1. August 11, 2013 Today’s Passage: Luke 2:36-52 (Please read if you have not done so)

3. “There was also a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she’d lived with her husband seven years after marriage, then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” (Luke 2:36-37) “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled... Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” (I Samuel 1:15-16)

4. π ροφ ῆ τις (prophetis) ▪ a female who declares or interprets oracles ▪ a female who forthtells and foretells God’s will. “There was also a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she’d lived with her husband seven years after marriage, then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” (Luke 2:36-37) “I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son.” (Isaiah 8:3a) Miriam (Exodus 15) Deborah (Judges 4) Huldah (II Kings 22:14)

5. “There was also a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she’d lived with her husband seven years after marriage, then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” (Luke 2:36-37) So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” (Genesis 32:30)

6. Married 13 Widowed 20 Currently 84 “There was also a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she’d lived with her husband seven years after marriage, then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” (Luke 2:36-37)

8. “Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:38)

9. Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” (Matthew 13:54-56) “And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.” (Luke 2:40) “What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.” (John 2:11)

10. “And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.” (Luke 2:40)

11. “Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.” (Luke 2:41) “Three times a year all your men must appear before the Lord your God at the place he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks and the Festival of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the Lord empty-handed: Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.” (Deuteronomy 16:16-17)

12. “When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.” (Luke 2:42) Bar Mitzvah (“son of the Law”) is a coming of age ritual. According to Jewish law, when boys turn thirteen they become accountable for their actions and become a Bar Mitzvah. In addition, they may lead prayer and other religious services in the family and the community. The age was selected because it roughly coincides with physical puberty. The custom is that on the first Sabbath of his thirteenth year, a boy is called up to read from a portion of the Law.

13. “After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.” (Luke 2:43-45)

14. συνοδ ί α (synodia) – “company” associates on a journey, a caravan

15. “After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’ ‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be about my Father’s business?’” (Luke 2:46-49)

16. “But they did not understand what he was saying to them.” (Luke 2:50)

17. “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:51-52)

18. 1) Interesting “firsts” and “lasts.” ▪ First and last recorded incident from Jesus’ youth. ▪ First recorded words of Jesus. ▪ Last mention of Joseph in the Gospels.

19. 1) Interesting “firsts” and “lasts.” 2) Important lessons we can learn. ▪ Humble obedience to and respect for our parents. ▪ Submission to God. ▪ Commitment to spiritual growth.

20. 1) Interesting “firsts” and “lasts.” 2) Important lessons we can learn. 3) Discipline and obedience. ▪ Hebrews 5:8-9. ▪ Hebrews 5:11-14.

21. “We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:11-149) “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him…” (Hebrews 5:8-9)