Author: Bill Hall

Luke 2:47 “And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.”

   They were amazed by both His answers and His questions. It showed a level of understanding and wisdom none would expect from a child. This was true throughout the time that Jesus was here on earth. Everyone was amazed by what He had to say.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the truth that You have given us. Jesus is all of the truth we will ever need. He teaches us everything by Your Spirit. We praise You for Your wise plan. All glory is Yours! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Luke 2:46 “Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.”

   The temple was apparently the last place they expected to find him. Otherwise they would not have spent three days looking. Evidently, since Jesus was so wise, the Jews in the temple must have assumed he was the son of someone important in Jerusalem, and thus did not ask him who exactly he was.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Christ! He has all of the answers to our questions. We will spend all eternity hearing what He has to say. Your wisdom is limitless! We will praise You for all of Your mighty works. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Luke 2:45 “So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.”

   Often it is those unexpected journeys of life from which we learn the most. We may not see what is coming next, but the break from the expected reminds us of the eternal.

Heavenly Father, thank You for guiding us in all of our ways. You know what comes next, and You can guide us correctly. We will recognize our dependence on You. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Luke 2:44 “but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.”

   At first Joseph and Mary were not very alarmed. They obviously trusted Jesus and had no inclination that He had stayed behind. We may try to berate them for not keeping better track of Jesus. But, given the circumstances, that is not necessary. Their confusion is understandable.

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the blessing of raising children. Help us to be thankful for all that it entails. The difficulties are so much outweighed by the blessings! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Luke 2:43 “When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it;”

   How could Jesus have stayed behind? Easily. He was trusted. He was given freedom to spend time with the relatives while in Jerusalem and along the way. His parents never suspected Him, and never needed to. And, the temple may not be the only place He visited during this time.

Heavenly Father, Your love is all we need. You give us a comfort none can understand unless they experience it. The knowledge of the truth of the gospel brings assurance and hope for all of life. Thank You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Luke 2:42 “And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.”

   Jesus was growing up. Twelve is old enough to begin looking and sounding like a person will all their life. We don’t know exactly why this trip to Jerusalem was different, why Jesus chose to do something differently, but His age may have been a factor.

Heavenly Father, lead us in Your way. Only You have the perfect plan for our lives. We can try to lead ourselves only to end up wasting our time. You are our Guide for everything. We will trust in You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Luke 2:41 “His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.”

   Any good Jewish family would do the same. The observance of Passover was a major event in their lives, and they would look forward all year to this opportunity. As we see in the passage, the Jews would go all together as a family down to Jerusalem. So, this was like the yearly family reunion. They would see and spend time with extended family members that they would not necessarily rub shoulders with on a regular basis. It was kind of like a vacation.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the opportunities that You give us. Many of the simple blessings of life we tend to overlook, and forget to thank You for them. But, all of it comes from Your hand. You know our every step, and You supply for every need. I will praise You for Your work in my life. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Luke 2:40 “And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.”

   Many have wondered how it is possible that Jesus grew. But, remember, the incarnation is a miracle. Jesus emptied Himself and became one of us. This did not limit Him completely. But, He did indeed grow in strength and wisdom. His physical body matured, just as anyone’s would. Though He was without sin.

Heavenly Father, great is the mystery of holiness! It astounds us on every hand. We can only just praise You for it. You are so wise and powerful! May we live to proclaim Your truth! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Luke 2:39 “So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.”

   Those early years were surely special. The other children of Joseph and Mary had not yet been born and they spent much of their time with Jesus. Nazareth has continued in importance even until today, though in their time, it was not as popular. The northern region of Israel was seen as almost a tack-on, and was not well favored. But, Joseph and Mary loved it well, and it was home for them, and for Jesus.

Heavenly Father, You are so good to us! You know how special home is to us. We love having a familiar place with familiar faces to return to. It gives us warmth and security. You are merciful, loving, and kind. Thank You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Luke 2:38 “And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

   Though many Jews at that time were looking only for deliverance from the Romans, the reference here is likely to those who sought deliverance from sin. It is this very thing that explains why the miracles of Christ were so popular, yet His message was not. His miracles made the Jews hope to use that power to overthrow the Romans. His message, however, showed that He had something else in mind. Rather than focusing on the problem of the Empire, His teaching dealt with the problem of sin.

Heavenly Father, help us to keep the focus where You want it. We tend to forget that all things are possible for You. We may try to put the emphasis on a good thing, while missing the best thing. We want Your best and we will praise You for all that You do. Make us Christlike, dear Father! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.