Scripture:
Luke 2:41-52 (English Standard Version)
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
41Now(A) his parents went(B) to Jerusalem every year at(C) the Feast of the Passover. 42And when he was twelve years old,(D) they went up according to custom. 43And when the feast(E) was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.(F) His parents did not know it, 44but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple,(G) sitting among(H) the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48And when his parents[a] saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold,(I) your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." 49And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that(J) I must be in(K) my Father’s house?"[b] 50And(L) they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And(M) his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
52And Jesus(N) increased in wisdom and in stature[c] and in favor with God and man.
Footnotes:
Luke 2:48 Greek they
Luke 2:49 Or about my Father’s business
Luke 2:52 Or years
Cross references:
Luke 2:41 : Luke 2:27
Luke 2:41 : 1 Sam 1:3
Luke 2:41 : Exodus 23:15; Deut 16:1; John 2:13
Luke 2:42 : John 11:55
Luke 2:43 : Exodus 12:15; Lev 23:8; Deut 16:3
Luke 2:43 : Luke 2:41
Luke 2:46 : Matt 26:55
Luke 2:46 : Luke 5:17
Luke 2:48 : Luke 2:27; Luke 2:49
Luke 2:49 : Luke 13:33
Luke 2:49 : John 2:16; 14:2
Luke 2:50 : Luke 18:34; Mark 9:32
Luke 2:51 : Luke 2:19
Luke 2:52 : 1 Sam 2:26
Reflection:
Do you recognize your Father in heaven? Jesus went up to the temple for his first Passover at the dawn of his manhood (usually the age of twelve for Jewish males). It was at this key turning point in his earthly life that Jesus took the name "father" from Joseph and addressed it to God his Father in heaven. Just as the prophet Samuel heard the call of the Lord at a very young age, Jesus in his youth recognized that he has been given a call by his heavenly Father. His answer to his mother's anxious inquiry reveals his trusting faith and confident determination to pursue his heavenly Father's will. Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house? While Jesus recognized his unique call, he, nonetheless, submitted himself with love and obedience to Joseph and Mary and waited for the time when his call would be fulfilled. Our Heavenly Father calls each of us to a unique task and mission in this life. We may not discover or understand it fully, but if we cooperate with God he will use us for his purpose and plan. With the call God gives grace -- grace to say "yes" to his will and grace to persevere through obstacles and trials. Do you recognize God's call on your life and do you trust in his grace?
Prayer For The Day:
Lord, in love you have called me to live for your praise and glory. May I always find joy in your presence and trust in your grace and in your wisdom and plan for my life.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Daily Word - What Do You Hope For - Luke 2:36-40
Scripture:
Luke 2:36-40 (English Standard Version)
36And there was(A) a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.[a] She did not depart from the temple,(B) worshiping with(C) fasting and prayer night and day. 38And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were(D) waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
39And when they had performed everything according to(E) the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of(F) Nazareth. 40(G) And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
Footnotes:
Luke 2:37 Or as a widow for eighty-four years
Cross references:
Luke 2:36 : Exodus 15:20
Luke 2:37 : 1 Tim 5:5
Luke 2:37 : Luke 5:33; Matt 6:16-18; Acts 13:2; 14:23; 2 Cor 6:5; 11:27
Luke 2:38 : Luke 2:25; Luke 1:68
Luke 2:39 : Luke 2:23
Luke 2:39 : Luke 2:4
Luke 2:40 : Luke 1:80
Reflection:
What do you hope for? The hope which God places in our heart is the desire for the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness. Hope grows with prayer and age. Anna was pre-eminently a woman of great hope and expectation that God would fulfill all his promises. Filled with the Holy Spirit, she was found daily in the house of the Lord, attending to the Lord in prayer and speaking prophetically to others about the Lord's promise to send a redeemer. She is a model of godliness to all believers as we advance in age. Advancing age and the disappointments of life can easily make us cynical and hopeless if we do not have our hope placed rightly. Anna's hope in God and his promises grew with age! She never ceased to worship God in faith and to pray with hope. Her hope and faith in God's promises fueled her indomitable zeal and fervor in prayer and service of God's people. How do we grow in hope? By placing our trust in the promises of Jesus Christ and relying not on our own strength, but on the grace and help of the Holy Spirit. Does your hope and fervor for God grow with age?
Prayer For The Day:
Lord, may I never cease to hope in you and to trust in your promises. Inflame my zeal for your kingdom and increase my love for prayer, that I may never cease to give you praise and worship.
Luke 2:36-40 (English Standard Version)
36And there was(A) a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.[a] She did not depart from the temple,(B) worshiping with(C) fasting and prayer night and day. 38And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were(D) waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
39And when they had performed everything according to(E) the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of(F) Nazareth. 40(G) And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
Footnotes:
Luke 2:37 Or as a widow for eighty-four years
Cross references:
Luke 2:36 : Exodus 15:20
Luke 2:37 : 1 Tim 5:5
Luke 2:37 : Luke 5:33; Matt 6:16-18; Acts 13:2; 14:23; 2 Cor 6:5; 11:27
Luke 2:38 : Luke 2:25; Luke 1:68
Luke 2:39 : Luke 2:23
Luke 2:39 : Luke 2:4
Luke 2:40 : Luke 1:80
Reflection:
What do you hope for? The hope which God places in our heart is the desire for the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness. Hope grows with prayer and age. Anna was pre-eminently a woman of great hope and expectation that God would fulfill all his promises. Filled with the Holy Spirit, she was found daily in the house of the Lord, attending to the Lord in prayer and speaking prophetically to others about the Lord's promise to send a redeemer. She is a model of godliness to all believers as we advance in age. Advancing age and the disappointments of life can easily make us cynical and hopeless if we do not have our hope placed rightly. Anna's hope in God and his promises grew with age! She never ceased to worship God in faith and to pray with hope. Her hope and faith in God's promises fueled her indomitable zeal and fervor in prayer and service of God's people. How do we grow in hope? By placing our trust in the promises of Jesus Christ and relying not on our own strength, but on the grace and help of the Holy Spirit. Does your hope and fervor for God grow with age?
Prayer For The Day:
Lord, may I never cease to hope in you and to trust in your promises. Inflame my zeal for your kingdom and increase my love for prayer, that I may never cease to give you praise and worship.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Daily Word - My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation - Luke 2:22-35
Scipture:
Luke 2:22-35 (English Standard Version)
Jesus Presented at the Temple
22And(A) when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem(B) to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in(C) the Law of the Lord,(D) "Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord" 24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in(E) the Law of the Lord,(F) "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." 25Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was(G) righteous and(H) devout,(I) waiting for(J) the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not(K) see death before he had seen(L) the Lord’s Christ. 27And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when(M) the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28he took him up in his arms and(N) blessed God and said, 29"Lord, now you are letting your servant[a] depart(O) in peace, (P) according to your word;30for(Q) my eyes have seen your(R) salvation 31(S) that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,32(T) a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and(U) for glory to(V) your people Israel."
33And(W) his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed(X) for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign(Y) that is opposed 35(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."
Footnotes:
Luke 2:29 Greek bondservant
Cross references:
Luke 2:22 : Lev 12; Luke 2:21, 27; Gal 4:4
Luke 2:22 : 1 Sam 1:22, 24
Luke 2:23 : Luke 2:39; Exodus 13:9; 2 Chr 31:3
Luke 2:23 : Exodus 13:2, 12
Luke 2:24 : Luke 2:23
Luke 2:24 : Lev 12:8
Luke 2:25 : Luke 1:6
Luke 2:25 : Acts 2:5; 8:2; 22:12
Luke 2:25 : Luke 2:38; Luke 23:51; Isa 25:9; Mark 15:43; Gen 49:18
Luke 2:25 : Isa 40:1; 57:18
Luke 2:26 : Psalm 89:48; John 8:51; Heb 11:5; Acts 2:27
Luke 2:26 : Luke 9:20; 23:35; 1 Sam 24:6
Luke 2:27 : Luke 2:33, 41, 43, 48-51
Luke 2:28 : Luke 1:64
Luke 2:29 : Gen 15:15
Luke 2:29 : Luke 2:26
Luke 2:30 : Isa 52:10
Luke 2:30 : Luke 3:6
Luke 2:31 : Psalm 98:2; Luke 24:47
Luke 2:32 : Isa 42:6; 49:6; 52:10; 60:3; John 8:12; Acts 13:47; 26:23
Luke 2:32 : Isa 45:25; 46:13
Luke 2:32 : Luke 2:10
Luke 2:33 : Luke 2:27
Luke 2:34 : Isa 8:14; Matt 21:44; John 9:39; 1 Cor 1:23, 24; 2 Cor 2:16; 1 Pet 2:8, 9
Luke 2:34 : Acts 28:22
Reflection:
Is your life in tune with the Holy Spirit? Simeon was a man who was just towards others and devout towards God. He gladly accepted the mission God called him to perform with much fervent prayer and with patient expectation. His whole life was in tune with the Holy Spirit. His was found daily in the temple in prayer and worship and in humble and faithful expectation for the day that the Lord would comfort his people. As the days and months grew into years he never lost hope. When Joseph and Mary presented the child Jesus in the temple, Simeon immediately recognized the Lord’s presence in his temple. Through eyes of faith he say the infant Jesus as the fulfillment of all the messianic prophecies, hopes, and prayers of the people of Israel. Inspired by the Holy Spirit he prophesied that Jesus was to be "a revealing light to the Gentiles". Jesus came not only as “light and salvation” for the people of Israel, but for all nations as well.
Jesus is the new temple (John 1:14; 2:19-22). In the Old Testament God manifested his presence in the “pillar of cloud” by day and the “pillar of fire” by night as he led them through the wilderness. God’s glory visibly came to dwell over the ark and the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38). When the first temple was build in Jerusalem God’s glory came to rest there (1 Kings 8). After the first temple was destroyed, Ezekiel saw God’s glory leave it (Ezekiel 10). But God promised one day to fill it with even greater glory (Haggai 2:1-9; Zechariah 8-9). That promise is fulfilled when the “King of Glory” himself comes to his temple (Psalm 24:7-10; Malachi 3:1). Through Jesus’ coming in the flesh and through his saving death, resurrection, and ascension we are made living temples of his Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16-17). Do you recognize that you are God’s temple and that his Spirit dwells within you?
Simeon blessed Mary and Joseph and he prophesied to Mary about the destiny of this child and the suffering she would undergo for his sake. There is a certain paradox for those blessed by the Lord. Mary was given the blessedness of being the mother of the Son of God. That blessedness also would become a sword which pierced her heart as her Son died upon the cross. She received both a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow. But her joy was not diminished by her sorrow because it was fueled by her faith, hope, and trust in God and his promises. Jesus promised his disciples that "no one will take your joy from you" (John 16:22). The Lord gives us a supernatural joy which enables us to bear any sorrow or pain and which neither life nor death can take way. Do you know the joy of a life fully surrendered to God with faith and trust?
Prayer For The Day:
Lord, may I recognize your visitation and be prepared for your action today, just as Simeon was prepared and ready to respond to your visitation and action in his day.
Luke 2:22-35 (English Standard Version)
Jesus Presented at the Temple
22And(A) when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem(B) to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in(C) the Law of the Lord,(D) "Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord" 24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in(E) the Law of the Lord,(F) "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." 25Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was(G) righteous and(H) devout,(I) waiting for(J) the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not(K) see death before he had seen(L) the Lord’s Christ. 27And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when(M) the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28he took him up in his arms and(N) blessed God and said, 29"Lord, now you are letting your servant[a] depart(O) in peace, (P) according to your word;30for(Q) my eyes have seen your(R) salvation 31(S) that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,32(T) a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and(U) for glory to(V) your people Israel."
33And(W) his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed(X) for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign(Y) that is opposed 35(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."
Footnotes:
Luke 2:29 Greek bondservant
Cross references:
Luke 2:22 : Lev 12; Luke 2:21, 27; Gal 4:4
Luke 2:22 : 1 Sam 1:22, 24
Luke 2:23 : Luke 2:39; Exodus 13:9; 2 Chr 31:3
Luke 2:23 : Exodus 13:2, 12
Luke 2:24 : Luke 2:23
Luke 2:24 : Lev 12:8
Luke 2:25 : Luke 1:6
Luke 2:25 : Acts 2:5; 8:2; 22:12
Luke 2:25 : Luke 2:38; Luke 23:51; Isa 25:9; Mark 15:43; Gen 49:18
Luke 2:25 : Isa 40:1; 57:18
Luke 2:26 : Psalm 89:48; John 8:51; Heb 11:5; Acts 2:27
Luke 2:26 : Luke 9:20; 23:35; 1 Sam 24:6
Luke 2:27 : Luke 2:33, 41, 43, 48-51
Luke 2:28 : Luke 1:64
Luke 2:29 : Gen 15:15
Luke 2:29 : Luke 2:26
Luke 2:30 : Isa 52:10
Luke 2:30 : Luke 3:6
Luke 2:31 : Psalm 98:2; Luke 24:47
Luke 2:32 : Isa 42:6; 49:6; 52:10; 60:3; John 8:12; Acts 13:47; 26:23
Luke 2:32 : Isa 45:25; 46:13
Luke 2:32 : Luke 2:10
Luke 2:33 : Luke 2:27
Luke 2:34 : Isa 8:14; Matt 21:44; John 9:39; 1 Cor 1:23, 24; 2 Cor 2:16; 1 Pet 2:8, 9
Luke 2:34 : Acts 28:22
Reflection:
Is your life in tune with the Holy Spirit? Simeon was a man who was just towards others and devout towards God. He gladly accepted the mission God called him to perform with much fervent prayer and with patient expectation. His whole life was in tune with the Holy Spirit. His was found daily in the temple in prayer and worship and in humble and faithful expectation for the day that the Lord would comfort his people. As the days and months grew into years he never lost hope. When Joseph and Mary presented the child Jesus in the temple, Simeon immediately recognized the Lord’s presence in his temple. Through eyes of faith he say the infant Jesus as the fulfillment of all the messianic prophecies, hopes, and prayers of the people of Israel. Inspired by the Holy Spirit he prophesied that Jesus was to be "a revealing light to the Gentiles". Jesus came not only as “light and salvation” for the people of Israel, but for all nations as well.
Jesus is the new temple (John 1:14; 2:19-22). In the Old Testament God manifested his presence in the “pillar of cloud” by day and the “pillar of fire” by night as he led them through the wilderness. God’s glory visibly came to dwell over the ark and the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38). When the first temple was build in Jerusalem God’s glory came to rest there (1 Kings 8). After the first temple was destroyed, Ezekiel saw God’s glory leave it (Ezekiel 10). But God promised one day to fill it with even greater glory (Haggai 2:1-9; Zechariah 8-9). That promise is fulfilled when the “King of Glory” himself comes to his temple (Psalm 24:7-10; Malachi 3:1). Through Jesus’ coming in the flesh and through his saving death, resurrection, and ascension we are made living temples of his Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16-17). Do you recognize that you are God’s temple and that his Spirit dwells within you?
Simeon blessed Mary and Joseph and he prophesied to Mary about the destiny of this child and the suffering she would undergo for his sake. There is a certain paradox for those blessed by the Lord. Mary was given the blessedness of being the mother of the Son of God. That blessedness also would become a sword which pierced her heart as her Son died upon the cross. She received both a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow. But her joy was not diminished by her sorrow because it was fueled by her faith, hope, and trust in God and his promises. Jesus promised his disciples that "no one will take your joy from you" (John 16:22). The Lord gives us a supernatural joy which enables us to bear any sorrow or pain and which neither life nor death can take way. Do you know the joy of a life fully surrendered to God with faith and trust?
Prayer For The Day:
Lord, may I recognize your visitation and be prepared for your action today, just as Simeon was prepared and ready to respond to your visitation and action in his day.
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