LifeTalk Podcast

S7E5 - Luke 2:22-52 - Parenting, Prophecy, Purpose

• LifeHouse Church • Season 7 • Episode 5

Share episode

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 35:11

Send a text

What if the most powerful kind of faith looks ordinary—humble offerings, long waits, and a twelve-year-old lingering in his Father’s house? We open Luke 2:22–52 and trace three threads that quietly shape a life with God: obedient parenting, Spirit-led prophecy, and a purpose so clear that even a child can carry it.

We start with Mary and Joseph, who bring the offering allowed for the poor and remind us that obedience isn’t about optics; it’s about trust. Their choices form a model of parenting as discipleship—small, steady acts that teach children to love God’s ways. Then we meet Simeon and Anna, two saints of holy patience. Simeon holds the infant Messiah and names him salvation for all peoples, while warning Mary of a sword to come. Anna, decades into widowhood, shows what hopeful waiting looks like: prayer, fasting, and public witness. Together they press us to wait well, not by idling, but by rooting ourselves in Scripture, the Spirit’s leading, and the gathered people of God.

Finally, Luke lets us see what no other Gospel records: Jesus at twelve. He amazes teachers with wisdom, claims his Father’s house as home, and still submits to Mary and Joseph. Identity and humility meet in one boy who knows who he is and lives it out. That vision reframes our formation: grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and people; let purpose guide choices; and practice obedience that is both courageous and quiet.

If this conversation helped you think, pray, or parent with more intention, share it with a friend, subscribe for the journey through Luke, and leave a review so others can find the show. What promise are you learning to wait on this week?

New episodes every Monday
www.lifehousemot.com
info@lifehousede.com

Join us Sundays at 9 & 11 AM

Intro music by Joey Blair

SPEAKER_05

What's up, Life Talk family? Welcome back to the Life Talk Podcast. It is super exciting to be bringing you another episode today. We are continuing through 2026, our journey through Luke, and joined by my expert theologians. You guys are experts, right? Everybody's uh you know about that. Doctorates, PhDs, and the gospel, right? So, but I have with me a couple familiar faces and uh and a new face voice. We got got a new one joining us today, but I got Jeremy Ulrich. Jeremy, how's it going today? Just wonderful today, Nate. Thanks again for having me back. Pleasure to have you on. Jonathan Bush of Financial Peace Fame. How's it going, Jonathan? It's going well, thank you. Surviving the cold. Surviving the cold, man. We are in the depths of winter still. And joining us today, Rico DeSilva. How's it going, Rico? I am doing well. We are super blessed to have you, man. Welcome to the podcast.

SPEAKER_01

I appreciate you. Thank you for having me.

Parenting And Obedience In The Law

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, looking forward to your insight today as we continue through Luke. And uh so for the Life Talk family, if you've been following along, we uh left off last time. We had seen our Savior come. We had the birth of Christ coming to the shepherds. Uh, really just an amazing fulfillment, exciting time with the angels, but uh we're gonna continue ahead. We're gonna do the rest of chapter two today. So we will, uh, for those following along, be verse 22 through the end of the chapter, which goes to 52. Jeremy's my QAQC. Did I get that right, Jeremy? Yeah. Okay. All right. Jeremy's giving me the thumbs up, so I've screwed this up in the past. So we gotta we gotta stay on this. We have some fun on the Life Talk podcast, too. So we hope the listeners uh don't give us too much of a hard time for our snafuos. But but really, and and those listening to the podcast who are Lifehouse family members will know and probably recognize I've been around Pastor Mark too long. Uh, so I'll fully admit that. But today, really things I think we can dig into in this chapter are the importance of parenting, as well as we're going to continue to see prophecy, and then we're gonna see Christ knows his purpose. So, really his purpose from the beginning. So I think these are three things just working through that jump out to me and we'll get the discussion going. And really, starting in verse 22, we see that when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they, being Mary and Joseph, brought him, Jesus, up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. As it is written in the law of the Lord, every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord, and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord. A pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons. So these first couple of verses show that Mary and Joseph were being obedient. They weren't treating just because we have the Messiah as our son, that doesn't mean you know we're an exception to the rule, it doesn't mean we are are somehow empowered to violate the law, it doesn't mean they were special in that sense, but they were to continue to be obedient in being the parents of the Messiah. So they're following the law and and taking to be presented for tells us right here in what might not be known, it tells us they were presenting two young pigeons. Most people were to sacrifice a lamb, very similar to the Exodus back in Egypt. You know, that was what it was supposed to be, but there was a accommodation that if you were not rich, if you were basically in poverty, that you could, instead of a lamb, do two turtle doves or two young pigeons. So we kind of see Mary and Joseph were not rich people. This is something we've talked about in episodes past, that you know, Jesus coming humbly, coming in a manger. And so we see that theme in Luke as he really gives us some of the details here that our Messiah was not born in a palace, he was not born rich, but really in poverty. But yet his parents didn't have any excuses that they made, didn't have any reason that we're not going to do these things, but we're gonna continue to be obedient. So really we see out of the gate the importance of uh parenting and how Mary and Joseph kind of continued that walk. So any thoughts you guys have, you see, from these verses um that you want to kind of touch on. Yeah, Nate, thanks.

SPEAKER_04

Uh so um two things, I guess. First is just you know, I wanted to highlight that it actually just isn't one law. There's two laws here that are being fulfilled. Uh so you had the purification for Mary herself, in addition to uh, you know, what uh was commanded um back in uh Exodus, with you know, that every male, either uh man or beast, was required that the firstborn male that opened the wound would be required uh a sacrifice. And so you had meat in that. But then I you know, I like how you highlighted though too with the uh they were poor, but even in spite of that, you know, you'd think like, well, if I don't have the resources, I should, you know, maybe God doesn't really need need my sacrifice. But the law allowed for, you know, for those to say, hey, no, even even in spite of that, you still need to bring something. And so they were still uh submitted themselves to that and followed that. So I um I think you know it's a great example for all of us.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, great point and the purification. You know, Mary was there was an uncleanness after birth, and so yeah, they were being obedient to all of the law of Moses, which we know is not legalistic, and we could talk so much about that, but we are to be faithful. God has a purpose in all these things. I think great things that have been brought up on past podcasts. I know Jeremy, you brought up about the eighth day and you know the physicality, and we talked about, you know, in the womb and the blood not mixing that God has purposes and designs in his law. It's not arbitrary by any stretch. There's reasons for that, and so Mary and Joseph are very faithful in those things.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, it was actually Exodus 13, 2 is where it was first uh commanded for Moses with uh for the firstborn, and it was in response because God had saved Israel from the the Egyptians. And so that was why that was established for that, uh, is because that he the firstborn now belonged to Yahweh.

SPEAKER_05

All the more reason. Read the Old Testament, it just enriches everything you understand in the New Testament.

SPEAKER_02

So yeah, Nate, I really appreciate that you you pulled out like or you were hitting on the uh obedience matters theme. Um because that's one something I'd pulled out of this passage as well. And Mary and Joseph's uh obedience in following the the prescribed law of the Lord um really shows their faithfulness, right? And as parents, um and for those of us who are listening who are parents, our obedience and our faithfulness help to shape the spiritual formation of our children. Like we can pour into our children by following the Lord. Like it's that whole imitate me as I imitate Christ, like as Paul had said. Um and another thing that j that really stood out to me um just as in my connect group on Wednesday nights, we're going through the book of 2nd Samuel, and something that we know that we hit on recently was this idea of um David has just become king in 2 Samuel and everything's going well, but he's he's taken many wives at this point, and and sin is sin even if like you're even if you're having even if you're on a high, like Mary and Joseph could have said, Well, this is the Messiah, I don't have to follow these rules. Like but like sin is like the disobedience is disobedience. Um and we need to deal with that in our lives, that disobedience to the to what God has said, and put that put that away, put that to death, like put that that old man to death um as we're going through that, you know, as we're as we're journeying through and and being an example to our to our children is is is just so important.

Poverty And Sacrifice Explained

SPEAKER_05

Really, and like you say, in a parenting aspect, a lot about your own walk and how that impacts, you know. Like you said, they could have hey, he's a messiah, he doesn't need us to be obedient, he's he's got it all figured out, he's God. But that was not the case. It's really about that constant walk of obedience, the impact it can make. And yeah, you mentioned David, like we know David's a man after God's own heart. He is not really the parent you want to model if we look at how a lot of his kids and all went and things he did. So that's a separate episode for a separate time, but I think you bring that up. A distinction, you know, that we can definitely even see between Mary and Joseph and like even a king like David and why that obedience as a parent matters being so faithful. So I think we can get a whole lot, and yeah, that the Messiah is not above any of those things.

SPEAKER_01

So um very great example of how to guide your family, uh especially as a parent. Uh obedience is everything, right? And uh this passage relates to me in a lot of ways, um, before Christ and after Christ. Uh as I led my family into some valleys that it would not guide it by Christ, and can see the sacrifice that we had to do after we came into Christ, and where, oh my my kids have never seen that from me. But now because I'm obedient to him, now they'll be able to rely on the Holy Spirit to go ahead and follow our commands, right? Uh, and just to see the the need to bring something. I think Jonathan mentioned something very clever in those times when you don't have the resources, uh, and it's it wasn't that you want to bring something, but it's the need or bring something to to show the faithfulness that you have towards the Lord, right? So that's very big, especially as a parent. Absolutely.

Simeon’s Hope And Prophecy

SPEAKER_05

So definitely parents can take a whole lot. We can also see a whole lot about our Savior from these verses. But if we keep continuing from verse 25, again, this is something really cool about Luke. We talked about in some of our earlier episodes how Luke gives us some awesome details. Uh, really, Luke is where we get what the picture that we see of Christ in in this time and ultimately see a little bit about his childhood, but uh two accounts that are not given to us in other gospels, but Luke in his interviews and developing his orderly account. We see two characters here in uh both Simeon and Anna. And so Simeon, we know, we see in 25 is a man of Jerusalem, and he was a good guy. You know, we were kind of talking before we came on, we don't know a ton about him other than what we see here in Luke, but he was waiting for the consolation of Israel, he was looking for the Messiah, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. You know, he wasn't just kind of looking unguided, he really had the Holy Spirit. God had revealed to him that he would not die before he got to see the Messiah. How cool. But now in our own lives, so many times, you know, this is again a theme of prophecy, and we know the promises. Another P for you guys, right? You're racking this up and keeping the scoreboard on the Ps. Poverty, we threw poverty in there, promises. You got everybody's laughing at me, it's all good. But but we see here that he knows that the prophecies are going to be fulfilled, but then he's ultimately going to continue the prophecy of what Christ is all about. So we don't know how long he waited, but we know we, our culture and society, we can be some horrors impatient. Patience, right? Another P. Sorry, I can't help myself. Sorry. Oh man, it's it's it's too much, you guys. It's we had too much coffee this morning. But in all seriousness, we see that you know, really Simeon had to wait a long time. He's looking for this revelation of the Messiah. And man, when that happens, you know, he is rejoicing, he gets to embrace Jesus. I mean, how cool is that? He got to hold the Messiah in his arms. Like I can't even imagine just being in Simeon's shoes and being, you know, just so excited to see this. And so now he's just, man, I can have peace. Lord, I've seen your salvation. You know, we see salvation here, the prophecy of Christ coming as the salvation for the people in the presence of all peoples. You know, we know Jerusalem being a major economic center, and in light of the right of the revelation of the Gentiles for the glory of your people in Israel. So Simeon's even picking up what we see in Isaiah and many of the Old Testament books, that this ultimate plan is not just for Israel. It's going to be through Israel that there's going to be fulfillment. But the prophecy is that Christ will be the salvation for all peoples. But it's not all good news. Simeon says, I mean, it's good news, the gospel is good news, but he tells Mary, like, hey, this is going to be a sword in your soul. Like, this is not going to be easy. It's not going to be this just all glory, the championing and conquering Messiah that many people thought that Christ might be. So he's going to be a sign. There's going to be a rise, there's going to be a fall. Ultimately, she's going to experience, you know, heartache in his walk. So Simeon not only sees fulfillment of prophecy, but he continues to show us what uh Christ's life and death is ultimately going to be about. And then we see Anna. I mean, you want to talk about somebody who waited a long time. She was married seven years, then was a widow for 84 years, 84 years. She's hanging around the temple and wouldn't leave because she's looking for the Messiah, fasting, praying day and night. And she came and got to see she was looking for the Messiah, recognizing who Christ was. And important here that we see for her, she would speak of him to all who are waiting. It wasn't like just cool, I saw the Messiah, you know, like put that on my uh scrapbook, but really telling people, spreading the good news. And I think in both of these examples, we see prophecy as well as that discontinued theme of God using lesser people that would not have been priests or or high religious people that we would think are going to be the ones who are who would be in this situation. So any thoughts from you guys on Anna and Simeon and and really prophecy as we're we're continuing to journey through these these verses.

SPEAKER_02

Well, um real real quick, uh what I thought was an interesting tidbit was that when when we look at Simeon, um it says he was like the Holy Spirit was he was filled with the Holy Spirit, right? So which is this is different than what we see with the shepherds who were informed by angels or the magi who were informed by a star. He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and it's we see that in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit will come upon people. Um but then you know, as in the fulfillment of the of the the gospel and the Holy Spirit being being like now living inside of us, we all have that with that same um that same power and that same uh guiding the the Lord guiding us. Um and the other thing I wanted I think you hit on like that like in our day and age we want we want things today. We want that like you know, that McDonald's mentality where we go through the drive through and we need it right now, you know, like but the Lord's timing is not always our timing, but the Lord's timing is perfect and and his plans are perfect. And so Simeon, we see that with Simeon and Anna waiting um and getting that fulfillment of that long wait, that which can lead to if it's if in the right heart attitude, deep worship, uh, you know, in that that waiting for the the Lord, waiting on the Lord and depending on the Lord. Um that's something that that I think we've all walked through, that that that I walk through from time to time I'm walking through, you know, in different X areas of my life, but it's a lesson that we continually learn to wait on the Lord and not in my own timing, but in his timing.

SPEAKER_05

It can be a really dangerous prayer to pray of like Lord, give me patience, because he definitely will. He answers that prayer, I think, every time. And so we don't want it, but I think patience seeing God be so faithful to fulfill things in a more amazing way than we can ever thought. And so I have to think that's exactly what Anna and Simeon experience, like you said.

Anna’s Prayer And Persistent Waiting

SPEAKER_04

So yeah, and with the uh, you know, what were they waiting for? You know, and like you were saying, Nate, it uh hit on in the uh verse uh twenty-five there, he's you know, he's waiting for the consolation of Israel, which uh is more of an old testament reference. Um and in part, you know, it goes through all the prophecy that the uh you know in Isaiah, Isaiah 16, 13, Jeremiah 31, 13, and Zechariah 117, all prophets that were sent to Israel to give them hope because that you know they had been taken into captivity, or they were shortly after captivity. And so it was giving them that, well, what am I patient for? Like what should I be looking for? And so what we're seeing here in the New Testament in the Gospel of Luke is uh again tying back to the old testament but and and the fulfillment of that, but then also uh looking for this consolation uh of Israel, which, well, what is that today for us? Well, that's you know, we're waiting for God's kingdom, we're waiting for the return of Christ. And so how like what I'm waiting for isn't just to wait, but I am in anticipation. Everything I do day to day is in anticipation of God's return, of Christ's return to be Lord and Savior of his heavenly kingdom. And so that's you know, in part kind of what today, you know, applying it today for what we're looking for to be a Simeon or to be an Anna would be to, you know, looking for Christ's return and saying, Lord, come quickly.

SPEAKER_05

Right. I think that's a great, great point. You know, we are to look for that. You know, we know what we're to be looking for. We are to wait patiently, have peace in the waiting, but continue to be looking, be expectant. Sometimes we can pray and not really think God hears us, you know, and just like, eh, you know, we we sort of you know start to either think God's not listening or he he won't. But you know, the Bible tells us like God is not slow as we think slow. You know, God is in a perfect timing. And so I think that's a great point you make of we we look for that consolation, and we are we we get the blessing of having seen and read about Christ and experienced the gospel, but we're still looking for that final restoration that we know was promised. Yeah, and it's the perspective, it's having that that God being. Getting on the P train with the perspective. Hey, what do you know? I apologize. But uh apologize to the listeners. I know you're humoring me too much, but uh but it is important, right?

SPEAKER_04

We have that perspective. But the perspective because a lot of times the things we're dealing with in the here and now, really in the grand scheme of things, we look back a day from now, we may not even quite what was that we were angry about? What was that that was frustrating me? What was that? And it's because that it really didn't matter. And and we need to take sometimes just take that step back. And and sometimes that's what the Holy Spirit can convict us of is to let us know, hey, you were angry. Was that just? Was that a just righteous anger? Or was that just you were frustrated because what you wanted to happen wasn't happening right then and there?

SPEAKER_05

I have to think Simeon and Anna over, you know, of course, Anna's 84 years, Simeon doesn't tell us exactly long. There might have been times they got angry at God, like God you told me I was gonna see this, or you know, maybe Simeon got deathly ill, felt like and you said I wasn't gonna die until I say so. I'm sure they had doubts and and all along the way, but keeping that patient perspective is super important.

SPEAKER_01

Uh for me going back to the piece.

SPEAKER_00

Uh I'm taking notes, and it's the clarifying.

Patience, Promises, And Perspective

SPEAKER_01

Uh to people who hearing, we already mentioned seven times uh on the piece, but the promises, right? The promises on especially Simon, you're going to be alive when you see Christ. Jonathan hit it right on the spot, which is the perspective of what we do. We say, Lord, come quickly. We have the word. They didn't. So it was something that came filled by the Holy Spirit. We see here that Simon was filled by the Holy Spirit, empowered, challenged by the Holy Spirit. So that little hope that he sat there, regardless of what age he was, to be faithful on that promise that hey, I'm going to be alive to see who's going to be the one who's going to consolidate Israel. That's huge. Then we see something in Anna that she was a prayer warrior. That brings another perspective. We're waiting for something, but are we praying for it? What our faith guiding us to do? Being in our needs or listening to the world. So for looking at this side by side, seeing how Simon is, oh, I'm I'm I'm alive. I don't care how old I am, but I'm gonna see the Savior. I'm gonna be the one who the Holy Spirit promised to me. That's huge, especially for us now, right? Uh we're not truly in scripture working our own salvation, empowered by the Holy Spirit, what are we striving for? The other thing say, Come quickly, but are you really looking for that day?

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, right. And a great point on the prayer. You know, it says Anna prays day and night. So how often do we really pray day and night? Sometimes we pray one time and like, well, I told God, and you know, I'll but no, pray without ceasing, continue to be in prayer for all of these things that we're talking about. Really critical. And thanks for getting on the the P train today.

SPEAKER_04

And just just of note, with verse 29 kind of to put home with what you said there, just that was what he was waiting for. Like that was the one thing he was looking for because it says, now you are letting your servant depart in peace. Boom. Like, I'm done, mic drop, you know.

Jesus At Twelve: Identity And Mission

SPEAKER_05

Yep. So but encourage listeners, what are you waiting for? What is you know, God has uh we'll jump to that in the next one, a purpose in your life. You know, in their case, it was to see and bear witness, you know, to Christ, and they could fulfill that. They didn't have to do 900 million things, they didn't have FOMO on whatever the fads of the time were like truly this is the purpose that we're looking for. And so I think as we you know continue through, picking up in uh verse 39, we see that when they had performed all of this, they returned to Galilee, and Jesus grew and was being filled with wisdom, and God's favor was upon him. So, you know, I know there's some beliefs out there as you know, Jesus not being God, and people will try to say, oh, he wasn't God, he grew up as a man, and eventually at the baptism that we'll get to in a couple episodes, you know, that was the time that the spirit entered him, and you know, he wasn't. But we see that from birth, you know, we know and and certainly would obviously refute that that Jesus is growing, God's with him, he is God. And then we see this beautiful, you know, for most parents and parents, you know, guys can be this is stressful, right? You know, he's getting a little older and they take him back. He's 12 years old. Anybody who has a 12-year-old, I know I think Jonathan's dealing with that, Jeremy's dealing with that. You know, you guys can testify to how having a 12-year-old is, but you know, they're continuing this obedience that we talked about. It's at the feast of Passover, and every year, you know, they're being obedient to do what they're called to do according to the customs. And but when they were returning, Jesus didn't come with them. He he stayed at the temple, he was lost. I remember growing up, I like my parents would leave me in the toy aisle and then they go do shopping. And if I moved aisles, they like freaked out because I had moved and you know, couldn't find me. I think there was one time they had to announce over the loudspeaker of the store, you know, to my parents were calling me because I had wandered away somewhere, and that was like for 20 minutes, you know. So here, literally they start to go home and Jesus is still there at the temple, but it wasn't like he was off, you know, just playing horsing around. He's there, you know, sitting with the teachers, listening to them, asking questions. We see that in verse 46, you know, three days for three days, this is what he's doing, is really just continuing that growing. And everybody who heard him was amazed. Like, this 12-year-old gets it. Like he's got this understanding, clearly this wisdom from God. And of course, the parents are astonished, and they're, you know, Mary's like, Why have you treated us this? You know, we've been looking around, you've been stressing us out, and and Jesus is like, Why are you worried about me? What are you why are you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my father's house? You know, he knows his purpose. He's all about glorifying God, he's all about uh just this mission that he's on from birth. It's not like three years later, you know, we think of Christ starting his mission that, like, oh, okay, he's just just getting into it. He's been on mission, you know, from the very beginning to to live and walk this perfect life and and be on target. And it says, of course, we know throughout even the apostles later, they didn't get it. They didn't understand, you know, saying what are you saying? But you know, Jesus was submissive. You know, so I think this is another important in our Savior, he was not above anything, he was obedient to his appearance. And and I know a lot of parents, probably Jeremy, Jonathan, no Rico's got got a few kiddos, you know, and like, why couldn't they be more like this? Why couldn't they be submissive and obedient? But Christ, even from a child, is you know, just following this example, following the commands of scripture. And so he returns with them and he's submissive to them. And you know, Mary's still figuring all this out. We've seen through earlier episodes, you know, she's treasuring these things up in her heart, and then we just see Jesus increases in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. So I mean, it's evident who he is and and what's going on here. So I think this is an awesome picture of really Christ continuing to grow, just that wisdom and him being, you know, his purpose that he's living out. He's on mission from the very beginning.

Humility, Submission, And Formation

SPEAKER_04

So yeah, for our younger listeners, I think that last bit there with uh increased in wisdom and stature, you know, I think we all agree with God because you know, we'll see in uh this next uh episode where uh in in the uh baptism, but with man specifically, I think it's a challenge for our young people, our young individuals, because you know, he was only about 12 or so. And so it gives an example of he was probably like if if you were to ask, oh, you know Jesus? Oh yeah, like people would probably say, Oh, he he's he presents much older than he seems because he he was one, they were able to go a day's journey and not have to worry about him. Usually for me, it's like, okay, uh, do you got your coat? Do you have your shoes? Do you have your you know, we're going down the list just because, you know, usually at 12, at least for my kids, maybe maybe that's something reflected on me, but you know, just trying to make sure that they're ready. Like, so I I think to some level, you know, the challenge I put out for all young individuals, you know, teenagers, is, you know, one, yes, the obedience is important, but the purpose of it is is to honor your father and mother. And, you know, because the reason they're asking you to do that, there probably is some reason. And, you know, it it brings glory to God, our father, when the people that he's put in place over you, you're listening to them. And so just and and when you do that too, I take note. Like I see you know, if my son or daughter comes and does something, I'm like, thank you, you know, and let's keep doing that.

SPEAKER_05

Like, but so I think it's so important. Yeah, it's if anybody could have had a God complex as a 12-year-old, God himself, but like you say, living that out as an example, and we can even show, you know, to our our kids, like, hey, you know, Christ modeled for you too. It's not just for adults, it's not just those things, but like from childhood, you know, be obedient, walk. We're shepherding our children, you know, as parents and and pointing them to Christ in all ways. And you can even, you know, relate, well, Jesus was a you know, 30-year-old dude, you know, what is that guy? No, as a 12-year-old, he's all about his father's business, but he's submissive, he's obedient to his parents, he's set an example for us at all times in his life, which I think is super cool.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, that really um that that's another example of the hum of humility. I think you might have hit on that too. Like Jesus is demonstrating humility waiting on God's timing for him, right? I actually have another P for you.

SPEAKER_05

There we go. Racking it up, getting a lot of people.

SPEAKER_02

There you go. Two P. Yeah, there you go. Double P. All right. So, but um, what I wanted like last month in Ford, you talked about identity, right? So, and uh well, this this statement about Jesus when he's responding to Mary, didn't you know that I would be in my father's house, um demonstrates that he has an understanding of his identity, right? And so in Ford, you talked about uh if you understand your id like we we need to understand our identity of who we are and and and and whose we are. Um and um and identity actually demonst our the activities that we do in life demonstrate our understanding of our identity and knowing who we are shapes what we do and how we act and and who we interact with and how we interact with them, right? So and Jesus we can see Jesus with a full understanding of his identity right here. It's just a another good example for us to understand our identity, like when we when we become uh born again, like we've been given like all of these things by by God. We've we've been blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places. Uh and if we truly understood that, how would we act? How would we like how does it how would it change and shape our lives if we and that's just uh that's a lifelong process of you know sanctification, but like um but man, that whole concept of identity is just so key and important to to understand.

SPEAKER_05

I think like you say, be before you do, you know, and and that was from you that we got that, you know, who you are and whose you are. I know you tell your kids all that. So but no, it's a constant theme because there's so much truth to it. And so like if we know who we are, being, then the doing comes from the being. But when you're trying to do to shape who you are, then you make the doing. It's all about what I do. You know, men were so prone to jobs becoming our identity or hobbies or you know, whatever it is. But like you say, the identity comes from who we are, and the most solid foundation, there is no other solid foundation than an identity in Christ that gives you that peace. So I think, yeah, really great point. And Jesus is modeling for that for us. He's giving that right here as a 12-year-old. He knows who he is, he knows he's about his father's business, he's giving glory to God, and that's what we should be modeling since Christ is the image that we want to be transformed into. So great point.

Takeaways And Next Steps

SPEAKER_01

One other thing, just to echo uh all of us, is the identity of who he knew he was for for for the time's sake on this specific passage. He knew he was special. Their parents knew he was special. They knew it was a proclamation from God to a gift for them that he was gonna be the savior of the world. So for him to have the patience to not act out of his character to show that he was better than their parents, but to set an example for us here, especially for people who are young. And if you are listening and pay attention to this, and he went before us with the example. If I have to do it, that I was the one who created it, what you think you must do, don't just do what I said to do, or follow me as I'm in my father's business, doing my father's business. So that tells us that again, the peace, the patience, right, the perseverance, and not only that, but to see how his posture when it comes to obedience is speaking volumes for us. The application on that is a child, obey your parents in everything.

SPEAKER_05

Yep. And I think Christ, we know in Hebrews, you know, he was like us in every way, he endured the same temptations. So even for kids, you know, like Jesus was a kid, you know, even for us, we all, whatever your childhood was like, you know, he he grew up, you know, he experienced adolescence and and all of these things and and journeyed through them and was sinless. You know, we know I'm sure all of us here, you know, done some of our testimonies, you know, it was a tough time in our life, finding our identity, like Jeremy said, you know, we're finding ourselves. You know, Jesus knew exactly who he was. And the sooner you figure that out, the better off you'll be. But Christ knew from the beginning and and went through that, you know, on our behalf. It wasn't like he just you know came and a couple years and was out. Like, no, really grew up, lived, and experienced all of we, all of what we experience in the same way. So it gives us that savior who knows everything that we go through. So I think awesome points. So, well, as always, God's word is so good. We could sit here for an hour. I know there's probably other thoughts spinning, but packed a lot into a little, but hopefully from this episode, really pick up, you know, parents out there. We've done some great episodes in the past, so encourage you, be obedient. You know, when you're really raising and shepherding your kids, you know, look to Mary and Joseph as great examples, just following God's plan for that. Remember the prophecy, it's been a consistent theme of what Luke is really all about. Luca is giving us these areas to strengthen our faith, to show us that he's investigated all these things. So we see that in Simeon and Anna, and then we just see Christ in his purpose. Like, let's always remember what Christ was about, and it was from the beginning. So a whole lot we can get in there. So, well, Rico, Jonathan, Jeremy, thanks for joining for this episode. Life Talk family. We are uh thrilled to have you along every week, and so we hope this was helpful to you. Uh, as always, send us any feedback or questions you may have, but we will look forward to continuing our journey through loop with you next time. Thanks for tuning in to the Life Talk Podcast. If this episode encouraged you, please be sure to like, comment, subscribe, and leave a review so others can find this content as well. And we'll look forward to seeing you next Monday for another great episode.

Head Shot

Jarvis Brennan

Host