v1-5: Luke was careful to place the events in a clear historical context. No one can deny the accuracy of what he records. The date of the census puts Jesus' birth at around 5 B.C. The census was throughout the whole world, i.e: the Roman Empire. Thus, the whole world was disrupted so that Mary and Joseph could be moved to Bethlehem.

Augustus had made a bold claim of himself; 'Divine Augustus Caesar, son of god, imperator of land and sea, benefactor and saviour of the whole world has brought you peace.' Thus, Christ's own claims challenged the incumbent ruler.

Joseph, being of David's line, had to go to Bethlehem; this meant that Mary could not have her child at home, in familiar surroundings.

The timing of these events was in God's time; Gal 4.4.

v6-7: Just a few words describe the physical details of Christ's birth, yet they communicate so much. We have the image of Joseph and Mary trying a number of places to stay, before finding room only with animals. There is simplicity and dignity, as Mary wrapped the Saviour in strips of cloth, his first clothing. It is striking that, once He had died, the body of Jesus was again wrapped in cloths, 23.53.

v8-9: Luke records the visit of the shepherds. They were ordinary people involved in an extraordinary story. Matthew records the later visit of the Magi. The good news of Christ is for all people, of whom the shepherds are representatives. It seems they had the responsibility to tend sheep destined for temple sacrifice.

During the Middle Ages, 'Mystery Plays' developed to communicate the message of the birth of Christ to the masses of poor, and uneducated people. They used various gifts, from poor shepherds, to indicate that Christ came amongst the poorest of the poor (See Life in the MIddle Ages, by Martyn Whittock).

v10-11: Christ's birth was announced by angels; the world is different because Christ has come, even though, at this point, so few knew.

The titles used of Christ are significant; a Saviour, Christ, the Lord. These words could not be used of an ordinary baby.

v12: The sign, a new born baby wrapped in strips of cloth. This is consistent with Luke's theme of the poor that the Son of God should be born in such circumstances; no royal robes, no soft garments here (7.25).

v13-14: Heaven itself erupted in praise and proclamation;

• glory to God;
• peace through His blood;
• good will through grace;
• men and women will be blessed through the Son of God, the Son of Man.

v15-17: The shepherds came, and saw, and told. The signs were fulfilled, the word spoken by angels proved true, and they told the news everywhere.

v18: See also 1.21; people marvelled.

Luke has reported a series of unusual events, now stretching over 12 months.

v19: Mary seems to have remained thoughtful throughout, weighing up everything in her heart. Later, that same heart would be pierced, see v35.

v20: The shepherds were full of praise for God. We consider them ignorant people, yet Jewish people knew the promises of God in the O.T., and they would have rejoiced as they began to see these promises being fulfilled.

v21-24: Christ was born under the law (Gal 4.4); Joseph and Mary faithfully honoured the Law, see v27, 39, 41-42. This first visit to the temple was when Jesus was eight days old.

Verse 22 refers to a second visit to the remple. Joseph and Mary honoured the days of purification (Lev 12.3), taking the 6-week old Jesus to the temple, and they redeemed the first born (Num 18.14-16).

The sacrifice of turtle-doves or pigeons was an indication of poverty; indeed, the young pigeons are called 'the poor's offering.'

v25-35: The testimony from Simeon when Jesus was presented before God. It seems possible that he was a priest, although this is not actually stated.

v25: Simeon was righteous, God-like in his attitudes, and devout, true in his words. 'Devout' literally means 'taking hold of firmly'; so Simeon grasped the things of God, valuing them above all other things. The Holy Spirit was upon him; he knew something of the presence and power of God in his life.

v26: Simeon looked forward to seeing the Lord's Christ. As he took the baby in his arms, he said, "Now"; God's promise was fulfilled, and the desire of his heart was satisfied.

v27-28: Simeon, like Joseph and Mary, honoured the law; they had to fulfil certain regulations. Simeon was moved by the Holy Spirit to do this, as well as to speak of the Christ.

v29: Simeon rejoiced in God's promises being fulfilled. The very salvation of God was in his arms.

v30-31: Simeon saw the salvation of God to be revealed to the Jewish people, and to the Gentiles. As in v10, this is Good News for Jew and Gentile alike.

v32: His words are clear; light for the Gentiles, since they had been in darkness; glory for Israel, for they had suffered shame.

v33: Joseph and Mary marvelled; they had much to take in. The full implications of being the adopted parents of the Messiah were slowly sinking in.

In a similar way, a Christian gradually learns the wonderful inheritance in Christ.

v34-35: The further prophecy;

• this child would cause the falling and rising of many; Rom 9.33; the stone is laid in Zion;
• many will speak against Him; Ps 2.1-2, quoted in Acts 4.23-27.

The sword for Mary; great distress in her life;

• The sword of false accusation, John 8.41;
• The sword of necessary separation, v49; and
• The sword of innocent death, John 19.26.

v36-38: Anna was the old widow in the temple courts; she did not depart from that place; she was dedicated to serving God. She brought good news of Christ to those living in Jerusalem.

Anna was of the tribe of Asher, the only mention of that tribe in the N.T. narrative.

Her theme, different from that of Simeon, is of "the redemption of Jerusalem," the return of the tribes, including her own, impossibly dispersed, tribe of Asher. There were those who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem, who maintained an expectant faith. Their hopes would not be dashed, but wonderfully fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

v39: Joseph and Mary returned to Nazareth, see Matt 2.23.

Before this verse there is;

• the visit of the Magi;
• the slaughter of the children in and around Bethlehem;
• the flight into Egypt; see Matt 2.

v40: See also v52; the child grew; He grew in wisdom and favour with God and men. He was marked out by the grace of God upon Him. The word used here means ‘to grow physically,’ whilst the word used in v52 means to ‘make progress.’ Thus, Jesus grew in four areas; intellectual (in wisdom), physically (in stature), spiritually (in favour with God), and socially (in favour with men).

This single word, "grew" indicates real human life. We cannot think that God can 'grow', since God is utterly self-sufficient, but Jesus Christ, the Word, took on real human existence.

v41: Every year, Joseph and Mary obeyed the Law in celebrating the Passover Feast in Jerusalem Deut 16.1-8, 16. The numbers of people attending would have been significant. now the Jewish people were in ther homeland, albeit under Roman rule. 

v42: Jesus, now 12 years old, is required to attend the Passover. The family took the seven day journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem, with the rest of the population. 

v43-45: Joseph and Mary thought that Jesus 'was in their company,' a trusted community common across much of the world. 

In contrast: 'One of western modernity’s greatest cruelties is the fact that couples are expected to raise newborns alone. ... In other cultures you give birth and a flight of female relatives descends upon you to take care of you (make you food and do chores) and help with the baby. You don’t just soldier on in a two bedroom apartment with only a partner who works full time.' (Siyanda Mohutsiwa, author)

Jesus remained in Jerusalem for a further three days, while Joseph and Mary journeyed towards Nazareth. The bulk of the people left after 2 or 3 days, and few remained for the rest of the week. It is those few, mainly academics and scholars, with whom Jesus sat. The Sanhedrin met in public at the time of Passover, 'on the terrace of the temple,' so it would not be strange for Jews, visiting the city from other regions, to listen in to their discussions and perhaps ask questions.

v46-47: Jesus mixed with the learned; all the people were amazed at His understanding. Jewish children would know much of the O.T., but Jesus' understanding far exceeded anything these men had heard from the mouth of the young.

v48-50: Joseph and Mary expressed some displeasure; yet Jesus was committed to the Father's business; He had come to do the Father's will. At this stage, of course, He could not reveal to the people that He was the Messiah.

v51: Jesus returned to Nazareth, submissive to Joseph and Mary.

Mary treasured up His words and actions; she was learning more of her son, the Saviour of the world.

v52: As in v40; Jesus continued to grow. Luke portrays Christ as the Son of Man, the perfect man; a sacrifice was made following His birth (v24), later he was baptised (3.21). He was "flesh and blood" and He "suffered being tempted" (Heb 2.14, 17-18).