Ps 115:14 - May the LORD give you increase, you and your children. Lk. 2:40 & 52 - Jesus increased, & Jesus kept increasing

Transcription

1 Luke 2:39-52

2 Ps 115:14 - May the LORD give you increase, you and your children. Heb. - Yacaph (yaw-saf') meaning; to add or augment (often used as an adverb; to continue to add to a thing). Lk. 2:40 & 52 - Jesus increased, & Jesus kept increasing Greek - prokopto (prok-op'-to); meaning to advance, to increase, or to progress forward.

3 Luke 4:18-21 The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord. 21 -, Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.

4 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, 3 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 5 "And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 "Woe to the world because of {its} stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!

6 Nothing is more precious than a new-born baby

7 Nothing is more precious than a new-born baby Nothing is more beautiful than an innocent child

8 Nothing is more precious than a new-born baby Nothing is more beautiful than an innocent little child Nothing is more vulnerable to exploitation than a pretty baby.

9 Unlike spoiled children, who remain children too long, hurried children grow up too fast Hurried children are forced to take on the physical, psychological and social trappings of adulthood before they are prepared to deal with them Childhood is the most basic human right of children. Hurrying children into adult violates the sanctity of childhood.

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11 Luke 2:40 - And the Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. Luke 2:52 - And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

12 A Time of innocence A Time of simple joys A Time of childlike pleasure A Time of Increasing Strength A Time of Increasing Wisdom A Time of An Increasing Knowledge of God s Grace

13 The Gospel o f Thomas (Earliest Date- 13 th Century) Jesus makes clay birds, then proceeds to bring to life, (an act also recorded in Quran 5:110) Jesus curses a boy who hits him. The boy withers and dies. When Joseph and Mary's neighbors complain, they are miraculously struck blind by Jesus. He stretches a beam of wood to help his father finish constructing a bed.

14 Matt. 2:1-12 Visit by the Magi/ Warning Matt 2:12-19 Flight to Egypt/Death of Herod Matt. 2:16;20-23 Return to their Life in Nazareth (All takes place between v of Luke 2)

15 Child - [paidion] (pahee-dee'-on); an infant, or small child; figuratively, an immature Christian. Boy - [pais] (paheece); a boy, a son, a young man. Son - [teknon] (tek'-non); youngster under parental submission. Jesus - [Iesous] (ee-ay-sooce'); Jesus, Jehoshua, meaning - Savior

16 Luke s Account of Jesus at 12 (absolutely unique to this Gospel) Luke 2:41 - And His parents used to go to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.

17 NAZARETH - ( watchtower )- a town in lower Galilee, beautifully secluded in the southernmost hills of the Lebanon Mtn. range. Situated in the territory belonging to Zebulun, Nazareth lay close to the important trade routes of Palestine. (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

18 Normal Jewish childhood: Raised under the Law (Lk. 2:39) Lk. 2:40 continued to grow Annual observance of the Feast of the Passover (Lk. 2:41) Lk. 2:52 Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature

19 Heb 2:17 &18 existed like His brethren in all things, that He might come to our aid. Heb 4:15 One who has been tempted in all things as {we are, yet} without sin. Heb 5:8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.

20 Away from Home Occasion: Passover - was observed on the 14th day of the first month, Abib, with the service beginning in the evening (Lev. 23:6-8; Ex. 13:3-10). It lasted 7 days. Only unleavened bread was to be eaten during this feast, commemorating the haste with which Israel left Egypt. As the blood was drained from the sacrificial animal, so the life or the power of the leaven was removed from the bread offered to God during this annual celebration. *On the return trip to Nazareth, Jesus is discovered to be missing.

21 Traveled in a Caravan / Supposed Him to be with his cousins [suggenes] (soong-ghenace'); a relative (by blood); a cousin. Canvassed the caravan (v ) Returned to the city ( v. 45) After 3 days - found in the Temple ( v. 46)

22 His Priorities: Sitting in the midst of the Teachers Listening, and asking questions Answering the teachers questions And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business? (Lk. 2:49 NKJ)

23 Luke 2:51 And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all {these} things in her heart. Eph 6:1 - Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

24 Is it the family business? Do your lives demonstrate God increase? Is your life in favor with God and man?

25 2 Jn. 1:9 - Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.

26 Luke 2:52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Favor - form of [charis] (khar'-ece); of an acceptable or worthy manner. His life was acceptable to God and respected by men.

27 Your childhood may not have been favorable with you or God Your Savior s childhood [and adult life] that matter. Rom 5:10 - For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.