Luke 2 Bible Study Notes..2-17-21

 

Notes For wed….Luke 2

A brief highlight of our chapter, Luke 2…. From the end of Matthew to the beginning of Luke were are transported in our study and experience, from the traumatic murder of Jesus, as he was so brutally put to death on the cross, through the resurrection and assentation to the heavenly Father, back in time to the humble and miraculous birth of Christ to Mary and Joseph..It is a slightly jarring transition but begins with a decree from the most powerful man on earth, Augustus Ceaser…

Ceaser decreed that everyone in the world be taxed which set up the 90 mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem where Joseph & Mary would comply with the new tax.. It is estimated that it took Mary and Joseph 3-4 days to get to Bethlehem only to find no place to stay. Mary , ready to conceive, bedded with Joseph in a shelter for animals so that they themselves would have shelter and there, in this place, gave birth to Jesus , in the stables.

Luke Chapter 2 tells us about the angels who appeared to lowly shepherds and were told of the birth of a saviour..At this time many angels also descended from heaven to wish us peace on earth and extend good will toward men.

Jesus was brought to the Temple by Mary and Joseph, for the first time to fulfil the law of Moses. This law was partially described in our chapter but to give it more context we can refer to….Leviticus 12

The law was as follows:

12 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. 3 On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. 4 Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. 5 If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding.

6 “‘When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. 7 He shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood.

“‘These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. 8 But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”

We also learn in Luke 2 that the lord had spoken to the priest Simeon who knew Jesus as the “Christ child as soon as he laid eyes on him… From this point,

Jumping 12 years from the birth of Jesus the chapter concludes with Jesus sitting in the Temple discussing theology with the men described as Doctors at the age of 12 and astonishing them with his wisdom. It is at this point that Jesus has set for us the “age of understanding” which beyond this approximate time are responsible for our behaviour and choices in this life…

I was particularly drawn to verse 14 this evening…..

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

This was quite an amazing overture that was witnessed by these shepherds….Considering that,

Even after the betrayal in the garden of Eden… after the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorra.. After God’s chosen people turned from him to worship idols, even after the great flood did God send us a saviour whose angels wished for us, peace on earth.. and also wished good will toward men…We had a pretty bad track record to this point…. Where did the angels get their caring and forgiving spirit ?;that attitude to wish us well in spite of our past wickedness? From God the father of course….

God is not our adversary.. God has given us every opportunity to live a Godly life.. He gave us his son so that we could model after an example of perfection.. When we exercise our free will he hopes for us peace in our minds and hearts and extends to us good will; He hopes that we will choose wisely….. What more could we ask for… From the beginning he wished for us ,through his angels, peace..not just peace for us as individuals but peace of the earth, for the sake of all humanity..

Today we have anything but peace on this earth… He wished for us this peace but also predicted that there will be wars and rumours of wars..He knows humanity well… Understanding the state of the world today I can sincerely say…Heaven help us all..The good news is that He will hear our plea… He has promised this also… He will always be with us…

Sometimes when we are faced with dark circumstances, we feel abandoned by God, We sometimes want to just bust out because we feel restricted by God and controlled by God… We feel sometimes like he is just against us. Forcing us to do this or that or he will punish us.. Now what we feel may not be exactly what we think but feelings are very powerful and they influence us in significant ways..

In a way it’s like a parent.. a good parent who sets limits, punishes when we deserve it and rewards us for a job well done.. a good parent is reasonable and fair-minded and a teacher.. A good parent , regardless of our disobedience, loves us and is there for us. Good parents teach us a better way and they lead by example… And through it all good parents are always and forever our best friend in the world.. these are the qualities that God has and much more.. God is forever our friend. He gives us freedom to choose our path but wishes us well as we go forth. And he’ll be there to pick us up if we need it… Although sometimes we really don’t understand, it is in the midst of this confusion that we need to go to the Lord in prayer. It is during these times that we can pick up our bible and get lost in the pages for a time.. It is these times when we can reach out to out heavenly Father for guidance and support.. He is not our adversary.. He is our best friend, He is our spiritual Father…

This brought to mind a beautiful hymn that I would like to share this evening..

What a friend We Have In Jesus:

Joseph Scriven was born in Ireland in 1820…..

Joseph wrote this famous hymn in 1855 to comfort his mother who still lived in Ireland. He was in Canada at the time.. He did not seek to be noticed for it, and his authorship was only discovered by accident shortly before his death.

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!



Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged—

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful,

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.



Are we weak and heavy-laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge—

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.



Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised

Thou wilt all our burdens bear;

May we ever, Lord, be bringing

All to Thee in earnest prayer.

Soon in glory bright, unclouded,

There will be no need for prayer—

Rapture, praise, and endless worship

Will be our sweet portion there.

Lord we pray tonight that we all are touched in some way by your word. We ask for guidance and wisdom to understand this wonderful record that you have preserved for us. Bless our bible study this evening and all who come to share, speak or even listen or read.. Bless their families. We are thankful for all of your blessings and for those who we can touch in a positive way we are thankful for the opportunity to share and give..We are thankful for our fellowship .

We pray for all those among us who battle with health issues that you can extend your healing hand and touch each one so that we can be a brighter light in the world..

You know our weaknesses and our every need. Help us lord to have more faith in you… help us to understand more fully that you are friend, father and all things to us.. Open not just our minds Lord but our hearts also…

We ask these things in Jesus’ name…

Amen