Sermon Notes - Luke 2:36-52 - Littleby Baptist Church - March 8, 2026

1.        We last looked at Simeon, who was a faithful servant of God and was told that he would see the Messiah.

a.        That he would see the one that would help Israel look to God once again.

b.       Seeing Baby Jesus was the fulfillment of that promise.

c.        We saw that Mary, Joseph, and Simeon where following God's plan for their lives.

d.       And God guided these faithful servants to come together.

2.        And in doing so, we are given more information about who Jesus is.

a.        He will be a light to the world.

b.       Which includes the Gentiles.

c.        Helping all know that they are lost.

d.       That they need to seek the Kingdom of God.

e.        That they and we need to seek Jesus.

3.        Today as we look into the Word.

a.        We find another who was looking forward to the redemption of Isreal.

b.       After that we will get a peak into Jesus’ early years.

c.        And see how we can be surprised when God works in those around us.  

4.        Luke 2:36-37

a.        Anna, who the Bible tells us is a prophetess.

b.       The rest of the information helps us to know that she was an Israelite.

c.        She was likely married around 14 years old.

d.       Her husband died 7 years later.

e.        And she has been a widow for 84 years.

f.          If that math holds, we can estimate her age at 105 years old.

g.        And we see that she is still serving God.

5.        Anna could have had every reason to be bitter.

a.        She could have chosen to be mad at God.

b.       Instead, she gave her life to her God.

c.        Serving where she could.

d.       Fasting and praying for the coming Hope of Israel.

e.        Trusting that someday, God would bring the people of Israel back to Him.

f.          Just like Simeon, Anna was looking for that future hope.

6.        Luke 2:38

a.        Again, we find faithful people who have chosen to follow God, brought together.

b.       Joseph and Mary have submitted to God’s will.

c.        They are following what had been prescribed by the law.

d.       And Anna, a faithful servant of God, are in the same place at the same time.

e.        God is orchestrating their coming together.

7.        This is not an instance of God controlling people against their will.

a.        These 3 as well as Simeon are faithful servants.

b.       Being led by the Holy Spirit.

c.        And God brings them together.

8.        With the Holy Spirit leading her, Anna thanked God.

a.        She would have seen that Jesus is the redemption of Jerusalem that she has been praying and fasting for.

b.       He is the one that will bring salvation to her people.

c.        And the world.

9.        Anna responded the same way the shepherds did.

a.        They told people about what they had witnessed.

b.       How the angel gave them a sign for the Messiah.

c.        And when they went into town, they found the Baby exactly as the angel said.

d.       Anna was telling people about how this Baby was the coming redemption.

e.        Helping them to have hope.

10.   When we tell people about what God is doing in our lives.

a.        How Jesus saved us.

b.       Redeemed us.

c.        Set us free from our past.

d.       It can give them Hope.

e.        The Holy Spirit uses what we say to speak to their hearts.

f.          For them to see that if God can work in us, just maybe He can work in them.

g.        If Jesus could make us white as snow, wiping away our sins.

h.        He can do the same for others.

11.   We need to tell people about what God has done and is doing in our lives.

a.        It is one of the greatest acts of love we can do.

12.   Luke 2:39

a.        Joseph and Mary were faithful.

b.       They did what God wanted them to do.

c.        They followed The Law.

d.       Not because it was The Law.

e.        But because it was how they could express their faith. 

f.          A faithfulness that brought the shepherds, Simeon, and Anna to them.

g.        In each encounter they learned more about Jesus.

h.        How the angels celebrated His birth, how He is the coming salvation for Jews and Gentiles, and how He will bring redemption.

i.          God was reenforcing their faith.

j.          Giving them things to hold on to knowing the future held uncertainties.

13.   Luke 2:40

a.        In a couple of verses, we will see that Jesus is 12 years old.

b.       That would mean, that in the first dozen years of His earthly life.

c.        He was being filled with God’s wisdom and grace.

d.       Not what you would expect from a 12-year-old boy.

e.        A sign that we can see was God at work in Him.

14.   Luke 2:41-42

a.        As Luke is setting the stage for a pivotal moment in Jesus’ growth.

b.       We once again see that Mary and Joseph were faithful.

c.        They made the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover.

d.       Passover was the time they celebrated God passing them over when the final plague fell on Egypt.

e.        It was a time to honor God’s faithfulness that set them free.

f.          A special celebration.

g.        And one that Jesus’ earthly parents honored.

15.   This tells us that Jesus was raised by people who did what they could to honor God.

a.        Were they perfect? No.

b.       Did they doubt at times? That would be a safe bet.

c.        Did they make mistakes? Absolutely.

d.       The events we are about to read about, show they did not see that God was at work.

16.   Luke 2:43-44

a.        Joseph and Mary are traveling with their friends and family.

b.       They likely saw Jesus as everyone was packing up their stuff.

c.        Thought He was still with their larger group.

d.       A group of people who were celebrating God together.

e.        A group of people who were honoring God for what He had done.

f.          People who would have looked out for each other and their children.  

17.   Luke 2:45

a.        That evening as they were settling down, they did not find Jesus.

b.       And they needed to head back to town.

18.   Luke 2:46-47

a.        The 3 days would be the initial day of travel from Jerusalem.

b.       The day of travel returning to Jerusalem.

c.        Then on that 3^rd day, their first day of walking through town looking for Jesus, they find Him.

19.   We see that Jesus was asking questions.

a.        He understood what was being taught.

b.       And was able to respond in a way that astounded, or amazed, those He was talking to.

20.   With what we know, this is not that surprising.

a.        What would have amazed or astounded them at that time.

b.       Was that this was not normal behavior of a 12-year-old kid.

21.   Luke 2:48

a.        Not to be critical of Mary.

b.       But this is one of those times I think she got it wrong.

c.        Yes, Jesus could have told them He was going to stay behind.

d.       But she should not have been surprised that He was spending time in His real Father’s house.

e.        We see that in Jesus’ response.

22.   Luke 2:49

a.        We might read this as a 12-year-old talking back to his mother.

b.       But this is Jesus we are talking about.

c.        The One and Only sinless person to walk this earth.

d.       He was stating a fact here.

e.        He thought they would have understood that it was time for Him to prioritize doing what He was sent to do.

f.          At this point, that meant learning and growing.

g.        So being in His Father’s house made perfect sense.

23.   Luke 2:50

a.        Even though Mary and Joseph had heard from Gabriel.

b.       Even with the prophecies and confirmations they have received.

c.        The promises made by God and fulfilled in these first 2 chapters.

d.       They did not understand.

24.   We can read the Bible every day.

a.        We can study every word Jesus said.

b.       We can investigate the prophecies about our Lord.

c.        And with all of that it is still impossible to fully grasp who Jesus is.

d.       Our minds cannot take it all in.

e.        Mary and Joseph likely did not see the change in Jesus from a big their little boy to the Son of God.

f.          With hindsight we can see it.

g.        But them being in the moment, it is understandable that they missed it.

25.   Luke 2:51-52

a.        These words reenforce that Jesus was not being a difficult son.

b.       He was not being rude to Joseph and Mary.

c.        He had simply spoken plainly.

d.       As He was an obedient Son.

26.   They knew Jesus was the Son of God.

a.        They knew that He was the coming Messiah.

b.       They knew that He was going to do something special.

c.        That He was going to bring salvation to the world.

d.       But even with all the information they had.

e.        They did not know how it was going to play out.

f.          They did not have all of the pieces of the puzzle.

27.   Mary held on to all she learned.

28.   Jesus continued to grow in favor with God and people.

29.   Jesus finding favor with God, was likely the best way Luke could describe what he had heard.

a.        Even with the work of the Holy Spirit in him.

b.       It would be hard to fully explain who Jesus is.

c.        How He was changing.

30.   This Second Chapter has been all about Jesus.

a.        Promises fulfilled.

b.       Prophesies being told.

c.        Truths about Jesus being shared.

d.       Yet those closest to Him did not fully grasp what was happening.

31.   The closer we draw to Jesus, the more we know about Him.

a.        The more the Holy Spirit works in us.

b.       But it does not mean we understand everything.

c.        There is a lot about Jesus we will never fully grasp.

d.       We may not know why things happen in our lives.

e.        But we are to continue to step out in faith.

f.          To live by faith, as Paul states in Romans 1:17.

32.   If you are a follower of Jesus.

a.        Step out in faith.

b.       Trust for God to guide you.

c.        Especially when you do not understand.

33.   If you do not know Jesus.

a.        He is calling to you.

b.       Jesus loves you.

c.        He died for you.

d.       And is ready to offer you a wonderful eternity with Him.

e.        If you would like to know more, I would love to talk with you.