Luke 2:25

Luke 2:25 says, And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.  There was a devout man named Simeon who was waiting on the consolation of Israel, or the coming Messiah.  He was just with others and devout to God, and the Holy Ghost was upon him..  We are waiting the return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and must be just with others and devout to God, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-six adds, And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  The Holy Ghost had revealed to him that he would not die until he saw the Lord’s Christ, or the Messiah.  We need to pray that we don't die until we see and accept Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-seven states, And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,  Simeon was led by the Holy Spirit to the temple at the time Mary and Joseph came to dedicate Jesus.  When we come to church today, we should come under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-eight adds, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,  Verse twenty-nine continues, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: Simeon took Jesus in his arms, blessed God, and then asked that God let him depart in peace.  When we take Jesus into our arms we can live in peace from then on, if not with the world, at least with God.  Verse thirty says, For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,  Simeon said that he could depart in peace because he had seen God's salvation, Jesus Christ, the baby he held.   When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we have seen God's only salvation plan.  Verse thirty-one adds, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;  Simeon said God had prepared His salvation plan before all the people, and this has never changed.  When we hear the gospel, we have encountered God's salvation plan.  Verse thirty-two continues, A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.  Simeon said that Jesus had come to save both the Gentiles and the Jews, which would have included everyone from the Jewish perspective.  Jesus did not come to save just certain people, but to save any one who puts their faith in Him. Verse thirty-three states, And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.  Mary and Joseph marvelled at what Simeon said, though they had already been told Who Jesus was.  Verse thirty-four continues,  And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;  Simeon said that the child would be the fall and the rising of many.  We must fall to our own self pride and arise again by faith in Jesus Christ in order to be saved.  Verse thirty-five declares, (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.  Simeon blessed them but also warned them of the coming suffering of Jesus.  It is because of His suffering that we are set free from suffering spiritually if we put our faith in Jesus Christ.  He will always indeed reveal the thoughts of every heart.  Verse thirty-five states,  And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;  There was also a widow there at the temple.  Verse thirty-seven adds, And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.  She was said to be a prophetess, who had been a widow eighty-four years, and who was devoted to serving God in the temple.  After we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we should dedicate the rest of our life to serving Him.  Verse thirty-eight continues, And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.  Anna recognized Who Jesus was, gave thanks to God, and then spoke to all those around her about Him.  We must first recognize who Jesus is, accept Him as our Savior and Lord, and then tell all those around us about Him, no matter how old we may be.

 

Luke 2:21

Luke 2:21 says, And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.  At His circumcision, which was also when babies were named, Mary's Son was named Jesus, in accordance with what the angel had told her.  Verse twenty-two adds, And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;  At the time prescribed by God's law, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Jerusalem to the temple to present Him to God.  They could have felt that since Jesus was the Son of God that they were exempt from following the God's law, but they didn't.  Today, being a follower of Christ does not exempt us from following God's laws either.  We do not follow them for salvation but for obedience.  Verse twenty-three continues, (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)  Under God's law, the first born male was sacred to the Lord.  God still expects us to dedicate to Him the first and the best of everything He blesses us with.  Of course, the bottom line is that everything we have as Christians should be dedicated to God.  Verse twenty-four concludes, And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.  Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born in a manger, and then to Jerusalem to dedicate Him to God, and they were still required to present the prescribed sacrifice to God.  We may at times feel that we have done so much for God that we should be exempt from giving tithes and offerings, but that is not the case.  We still need to give to God what His word tells us to give.

Luke 2 :8

Luke 2:8 says, And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, shepherds in the same country were keeping watch over their flock at night.  They were lowly people in the eyes of the world, doing what they did everyday.  We may be lowly in the eyes of the world, but we are still precious to God.  Verse nine adds, And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  The routine night of the shepherds was interrupted by the appearance of an angel, who is simply identified as the angel of the Lord.  When the angel came, God's glory shined all around them,and the were very afraid.   I have a feeling that we would be too if this happened to us, but since the Holy Spirit lives within us as followers of Christ, God's glory should shine out through us to the world around us.  Verse ten states, And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  The angel told the shepherds to not be afraid, because he brought good tidings of great joy, which would be available to all people.  When a person encounters Jesus Christ today through hearing the good news or gospel, there is no reason to be afraid.   Verse eleven adds, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  The good news was that in Bethlehem, the city of David, a Savior had been born to them, a bunch of lowly shepherds mostly over looked by the world.  When we hear the gospel of Christ, it applies to us, no matter our status, and if we accept believe it, then we know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord.  Verse twelve continues, And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  The angel then told the shepherds how to identify Jesus, the Savior.  He would not be a prince in a palace, but a baby in a manger.  This is probably not what they would have expected a Savior to be, and today Jesus is still not what a lot of people expect a Savior to be.  Verse thirteen declares, And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  Suddenly, the angel was joined by a heavenly host praising God.  If the angels were afraid before, their fear might have gone even higher.  Verse fourteen adds, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  The angels were praising God by calling for Him to be glorified in heaven so that there might be peace on earth.  Even if the whole world were to be at war, there still should be the peace of God for God's people.  Verse fifteen says, And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.  After appearing, sharing the good news and praising God, the angels left.  They did not tell the shepherds what they had to do.  When we hear the gospel of Christ today, they one sharing it with us really cannot tell us that we have to believe it.  It is up to each individual to either accept or reject the gospel.  The shepherds decided to go and see for themselves what the angels had told them they would find.  Ultimately, each individual has to decide whether to come to Jesus Christ in faith based on belief in the gospel or to reject Him by disbelief.  Verse sixteen adds, And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  The shepherds left their flocks and went with haste and found Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus lying in a manger, just as the angel had said they would.  When we hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, we need to leave whatever we are doing and come to Him for salvation.  Verse seventeen continues, And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  The shepherds told everyone what they had heard and seen, and so should we as Christians today.  Verse eighteen states, And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  The people who heard what the shepherds said wondered about it, but we are not told that they attempted to verify it themselves.  It is not enough to wonder about the gospel, but we must accept the truth of the gospel for it to do us any good.  Verse nineteen adds, But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.  Mary kept all the things the shepherds said and pondered them in her heart. Verse twenty continues,  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.  The shepherds went back to their flocks praising God for all that they had seen and heard.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we will still probably be doing the same job that we were doing before, but we should do so praising God.

Luke 2:1

Luke 2:1 says, And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.  In the time period that Elisabeth had her baby, John, and Mary was expecting her baby, Jesus, Caesar Augustus decreed that the world should be taxed.  This also served as a census.  We are not the first people to be taxed, nor will we be the last.  Verse two adds, (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)  We are told a little more about the taxing.  The whole world that was known then was under Roman rule, including the people of Israel.  Matthew Henry points out that the world was at peace at this time.  Verse three continues, And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.  Unlike today, when we mail our taxes, the people then, including Mary and Joseph, had to go to their own city to be taxed and counted.  Verse four states, And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)  Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem for this taxing and census, because he, and Mary, were of the house and lineage of David.  Matthew Henry says that there was some conjecture that only thee descendants of David, the historical powerful king of Israel, were required to return to their historical home to be counted so that the Roman rulers could more easily keep up with them.  Whether it was all the Jews or just the descendants of David this was required of, the decree brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.  Verse five adds, To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.  Caesar Augustus thought he was bringing them there to be counted and taxed, but Joseph and Mary were there to fulfill God's prophesy.  Mary had to travel to Bethlehem because of a decree of the government, even though she was close to giving birth, but she was there because that is where she needed to be according to God's prophesy.  Just as God used a ruler then who did not believe in Him to accomplish His purpose, He can do the same thing today.  Verse six continues, And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  While Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, it became time for her to have her baby.  This was the time chosen by God, and she was where God needed her to be.  She did not just tell Joseph that they had to get to Bethlehem before the baby was born, but God made it necessary by the use of a secular ruler who only thought he was exercising his power.  If we put our faith in Jesus Christ and do what He calls us to do, He can even use secular governments to accomplish His purpose.  Even if we feel helpless to do anything other than obey, we need to recognize that as long as we remain obedient to God He will work through us to accomplish His purpose.  Verse seven declares,  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.  Mary gave birth to Jesus, her first born Son.  She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn.  There couldn't have been a mere lowly birth.  The world did not suddenly change outwardly, but it certainly changed spiritually.  God's redemption plan was being fulfilled, and the promised Messiah was born.  Just like then, many people today have no room in their heart for Jesus Christ, and for them He will always remain outside in a manger.  Jesus did not come as an all powerful ruler, but as a Child born without even a room in the inn.  Jesus was not Who the religious leaders expected Him to be, and He is still not Who too many people except Him to be today. 

Luke 1:67

Luke 1:67 says, And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,  Having been given the ability to speak again, Zacharias did so filled with the Holy Ghost.  If we speak today, being given that power by God, we need to do so by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Verse sixty-eight adds, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,  Zacharias began by stating that God should be blessed, because He had visited and redeemed His people.  This above all other reasons is why we should acknowledge the blessings to God today.  Verse sixty-nine continues, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;  Zacharias said God had raised up a horn of salvation from the house of David.  This had not yet occurred, but was underway.  Verse seventy states, As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:  Zacharias said God had spoken by His holy prophets since the world began.  They were not holy because of their own goodness, but because of their relationship with God, just as we are today.  Verse seventy-one adds, That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;  We have indeed been saved forever from our enemies and those that hate us.  Nothing can ever separate those who are followers of Christ from the heavenly Father.  Verse seventy-two continues, To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;  Zacharias said God was going to perform the promise made to their fathers and them.  God did fulfill His promise of the coming Messiah, and His fulfillment of that promise still applies to anyone who will put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse seventy-three says, The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, The promise made to Abraham remains true today.  Verse seventy-four adds, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,  God has forevermore delivered us from the hands of our enemies and we should be serving Him without fear.  Verse seventy-five continues, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.  As Zacharias said, as we serve God without fear, we also are to serve Him in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives.  Verse seventy-six states, And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;  Zacharias now began to speak to his son John, telling him he would be a prophet of the Highest and go before the coming Lord to prepare His ways.  We know that John did, and we must go before the returning Lord to prepare the way for His return.  Verse seventy-seven adds, To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,  The remission of sins can only come by faith in Jesus Christ, which John was to prepare the people for.  Verse seventy-eight continues, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,  Salvation can only come from the mercy of God on high, Who visited us in the person of Jesus Christ to bring us salvation by faith in Him.  Verse seventy-nine concludes, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.  Jesus Christ is the light of the world and the only source of true peace, and until we accept Him as our personal Savior and Lord, we will continue to sit in spiritual darkness.  Verse eighty declares, And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.  John grew strong physically and spiritually in the desert until it was time to do what God has called him to do.  As we are waiting to do what God has for us to do, we should use the time to grow spiritually stronger.

Luke 1;57

Luke 1:57 aays, Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.  God's promise to Zacharias was fulfilled and Elisabeth had a son.  We can be certain that God's promises will always be fulfilled.  Verse fifty-eight adds, And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.  Elizabeth's neighbors and cousins heard about how God had shown her mercy and they rejoiced with her.  I believe any birth is a miracle from God and should be celebrated by God's people.  I know that sometimes the circumstances of the child's conception may be terrible, but we as followers of Christ must be there to celebrate the birth and do all that we can for both the mother and child.  Verse fifty-nine states, And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.  After eight days, at the time of the circumcision of the baby, the people gathered together and named the child Zacharias, after his father.  I know there was always a celebration at this time, but didn't know that the people named the child.  Matthew Henry says there was no Biblical direction that said the child had to have the father's name.  It was normal to name the child at the time of circumcision though, since God had given Abram a new name when he was circumcised.  Verse sixty adds, And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.  Elisabeth spoke up and said that he would not be called Zacharias, but John.  This is what God had said his name would be, and Elisabeth was obeying God's direction. If God blesses us today, and we know what He expects of us once we receive that blessing, then we need to follow through on what we know He wants us to do.  Verse sixty-one continues, And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.  Those gathered with her argued with Elisabeth, ssying none of her kindred were named John.  We might find it hard to understand anyone other than a parent naming a child, but evidently there were others involved then.  Verse sixty-two states, And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.  Evidently,  Zacharias still was unable to talk, so the people communicated with him by using signs.  Imagine a man as old as Zacharias finally becoming a father and having been unable to talk about it, all because of his lack of faith.  We should never allow a lack of faith to keep us from being able to share the joy of the blessings God brings to us.  Verse sixty-three adds, And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.  Zacharias asked for a writing tablet and wrote that the baby's name would be John, and the people marvelled.  They did not know what God had told Zacharias to name the baby.  Sometimes, people may not understand what we do as Christians, but if we know that God has influenced us to do something, we need to do it, even if other people do not understand why we are doing it.  Verse sixty-four declares, And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.  After Zacharias did as God had told him to do, he was able to speak once again and he first praised God.  When God does something miraculous in our life, we need praise Him to all those around us.  Verse sixty-five adds, And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.  Those around Zacharias and Elizabeth became afraid when Zacharias could suddenly speak again, and news of what had happened spread abroad and throughout the hill country of Judea.  People today who do not understand what God is doing in a person's life still often talk about it if something miraculous has happened.  Verse sixty-six continues, And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.  The people wondered what manner of child John would be, because they said the hand of God was on him.  I believe the hand of God is on every child, and we as followers of Christ should help them to become what God wants them to be.

Luke 1:46

Luke 1:46 says, And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,  Mary accepted the news and said her soul magnified the Lord.   When we are called to do something for God, no matter how impossible it may seem, we need to accept God's calling and magnify Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Verse forty-seven adds, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.  Like Mary, as Christians, our spirit needs to rejoice in God and the salvation that He has made available to us.  Verse forty-eight continues, For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.  Mary said that though she was of low estate that because of what God was doing through her that all generations would call her blessed.  I believe when we do what God calls us to do, no matter how lowly we may be in the eyes of the world, that we will be blessed by God, and that is what really matters.  Verse forty-nine states, For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.  I believe here Mary was saying that she would be called blessed because of what God was doing through her.  She was not seeking glorification for herself, but for God, and so must we as followers of Christ.  Verse fifty adds, And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.  God's mercy has been on generation to generation because of the coming of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse fifty-one continues, He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.  Mary said God had shown His strength and had scattered the imagination of the hearts of people.  Verse fifty-two says, He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.  Mary said that God put down those who believed themselves to be powerful and exalted those of low degree.  We cannot come to God believing that He must save us because of Who we are, but can only come as lowly sinners, accepting His gift of salvation.  Verse fifty-three adds, He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.  God does fill those who are spiritually hungry, and those who believe themselves to be rich and in no need of salvation will be sent away empty one day.   Material riches do not determine whether we are saved or not.  Veree forty-four continues, He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;  Mary said God had helped His servant Israel, and as long as they were His servants He did.  Their blessing by God was based on their obedience to their covenant relationship with Him. If we are to receive God's blessings today, we must be in a covenant relationship with Him through accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse fifty-five concludes, As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.  Mary said that God was fulfilling His promise to Abraham.  God will always fulfill His promises, no matter how long it may take.  Verse fifty-six states, And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.  Mary stayed with Elisabeth for three months before returning home.