The Word This Week
Luke 2:21…
It is wonderful to see how God surrounded Mary and Joseph in this most stressfully blessed time in their lives with those who would encourage them in the knowledge their obedience to God’s plan is recognized and appreciated by others who truly follow God.
On the eighth day following Jesus’ birth, Joseph and Mary took the Babe to be circumcised according to the Law of God. At this ceremony, Jesus was named according to the instruction of angel Gabriel when he visited Mary prior to conception. Everything was unfolding exactly according to God’s plan – even through great difficulty.
Forty days after Jesus’ birth, when the days of Mary’s purification were completed – again in accordance with the Law, Joseph and Mary took Jesus up to Jerusalem to offer the sacrifice prescribed in the Law of God for the firstborn Son – even while knowing this Child was the Son of God – and perhaps especially since they knew Baby Jesus was the Son of God.
In the Law, there was a prescribed sacrifice to be offered: a lamb and a young pigeon or turtledove. But, if the couple could not afford a lamb to be sacrificed because of poverty, they may offer two turtledoves, or two young pigeons. We note here Joseph and Mary offered a pair of birds, which speaks of their poverty. (We note this because the portion of the Law which speaks of the offering of a lamb is omitted here by Luke.)
What a blessing it must have been to Joseph and Mary to find there were others who were also aware of God’s plan. First the shepherds – which may have been a bit disconcerting even in their confirmation of all they shared with Mary and Joseph in the very moments following Jesus’ birth. (Imagine hearing these men tell you, “We were sent by an angelic host to come see this child!”)
Now we see a great follow on to this initial confirmation in others who had also been informed about this momentous birth. Joseph and Mary and Jesus were NOT alone!
In the story of Simeon and Anna we see how the Lord surrounds His children with others of His children in order to allow ALL His children to understand they are not alone, and that all God has spoken into each life is true – even if employed in very different and individual ways, and even if it seems impossible when God informs you of your place in His plan. With God NOTHING will be impossible.
Pastor Bill
It is wonderful to see how God surrounded Mary and Joseph in this most stressfully blessed time in their lives with those who would encourage them in the knowledge their obedience to God’s plan is recognized and appreciated by others who truly follow God.
On the eighth day following Jesus’ birth, Joseph and Mary took the Babe to be circumcised according to the Law of God. At this ceremony, Jesus was named according to the instruction of angel Gabriel when he visited Mary prior to conception. Everything was unfolding exactly according to God’s plan – even through great difficulty.
Forty days after Jesus’ birth, when the days of Mary’s purification were completed – again in accordance with the Law, Joseph and Mary took Jesus up to Jerusalem to offer the sacrifice prescribed in the Law of God for the firstborn Son – even while knowing this Child was the Son of God – and perhaps especially since they knew Baby Jesus was the Son of God.
In the Law, there was a prescribed sacrifice to be offered: a lamb and a young pigeon or turtledove. But, if the couple could not afford a lamb to be sacrificed because of poverty, they may offer two turtledoves, or two young pigeons. We note here Joseph and Mary offered a pair of birds, which speaks of their poverty. (We note this because the portion of the Law which speaks of the offering of a lamb is omitted here by Luke.)
What a blessing it must have been to Joseph and Mary to find there were others who were also aware of God’s plan. First the shepherds – which may have been a bit disconcerting even in their confirmation of all they shared with Mary and Joseph in the very moments following Jesus’ birth. (Imagine hearing these men tell you, “We were sent by an angelic host to come see this child!”)
Now we see a great follow on to this initial confirmation in others who had also been informed about this momentous birth. Joseph and Mary and Jesus were NOT alone!
In the story of Simeon and Anna we see how the Lord surrounds His children with others of His children in order to allow ALL His children to understand they are not alone, and that all God has spoken into each life is true – even if employed in very different and individual ways, and even if it seems impossible when God informs you of your place in His plan. With God NOTHING will be impossible.
Pastor Bill