Luke 2 (6)

Pray Psalm 25.4, 5.
Show me Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.

Sing Psalm 25.4, 5.
(Festal Song: Rise Up, O Men of God)
Make me to know Your ways, teach me Your paths, O Lord!
My Savior, all day long I wait and seek You in Your Word.

Read Luke 2.1-52; meditate on verses 41-52.

Preparation
1. What was Jesus doing in the temple?

2. In what ways did Jesus grow?

Meditation
It says something about the relationships Joseph and Mary had with their extended family, neighbors, and other traveling companions, that they would assume that Jesus was safe with them as they began the return trip to Nazareth from Jerusalem (vv. 41-44). People who know the grace of God look out for one another, and for one another’s children.

But when they did not find Jesus in the troop, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. When they found Him in the temple, He was sitting among the learned theologians, listening, asking questions, and giving answers to questions put to Him. In reply to His parents’ query, Jesus said “It is necessary for Me to be about the things of My Father” (v. 49). He assumed that, when they were ready to leave, they would find Him in the temple doing what He was doing. But they didn’t understand His explanation.

Back home, all we’re told about those years in Nazareth was that Jesus increased – physically, in favor with God, in wisdom, and in favor with the people around Him. That, too, was part of His Father’s necessary business.

All this speaks to Jesus’ preparation for ministry. He had to learn. He needed to improve His sense of the Father’s Presence with Him. He had to acquire wisdom to live a perfect and sinless life. And He needed to learn how to love His neighbors. He was fully God all this time; but because He was a human being, He needed to grow. Growing is a necessary aspect of our Father’s business.

And so it is for us as well. If we’re not growing in the Lord and in the work of ministry, we’re sliding back. There is no middle ground and no plateau. It is the Father’s business for us that we grow like Jesus did, and that we apply ourselves diligently to learning all we need to become more like Jesus every day. How will you grow today, and whom will you encourage in this aspect of our Father’s business?

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Even the earthly parents God chose to nurture His own Son made mistakes (Lk. 2.44, 45). I find this so comforting. We all long to do the best job we possibly can to love, care for, teach, and keep our dear children safe. But we, like Mary and Joseph, are fallible humans in need of help from God and His holy angels to accomplish this task (Matt. 18.10; 10.30, 31).

God trusted Mary and Joseph to care for “the Son of His love” (Col.1.13). And He trusts us with the children He gives to us. But He desires that we trust Him to help us with this awesome responsibility.

The birth and growing up story of Jesus exemplifies the way the family should work. The parents trust God, and the children trust the parents. Even the holy and perfect Son of God “was subject to them” (Lk. 2.51). He was obedient to God’s command to “honor your father and mother” (Ex. 20.12; Deut. 5.16), and to “obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Eph. 6.1).

When children are following God’s plan their lives take on an obvious growth glow:
“And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the LORD and men” (1 Sam. 2.26).
It was said of John the Baptist that the neighbors queried, “What kind of child will this be?” and that he “grew and became strong in spirit” (Lk. 1.66, 80).
And then Jesus “grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him” and He “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Lk. 2.40, 52).
“Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right” (Prov. 20.11).

Yes, there was something special about Samuel, and John the Baptist, and many of our own children.

But, truly, this One Child surpasses them all. This Child, born to benefit and bless the whole world!
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end…” (Is. 9.6, 7).

Jesus, the Son of God, Ruler of the world, lived on earth within the boundaries of the Law (Jude 21).

Mary and Joseph didn’t do everything perfectly whilst raising Him, but their heart’s desire was to please God and live within the parameters of the Law. We certainly don’t do everything perfectly, and yet God in His gracious mercy wants us to “know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8.28).

Parents, children, and people of all sorts, sizes, languages, and age are called to our Father’s business. We would do well to get busy doing it according to His statutes (Ps. 119.112).

For reflection
1. What is your normal procedure in preparing for a day? How might you improve this?

2. In what ways do you need to grow and increase after the pattern Jesus set in Luke 2.52?

3. Whom will you encourage today to continue growing in the Lord?

He is said to have progressed in wisdom and age and grace, because he did increase in age and by this increase in age brought more into evidence the wisdom inherent in him further. By making what is ours altogether his own, he made his own the progress of people in wisdom and grace, as well as the fulfillment of the Father’s will, which is to say, people’s knowledge of God and their salvation. John of Damascus (650-750), Orthodox Faith 3.22

Pray Psalm 25.16-22.
As you prepare for the day ahead, seek the Lord’s Presence and power. Commit all your activities to Him, that you might serve Him with integrity and in righteousness in all you do.

Sing Psalm 25.16-22.
(Festal Song: Rise Up, O Men of God)
Be gracious, Lord, to me; my heart is weighed with woe.
My troubles and affliction see; let my transgressions go.

Consider all my foes, who hate me all the day;
and rescue my poor soul lest I should stumble in the way.

Preserve me in Your way, redeem Your people, Lord!
We wait for You and refuge seek in Your own faithful Word.

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.