Jesus grew up in a family that meticulously observed the law of Moses. Five times in this larger section of chapter 2, Luke tells us they did everything required by the law. Later in his life Jesus would be in tension with the religious leaders — not because He opposed the law, but because He opposed their hollow and flawed interpretation.
Yesterday we met Simeon and in today’s section we find a second old prophet — Anna. Like Simeon she approached Mary and Joseph and prophesied about the birth of Jesus and what it would mean to Israel. Together they testify about who this child truly is. These two saints are Israel at its best — devout, obedient, and committed to prayer. They are also a portrait of Israel that accepted Jesus.
The many who rejected Him misunderstood their own faith and were therefore incapable of truly recognizing Jesus. The same is true for many today who get their information about Jesus and the Gospel second-hand through the media or even churches that don’t preach and teach the Bible.
The life of Jesus is in perfect harmony with God’s plan as outlined in the Old Testament. No mistakes, no contradictions — just a beautiful account of the perfect plan of God for all those who have an open heart to see and believe.
PRAYER
Holy Spirit open my eyes to the greater beauty of the Gospel today.
PRACTICE
Do some research on how many prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament were fulfilled in the New Testament.
Photo by Gareth Harper on Unsplash
