Luke 2:22-35
Originally written 9/19/07
God’s plans are sometimes quiet and without fan fare but like what is told here his plans are in your face. God provided people all along the way to tell the people what is to come. It doesn’t tell us exactly how old Simeon was but he must have been very old since it tells us that Simeon wouldn’t die until he had seen Christ Lord. After Simeon sees Jesus and holds him in his arms he says” Lord now you are letting your servant depart in peace”. The words of praise he speaks are reverent and beautifully poetic. Joseph and Mary are shocked by what Simeon says and then what he does by blessing them. Simeon predictions aren’t all flowers after blessing Mary and Joseph he tells Mary that she will experience a piecing anguish. We have heard before that in the Garden God killed animals and gave Adam and Eve skins to cover themselves and that this act was a prelude to what God would do later by sacrificing Jesus to cover all of our sins. Well God also told Eve you will experience great pain during childbirth. Mary has now been told that she will experience great pain because of the child she bore. Do you think she wanted to run away and keep him safe? She knows that this child is her son but not her son and now she knows his destiny. How would you have felt knowing what your child would have to endure? Could we have given our fears and pain to God to do what Mary did? She must have asked God for peace and guidance everyday of her life. I am learning that out of all the things required of us as Christians this is one of the hardest. To let God cont to give you peace when the world is exploding around you and we need to recognize that when we don’t have peace it is because we have chose to shut out God’s Gifts.
Interpertation now 7/14/10
It still moves me greatly when I read this passage, maybe because I am a mother and I know the joy and pain children can bring. I can picture this in my mind so clearly Mary is watching this man hold her child with love and reverence in his eyes and she is almost bursting with joy.  Suddenly the man turns his eyes upon her and with sympathy and sorrow he warns her what is to come. She probably was very confused and can't imagine how this miracle could ever bring her pain. We know the outcome of the story and we know that Jesus and God with great remorse did deliver Mary unimaginable pain. I wonder how many times throughout his life did God just suround Mary with peace and joy trying to prepare her for what was to come. I know without a shadow of a doubt that he prepared her just as he prepare me for my trials. Thank you Lord for being a loving God and providing us with comfort even when we must hurt. Amen

Luke 2:1-21

originally written on 9/18/07

In this passage it tells us of Jesus birth. Luke reads more like a historical account than the other gospels. He doesn’t give a lot of emotional details. God is always able to work out his plan perfectly. Caesar had decreed that everyone be registered so Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem. I wonder what they were thinking as they left their home. I imagine they were a little unnerved since Mary was very very pregnant at this time. Did they realize how long it would be before they got to see their home again? I know that most of the people were nomadic but I am sure that they had friends and loved ones that they had to leave behind. In verse 5 it talks about Mary being Joseph betrothed wife which means that Mary and Joseph weren’t married yet. In that time era engagement was a binding contract that could only be reversed by divorcing. Jesus is born without fan fare, in a simple and uncomplicated way. This is the precursor of how his life will be lived as a common man with an extraordinary message. We know that the Sheppard’s came to see Jesus, but we don’t know exactly how much time had passed since his birth in this passage it records Jesus circumcision, which would have been carried out eight days after birth, after the Sheppard’s had already seen Jesus. The Sheppard’s were told of Jesus birth by an angel and I think the reason God did this was to have some witnesses to testify about Jesus birth. Think of it would anyone have believed Mary or possibly even Joseph about what had occurred and how important this child was, they in the public’s eyes had been tainted. All in all Luke describes the things he was aware of in chronological order. I think that we need to remember that Jesus was born of a lowly birth. He was a living example of living a simple life.
Interpretation now 7/6/2010
I am still amazed at the way that God chose to orchestrate his plan and how even with Jesus birth he let us see little glimpses at what was to come. I think sometimes we let our fears, others expectations of how we should act and our own ideas of where our paths should be get in the way of God's plan. Now you want to see something really amazing see how God uses all of that to make his plan, no matter what we throw at him, turn out perfectly. God please continue to mold us no matter how we try to get in your way. May we remember the living example of how following you is simple if we keep our eyes and ears on you. Amen.