Day 67

Memorize: Events during Jesus’ childhood

Luke 2

Key Verses: 1, 8, 11, 21, 26, 34, 40, 43, 52

These words can be so familiar that we run right over them. We hear them every Christmas, but so often fail to realize the miracle they convey. God entered humanity in a backwoods town, to a no-body couple wrapped as a newborn baby boy. And they end up there because a new ruler wants to be able to tax more accurately!

And the first outsiders to know about the birth were shepherds, the bottom of the socio-economic scale. An angel shows up and gives them the good news of this miraculous birth. The contrast between Messiah, the Lord and this baby wrapped in cloths would probably not be lost on these simple shepherds. After all an angel of God was speaking to THEM. This was quite a contrast as well. And the heavenly choir breaks out into song. What a moment it must have been in those fields. I wish I could have been one of those shepherds. They became the first to preach the good news of Jesus’ coming. Not bad for shepherds!

Joseph and Mary are faithful Jews, so they do what all Jewish parents did, they had Jesus circumcised, the outward sign of His inclusion in the Jewish race. And Mary also does what every good Jewish woman does at the proper time. What is profound is that all these sacrifices would be perfectly and completely fulfilled when their baby freely offers Himself as a sacrifice some thirty three years later.

Those who are already sensitive to the Lord’s Spirit affirm Jesus’ identity and mission. The words spoken leave no room for doubt about Jesus mission in life. The whole world would someday look to this baby for salvation. He would divide humanity from each other, and unite humanity with God.

Years pass with a period. Between verse 40 and 41 twelve years pass. We know nothing about those twelve years. Nothing, except he grew and God was with him. At age twelve Jesus would have been considered a man. He acts as a man and stays behind to begin his ministry of proclaiming the Truth. His wisdom amazes those who hear Him. This is no ordinary twelve year old boy.

Jesus returns home and another twenty years passes with a period before our next chapter starts. Jesus grows in all the areas that matter: wisdom, stature, in favor with God and man. What more could any parent want from their child. What more could the Lord want from us as His children!