It has been well said, “God is behind all the scenes, and He is moving all the scenes He is behind.” In this chapter we see how God caused Cæsar Augustus to make a decree so that the Lord Jesus would be born in Bethlehem of Judea instead of Nazareth, the city where Joseph and Mary were living.
What a wonderful event it was when the Lord Jesus came into this world! Was He born in a palace? No, He was born in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Although He was rich, yet He became poor and entered this world in very humble circumstances.
God sent His angel to tell the shepherds about this wonderful news. They saw a heavenly host praising God and decided to go to Bethlehem to see the cause of this great joy. Then they told others what they had seen and heard. Now they were glorifying and praising God also.
There were not many people who were waiting for the Lord Jesus to be born. This chapter mentions a man whose name was Simeon, who was just and devout and also waiting. After he saw the child Jesus, he was ready to die in peace because he had seen the One by whom God would bring salvation.
There was also a woman named Anna from the tribe of Aser (Asher). When she came into the temple that day, she gave thanks to God for coming into this world to redeem poor, lost sinners.
As the child Jesus grew, it was Joseph and Mary’s custom to go to Jerusalem every year to keep the feast of the Passover. One time, when Jesus was 12 years old, he stayed behind in the temple without telling His parents. They thought He was with their relatives, but He wasn’t. Sometimes we leave the Lord behind, and we don’t realize it, and then in sorrow we turn back again. How good it is to have the Lord Jesus with us wherever we go!
1. When everyone returned to their own city to be taxed, Joseph left Nazareth to go to Bethlehem in Judea because he belonged to the house and lineage of __________. Luke 2:___
2. The good tidings of great joy that the angels brought to the shepherds were not only for the people of Israel, but for __________. Luke 2:___
3. What was the name of a man who lived in Jerusalem who was just, devout and waiting for the consolation of Israel? __________ Luke 2:___
4. Anna was an 84-year-old widow who gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to whom? __________ Luke 2:___
5. How many days did it take before Joseph and Mary found Jesus in the temple sitting in the midst of the doctors? __________ Luke 2:___