This teaching, in our verse-by-verse study of the Gospel of Luke, was given by pastor Barry Forder on 23rd October 2022 at Calvary Portsmouth.
In this study we see Joseph and Mary circumcise their new-born baby on the 8th day, in accordance with the covenant God had established with Abraham (Gen 17).
They then travel the 8 miles from Bethlehem to Temple in Jerusalem to present the offering required by the Law of Moses after the 40 days required for Mary’s purification (as detailed in Leviticus 12).
Whilst they are in Jerusalem, they meet Simeon and then Anna, who both overwhelm Joseph and Mary with the blessings – and warnings – they pronounce over this Child!
Following this the family return home – to Nazareth! Please note, they did not go back to, or reside in, Bethlehem, for they lived in Nazareth! The only reason they went to Bethlehem was for the census, and because God had engineered the circumstances so that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem – the town where the sacrificial lambs came from! After this they return home, albeit via Jerusalem in accordance with the Law.
Luke then jumps forward to the time Jesus is 12 years old, and the account of how He had been left behind in Jerusalem following the family’s pilgrimage to celebrate the Passover.
Although we ae not specifically told anything else of Jesus boyhood, we seem to get a prophetic insight of what it was like for Jesus growing up in Psalm 69. It paints an interesting picture that otherwise we would be oblivious to.
The PowerPoint Slides used in this study ae available for free download.
May you be blessed and encouraged by this study.
