After Luke the physician wrote about “Simeon” who was in Jerusalem he shared about, “Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spoke of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem,, and in chapter two and verse thirty-nine of his book Luke shared how Joseph and Mary, “returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth” where we read:
And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord,
they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
The verse reads, “And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when” or “and at the time and moment” “they had performed all things” which means “Joseph and Mary finished, executed, completed and fulfilled each, every, the whole and everything” “according to the law” or “toward the rule, command, precept and injunction” “of the Lord” which means “belonging to the One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”. Luke shared how Joseph and Mary completed all the “commands” of God which were given in His “law” to obey.
The verse goes on to say, “... they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.” Luke continued with the words, “they returned into Galilee” which means “Joseph and Mary turned and went back”, “into Galilee” which means “circuit” and was “the name of a region of northern Palestine, bounded on the north by Syria, on the west by Sidon, Tyre, Ptolemais and their territories and the promontory of Carmel, on the south by Samaria and on the east by the Jordan”, “to their own city Nazareth” which means “to Joseph and Mary's home dwelling place, habitation, residence and abode named Nazareth which means the guarded one”. Luke shared how Joseph and Mary went back to “Nazareth” after they fulfilled the requirements of God's “law”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we can imagine the conversation between Joseph and Mary as they traveled back home. Jesus was “circumcised” and “dedicated” to God just as the law of God required, and they heard from both “Simeon” and “Anna” how this was to be God's “special” child and “Savior” of the world. All people were to be benefited by Jesus' birth, and because He would die for the sins of all mankind, anyone who believes and trusts in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” shall be “saved”. Joseph and Mary were chosen for the divine assignment of raising Jesus, and they were entrusted to oversee and to guide the “Savior of the World” and the “Lord of the earth” within their hometown.
Next time Luke shares how, “the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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