Luke’s Gospel is very familiar to me as I am now liking in the sixth decade of my life…
A decree went forth from Cesar Augustus that a census of the whole world should be taken…
And Joseph went from Galilee out of the town of Nazareth into Judea to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem…
Angel said to the shepherds in the fields keeping watch over their flock by night: “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be to all the people; for today in the town of David a Savior, has been born to you, who is Christ the Lord… Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men of good will.”
The shepherds were saying to one another: “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”
So they went with haste, and they found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. And when they had seen, they understood what had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard marveled at the things told them by the shepherds.
His name was called Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
And his father and mother were marveling at the things spoken concerning him…
And the child grew and became strong. He was full of wisdom and the grace of God was upon him.
And his parents were wont to go every year to Jerusalem at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old… when they were returning, the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem, and his parents did not know…
And it came to pass after three days, that they had found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
“Son, why hast thou done so to us? Behold, in sorrow thy father and I have been seeking thee.”
And the boy Jesus said to them, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?”
And they did not understand the word that he spoke to them.
And neither did I, as every time I read or hear the Word of God, my intellect finds a slightly different or entirely new meaning of it or application to my life—past, present or future.
Christmas songs like ‘What Child is This,’ ‘Silent Night,’ and ‘Hark the Heralded Angels Sing’ come to my mind as I sing “Glory to the Newborn King… and warmth fills my heart not as the excitement of a child waking up on Christmas morning to expectations of toys beneath the tree rather as someone a bit past the midpoint of life knowing for sure that it isn’t about chasing and acquiring anymore but simply being and loving as much as one can in this hectic world.
New passages reveal themselves to me with new meanings as they did to the man named Simeon in Jerusalem: “And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord and he came by inspiration of the Spirit into the temple.”
And when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he also received him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word, in peace; because my eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and a glory for thy people Israel.”
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and the rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that shall be contradicted. And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
Simon was he the prophet and there was also Anna, a prophetess and a widow who never left the temple, with fastings and prayers worshipping night and day. And coming up at that very hour, she began to give praise to the Lord, and spoke of him to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.
The wait was over for the Babe has been born and is alive today.
I am grateful to have known Christ in my lifetime, to have realized and witnessed His work in me through my parents and His work in them from visiting the home countries of our ancestors. There is a generation growth to the family in terms of spiritual, emotional, mental and physical while being manifested geographically both in the Old Country and the Newest of Countries in the world.
Intertwined in Chapter Two of Luke is Jesus’ mother Mary quietly and humbling taking in this extraordinary experience. Not only of giving birth to a child while still a virgin but to see that baby turn into a child turn into a boy turn into a man.
“But Mary kept in mind all these things, pondering them in her heart…”
“And his mother kept all these things carefully in her heart.”
And Jesus advance in wisdom and age and grace before God and men.
May the love of Jesus advance in me and in you that we grow in wisdom and grace before each other and God.
Do not be afraid… He goes before us always… let’s follow Him and find eternal life.
Jesus, Christ the Lord: A Child Prodigy like None Before or Any After.
Day 54: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Jesus, Christ the Lord: A Child Prodigy like None Before or Any After.
Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint Luke Chapter 2.
Bible Notes:
The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke
Saint Luke, a pagan by birth and a physician by profession, had never seen our Lord. An early convert, he became a companion and co-worker of Saint Paul.
In the first four verses of his Gospel he explains why he wrote it. Paul’s doctrine that salvation is for all, not for Jesus alone, is the theme of Saint Luke’s Gospel.
Luke Chapter 2: The census decree; The birth of Jesus; An angel appears to the shepherds; The shepherds at the crib; The Circumcision; The Presentation; Simeon’s song; Simeon’s prophecy; Anna, the prophetess; The return to Nazareth; Journey to Jerusalem for the Passover; Jesus found after three days; The return to Nazareth.
A decree went forth from Cesar Augustus that a census of the whole world should be taken…
And Joseph went from Galilee out of the town of Nazareth into Judea to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem…
That the days for her to be delivered were fulfilled
“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be to all the people; for today in the town of David a Savior, has been born to you, who is Christ the Lord… Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men of good will.”
“Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”
But Mary kept in mind all these things, pondering them in her heart…
His name was called Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
According to the Law of Moses
“Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”—and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord and he came by inspiration of the Spirit into the temple.
“Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word, in peace; because my eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and a glory for thy people Israel.”
And his father and mother were marveling at the things spoken concerning him…
“Behold, this child is destined for the fall and the rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that shall be contradicted. And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
Anna, a prophetess
And the child grew and became strong. He was full of wisdom and the grace of God was upon him.
And his parents were wont to go every year to Jerusalem at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old… when they returning, the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem, and his parents did not know…
And it came to pass after three days, that they had found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
“Son, why hast thou done so to us? Behold, in sorrow thy father and I have been seeking thee.” And he sad to them, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” And they did not understand the word that h spoke to them.
And his mother kept all these things carefully in her heart. And Jesus advance in wisdom and age and grace before God and men.
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