August 1, 2025; Luke 2:22-52

Daily Dose of Hope

August 1, 2025

Scripture – Luke 2:22-52

Prayer:  King of Kings and Lord of Lords, You are an amazing God.  Thank you for becoming one of us.  Thank you for emptying yourself to take on the form of a servant.  Your name is worthy of all praise.  Give us insight, wisdom, and discernment, as we read your Word today.  Help us take this precious gift of Scripture and apply it to our lives.  We are grateful, Jesus, and we love you.  Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan.  Currently, we are working through the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are finishing up Luke 2.

Today’s reading shows us that Joseph and Mary are good, law-abiding Jews. They visit the Temple at just the right time to give sacrifices for Mary’s purification (done about 40 days after giving birth.) It was also at this time that they dedicate their first-born son to the Lord. The new parents offer a pair of doves or two young pigeons, which would have been the sacrifice offered for those who are poor or possibly middleclass. This just serves to reinforce that Jesus did not come from money or influence.

The Spirit leads an older man in the Temple, named Simeon, to greet Jesus and his parents. The Scripture says that Simeon was righteous and devout and had been waiting for the consolation of Israel. This consolation does not refer to the Jewish political hopes of conquering the Romans but rather the hope that will come with the Messiah, the salvation of Jesus Christ and the coming of God’s Kingdom.

Simeon’s song to God is quite beautiful. He says that now he has seen God’s salvation, he can die in peace. Jesus will be a light to the Gentiles and the glory of the nation of Israel. It says that his parents marveled at what was said about him. Remember, they knew their child was special but as the sleep-deprived parents of an infant, all of this was probably pretty difficult to wrap their heads around.

Simeon then says this, This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too. This statement, which serves as prophecy, must have been a bit alarming to his parents. Jesus’ message will divide the nation. Some will believe and others will oppose him. The journey toward promise-fulfillment will be a difficult one. To walk with Jesus will bring pain and persecution and many will in turn reject him.

And then there is the statement that Mary’s heart will be broken or pierced as well. It is incredibly painful for a mother to see her child rejected. Most moms I know would gladly endure pain and suffering so their child wouldn’t have to do so. Simeon is preparing Mary for what’s to come.

The next portion of the chapter, about young Jesus staying behind in the Temple as his parents head back to Nazareth, is fascinating to me.  We don’t have a lot of information about Jesus as a boy.  I’m guessing that while he was obedient, he may have been a challenge to parent.  He was brilliant, he was mature beyond his years, and he had a depth of spiritual understanding that his parents could not fathom. 

But it’s worth noting that when his parents noticed he was missing from the caravan, they went back to Jerusalem and found him in the Temple, listening to the teachers of the law and asking them questions.  The Son of God sat at the teachers’ feet and asked questions.  Could it be that twenty years later some of these same teachers would be threatened by this boy’s wisdom and influence and want to have him killed? 

The final line of the chapter is intriguing.  It says that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. How can the God in human form grow and learn?  Wouldn’t he already know everything?  I think this is where we get a glimpse of the incarnation – Jesus was fully God and also fully human.  I think of Philippians 2:6-7 which reads that, Though he was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.  Jesus was the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, but he also gave up some of his God-like character traits as a human being, such as omniscience (he could not be everywhere at the same time).  I think this Scripture also indicates that he may have also restrained his trait of being all-knowing.  There was actually a need to gain insight and wisdom.

I would love your thoughts on this!   Have a great weekend and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki