Religious and spiritual occasions happen every so often in our lives and many times, they are big and special occasions. A baptism or a baby dedication can get the whole family out of the house and will be followed by a big dinner or something special marking the occasion. Jesus’ birth also called for some special observances but being Jewish, these were probably quite different than those we observe in our families today. We will look at four different rites that Joseph and Mary arranged after Jesus’ birth: circumcision, purification of the woman after birth, consecration (or presentation) of the child, and redemption of the child.
Circumcision was done when a newborn boy was eight days old (Lev 12:3). Circumcision, to the Jewish people (Gen 17:1-14), is a sign of the covenant promise. It was a requirement from God to make their bodies physically different to serve as a reminder of their relationship with Him. Jesus, being Jewish, was circumcised on the eighth day, confirming Him to be one of God’s chosen people who were in covenant with God. Being the Messiah who had been promised in that covenant, Jesus brought a different kind of circumcision to believers… not just to the Jewish people. This was the forgiveness of sins through faith in what He has done for us on the cross (Col 2:9-15). In this circumcision, it is our flesh, or old sin nature, which is put off, and should result in a believer making not his body, but his life different as a result of our relationship with Him. This change should be evident as it was in physical circumcision.
When Jesus was eight days old, Joseph and Mary had Him circumcised per the Jewish Law (Luke 2:21). At this time, He was given the name Jesus as the angel had instructed. After the circumcision, the Law requires that the mother wait 33 days and then come to the Temple for the Purification after childbirth. This requirement is detailed in Lev 12:1-8. The 33-day wait plus the time prior to the circumcision, makes the purification of the mother come 40 days after the birth. When she comes for purification, she must bring a lamb for a burnt offering and a pigeon or dove for a sin offering. If she cannot afford a lamb, she may bring two pigeons or two doves, instead. We see in verse 24 that this young family went with the second option (no lamb) indicating that they were poor (James 2:5, 2 Cor 8:9).
At the time of the mother’s purification, we see in verses 22-23 that the child was also brought to the Temple to be consecrated to the Lord, per the Jewish Law (Ex 13:1-2, 11-16). This was in remembrance of the Passover when all the firstborn sons of Egypt were killed in the plague, but God saved all the firstborn sons of the Israelites. Every firstborn son in Israel belonged to God and had to be consecrated. This was a symbolic act of giving the child up to God and saying, “He is Yours.”
Immediately following the consecration came the redemption. The child now belonged to God, but the parents could buy him back, so to speak, through the redemption process (Num 18:14-16). The redemption price was 5 shekels of silver. The child was thus redeemed by the parents back to being their son. Just as Jewish firstborn sons must be redeemed by their parents from God, we must be redeemed by God from our sinful flesh and are then adopted to Sonship through His blood according to His grace (Eph 1:3-8, Titus 2:14).
Hence, we see Mary and Joseph participating in all these 4 rituals established in the Jewish Law, symbolizing the covenant promises and the Messiah’s role in fulfilling them and they are participating with their child who is the physical manifestation of all that is symbolized.
Read verses 25-35. We are told of a man named Simeon. He was a righteous and devout man, and the Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit was on him and had revealed to him that he would not die without having seen the Messiah. While Mary and Joseph were at the Temple doing what was required of them by God’s Law, the Holy Spirit moved Simeon to go into the Temple courts. When Simeon saw the child, he took Him in his arms and praised God saying that he could now die in peace, having seen God’s Salvation for all the nations (even the Gentiles). Simeon had been waiting for the Messiah and now he had seen Him. God has kept His word and Simeon was at peace.
As Simon was praising God, we once again see Jesus referred to as the Light foretold by the prophets (Isa 42:6, 49:6, Acts 26:23). Then, in verses 34-35, Simeon prophesies about the child. He speaks of how the child will cause the falling and the rising in Israel and that people’s hearts will be revealed. We know that Jesus’ ministry did, in fact, cause divisions in the nation of Israel between those who did or did not believe that He was the Messiah. In many places the Bible refers to Him as a cornerstone of the faith for some, but a stumbling block for others (Isa 8:14, I Cor 1:23, 2 Cor 2:16, I Pet 2:7-8). Simeon warns Mary that this division in Israel concerning her Son would one day pierce her own soul, too.
Verses 36-38 tell us of another person who was present that day at the Temple, a prophetess named Anna. Anna never left the Temple grounds, year after year, but spent all her days and nights worshipping God with prayers and fasting. While Mary and Joseph were in the Temple, Anna came up to them, gave thanks to God, and began telling people about the child. That should be our response as well. When we have been in the presence of our Lord, we should immediately begin telling others about Him.
Verse 39 tells us that when Mary and Joseph completed all they had come to do in the Temple, they returned to their home in Nazareth of Galilee.
Responding to God: Worship God and thank Him for sending His Son to be born into this world and to die for our sins. Ensure that you have been redeemed by God by confessing your sins to Him and asking His forgiveness. Vow to circumcise the sinful flesh we are born with and dedicate your life to serving and obeying God. Consecrate your life before Him by offering it up to His use. Ask that He fill you with His Holy Spirit to lead and guide you each day as you serve Him.
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