Word@Work Luke33 - Luke 2:39-40
Published: Fri, 02/05/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
FROM LAW TO GRACE
Luke 2:39-40 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. (NIV)
Luke reminds us for the fifth time that Joseph and Mary had done everything for Jesus that God's law demanded (see Luke 2:22,23,24, 27, 39). Christ was not above God's law; He was born under its authority, but he was the only person who could fully keep it. Yet He chose to place Himself under the curse of the law in order to redeem us (Gal 3:13). As Galatians 4:4 says, "But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons."
Luke moves swiftly from the temple scene, when the infant Jesus was presented to the Lord, and the Holy Spirit moved Simeon and Anna as two witnesses to declare the truth about who Jesus was (Luke 2:22-38). Luke's purpose is to give his readers good reason to believe in Jesus as God the Son, the Saviour of the world. So he omits the visit of the Wise Men, the slaughter of the babies in Bethlehem and the emergency evacuation of Jesus to Egypt (you can read those accounts in Matt 2:1-20). After those events the family go back to live in Nazareth. There the child Jesus grew up in a house attached to the carpenter's shop where he was to learn all about wood and nails (Mark 6:3).
We know very little about His childhood. He grew up normally and yet was unusually 'strong in His spirit' (KJV): that does not mean he was self-willed, but rather that He was very clear about what was true and lived accordingly. He was also wise: He had the ability to apply truth to everyday life, and was so filled with wisdom that nothing He said or did was foolish. It was clear to everybody that Jesus was enjoying all of God's favour. The writer reiterates those character qualities in Luke 2:51-52 adding that Jesus was obedient to Joseph and Mary throughout his teenage years too.
Why is this detail important? Jesus was not just a gifted child who learned wisdom: He was wisdom (1 Cor 1:30). He not only kept the law but he perfectly fulfilled the law (Matt 5:17). He was not just gracious: He is still the giver of grace (2 Tim 1:9). In other words, Jesus was God the Son from the beginning (John 1:1-2) and was uniquely God in Mary's womb: He was sinless and holy - the only person fit to be the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)". That is why we can confidently trust Jesus to be our Saviour, and announce His salvation to others.
Prayer: Father God. Thank You so much for sending Your own dear Son to be my Saviour; to understand how I live and the struggles I face. Thank You that Jesus never ever deviated from the truth and so I can fully trust all that He said and did; and I can have confidence in His sacrifice. I rejoice because I have such a Saviour whose death still atones for my sin; whose wisdom still fully understands me, and whose grace is always sufficient to supply all my needs. I worship You in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Subscribe | View Archive | Donate | W@W Facebook Group
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Luke reminds us for the fifth time that Joseph and Mary had done everything for Jesus that God's law demanded (see Luke 2:22,23,24, 27, 39). Christ was not above God's law; He was born under its authority, but he was the only person who could fully keep it. Yet He chose to place Himself under the curse of the law in order to redeem us (Gal 3:13). As Galatians 4:4 says, "But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons."
Luke moves swiftly from the temple scene, when the infant Jesus was presented to the Lord, and the Holy Spirit moved Simeon and Anna as two witnesses to declare the truth about who Jesus was (Luke 2:22-38). Luke's purpose is to give his readers good reason to believe in Jesus as God the Son, the Saviour of the world. So he omits the visit of the Wise Men, the slaughter of the babies in Bethlehem and the emergency evacuation of Jesus to Egypt (you can read those accounts in Matt 2:1-20). After those events the family go back to live in Nazareth. There the child Jesus grew up in a house attached to the carpenter's shop where he was to learn all about wood and nails (Mark 6:3).
We know very little about His childhood. He grew up normally and yet was unusually 'strong in His spirit' (KJV): that does not mean he was self-willed, but rather that He was very clear about what was true and lived accordingly. He was also wise: He had the ability to apply truth to everyday life, and was so filled with wisdom that nothing He said or did was foolish. It was clear to everybody that Jesus was enjoying all of God's favour. The writer reiterates those character qualities in Luke 2:51-52 adding that Jesus was obedient to Joseph and Mary throughout his teenage years too.
Why is this detail important? Jesus was not just a gifted child who learned wisdom: He was wisdom (1 Cor 1:30). He not only kept the law but he perfectly fulfilled the law (Matt 5:17). He was not just gracious: He is still the giver of grace (2 Tim 1:9). In other words, Jesus was God the Son from the beginning (John 1:1-2) and was uniquely God in Mary's womb: He was sinless and holy - the only person fit to be the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)". That is why we can confidently trust Jesus to be our Saviour, and announce His salvation to others.
Prayer: Father God. Thank You so much for sending Your own dear Son to be my Saviour; to understand how I live and the struggles I face. Thank You that Jesus never ever deviated from the truth and so I can fully trust all that He said and did; and I can have confidence in His sacrifice. I rejoice because I have such a Saviour whose death still atones for my sin; whose wisdom still fully understands me, and whose grace is always sufficient to supply all my needs. I worship You in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Your next Word@Work will be sent on
W@WLuke33 | Word@Work © Dr Paul Adams 2010 | Provided by BeaconLight | Contact us at wordatwork@beaconlight.co.uk
Subscribe | View Archive | Donate | W@W Facebook Group