Luke Part 1 Week 11

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 2:36-37 

³⁶ Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. ³⁷ Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 

Some say the 10 northern tribes were never heard from after they were taken into captivity. Anna, however, is said to be from the tribe of Asher. It was one of those 10 tribes. Her heart was solidly fixed on Jehovah. This is seen by her staying in the temple, the house of God, in those days. She stayed there day and night “worshiping God with fasting and prayer.” 

REFLECT 

Does Anna’s devotion to God encourage you? The Old English word “worth-ship” is that from which the word “worship” is derived. Do you often think about God’s worth? That is worshiping Him. 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in thinking about God’s temple today. In Old Testament times God’s presence dwelt in a physical building. Today His temple is the believer’s body. Read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 in this regard. 

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 2:38 

³⁸She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. 

Anna did not keep quiet about the good news. She praised God when she saw the baby. She saw the birth of this baby to be the one who would rescue Jerusalem. Of course, He not only came to be the Messiah of Israel but also to be the Savior of the world.  

REFLECT 

As you thank Jesus for dying for you, do you also thank Him for dying for the sins of the entire world?  

RESPOND 

Because He was fully God as well as fully man, the death of Jesus on the cross paid for the sins of the world past, present and future. Read 1 John 2:1-2 and discuss this with a friend. Talk about sins being paid for but only becomes reality for those who trust in Jesus as Savior.  

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 2:39-40 

³⁹ When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. ⁴⁰ There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him. 

Mary and Joseph were living during the time of the Old Testament law so they did all it required before heading home to Nazareth. This was a trip of about 65 miles north of Jerusalem. This was a long trip in those days. Luke, the author of this gospel, tells about the childhood of Jesus by saying, “There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.” This was even before He had reached age 12. 

REFLECT 

Although few details are given of the way Jesus grew up, one can imagine all the things this perfect young child did—and did not do. 

RESPOND 

Talk about your childhood with a friend. Think about how many things each of you can remember about your lives before you were 12 years of age. 

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 2:41-42 

⁴¹ Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. ⁴² When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. 

This was the custom of Jewish people under the Old Testament law. Think of the distance and time it would take them to go about 65 miles “every year” up to Jerusalem and 65 miles back. This was a critical time in the life of Jesus as He was 12 years old. Jewish law declared a son at age 12 to have all the rights and privileges of adulthood. 

REFLECT 

Does this help you to have more sympathy for those who had to travel so far in those days without a modern means of transportation? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend and talk about how long it takes you now to travel 65 miles. What if you had to walk it even if one of you had a donkey to ride on? 

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 2:43-44 

⁴³ After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, ⁴⁴ because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. 

It would not have been unusual for Jesus to be with others in the group traveling to Nazareth. This is what His parents thought even though He had stayed in Jerusalem. Think how frantic they were when they realized Jesus could not be found. 

REFLECT 

Have you known of a parent who could not find a child? Such a parent could identify with how desperate the parents of Jesus were. 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about how hysterical each of you would be in the same situation as Mary and Joseph. The Bible is not just given for information. Believers need to think on it and put themselves in the situation a biblical account describes.