In The Footsteps Of The Master:In The Footsteps Of The Master:The Life and Times of Jesus ChristThe Life and Times of Jesus Christ

The Circumcision andChildhood of Jesus

October 12, 2008

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Jesus’ CircumcisionJesus’ Circumcision• Read Luke 2:21

• What was the significance of the rite of circumcision?– Read Genesis 17:1-14– A sign of the Promise

• Jesus could not fulfill this part of the Law without help from his parents– Points to his absolute humanity

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Jesus Presented in the TempleJesus Presented in the Temple• Read Luke 2:22-24• Why were Joseph and Mary in the

Temple?– Read Exodus 13:1– Every firstborn male belongs to God– Read Numbers 3:11-13

• What was required of Mary after Jesus’ birth?– Read Leviticus 12:1-8

• How long after Jesus’ birth did this take event place?

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Simeon & AnnaSimeon & Anna• Read Luke 2:25-35• Who was Simeon?

– What had been revealed to him?

• Look at verse 27– Note the use of the phrase “for him”

• Look at verse 35– Note the use of the term “too” (NIV) or “also”

(NKJV)

• Read Luke 2:36-38• Who was Anna?

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Returning HomeReturning Home• Read Luke 2:39-40

• Again, Joseph and Mary had to do the things required by the Law

• Jesus grew and became strong– Filled with wisdom– The grace of God was on him

• Note that the story of the visit of the Magi and the escape to Egypt (Matthew 2) would have occurred after this

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Joseph and Mary in JerusalemJoseph and Mary in Jerusalem• Read Luke 2:41-50

• Why were Joseph and Mary in Jerusalem?– For the Feast of Passover

• Three “mandatory” feasts: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles

• Every Jew tried to attend be in Jerusalem for Passover

• How old is Jesus at this point?

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The Return TripThe Return Trip• Jerusalem to

Nazareth is approximately 65 miles

• At least a 3-day journey

• Joseph and Mary were one day’s journey away before they realized Jesus wasn’t with them

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Jesus in the TempleJesus in the Temple• How many days passed before Jesus’

parents found him?

• Where did they find him?

• Why did Jesus remain behind?– Ever wonder what kinds of things he was

talking about with the teachers of the Law?

• How did Mary respond?

• What was Jesus’ answer?

• Why did they not understand his answer?

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Herod’s TempleHerod’s Temple

Court of the Gentiles

Holy Place

Court of Women

Most Holy Place

Court of Israel

Court of Priests

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Returning HomeReturning Home• Read Luke 2:51-52

• Had Jesus been disobedient to his parents prior to this?– Was his staying behind in Jerusalem an act of

rebellion?

• Note that Mary treasured these things in her heart– It must have been an unfathomable

experience for Mary– By now she is in her mid-late 20s

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Twenty-Five Questions for MaryTwenty-Five Questions for Mary• From Max Lucado’s God Came Near

• What was it like watching him pray?

• How did he respond when he saw other kids giggling during the service at the synagogue?

• When he saw a rainbow, did he ever mention a flood?

• Did you ever feel awkward teaching him how he created the world?

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Twenty-Five Questions for MaryTwenty-Five Questions for Mary• When he saw a lamb being led to

slaughter, did he act differently?• Did you ever see him with a distant look

on his face as if he were listening to someone you couldn't hear?

• How did he act at funerals?• Did the thought ever occur to you that the

God to whom you were praying was asleep under your own roof?

• Did you ever try to count the stars with him ... and succeed?

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Twenty-Five Questions for MaryTwenty-Five Questions for Mary• Did he ever come home with a black eye?

• How did he act when he got his first haircut?

• Did he have any friends by the name of Judas?

• Did he do well in school?

• Did you ever scold him?

• Did he ever have to ask a question about Scripture?

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Twenty-Five Questions for MaryTwenty-Five Questions for Mary• What do you think he thought when he

saw a prostitute offering to the highest bidder the body he made?

• Did he ever get angry when someone was dishonest with him?

• Did you ever catch him pensively looking at the flesh on his own arm while holding a clod of dirt?

• Did he ever wake up afraid?• Who was his best friend?

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Twenty-Five Questions for MaryTwenty-Five Questions for Mary• When someone referred to Satan, how did

he act?

• Did you ever accidentally call him Father?

• What did he and his cousin John talk about as kids?

• Did his other brothers and sisters understand what was happening?

• Did you ever think, That's God eating my soup?

What Does This MeanWhat Does This MeanFor Me?For Me?

Nick Hamilton

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Next WeekNext Week• The Birth of John the Baptist