PrintToday's "Learning with Luke" (10)
31 December, 2012
"......they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom beyond his years, and God placed his special favour upon him". (Luke 2:39-40 NLT)
This will be our last visit with Luke and I, for one, am very grateful for the time and effort Luke gave to research the Christmas story. Tomorrow, we return to our journey with Mark as we resume our "Moments With Mark"
Speaking of journeys, Luke sums up the dramatic by telling us about the ordinary. A family making their way back to the ordinariness of Nazareth as compared with the drama of Jerusalem. Jesus grew up healthy and strong. I guess there were other boys - ordinary boys - who also grew up healthy and strong. Yet even in those formative years there was a preparation taking place that would see Jesus emerge (about 30 years later) and come preaching the gospel of the Kingdom.
It is reasonable to suggest without being dogmatic about it that Joseph may have died during that 30 year period. Nothing more is heard of him in the gospel accounts. How different the whole Christmas event might have been without his full cooperation. There was a sensitivity about him which ought to challenge and encourage we men to be better husbands and fathers.
He was responsive to the dreams that he had whereby he was told about the miracle of Mary's conception and pregnancy. He responded to the warning he had about Herod's attack upon the children. What might have happened had he delayed in escaping to Egypt?
To the men who will read these words, I call you to embrace afresh your high calling as husbands and fathers. To the unmarried men I say that you are needed as mentors - especially to those who have no other male role model.
Blog
No Blog Entries Today
