Category: Luke

Luke 2:41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.  

It’s probably a bad thing that this passage brings me comfort. I mean, I am absolutely not a perfect parent, but I’ve never lost my kid, like literally left him behind for a full day before I realized he was missing. In the messiness of parenting, this passage helps me to see that things happen. To all of us.

Luke 2:42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.

But this passage also reminds me that I have done my best to raise my children in the Lord, with a firm foundation. I wasn’t perfect at it, but they are both reaching an age where I have to trust that between our raising, their brains, and God’s grace, they will be ok in this world, even when I don’t know exactly where they are and what they are doing.

Luke 2:43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 

Precious Savior, I know how very much I love my children. And I know you love my children even more than I do. As they continue to grow and mature and become more independent, help them to trust You. Help me to trust them. Guide us all. Help us to shine Your light. Always. Amen.

Luke 2:44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.

Have a blessed day.

Luke 2:36-37 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 

Today’s reading sent me down a very short rabbit hole looking up the prophet Anna. The long and the short of what I found was that hers was “a life lived in expectation.” I like that phrasing, “a life lived in expectation,” because it describes Anna and Jesus and us.

Luke 2:38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

To me, the phrase “a life lived in expectation” can be taken in two ways. According to Google, expectation (n) means “a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future.” So if my life is one lived in expectation, that could mean that I am waiting for that thing that I believe will happen. But it can also mean that there is an expectation for my life, for what I will accomplish, and that I am waiting to fulfill that potential.

Luke 2:39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the idea of “a life lived in expectation.” Help me to embody both possibilities. Help me to live my life waiting, looking, hoping for, believing that You are with me always. And help  me to fulfill the potential and the promise, that expectation, that You have for my life. Help me to shine Your light and point others to You. Amen.

Luke 2:40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

Have a blessed day.

Luke 2:28-29 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

How old was Jesus in this section? It sounds like he was still a baby since “he took him in his arms,” so definitely still small. Can you imagine Mary, a prophet holding your infant and telling you that “a sword will pierce your own soul too” (v35)? I wonder if the magnitude of Mary’s sacrifice is just sinking in.

Luke 2:30-32 For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

I wonder if she had considered before the implications of carrying the Son of God. It’s not just that she was an unwed, pregnant teen. It’s that she is the mother of Jesus–who came to save the world by giving Himself for our sins. Her baby boy. Her little one. That transition–Savior of the world, won’t be quick or easy or painless, and a sword will pierce Mary’s soul, too.

Luke 2:33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for Mary, that she had a choice, that she chose to trust You, even though she had no idea what that truly meant at the time. Thank You that You were with her even when a sword pierced her soul, too. Thank You that You are with us, too, always. Amen.

Luke 2:34-35 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” 

Have a blessed day.

Luke 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 

Verse 26 is what jumps out at me today. I want to know how it had been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. How did he know that it was truly a holy message and not wishful thinking or what *he* wanted but not necessarily divine?

Luke 2:26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 

Did knowing that he would live until he saw the Lord’s Messiah change the way Simeon lived? Each day he didn’t see the Lord’s Messiah, was he angry that it still hadn’t happened? Was he hopeful that tomorrow would be the day? Did he just go about living his life the best he could without any special focus on this eventuality? Do we even have divine revelations anymore?

Luke 2:27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the realizations you place on my heart while I am studying Your word. Help me to take these lessons to heart, to apply them to my life, and to live closer to You–open to every opportunity that this day holds. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Luke 2:28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying….

Have a blessed day.

Luke 2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Today I have no wise revelations, no poignant insight. The shepherds saw the baby Jesus and rejoiced. Mary and Joseph circumcised the baby, named Him, and presented Him, consecrated Him to the Lord as any new Jewish parents of the time would. It’s pretty ordinary.

Luke 2:21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

But isn’t that the bulk of life? Pretty ordinary? But Jesus is right there in the middle of it. Today is my last day of break. Monday begins a new semester for students. There are things I could do, should do, and want to do. Entirely ordinary. But Jesus is right here in the middle of it, too. I tend to forget that.

Luke 222 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord:

Precious Savior, Thank You for always being there for me, in the ordinary and the extraordinary of life. Forgive me when I get so caught up in my ordinary, routine life that I forget that You are still right there with me. Help me to value each day as the gift that it is. Amen.

Luke 2:23-24 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

Have a blessed day.

Luke 2:16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 

As a ponderer myself, verse 19 has always resonated with me. However, in my curious mood, I’d like to know what, specifically, Mary is treasuring and pondering. Is it all that has happened in Luke thus far? Zechariah’s muteness, Elizabeth’s pregnancy, The angel’s visit, Mary’s immaculate conception, Joseph’s continued support, the trip and census when she’s so very pregnant, the birth, the accommodations, the angels?

Luke 2:17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 

Some of these things are pretty significant hardships. The cynic in me resists the idea that she treasured the difficult things, though I know James 1:2 tells us to “Count it all joy whenever we face trials of many kinds” because those trials allow us to draw closer to God, and I know He can use all things for our good and His glory.

Luke 2:18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 

Precious Savior, You know I’m a ponderer. Help me to become a treasurer, too, valuing those times–good or bad–that allow me to draw closer to You. And while I don’t want to over-analyze, I know that pondering as I do with You each morning helps me draw closer. Help me to treasure and ponder so that I can continue to draw closer to You. Amen.

Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 

Have a blessed day.

Luke 2:12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Again today, I wonder about the reaction of the shepherd’s in the quiet of their hearts, that place where they are really honest with themselves. Were they like, “What the heck just happened here?” or “Did you guys see what I saw?” Did they automatically accept and believe that angels had visited them with a holy message?

Luke 2:13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

Was there any doubt? Confusion? Fear? Annoyance? Were any of them upset at the disruption of their work? “Seriously?!? I’ve got work to do here. I can’t go traipsing off to Bethlehem to see what’s up.” Did they trust that they really had been visited by angels, that this really was a heavenly birth?

Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Precious Savior, I can be incredibly skeptical and incredibly focused. Those traits can be really useful, but I fear that they can also keep me from seeing and hearing, looking and listening. I don’t want to miss You in my life. Help me to pay attention and be open to seeing You everywhere. I know You are there. Amen.

Luke 2:15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Have a blessed day.

Luke 2:8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 

Why did the angel of the Lord appear to these shepherds? Were these more of the expectation-shattering choices like an unwed teenage girl becoming the mother of Jesus? Why these three? Why here? Why now?

Luke 2:9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  

What were their reactions? Were they grumpy that their work was interrupted? Were they annoyed that they already had obligations to care for the sheep and now they had something else on their plate? Were they curious? Excited? Terrified?

Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 

Precious Savior, You are up to something here, and I’m curious, which I think is your point. Thank You for allowing me to read this scripture with a curious mind. Help me to soak up every single aspect of this story. Help my attitude reflect Your glory and sovereignty. Amen.

Luke 2:11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Have a blessed day.

Luke 2:4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 

Today’s scripture is a case study in wrong timing. Everything was wrong here–Mary was 9 months pregnant, and they had to go to Bethlehem for a census?!? While they were gone, she went into labor?!? She had the baby in a stable?!? (Of course, we know now that this wasn’t quite what we always thought, but still. The newborn Savior is going in an animal food trough?!?)

Luke 2:5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 

And yet, the Savior of the world was born. Exactly when and where He needed to be. And it was ok. Better than ok, it was miraculous, wrong timing, wrong location, this-is-not-the-way-it-is-supposed-to-be, and all. I can learn a lot from this story.

Luke 2:6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 

Precious Savior, You know I love a good plan. You know I have so many things laid out in my mind–time, place, exactly as it should be. Yet you also know that life does not always go according to plan. But You are always with me. Help me to hold on to my plans with open hands, so that I can adapt when the timing is wrong. Help me to hold on to You with everything that I am. Amen.

Luke 2:7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Have a blessed day.

Luke 2:1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 

And so begins one of the most well-known stories of the Bible. And especially with Christmas having just passed, so very many people are familiar with this story. Sometimes I think that might be part of the problem–familiarity. It makes us comfortable, we hurry along, not paying full attention because…we KNOW this story, right?

Luke 2:2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 

But if there is one thing I know for certain, it is that looking with new eyes on a familiar text can reveal things you haven’t noticed before, can reveal inconsistencies in what you thought you knew, can reveal things you’ve missed because you are just so familiar.

Luke 2:3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

Precious Savior, Thank You for new eyes to read a familiar story. Thank You for questions I never thought to ask before. Thank You for this season, this birth, this time to rejoice and celebrate. Thank You for hope, born in a manger. Amen.

Luke 2:4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 

Have a blessed day.