayer

Father, may the Holy Spirit prod our hearts to learn more of Your Son so that we may be more like Him in word and deed. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.