The Monday after the First Sunday after the Epiphany of our Lord
Posted on January 12, 2026 by under
Scripture: St. Luke 2:39-40 (NKJV)
2:39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
Devotion
When Jesus was forty days old, Joseph and Mary took their young son to the Jerusalem temple for what is called “the Presentation.” According to Levitical law, an offering of a lamb, plus one dove or pigeon, would be offered for the mother to be regarded as ceremonially clean. It is significant that a substitute of a second dove or pigeon was allowed for the lamb. Jesus Himself would be the sacrificial lamb offered for the sins of the whole world.
After His presentation at the temple, the next twelve years of Jesus’ life would be summarized in just two verses. “So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.” Here we have the mystery of Jesus’ two natures, human and divine. He is, at one and the same time, both man and God. Although He matured like any other, He committed no transgressions. He was in every way like us, yet without sin (Heb. 4:15).
Collect: O Lord, we beseech Thee mercifully to receive the prayers of Thy people who call upon Thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfill the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
