Day 46 – Wednesday, March 5, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Luke 2

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Christ is Born

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. 

Luke 2:1–7, NKJV

Points to Ponder:

• Obviously, this is the classic story of the birth of Christ, read in many settings during the Christmas season.
• The angel had already visited Elizabeth, Zacharias, and Mary. We find in other gospel accounts that the angel had also spoken to Joseph in a dream. All of them had divine visitations to announce and confirm the birth of a Savior.
• Now, the government gets the ball rolling for the actual birth happening.
• Caesar gave a decree that all people should be registered (he ordered a census). Luke noted that Quirinius was governor of Syria, which seems like and outlier piece of data, but does mark the timetable for the event, since Caesar had a relatively long tenure. The entire Jewish nation was required to consent, so Joseph headed out of Nazareth toward Bethlehem to be registered. He took his betrothed wife, Mary with him. She was very pregnant!
• While in Bethlehem, she gave birth to Jesus, and had to lay Him in a manger (food trough), because they were staying in a stable, because every room in town was full.

The Angels Announce Jesus to the Shepherds

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!” 

Luke 2:8–14, NKJV

Points to Ponder:

• Mary and Joseph likely thought they would be alone and have a quiet moment welcoming their Son into the world. However, it was not long until angels began to announce the birth to shepherds watching in the field next to Bethlehem.
• I have included three pictures of Shepherd’s field, presumed to be the place where the Shepherds watched their flocks on the night of the angelic announcement. I have circled the actual field in the second photo. I took these photos in 2022 and 2023 while visiting Israel.
• These lowly shepherds are only described in the gospel of Luke.
• As they watched their sheep, angels suddenly appeared to announce the good news. A Savior is born!
• They told the shepherds where to find Jesus and what the scene would look like. Then an entire choir of angels appeared and sang a song of celebration and glory to God.
• The images below possibly show the very spot where this occurred.

The Shepherds Visit Jesus

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. 

Luke 2:15–20, NKJV

Points to Ponder:

• This material is also unique to Luke.
• The angels disappeared just as quickly as they appeared, and the shepherds decided right away to go into town and see this great event of which the angels spoke and sang.
• They found the young family in a stable, and the baby Jesus lying in a manger. It was just as the angels had told them.
• After they worshipped the Christ child, they left and began to tell everyone what they had seen and heard. The people marveled at the news of the shepherds.
• Mary was astounded at all that had occurred, and pondered these things, while the shepherds praised God that they were blessed to hear the news first!
• This was not a normal birth announcement of a king. Typically, the king’s court would hear first, and then the general populous, and then the lowly shepherds would have been one of the last to hear. But Jesus turned the social system on its ear and went to the lowly first. This was a signal of what the kingdom of Christ would look like.

Christ is Circumcised

²¹ And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

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.” 

Luke 2:21–24, NKJV

Points to Ponder:

• This and the next two stories are unique to Luke as well.
• This passage recounts the normal Jewish practice of bringing a newborn son to the priest for circumcision.
• The family would also offer sacrifices to the Lord after Mary’s purification according to the law. They presented Him to the Lord as the law required of each firstborn Son. This was a ceremonial presentation, as the human firstborn would be redeemed by a sacrifice and by the work of the Levites and priests in the temple.
• Jesus’ circumcision and naming are recorded to confirm His Jewish credentials, His covenantal obedience, in parallel with the birth circumcision and naming of John.

Simeon’s Prophecy

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.” 

Luke 2:25–35, NKJV

Points to Ponder:

• The first person to confirm Jesus’ person and purpose was Simeon.
• The passage does not say that Simeon was a priest or even a mull (one who administers communion), but he came by the Spirit’s leading to the temple on the day of Jesus’ presentation.
• He took Him in his arms and declared that the promise of God that Simeon would see the Lord’s Christ (Messiah) has been fulfilled in Jesus.
• Joseph and Mary were amazed, and Simeon offered a prophecy of Jesus’ influence, and His death.

Anna’s Testimony

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. 

Luke 2:36–38, NKJV

Points to Ponder:

• Anna was a prophetess, an old woman, who was likely nearly 100 years old or more.
• It is interesting that the confirmation of Jesus’ ministry came through both a man and a woman. This was a departure from the patriarchical structure of Jewish society, being much more egalitarian, a hallmark of Jesus’ ministry.
• Anna served in the temple. The wording seems to suggest that she slept or stayed all hours at the temple. This is not confirmed by best scholarship, but she was there daily, possibly at various times and for long hours. The wording “coming in that instant“ suggests she came to the temple at that moment and saw Jesus.
• She recognized Him, presumably as the Messiah, and spoke of Him to all who were looking for redemption in Israel.

Jesus Returns to Nazareth

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. 

Luke 2:39–40, NKJV

Points to Ponder:

• This part of the birth narrative is included in Matthew 2.
• This is basically a summary statement of all that happened after the birth of Christ.
• They performed all the requirements of the law relating to the birth of a child, especially a first-born
• The only glimpse of Jesus’ childhood is in this passage and the next two. Here, it describes Jesus growing and becoming strong in spirit and filled with wisdom. God’s grace was apparent in His life.

Jesus Celebrates the Passover

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. ⁴⁶ Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. ⁴⁸ So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”

⁴⁹ And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” ⁵⁰ But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. 

Luke 2:41–50, NKJV

Points to Ponder:

• In this passage, again unique to Luke, the entire family went to Jerusalem for Passover, as was custom. After the feast was over, they headed back to Nazareth. They assumed Jesus was in the convoy of their family and friends traveling home.
• A day later (can you imagine not seeing your twelve-year-old son for a whole day, yet this was normal in Jewish culture; it takes a village to raise a child), they looked for Jesus, but He had stayed behind in Jerusalem. They looked for Him in Jerusalem for three days, and finally found Him in the temple.
• He was sitting with the teachers, listening and asking questions. All present were amazed at His understanding and answers related to the law and Scripture.
• Mary and Joseph were amazed as well. Mary asked Jesus why He had done this to them, making them worry and search so diligently.
• He answered cryptically that He thought they would understand that He must be about His Father’s business. They did not quite get what He meant.

Jesus Grows in Wisdom

⁵¹ Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. 

Luke 2:51–52, NKJV

Points to Ponder:

• In this final passage, Jesus goes home with His parents and obeyed them. Mary was puzzled, but kept all these happenings in her heart.
• Jesus continued to grow in wisdom and stature, and found favor with God and men. He was like any other child in many ways, yet powerfully unique as well.
• These glimpses help us see the rapid, almost meteoric rise of the power of God in Jesus’ life. The Savior Messiah was coming into His own.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.