July 13, 2008

Bible Study, Chapter 2

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There was a stage in life when our refrigerator was draped with baby pictures & birth announcements. Our friends, roughly our age, were all in the childbearing years. (Now it’s graduation pics.) Luke 2 functions as the birth announcement for Jesus. Granted, the final episode in chapter 2 concerns a 12-year-old Jesus, nevertheless, the focus is on the young Jesus. If there is one theme to which you should pay attention in this chapter, it would be what it is that gets ‘announced’ about this baby. On purpose, Luke records several observations and expectations about this baby. These observations and expectations are the focus of chapter 2.

Read through chapter 2 and then peruse the appropriate verses as you study each section.

Verses 1-20

Although Luke makes no mention of Micah’s prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), Luke clearly explains how it came to be that a Nazareth-boy would be born far from home.

- Write the circumstances (the who, what, etc.) causing Mary & Joseph to head to Bethlehem. If your Bible has maps in the back, perhaps you want to take note of Rome (home of Caesar Augustus), Nazareth, & Bethlehem. What insights do you gain about God and his involvement in our world if all these circumstances conspired to bring a pregnant woman to Bethlehem at ‘just the right time?”

- Do you think these insights are still true?

Notice that when it comes to the actual birth of Jesus, there is nothing miraculous. In fact, it’s almost the opposite: The circumstances of Jesus’ birth are unusually inconvenient for Mary & Joseph. If there’s anything miraculous about Jesus’ birth, it takes place in some nearby fields! Shepherds were generally considered ‘average Joes’ (although in later years they were considered unreliable scoundrels). King David, the most famous ancestor of Jesus, got his start as a shepherd.

- For a moment, imagine that you’re writing a list of people to whom you’re going to send announcements concerning your child’s birth. Who is on the list?

- If it’s accurate that God sent angelic announcements to just one group of people, why these people? Study the shepherds’ response to the announcement. Are there any clues in their response as to why God chose them?

- Review the actual message of the angels (verses 10-14). What can you learn about the expectations for Jesus from this announcement?

Verses 21-40

Following chapter 2, the parents of Jesus are not at all prominent in the story. However, Luke makes it very clear that they were very faithful in keeping all the legal traditions of the Jews. There are three ceremonies that are involved in these verses: 1) The purification ceremony for a woman following childbirth (explained in Leviticus 12:2-6); 2) The presentation of the first-born son to God (Exodus 13:2, 12, 16); and 3) The dedication of the first-born to the Lord’s service (1 Samuel 1, 2). Additionally, in the next set of verses (41-52) Luke will illustrate Mary & Joseph’s faithfulness in making the annual trip to Jerusalem for the Passover.

- Since Jesus, as an adult, will spend most of his time in conflict with the religious leaders, do you think it’s important for Luke to demonstrate that Jesus’ upbringing was thoroughly Jewish?

- Are there any insights about the value of our ‘religious practices?’

- What ‘religious practices’ do you keep and why? Can you explain their value to your life?

Simeon, also a very devout Jew, had been led to believe he would not die before seeing the ‘rescuer’ of Israel, the Messiah. This was a looong anticipated, but so far unfulfilled, promise of God.

- What reasons might God have for waiting hundreds of years before keeping a promise?

- Are there things you’re waiting for God to do in your life? What? Can you imagine any reasons why God might delay in meeting your expectations?

- Review Simeon’s expectations for Jesus. Summarize, in your own words, what Simeon is expecting from this child.

- You’ll note, in verses 34 & 35, that all is not peachy. What’s the down side of Jesus’ coming?

Verses 41-52

Jesus was growing up as the son of a carpenter in the small town of Nazareth… think, Alburtis as compared to New York. For the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem (New York) the people regularly traveled in caravans, as it was cheaper, safer, easier, and more fun! It isn’t hard to imagine Jesus not being missed by his parents until the end of the first day of traveling. Day 2 would be the walk (a panic-y walk, certainly!) back to Jerusalem. Day three would be spent looking for the boy. Hence, the ‘3 day search’ mentioned in verse 46. During these 3 days, I would expect that mom and dad spent lots of time talking about how long Jesus would be grounded when they eventually found him.

This final section is unique in that the ‘announcement’ in this section is actually made by Jesus himself. No one else is commenting about Jesus… he’s commenting on himself. The key verse, Jesus’ statement in verse 49, carries the idea that Jesus is concerning himself with the ‘Father’s business’… or the ‘Father’s affairs.’

- What does Jesus say about his own self-understanding?

- Fast-forward a moment to Luke 22:39-42… a story which takes place on the night of Jesus’ arrest. On this very significant night, what is Jesus’ prayer? Do you see the connection between this childhood event and what Jesus was praying years later? What does this tell you about Jesus’ ambitions?

- Realistically, how does a person go through life concerning himself with doing the ‘will of God?’ Have you ever thought about how the ‘will of the Father’ might impact your life? What might this mean for you?

Summary

What are some of the big ideas you’ve learned in chapter 2?

In light of what you’ve learned, is there any God-business you need to take care of in the immediate future?