Luke 2:21-52

The Childhood of Jesus

Only Luke gives us a picture of Christ’s childhood – and it isn’t extensive! We only see a few instances in Jesus’s life. First we have his circumcision, second, a time after the days of purification, then later, we find him when he’s twelve years old. The next time we see Jesus, he will be 30 years old and ready to begin his ministry. The events recorded in Luke are important markers in the life of Jesus, and it all begins while Mary and Joseph are still in Bethlehem. It is just eight days after his birth and he is, in accordance to the Law of God, circumcised and named.

Vs. 21-24 When the eight days were completed for His circumcision, He was named Jesus—the name given by the angel before He was conceived. And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (just as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord) and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.)

Every Jewish boy is circumcised on the eighth day, in accordance with the Law of God, and, at that time, he is named. On that day, Mary and Joseph named him the name given to them by God Himself – in Hebrew it is Yeshua, which means salvation. This day began another 33 days for the time of purification for the woman – 40 days in all from birth to the end of purification. We find this law in Leviticus 12:1-4: “The Lord spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites: When a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a male child, she will be unclean seven days, as she is during the days of her menstrual impurity. The flesh of his foreskin must be circumcised on the eighth day. She will continue in purification from her bleeding for 33 days. She must not touch any holy thing or go into the sanctuary until completing her days of purification.” I find it interesting that it is 40 days. The number 40 has particular significance in Jewish history. It was 40 days and 40 nights of rain in the ark. Jesus would spend 40 days fasting in the wilderness. The Jewish people wandered in the desert for 40 years. Jonah prophesied for 40 days in Nineveh. The number 40 represents a time of reflection, waiting and contemplation. For Mary and Joseph, this became a time to sit and take in all that had happened up until this time – and it’s a lot! Angel’s messages, Elizabeth’s proclamation, the wonder of pregnancy as a virgin, a long trip to Bethlehem, shepherds who come to worship and praise. It’s been a lot to take in.

When Mary’s 40 days were complete, they went to the temple in Jerusalem to dedicate Yeshua. There are certain parameters that must be met and we find out a little bit more about the economic state of Mary and Joseph. “When her days of purification are complete, whether for a son or daughter, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. He will present them before the Lord and make atonement on her behalf; she will be clean from her discharge of blood. This is the law for a woman giving birth, whether to a male or female. But if she doesn’t have sufficient means for a sheep, she may take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. Then the priest will make atonement on her behalf, and she will be clean,” Leviticus 12:6-8. We find Mary and Joseph bringing the pair of turtledoves instead of lamb for the sin offering. This shows us the King of kings was born into a humble home, one without riches or glory. It also shows us Mary and Joseph were dedicated to the Lord and followed the Law of God. As I sit here and think about it though, they did bring a lamb after all. For, the Christ child was, in fact, the very Lamb of God. He is Yeshua our Savior, who would by His death on the cross, be our sin offering.

Vs. 25-35 There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple complex. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for Him what was customary under the law, Simeon took Him up in his arms, praised God, and said: Now, Master, You can dismiss Your slave in peace, as You promised. For my eyes have seen Your salvation. You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples— a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Your people Israel. His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about Him. Then Simeon blessed them and told His mother Mary: “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

As Mary and Joseph entered the temple area, they would encounter two people. The first was Simeon. From this passage we know Simeon was righteous, devout, and looked forward to the consolation of Israel. The Greek word for consolation is paraklesis, which means to call to one’s aid. Simeon has been patiently waiting on God’s timing for the One who would come to their aid. But not just any aid. Simeon was looking for the Messiah, who would come to their spiritual aid. He was a man led by the Holy Spirit. On this day, the Holy Spirit leads Simeon to the temple to find a child. He takes Yeshua in his arms and declares he can now go in peace, because he has seen God’s Yeshua – His Salvation. He then gives a rather astounding prophecy. He says God has prepared or hētoimasas, (to make ready) for all peoples. Yeshua didn’t just come for a certain person, or certain people. He came for everyone. He goes on to clarify what he has just said. Yeshua, the salvation he was looking at, was going to be a light for revelation for the Gentiles and the glory for God’s people Israel. Where does he get this? Isaiah 49:5-6 says, “And now, says the Lord, who formed me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him so that Israel might be gathered to Him; for I am honored in the sight of the Lord, and my God is my strength— He says, “It is not enough for you to be My Servant raising up the tribes of Jacob and restoring the protected ones of Israel. I will also make you a light for the nations, to be My salvation to the ends of the earth.” God is the one who formed Yeshua in the womb, not just for the glory of Israel, but for the salvation of all the world. This was an amazing revelation and Mary and Joseph were astonished.

Simeon continues with a blessing for both Mary and Joseph, then speaks to Mary specifically. As I continued to read in Isaiah, I discovered this in 49:7 – This is what the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, says to one who is despised, to one abhorred by people, to a servant of rulers: “Kings will see and stand up, and princes will bow down, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel—and He has chosen you.” Mary’s son would cause many to bow down and He would be despised and abhorred. This would cause a mother’s heart to break and be pierced. Jesus is the fulfillment of Simeon’s prophecy. He is the fulfillment of Isaiah 49.

Vs. 36-40 There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and was a widow for 84 years. She did not leave the temple complex, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about Him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on Him.

Just when Mary and Joseph thought things couldn’t get any more amazing, along comes Anna to shake things up even more. This is what we know about Anna. She was from the tribe of Asher, had been married 7 years and widowed for 84. Just adding this up in my head, she had to be at least 12 or 13 when she married making her at least 103 years old. To say she was well along in years is a bit of an understatement! We also know she was a prophetess who devoted herself to God in prayer and fasting. Being widowed at such a young age, could have made her bitter, but she didn’t. She had known great pain in her life, but yet, she continued to live full of hope. Now, her faith was truly the substance of things she had hoped for. She sees Jesus and knows salvation has come. She begins to praise God and speak about him to everyone else who had been longing for that same hope.

Mary and Joseph finally complete everything according to the Law of God. and they eventually return to Galilee to live in Nazareth. Luke doesn’t give us any details as to what life was like for Jesus, only saying he grew up, was strong, and filled with wisdom and the grace of God. We do know at some point he would apprentice with his father as a carpenter and would work in that capacity until his ministry begins at the age of 30. The only other fact Luke gives us is a story of when Jesus was 12 years old.

Vs. 41-52 Every year His parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. When He was 12 years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival. After those days were over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents did not know it. Assuming He was in the traveling party, they went a day’s journey. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. After three days, they found Him in the temple complex sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all those who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers. When His parents saw Him, they were astonished, and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.” “Why were you searching for Me?” He asked them. “Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” But they did not understand what He said to them. Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.

As godly and dedicated Jews, Mary and Joseph made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover each year. They would have gone with a large group of family and friends who also made the trek every year. It would not be hard to lose track of a 12 year old boy in such a large party. And this is what happened. They traveled for the day, and when the party stopped to set up for the night, they discovered Jesus was not there. As a parent, this must have been a frightening experience. A few years ago, my husband, his son and myself attended a 4^th of July event along with a few thousand people. My husband’s son has a tendency to wander off a bit, which he did that evening. We found him pretty quickly, but the panic for those moments was palatable. I can’t imagine the panic and fear Mary and Joseph were experiencing for the three days they searched. Here is their 12 year old son, somewhere in the crowded city of Jerusalem during the Passover season. Where could he be? What is amazing here is just where they found Jesus. It was customary for the Sanhedrin to sit in the temple court to teach and discuss with anyone present during the Passover season. You will remember, Jesus did this during the Passover right before his death. It was astonishing though, for a young 12 year old boy to be there participating in the discussion with such knowledge and wisdom. It would be like a middle schooler sitting in the midst of math or science geniuses keeping up! The Greek word for astounded is existémi. It’s meaning would be like someone saying to you, “are you sitting down? I’ve got something amazing to tell you.” That is how shocked they were at Jesus’ knowledge of Scripture. When his parents find him they are also astonished, but maybe not for the same reason. They are confounded by the fact Jesus would be anywhere else but with them traveling back to Nazareth. They were thinking like two scared parents, out of their mind with worry for a lost child! They have been searching for three days and find him happily sitting in the temple courts discussing deep theological issues with the Sanhedrin. Jesus is equally perplexed by the situation. Why were they upset and afraid? Why did they have to search for three days? Didn’t they know he would be right here in his Father’s house? But they didn’t understand what Jesus was saying. The Greek word for understand is suniémi, which means to put things together as a comprehensive whole. They didn’t comprehend his meaning. They knew he was the Messiah, but they still didn’t grasp what all that meant. And so, Jesus goes back with them to Nazareth where he, like his father Joseph, became a carpenter and grew in sophia, or wisdom and intelligence, hélikia, or maturity and in charis, or grace and kindness with God and people.

As I read through this passage, I realized we are all either lost, found or searching. There are those who are lost, like the Sanhedrin. They were astounded by Jesus, but, in the end, they still didn’t believe and rejected Him as Messiah. Then there are those who are found, like Simeon and Anna. There is Simeon, who waited patiently for God to do His work in His time and followed the Spirit of God when and where He led. And then there is Anna, a woman of prayer and devotion. Life could have made her bitter, but her faith allowed her to grow and hope. And finally, there are those who are searching like Mary and Joseph. They looked and looked everywhere but the obvious place where Jesus would be. When they did find him, they couldn’t comprehend His message. I can honestly say I’ve been all of these at one time or another in my life. There are times when I am full of faith and wait patiently, allowing the Spirit to lead me. Times of devotion and prayer when I am full of great hope. Times of great doubt and times when I lack understanding. Through all these times, I rely on the Lamb of God who is my Yeshua, my Salvation. He is my steadfast rock and cornerstone and He will always lead me to the place of hope and faith.