We continue our journey through Luke this December and encourage you to read all of Luke 2.

Jesus’ coming to earth shows God’s love. He could have heralded His coming by announcing it to the rich, but instead came to normal people, people like you and me.

There are so many characters in Luke 2 which show God’s love to all types of people from all walks of life:

• Mary and Joseph – a young girl and a simple carpenter
• Shepherds – not the high and elite, but humble shepherds
• Angels – the messengers of the birth announcement
• Simeon – a just and devout man whom the Holy Spirit had told would not see death until he saw the Lord’s Christ
• Anna – a widow of 84 years and prophetess who served God night and day
• Doctors in the temple – these men were men of God who studied God’s Word

Wow. What a host of characters!

Two things struck me as I read this chapter.

Anna. She had suffered so much as she was widowed after just 7 years of marriage. When she met Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, she had been widowed around 84 years. What had she done with her pain? She served God night and day in the temple with fasting and prayer. When she met Jesus, she gave thanks and told everyone who sought the redemption of Israel of Jesus. We can learn much from Anna!

Jesus. Most importantly, we see that Jesus grew just as other children did. 100% man. 100% God. Look at these two verses, specifically:

• Luke 2:40, “⁴⁰ And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.”
• Luke 2:52, “⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”

Jesus grew in spirit, wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man. May we follow His example in growing in wisdom, spirit, and in favor with God & man.