Jesus Presented in the Temple
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
Reflection:
This is the second instance in which Jesus is presented according to the Law he came to fulfill. At eight days he was circumcised as was required in the covenant law with Abraham. They today at 40 days he is presented for purification as was in the law of Moses, as part of the Mosaic Law. Though Jesus was the pure and sinless Son of God, he submitted to the requirements of the Law as he was born of man. Later he will be baptized to fulfill all righteousness.
We see as well the faithfulness of Mary and Joseph to being the offering for the sacrifice. She had brought two doves, one for the burnt offering and one for the sin offering. Had they been of means they would have offered a lamb for the burnt offering, but instead they offer two doves. Perhaps this was a foreshadowing that Jesus would be the innocent lamb of God who is offered for the sins of the world. In either case again this is done in all righteousness and submission to The Lord. This reminds us that as Jesus submitted to the Law, so we must submit ourselves as well having been redeemed by His grace.
Finally, we see Simeon, who some say was the son of the great rabbi Hillel. Some say he went against the idea of a temporal Messiah in favor or a spiritual one who would provide more than just national freedom for Israel. He was waiting for the true consolation of Israel, which was the forgiveness of their sin. And when he saw Jesus he held him up in his arms. So joyous was he to see the Messiah he picked him up and praised God. What a blessing it must have been as he was led by the Holy Spirit to hold the Savior in his arms.
Simeon was so blessed he said, "Sovereign Lord as you have promised you may now dismiss your servant in peace." There is no mention that God took Simeon to be with him, but his eyes had beheld the living Lord and that was enough for him. And he knew this was the fulfillment of Israel's destiny and Jesus would be a light to the Gentiles. As they say, "he got it".
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
Reflection:
This is the second instance in which Jesus is presented according to the Law he came to fulfill. At eight days he was circumcised as was required in the covenant law with Abraham. They today at 40 days he is presented for purification as was in the law of Moses, as part of the Mosaic Law. Though Jesus was the pure and sinless Son of God, he submitted to the requirements of the Law as he was born of man. Later he will be baptized to fulfill all righteousness.
We see as well the faithfulness of Mary and Joseph to being the offering for the sacrifice. She had brought two doves, one for the burnt offering and one for the sin offering. Had they been of means they would have offered a lamb for the burnt offering, but instead they offer two doves. Perhaps this was a foreshadowing that Jesus would be the innocent lamb of God who is offered for the sins of the world. In either case again this is done in all righteousness and submission to The Lord. This reminds us that as Jesus submitted to the Law, so we must submit ourselves as well having been redeemed by His grace.
Finally, we see Simeon, who some say was the son of the great rabbi Hillel. Some say he went against the idea of a temporal Messiah in favor or a spiritual one who would provide more than just national freedom for Israel. He was waiting for the true consolation of Israel, which was the forgiveness of their sin. And when he saw Jesus he held him up in his arms. So joyous was he to see the Messiah he picked him up and praised God. What a blessing it must have been as he was led by the Holy Spirit to hold the Savior in his arms.
Simeon was so blessed he said, "Sovereign Lord as you have promised you may now dismiss your servant in peace." There is no mention that God took Simeon to be with him, but his eyes had beheld the living Lord and that was enough for him. And he knew this was the fulfillment of Israel's destiny and Jesus would be a light to the Gentiles. As they say, "he got it".
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