“We Are Family”

(vs. 22, 27, 39, 41–42)
²²When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

²⁷Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,

³⁹When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

⁴¹Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. ⁴²When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.

1. We learn security and God s love through the demonstration of it in the ?.

(vs. 30–33, 49)
³⁰For my eyes have seen your salvation,

³³The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

⁴⁹“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

1. Family is about ? not ?.
2. Parents ? ?.

(vs. 31–38)
     ³¹“which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles
     and for glory to your people Israel.”

³³The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. ³⁴Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, ³⁵so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

³⁶There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ³⁷and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. ³⁸Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

1. It starts at ? and is re-enforced through the ?.