Luke 2
Everyone had to pay their taxes in their home town. So Joseph and Mary left Nazareth in Galilee to go to David's town of Bethlehem in Judea to pay, for Joseph was of the lineage of David.
While in Bethlehem, Jesus was born and laid in a manger in the animals' stable, there being no room for them in the inn. What an inhospitable reception man gave the Lord of glory when He was born. The shepherds were watching their flock by night when the angel of the Lord came to them and the glory of the Lord shined around them; they were very frightened. The angel said, "Fear not," and announced good tidings of great joy for all people. In the expression "all people," we notice another touch of the universal character which is ingrained in Luke's gospel. These tidings were not only for the Jews but were for the Gentiles as well.
The angel said to the shepherds, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." And the sign for them was to see the babe in a manger. With the angel came a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, while they said, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good pleasure in men" (JND). The angels had never seen their Creator before (1 Tim. 3:1616And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)).
Going quickly, the shepherds went to Bethlehem to see what had come to pass. They found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. Then they published abroad the angelic message. Mary wondered at these things, keeping and pondering them in her heart, while the shepherds returned to their sheep, glorifying and praising God for what they had seen and heard.
Jesus "came unto His own [the Jew], and His own received Him not." John 1:1111He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (John 1:11). But He did receive praise, worship and honor from the shepherds and later from the Gentile wise men.
The Incarnation
The incarnation is the sinless entrance of the Christ as man into the old creation, wholly apart from the evil of it, yet manifesting God in it. As risen from the dead, He is the Head and beginning of the new creation, presenting man to God according to God's own counsels. He is the pattern man, man as God brings him to Himself, firstborn among many brethren. Now, God can see man in His own image, holy and without blame before Him in love-man is brought to Him in a nature (His own moral character of holiness and love) in which He can find delight, infinite delight, because it is His own nature.
Yet He came as the poor man of whom it was said: 'This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: there was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great [moral] bulwarks against it. Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools." Eccl. 9:13-1713This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: 14There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: 15Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. 16Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. (Ecclesiastes 9:13‑17).
What wondrous wisdom was His who delivered the city, the city which will be seen in the millennial day. In the meantime many have been delivered by the wisdom that was displayed at the cross of Jesus.
Simeon and Anna
Just and devout Simeon was told that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Christ. Taking the babe Jesus in his arms, he blessed God, saying, "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel."
Simeon was prophesying that many that were first (Israel) would be last, and the last (Gentiles) would be first. Israel was first showered with blessings, but they turned to idols; now they are last. The Gentiles by sovereign grace repented and received Jesus as Savior; now they are first.
In blessing Mary and Joseph, Simeon said to Mary, `This child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against [Isa. 8:1818Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. (Isaiah 8:18)]; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also;) that the thoughts of many hearts [soldiers, priests, kings, scribes, Pharisees, the women, the thieves, the centurion and many others recorded in Luke 23:4747Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. (Luke 23:47)] may be revealed." All of these things came to pass at the cross.
The prophetess Anna, a widow for 84 years, was about 110 years old. She departed not from the temple, but served God by fasting and prayers, night and day. True-hearted Anna did not allow her service to become a mechanical routine. "She coming in that instant" must mean that she saw the babe Jesus at the same time as Simeon.
How faithful God was to Israel. These two older people, both having the gift of prophecy, spoke of Jesus to the little remnant who had waited and looked for Jesus to come. The remnant of Mal. 3:16-1816Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. 17And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. (Malachi 3:16‑18) still. existed 400 years later at the birth of the Christ.
Having completed the presentation of the Lord Jesus to God, Joseph and Mary sacrificed (two pigeons) and returned into Galilee to their own city of Nazareth. All Israel should have witnessed what took place in Bethlehem and in Jerusalem. How much we miss if not in communion with God.
Jesus As a Boy
Jesus grew and became strong in spirit, full of wisdom, and God's grace was upon Him. At twelve years of age the family went to Jerusalem to the feast of the passover. As they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind, without His parents knowing it. Having gone a day's journey, they looked among their acquaintances and, not finding Jesus, they turned back to Jerusalem to look for Him.
After three days, Jesus was found in the temple, hearing and asking questions of the doctors (teachers) who were astonished at Him. Not realizing who their Son really was, His mother rebuked Him for not telling them where He was. He answered, "Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?" He returned with them to Nazareth and was subject to them.
Subjection was a new experience for Jesus. As God He had always commanded. Here He learns to obey (Heb. 5:88Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; (Hebrews 5:8)). One day's journey away from the Lord, Mary learned, required three days to get back to Him. She kept His sayings in her heart. As He grew from boyhood to manhood, "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." Only in Luke's gospel do we get a glimpse of the early life of the Lord Jesus.