Jesus Presented at the Temple
Luke 2: 21-24 And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
Bill”s Comments–Mary and Joseph were humble, obedient parents. You don’t need to be well known to do great things.
Lesson: Faithfulness to the Lord will accomplish whatever it is we should accomplish.
Luke 2: 25-35 There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
Bill’s Comments–Simeon had obediently waited for the Father to reveal to him the One who would bring salvation to both the Jew and Gentile (the whole world). Simeon would have clearly understood that God would send a Savior by his (Simeon’s) study of God’s Word, the Bible. The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that in his life time he would see the prepared One.
Lesson: God will lead those who are obedient students of His Word (the Bible) to understand and do His will. Our personal God is able to lead us personally.
Luke 2: 36-38 There was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Bill”s Comments–Anna, by the giftedness granted to her by God, speaks to those at the Temple about the child Jesus, who would become the Savior of the world. Notice, that Anna was devoted to God all of her life.
Lesson: So, we are shown faithful parents, Jospeh and Mary; a faithful servant, Simeon; and a devout gifted for ministry woman, Anna. We also are able to lead a life which may be characterized as faithful and devout. By doing so, God may decide to use us to serve the Savior, just like Joseph and Mary, Simeon, and Anna.