Read the Passage: Luke 2:21-52

Dedication and Prophecy (2:21–35)

Luke 2:21 records that in accordance with God’s instructions at Gen. 17:12, eight days after His birth, Jesus was circumcised. It had become customary in Israel that children would be officially named at this time, thus Jesus was given His name when circumcised. Luke 2:22–24 reports that in agreement with the Jewish law (cf. Lev. 12:1–8), Mary and Joseph presented their Son to the Lord at the temple at the completion of Mary’s days of purification. In accord with Lev. 12:4, this would have been at least thirty-three days after Christ’s birth. Observe that at this dedication ceremony, Mary and Joseph offered “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:24), rather than a lamb. This indicates that Mary and Joseph were likely on the lower end of the economic spectrum, as an offering of birds was a cheaper, permissible sin offering than was a lamb (cf. Lev. 5:11–14).

Luke 2:25–35 contains the narrative of Simeon’s praise and prophecy about Jesus. Note that this man Simeon is mentioned nowhere else in Scripture. Luke writes that “it had been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26). This is an indicator of Simeon’s great faith and, likely, his great age (cf. Luke 2:25). Luke reports that it was when Mary and Joseph entered the temple that Simeon took Jesus into his arms and offered a psalm of praise (cf. Luke 2:29–32). In his psalm Simeon prophesies about Jesus, that He will be “a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32). Understandably, Mary and Joseph marveled at Simeon’s words. In blessing Jesus’ parents, Simeon noted that Christ would cause many to fall and to rise in Israel. Indeed, Jesus is a stumbling block to some (cf. 1 Pet. 2:8) yet He gives eternal life to others.

Testimony and Return (2:36–40)

Despite the many prophecies about Jesus’ advent in the Old Testament, it is interesting that almost everyone who acknowledged Christ’s birth was informed via an angelic or otherwise divine event. These individuals include: Mary (cf. Luke 1:36–33), Joseph (cf. Matt. 1:18–21), the shepherds (cf. Luke 2:8–14), Simeon (cf. Luke 2:25–35), Anna (cf. Luke 2:36–40), and the wise men (cf. Matt. 2:1–12). Luke 2:36–40 reports that when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, a prophetess—an otherwise unknown, elder widow named Anna—spoke concerning Christ’s redemption. Anna is one of five women in the Bible who is called a prophetess, including: Miriam (cf. Exod. 15:20), Deborah (cf. Judg. 4:4), Huldah (cf. 2 Ki. 22:14), and Isaiah’s wife (cf. Isa. 8:3). Note that later it is recorded that the four daughters of Philip also prophesied (cf. Acts 21:9).

Celebration and Growth (2:41–52)

Luke 2:39–40 records that after His dedication, Jesus’ family returned to Nazareth, where Christ “grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him” (Luke 2:40). There is then a gap of time, somewhere between eleven and twelve years, between Luke 2:40–41. The narrative of Luke 2:41–49 gives the account of what was likely Jesus’ first Passover celebration in Jerusalem. Whether or not Christ had ever been to Jerusalem as a younger child is not recorded; however, at what was probably His first Passover celebration, “Jesus was twelve years old” (Luke 2:42). This passage is important, as it contains the only account of Christ as a young child in the Gospels. Luke writes that when Christ was inadvertently left behind by His parents in Jerusalem, He was found in the Temple “listening to the teachers and asking them questions (Luke 2:46).

Surely, Jesus being left behind in Jerusalem was not an act of rebellion, disobedience, or deception on His part, but was a simple oversight on the part of Mary and Joseph. It is interesting that when Jesus was found, Mary chastised Him, asking, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, your father and I have sought you anxiously” (Luke 2:48). Yet, in response, Christ mildly rebuked His mother, as He asked her, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49). This reply suggests that even at an early age, Jesus had some awareness of His mission on earth. Moreover, Jesus seems surprised that Mary and Joseph were not aware of the reason for His incarnation. Luke notes that Jesus’ parents did not understand His reply; yet Mary “kept all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:51). This suggests Luke knew and had interviewed Mary.

Application Questions:

1. Why do the Gospels not give any detailed information about Jesus’ childhood, or even his adulthood prior to His time in ministry?
2. Why were Jewish parents required to give a sin offering at the birth of a child? Why were the days of purification for a daughter longer than the days for a son?
3. In light of the many Old Testament prophesies about Jesus’ first coming, how can we explain the lack of attention He received at His birth?
4. Was Jesus being left behind in Jerusalem an act of rebellion or disobedience on His part, or a simple oversight on the part of His parents?
5. Since Jesus was always fully God, how could He “increase in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52)?