Simeon’s Joy-song of the Redeemed – Luke 2:28-33
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Every once and a while, we hear about a meteorite…
The Man Who Was Known as Righteous and Devout – Luke 2:25-28a
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of…
God Shows up in the Mundane Parts of Life – Luke 2:22-24
When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” I am sitting here serving…
Receiving God’s Goodness and Spreading the Word – Luke 2:16-20
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard…
The Feel, Look, Sound, and Passion of Heavenly Worship – Luke 2:13-14
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” I have been to some great concerts in my day. I sang in an all–a cappella choir in college and we sang classical music with eight-part harmonies. There were over 100 people in our choir and the chords were pretty amazing. I once…
Shepherds: Why They Are a Big Deal to God – Luke 2:8-12
(emphasis mine)And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, KEEPING WATCH over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you GOOD NEWS that will cause GREAT JOY for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he…
Easing Above the Shame and Laboring for Love – Luke 2:1-5
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register…
The Wilderness and the Times of Testing – Luke 1:80
And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel. –Parallel verses:Matthew 4:1-4Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not…
A Calling for the Son and the Parents – Luke 1:76-79
[Zechariah speaking, emphasis mine]And you, my child, will be called a PROPHET OF THE MOST HIGH; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to…