Testimonies and Business

Welcome to Week 2 of The Most Remarkable Journey: Jesus Among Us. I am so excited that you are journeying with us. This week we are going to discuss two different times Jesus’ parents took Him to the temple as a child. We will discover the testimonies of two devout believers and Jesus’ first declaration of Who He is. 

This is an awesome journey. As believers, I don’t think there is any journey more important than discovering that of Jesus. It tells us who He is. It tells what He is about and tells who we are in Him.

Last week, we took the journey with Mary from conception to the moments when she laid eyes on her newborn King. Her Savior that she sang praises to in her Magnificant had finally arrived.

This week, we will continue in Luke 2 verse 21 and travel to the end of the chapter. 

Walking in Obedience 

Mary and Joseph had to take this journey in faith. Up to this point in their lives, The Messiah was someone they only hoped for. The one they had read about in the Scriptures and their hearts longed to rescue them. 

God’s people hadn’t heard from Him in over 400 years. The state of their religious system was legalistic at it’s best. They had been the remnant holding on to the promises that were spoken of in the prophets and because of that, God showed favor on Mary. 

Joseph and Mary continued to be obedient after Jesus was born. They followed the law that was laid out before them generations past. Eight days after their baby boy was born, they brought Him to the temple. They had Him circumcised, according to the law.  They named Him Jesus which means Yahweh saves, just as the angel had directed them to do. 

Then when it was time for them to go to the temple for the purification offering, according to the law, they took with them two doves as a sacrifice for their firstborn son. (Leviticus 15:14)

The Testimonies of Simeon and Anna

Simeon

As we jump into Luke 2:25, we meet a man in Jeruselum. At first glance, this story may seem somewhat insignificant. We soon find out this is one of the first testimonies of Christ as Savior. 

The angels declared Him Lord, the shepherds sang of His glory, the magi, whom they have not yet met brought gifts for a king but we know little about them.

We learn in these verses of Simeon’s character. 

Simeon is a devout and righteous man. He was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Isreal. (Luke 2:25) He was holding onto the hope that so many had lost. Simeon had a dream in his heart. A longing to see the Messiah before his life was over.

This little dream became Simeon’s reality. The Holy Spirit came upon Simeon and revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah or Anointed One. 

The day that Mary and Joseph came to the temple to present their firstborn to the Lord and bring their sacrifice, the Spirit led Simeon to the temple. (Luke 2:27)

Simeon Took Baby Jesus into His Arms

I want to take a break to let some reality soak in here. Simeon and all of God’s people were waiting for this moment. Although many had drifted into a religious system while others just kept their faith alive. Because of Simeon’s longing in his heart and showing favor with God, He fulfilled Simeon’s greatest desire.

Can you imagine, the Messiah that you have waited for your whole life all of a sudden appears, not only in your presence but in your arms. (Luke 2:28) Share on X

This is one of those moments that I ponder. As a mother, this had to be one of those moments that Mary treasured in her heart. Simeon could die a peaceful man. His eyes had seen the Savior of the World. His heart’s deepest desire fulfilled in baby Jesus. We don’t know how long Simeon lived but we know he died at peace relying on God’s faithfulness to His people.

Simeon Praised God and Claimed Him as Lord in this Declaration and Testimony

29“Now Lord, You dismiss Your servant in peace,
according to Your word.
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 which You have prepared before the face of all the peoples,
32 a light for revelation of the Gentiles,
and glory of Your people Israel.”
33And His father and mother were marveling at the things having been spoken concerning Him.

34And Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed
for the falling and rising up of many in Israel,
and for a sign spoken against—
35and a sword also will go through your own soul—
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:29-35 (BSB)

Anna’s Testimony

God had fulfilled the law in these two testimonies. According to the law, it was necessary for there to be two witnesses for something to be true. (Deuteronomy 17:6)  I love that these two had not only the character to be reliable witnesses but they had the longing in their heart for this day. 

Anna was a prophetess that had lived at the temple and day and night she would fast and pray.

She comes along just as Mary and Joseph are talking with Simeon and she begins praising God and she talked to everyone about this Savior that had come to rescue Jerusalem. (Luke 2:38)

The testimony of these two is very significant. They testified to Christ being the Anointed Savior that they had been waiting for. They testified the His purpose while on earth.  They revealed God’s plan for this to not only be for Isreal but also for the Gentiles.

Family Road Trip

The next time we see Jesus in Luke 2, His family is once again being faithful to the law and they travel to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. At this time in the story, Jesus is twelve years old and we will not see or hear from Him again until he begins His public ministry.

After the festival, which lasted 8 days, one day for Passover and seven for the feast of Unleavened Bread, the family returns home to Nazareth.  After traveling for a day, they realize that Jesus is not with them. 

Can we pause for another reality check? Imagine losing the Savior of the World. Can you imagine what was going through their minds?

If you are wondering how this could have possibly happened, most likely they were traveling with a couple hundred people. They were in a caravan of family and friends all heading home. They assumed that He was within their group and it takes them a days travel to discover that He is not with them. 

We see Mary’s rebuke and frustration in her response to Jesus. “Son, why have you done this, your father and I have been frantic looking for you.” (Luke 2:48)

I Am about My Father’s Business

We are going to end today’s study focusing on Luke 2:49 

“Why were you looking for Me?” He asked, “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”

Luke 2:49 (BSB)

Some versions read, didn’t you know I would be about my Father’s business. There are several points we can learn about Jesus in this interaction. 

• Jesus was not being disrespectful to His parents. Immediately after this, He went home and was obedient to them. He lived a sinless life.
• Jesus, for the first time, is verbally recognizing God as His Father. 
• Jesus, even at this young age was focused on His Father’s mission and continued to do so even to death on the cross.

There are times that we, like Joseph and Mary, are walking along the path and we get distracted. We lose sight of Jesus and being about His Father’s business. There are times we search for Him frantically. We get so wrapped up in what is going on in our lives that when we turn around we can’t seem to find Him. We want to know where He is and we begin searching in every worldly thing. 

Jesus was about His father’s business.

What was His Father’s business? Jesus came to fulfill the Law (Matthew 5:17) He came to be the final sacrifice for our sins. (Isaiah 53:5) As we see in Simeon’s response, He came to reveal the thoughts of many hearts. 

Are You About Your Father’s Business

Our testimonies can point to the fact that we are about our Father's business. Simeon and Anna's testimonies revealed that their lives pointed to Jesus. Share on X This moment in time not only changed them but also fueled their fire to share their testimonies.

Mary and Joseph were young parents, responsible for the King of the World. I can’t imagine the stresses they felt to protect this child. They continued to be obedient to the law as they raised Jesus just as they had promised to do on that first night when Mary encountered the angel.

Our Father’s business doesn’t just take place in the temple or church. We are to take the Good News of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. That may look different for different people. Maybe it means right where God placed you in your family or workplace, you are to share what Glorious thing He has done for you. 

Personal Reflections:

1. Are you about your Father’s Business?
2. Do you have a clear focus on what that business is?
3. Do you have a method you use for sharing your testimony?
4. Have you ever written your testimony? If not, I would like to encourage you to do that today. I would love to hear it if you do. Please email it to me at youresewtrendy@gmail.com

Please join us in the conversation below. If you want to share your insight from these reflection questions, we look forward to hearing them.

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