December 19, 2019

The Greatest Gift  

Luke 2:22-40

Antoinette Davis
Thursday's Devo

December 19, 2019

Thursday's Devo

December 19, 2019

Central Truth

Jesus, the promised Messiah, is God's greatest gift to us! To receive the free gift of salvation He offers, we must trust in Jesus' death on the cross as the payment for our sin. Jesus is not a way, as in one of many; He is the one and only way.

Key Verse | Luke 2:30-32

"[F]or my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all
  peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel."

 

Luke 2:22-40

Jesus Presented at the Temple

22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29  “Lord, now you are letting your servant 1 2:29 Or bondservant depart in peace,
    according to your word;
30  for my eyes have seen your salvation
31      that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32  a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and for glory to your people Israel.”

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. 2 2:37 Or as a widow for eighty-four years She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Return to Nazareth

39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

Footnotes

[1] 2:29 Or bondservant
[2] 2:37 Or as a widow for eighty-four years

Dive Deeper | Luke 2:22-40

Think about the best gift you have ever received. Remember the excitement and the joy?! For me, it was a fabulous bright pink bicycle with a banana seat and basket.

No matter how wonderful your gift or my gift was, they pale in comparison to the gift we see in today's passage.

Joseph and Mary brought Jesus, only a few days old, to the temple to present Him to the Lord. Imagine the excitement! The temple courtyard crowded with young couples bringing their babies to be dedicated.

Simeon was an old man, righteous and devout, and the Spirit had told him that he would one day see the Messiah. What a gift it would be to know that the Messiah was poised to take over to assure the salvation of His people. And now the Spirit was leading Simeon to the temple. I can imagine Simeon anxiously wondering if this was the day he would receive that long-awaited gift!

Then Simeon stopped in front of a very ordinary-looking couple with a very ordinary-looking baby.  After a moment's hesitation, Simeon must have realized that God's gift, the Messiah, was in front of him! The Messiah had come, but not looking as he had expected! Simeon lifted baby Jesus into his arms and praised God.

As amazing as God's gift to Simeon was, there was an even greater gift. This baby boy, the Messiah, would be "a light for revelation to the Gentiles" (Luke 2:32). People were expecting a Messiah who would help the Jews in their struggle against the Gentiles, but the greatest gift was that salvation would be available to all!

Jesus says in John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." To receive God's gift of salvation, we must trust in Jesus' death on the cross as the payment for our sin: "[T]he righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe" (Romans 3:22). Jesus is not just a way, He is the only way. God is offering you His ultimate gift today!

Will you accept it? If you have accepted it, will you share it?

Discussion Questions

1. What is the best gift you ever received? What made it so special?

2. Being in the presence of a gift does not give one the benefits of possessing it. Have you accepted God's ultimate gift, namely eternal life with Him through faith in Jesus? If not, what's holding you back from accepting His gift? 

3. If you have accepted God's gift, how are you different now that you have?

4. Do you know how to share your story of grace with a nonbeliever? Who in your life needs to hear that the gift of salvation is available to them?