Luke 2 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

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LUKE 2 IN 5 MINUTES:

WHEN:

• The events in the 1st half of chapter 2 occur around 1 A.D. (when Jesus was born).

• The events of the 2nd half of chapter 2 occur around 12 A.D. (when Jesus was 12 years old).

CHARACTERS:

• Mary - A young woman from the town of Nazareth. She was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus the Messiah.

• Joseph - Mary’s betrothed husband (similar to a fiancé).

• Jesus - God’s Son and Mary’s child who was conceived miraculously by the Holy Spirit.

• Shepherds - Shepherds keeping sheep around Bethlehem who visited Jesus at His birth.

• Simeon - A righteous and devout man who Mary and Joseph meet in Jerusalem.

• Anna - A widow and prophetess who served God in the Temple “with fasting and prayer night and day.”

WHERE:

• The events of chapter 2 open in Bethlehem.

• Nazareth, Mary and Joseph’s hometown in briefly mentioned.

• The remainder of the chapter is based in Jerusalem.

OUTLINE:

• JESUS IS BORN (2:1-2:7):

  • Caesar Augustus decreed that the people of his empire should be “registered” (probably for tax purposes).

  • Joseph left Nazareth in Galilee and traveled to his hometown in Bethlehem for the registration.

  • Mary was close to giving birth when they departed.

  • When they arrived in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth.

  • There was no room in the inn so they laid their son in a manger.

• THE SHEPHERDS VISIT NEWBORN JESUS (2:8-2:21):

  • Following the birth of the child, and angel appeared to shepherds in the fields around Bethlehem.

  • The angel told them the newborn baby was the Savior and Christ the Lord.

  • They were told they would find Him in a manger and wrapped in swaddling cloths.

  • Suddenly a multitude of heavenly beings were visible to the shepherds and they heard them praising God.

  • The shepherds went and found the child in the manger and told Jospeh and Mary what they had seen.

  • Eight days after his birth, the baby was circumcised and named Jesus according to the angel’s instruction.

• JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH VISIT JERUSALEM TO KEEP THE LAW OF MOSES (2:22-2:38):

  • In order to keep some of the Old Testament commands regarding childbirth, Jesus’ family visited Jerusalem.

  • This took place approximately 1 month after Jesus’ birth.

  • They took an offering of either two turtledoves or two young pigeons according to God’s law in Lev. 12:6-8.

  • In Jerusalem, they met a man named Simeon who God had promised would see the Messiah before he died.

  • Simeon took Jesus in his arms and worshipped God for allowing him to see the future Savior.

  • In the Temple, Mary and Joseph met a prophetess named Anna.

  • When she saw Jesus she also worshipped God and started telling everyone about Him.

  • Following these events, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus returned to their home in Nazareth.

• JESUS’ PARENTS LOSE HIM IN JERUSALEM (2:41-2:52):

  • 12 years later, Jesus and His parents return to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover Feast.

  • When returning home, Jesus’ parents assumed He was with their relatives and traveling companions.

  • After a days journey, they realized Jesus wasn’t with them and returned to Jerusalem.

  • They search for 3 days before finding Him in the Temple talking to the religious teachers.

  • When He was located, He asked His parents, ”Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

BIG PICTURE:

• After creating the world and watching human beings try and fail to solve their sin problem, the Creator has now stepped onto the world He created to be the solution to and Savior from sin.

APPLICATION:

• God is often working in huge ways through subtle means. For years, the Messiah was being raised by normal parents in a normal town and almost nobody knew world altering events were about to happen.