Read Luke 3:1-18

JOHN THE BAPTIST PREPARE THE WAY FOR JESUS
Tiberius, the Roman Emperor, ruled from A.D. 14 to 37. Pilate was the Roman governor responsible for the province of Judea; Herod Antipas and Philip were half-brothers and sons of the cruel Herod the Great, who has been dead for than 20 years. Antipas, Philip, Pilate, and Lysanias had equal powers in governing their separate territories. All were subject to Rome and responsible for keeping peace in their respective lands.
Under Jewish law there was only one high priest. He was appointed from Aaron’s line, and he held this position for life. By this time, however, the religious system had been corrupted, and the Roman government had bee appointing its own religious leaders to maintain greater control over the Jews. The Roman authorities had deposed the Jewish appointed Annas and had replaced him with Annas’s son-in-law, Caiaphas. Nevertheless, Annas retained his tittle and also much of the power it carried. Because the Jews believed the high priest’s position to be for life, they would have continued to call Annas their high priest.
Pilate, Herod, and Caiaphas were the most powerful leaders in Palestine, bu they were upstaged by a wilderness prophet from rural Judea. God chose to speak through the loner John the Baptist, who has gone down in history as greater than any of the rulers of his day. How often we judge people by our culture’s standards, and miss the truly great people through whom God works. Greatness is not measured by what you have but by your faith in God. Like John, give yourself entirely to God so God’s power can work through you.
To turn from sins means turning away from sins and turning toward God. To truly turn from your sins, you must do both. You can’t just say you believe and then live any way you please, and neither can you simply live a morally correct life without a personal relationship with Christ, because that cannot bring forgiveness from sin. Determine to rid your life of any sins God points out, and put your trust in Him alone to guide you.
In John’s day, before a king took a trip, messengers would tell those he was planning to visit and to prepare the roads for him. Similarly, John told his listeners to make their lives ready so the Lord could come to them. To prepare for Jesus’ coming to us, we must focus on Him, read His Word, and respond obediently to His directions.
John called all people to prepare to meet Jesus. That includes you, no matter what your religious affiliation or position. Don’t let feelings of being an outsider cause you to hold back. No one who wants to follow Jesus is an outsider in God’s kingdom.
What motivates your faith? Some people wanted to be baptized by John so they could escape eternal punishment, but they didn’t turn to God for salvation. John had harsh words for such people. He knew that God values reformation above ritual. Is your faith motivated by a desire for a new changed life, or is it only like a vaccination or insurance policy against possible disaster?
Many of John’s hearers were shocked when he said that being Abraham’s descendants was not enough for God. The religious leaders relied more on family lines than on their faith for their standing with God. For them, religion was inherited. But a personal relationship with God is not handed down from parents to children. Everyone must make a personal decision of whether or not to trust Christ. Don’t rely on someone else’s faith for your salvation. Put your faith in Jesus and live it every day.
Confession of sins and a changed life are inseparable. Faith without works is dead. Turning from sin must be tied to action, or it isn’t real. Following Jesus means more than saying the right words; it means acting on what He says.
God desires to pour out mercy on those who confess their sins and then to give them strength to live changed lives.

Read Luke 2:41-52

JESUS SPEAKS WITH THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
According to God’s Law, every male was required to go to Jerusalem three times a year for the great festivals. In the spring, the Passover was celebrated, followed immediately by the week long Festival of Unleavened Bread. Passover commemorated the night of the Jews’ escape from Egypt when God had killed the Egyptians first born, but passed over the Israelites homes. Passover was the most important of the three annual festivals.
At age 12, Jesus was considered almost an adult, and so He didn’t spend a whole lot of time with His parents during the festival. Those who attended these festivals often traveled in caravans for protection from robbers along the roads. It was customary for the women and children to travel at the front of the caravan, with the men bringing up the rear. A 12-year old boy could conceivably have been in either group, and both Mary and Joseph assumed Jesus was with the other one. But when the caravan left Jerusalem, Jesus stayed behind, absorbed in His discussion with the religious leaders.
The Temple courts were famous throughout Judea as a place of learning. At the time of Passover, the greatest Rabbis of the land would assemble to teach and to discuss great truths among themselves. The coming of the Messiah would no doubt would have been a popular discussion topic, for everyone was expecting Him soon. Jesus would have been eager to listen and to ask probing questions. It was not His youth but the depth of His wisdom that astounded these teachers.
Mary had to let go of her child and let Him become a man, God’s Son, the Messiah. Fearful that she hadn’t been careful enough with the God-given child, she searched frantically for Him. But she was looking for a boy, not the young man who was in the Temple astounding the religious leaders in the Temple with his questions. It is hard to let go of people or projects we have nurtured. It is both sweet and painful to see our children growing up into adults, our students into teachers, our subordinates into managers, our inspirations into institutions. But when the time comes, we must step back and let go – in spite of the hurt. Then our protege’s can exercise their wings, take flight, and soar to the heights God intended for them. Jesus’ parents didn’t understand what He meant about His Father’s house. They didn’t realize He was making a distinction between His earthly father and His Heavenly Father. Jesus knew He had a unique relationship with God. Although Mary and Joseph knew He was God’s Son, they didn’t understand what His mission would involve. Besides, they had to raise Him, along with His brothers and sisters (Matthew 13:55-56), as a normal child. They knew He was unique, but they did not know what was going on in His mind.
Even though Jesus knew His real Father, He did not reject His earthly parents. He went back to Nazareth with them and lived under their authority for another 18 years. God’s people do not despise human relationships or family responsibilities. If the Son of God obeyed His human parents, how much more should we honor our family member. Don’t use commitment to God’s work to justify neglecting your family.
The Bible does not record any events of the next 18 years of Jesus’ life, but Jesus undoubtedly was learning and maturing. As the oldest in a large family, He assisted Joseph in his carpentry work. Joseph may have died during this time, leaving Jesus to provide for the family. The normal routines of daily life gave Jesus a solid understanding of the Judean people.
Although Jesus was unique, He had a normal childhood and adolescence. In terms of development, He went through the same progression as we do. He grew physically and mentally, He related to other people, and He was loved by God. A full human life is not unbalanced. It was important to Jesus, and should be important to us to develop fully and harmoniously in each of these key areas: physical, mental, social, and spiritual.

Read Luke 2:25-35

THE PROPHECY OF SIMEON
The Jews were well acquainted with the Old Testament prophecies that spoke of the Messiah’s blessings to their nation. The did not always give equal attention to the prophecies saying that He would bring salvation to the entire world, not just the Jews. Many thought that Christ had only come to save his people. Luke made sure his Greek audience understood that Christ had come to save all who would believe, Gentiles as well as Jews.
When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple to be dedicated to God, they met an old man who told them what their child would become. Simeon could die in peace now because he had seen the Messiah.
Joseph and Mary were amazed for three reasons: 1) Simeon said that Jesus was a gift from God; 2) Simeon recognized Jesus as the Messiah; and 3) Simeon said Jesus would be a light to the entire world. This was at least the second time that Mary had been greeted with a prophecy. The first was with Elizabeth.
Simeon prophesied that Jesus would have a paradoxical effect on Israel. Some would fall because of Him, while others would rise. With Jesus, there would be no neutral ground: People would either joyfully accept Him or totally reject Him. As Jesus’ mother, Mary would be grieved by the widespread rejection He would face later in life.

Read Luke 2:21-24

MARY AND JOSEPH BRING JESUS TO THE TEMPLE
Jewish families went through several ceremonies soon after a baby’s birth: 1)Circumcision. Every boy was circumcised and named on the eighth day after birth. Circumcision symbolized the Jew’s separation from Gentiles and their unique relationship with God. 2) Redemption of the first born. A firstborn son was presented to God one month after birth. The ceremony included buying back (redeeming) the child from God through an offering. Thus, the parents acknowledged that the child belonged to God who alone has the power to give life. 3) Purification of the mother. For 40 day after the birth of a son and 80 days after the birth of a daughter, the mother was ceremonially unclean and could not enter the Temple. At the end of her time of separation, the parents were to bring a lamb for a burnt offering and a dove or a pigeon for a sin offering. The priest would sacrifice these animals and declare her to be clean. If a lamb was too expensive, the parents could bring a second pigeon or dove instead. This is what Mary and Joseph did.
Jesus was God’s Son, but his family carried out these ceremonies according to God’s law. Jesus was not born above the law; instead He fulfilled it perfectly..