Monday
Luke sets the time frame for us to give us an idea of when these events occurred, but some of it has been lost in history, so the exact date of Christ’s birth is left unknown. But that is not the significant thing, what is important is that He came.
I have often wondered what the shepherds must have thought when they heard/saw the angels. These guys were some of the lowliest people on earth. They had no status, no position of authority, no wealth… yet Jesus was revealed to them. It really helps us to identify who Jesus sees as the important people – and that His ministry will set the world on end.
The lowly will be raised, and the proud will be brought low. Jesus came as a servant and not a king, yet he was recognized by kings. Jesus came to save the world, but not in the way the Jews were expecting the Messiah to come. Jesus’ work goes way beyond what anyone can comprehend. We needed the perfect, unblemished, sinless sacrifice and only God could be that sacrifice.
So Mary and Joseph are now tasked with raising God. Wow… pretty incredible task.
Beginning in verse 41 we read another story of Jesus that is not recorded in any other place in the Bible. The missing boy, Jesus. How frantic Joseph and Mary must have been. They lost track of God…hmmm? But guess where they found him? In temple, in church. Have you ever lost track of God? I would suggest to you that church might just be the best place to start looking for Him. But make sure that it is a Bible believing and preaching church. There are many churches out there that are not.
Jesus, sitting in the temple courts, amazed the teachers. But even Jesus the boy, still had much to learn. Verse 52 says “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men.”
Being with fellow believers, learning from them, sharing your knowledge… praying with one another, these are all ways that we too can grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God. Don’t neglect your time in God’s house. Jesus didn’t.
Praising God in His House
Pastor Kathy