Christmas Study – IV (2023)

FOR MY EYES HAVE SEEN YOUR SALVATION

(Luke 2:21-40)

Open it:

1. Who is one of your most interesting elderly friends?

Explore it:

2. Read verses 21-24. How does naming the baby Jesus show Jesus’ parents’ faith? (21) What did Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the temple? Why was Jesus, the Son of God, treated in such an ordinary way? (Heb. 2:17; Ro. 8:3-4)

3. What did they offer when they brought him to the temple after Mary’s time of purification? What does their offering reveal about their faith? (Lev. 12:6-8) [2 Corinthians 8:9 states that Jesus became poor to make us rich. What does it mean?]

4. Read verses 25-28. Who was Simeon? What kind of faith did he have? What was his hope? What did Simeon do with the child Jesus?

5. Read verses 29-32. How did Simeon’s prophecy point out that Christ would be the Savior of the world? (Isa 42:6, 49:6; Lk. 1:78-79) What does it mean, “Jesus is the light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people, Israel”?

6. Read verses 33-35. What does “this child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many” mean? (Lk. 20:17-18) “A sword will pierce your own soul”? (Jn. 19:25)

7. Read verses 36-40. Who was Anna? How did she overcome her sorrowful situation? What was Anna’s response to finding Mary, Joseph, and the child Jesus in the temple? What character qualities were apparent in Jesus during his childhood? (40)

Apply it:

8. How could you thank God for becoming a human being to provide a way of salvation?