THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE
LUKE 2:21-40
He says, "Is it too small a thing that you should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6).
We normally think of the Christmas Story as the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and the coming of the shepherd and the wise men. But there were other events that took place during these early days. The following chronological chart might be helpful in seeing the flow of events:
|
Day 0: Jesus is born in Bethlehem; the shepherds are told and they come to see Day 8: Jesus is circumcised Day 40: Jesus is brought to the temple in Jerusalem and presented to the Lord Day 41+: The Wise Men come to worship Jesus; Joseph and his family flee to Egypt but later return to Nazareth. |
In the days in which Jesus was born, there were three legal ordinances which were required by every Jewish parent that had given birth to a firstborn son. It is within the setting of these ordinances that our story will take place. This first of these ordinances was the rite of circumcision. This took place eight days after the birth of the son.
THE CIRCUMCISION OF JESUS
And when the eight days were completed before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2:21).
This is the second circumcision recorded in Luke. The first was the circumcision of John the Baptist (Luke 1:59). Why is it so significant that Jesus was circumcised? It is because this rite identified Him with the Abrahamic Covenant — the promise that God had made to Abraham concerning an eternal kingdom.
Circumcision was the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 17:9-14). It marked Jesus as a member of that covenant community. It was a personal covenant. It was made between God and the family of Abraham. Outsiders were excluded.
Because this was a personal covenant, the sign of the covenant was also of a personal nature. It was carried upon the body of each Jewish man. It was not the sort of sign you displayed publicly to others. It was very private.
His name was then called Jesus (2:21).
Just as Abraham and Sarah had received new names at the time circumcision was first instituted, so the Jews always waited until the day of circumcision to name their male children.
COMING TO THE TEMPLE
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
23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every first-born male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. (Luke 2:22-24).Now we come to the other two ordinances which were required after the birth of a firstborn son.
This ceremony of purification goes all the way back to the Old Testament. It was given by God to the Jews as a part; of the Mosaic Law. It is found in Leviticus 12.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, When a woman gives birth and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean for seven days, as in the days of her menstruation she shall be unclean.
"And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
"Then she shall remain in the blood of her purification for thirty-three days; she shall not touch any consecrated thing, nor enter the sanctuary, until the days of her purification are completed." (Leviticus 12:1-4).
According to the Mosaic Law, the mother of a child was considered to he unclean. Why is this? I’m not sure. Perhaps it was to serve as a reminder that she had just given birth to a sinful, fallen creature.
Thus, in the case of the birth of a son, the mother was banned from performing any religious duties for a period of 41 days (8 days prior to the circumcision plus 33 days following the circumcision).
And when the days of her purification are completed, for a son or a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at; the doorway of the tent of meeting, a one year old lamb for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering.
Then he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, whether male or female.
But if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, the one for a burnt offering; and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean. (Leviticus 12: 6-8).
After the 41 days had elapsed, then it was necessary for the mother to go to the temple and offer up a sin offering and a burnt offering for an atonement;.
Why were these offerings so important? They were to teach that sin must be dealt with. Any uncleanliness demanded separation from God. The only way that fellowship with God could be restored was through the death of an innocent substitute.
This sacrificial system was really an illustration of what Jesus would do for us on the cross. He became our sacrifice for sin. He substituted Himself on the cross on our behalf. He died instead of us.
This was the third ordinance that was commanded in the Law for the birth of a firstborn son. This ordinance dated all the way back to the time of the Exodus. It was the command of God to Moses.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Sanctify to Me every firstborn, the first offspring of every womb among the sons of Israel, both man and beast; it belongs to Me." (Exodus 13:1-2).
In the days when God had brought judgment down upon Egypt, the greatest plague had been the death of the firstborn. God had killed the firstborn of every man and animal in the entire land of Egypt. The only way to escape had been to slaughter an innocent lamb and to smear its blood upon the doorposts of the house.
When the angel of the Lord came to a house with blood on the doorposts, the firstborn within that house was reckoned to have already been dead. On this basis, the angel passed over that house. Because of this, God states that each of the firstborn of Israel are His: They are reckoned to have forfeited their lives. Therefore, they must be bought back. They must be ransomed. They must be redeemed.
Now it shall come about when the Lord brings you to the land of the Canaanite, as He swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you, 12 that you shall devote to the Lord the first offspring of every womb, and the first offspring of every beast that; you own; the males belong to the Lord.
But every first offspring of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it,, then you shall break its neck; for every first-born of man among your sons you shall redeem." (Exodus 13:11-13).
The male firstborn of every man or animal belonged to the Lord. If they were to be allowed to live, then their lives must be purchased from the Lord.
This was also an illustration of what Jesus would do on the cross. He would redeem us who were dead in sin in order that we might have His righteousness reckoned to our behalf. The purchase price would be His own blood. A life would be paid for a life.
The Child has been born in Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary decide to wait in Bethlehem and reside there for the next month until that can make the trip to the temple for the purification and presentation ceremonies.
On the eighth day, the child is circumcised and named Jesus. The next four weeks pass swiftly for the small family. They are no longer in a stable, having found suitable, yet humble lodgings.
Finally, it is the appointed day. Mary and Joseph and the Child rise up early in the morning. They do not pack all of their belongings, for they will be returning to Bethlehem in the evening. Then they set off for Jerusalem, five miles to the north.
Jerusalem. This is the religious center of their world. It is the city of God. Today they bypass the crowded marketplace where merchants are selling their wares. Today they are going to the temple. It stands on the eastern edge of the city, atop a sharp ridge which gives a commanding view over the rest of the city. There is hardly a place in all Jerusalem where you cannot look up and see the temple.
Mary and Joseph climb the broad stairway and enter through the Huldah Gate into the vast Court of the Gentiles. Carrying the infant Child, they come to a stone wall on which is written a solemn warning in Greek and Latin forbidding all Gentiles from passing any further. They pass through the narrow gate and climb the 14 steps up to the Gate Beautiful. Moving through this gate, they find themselves in the Court of the Women.
Mary places money into one of the offering chests. It is the price of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. This is the poor man’s offering. This is for the purification ceremony.
Now she climbs the 15 steps up to the majestic Nicanor Gate and stands at the threshold. She is permitted to go no further. But from here, she can see into the Court of the Priests and the temple itself.
One of the officiating priests comes to her, sprinkling her with the sacrificial blood and declaring her to be cleansed. She will now offer up her infant Child, and then pay the ransom price to receive the Child back again. As she is about to offer up the Child, she is interrupted. It is an old man.
THE PROMISE TO SIMEON
And behold, 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.
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. (Luke 2:25-26).
|
Although the Levitical ceremony in the temple is the setting for this narrative, our focus is not brought to its details, but rather to the two people who interrupted that ceremony. God did not use the officiating priest, but rather a couple of people who were "in the church pew" to deliver his message. |
This man was named Simeon. It was an Old Testament name. It was a name of one of the sons of Jacob.
The original Simeon had been an answer to Leah’s prayer. She had prayed that she would have a son and the Lord had answered her prayer. Therefore, she had named her son "Simeon" (hearing) because God had heard her prayer.
Here is a man with the same name. We know very little about him. But we do know that God had answered his prayers. He was looking for the "consolation of Israel." He was looking for the Messiah. And God had answered his prayer with a promise.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. (Luke 2: 26).
Here was a man who could not die until the appointed time. He would not die until he had seen the Messiah.
Does this surprise you? Do you wish that you had a similar promise from God? Well, I have good news for you. You have one.
See now that I, I am He, and there is no god besides Me; it is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded, and it is I who heal; and there is no one who can deliver from My hand. (Deuteronomy 32:39).
This is more than just a promise to the nation of Israel. This is a description of the character of God. God’s character has not changed. He still puts to death and gives life.
There is a principle here. It is that you will not, die until God’s plan in your life has been completed, and that when it is completed, you will not live a moment longer (I Samuel 2:6).
However, the promise given to Simeon was more specific. He was told that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. The word "Christ" is a Greek word. It literally means "the anointed one." It is the term which is translated in Hebrew as "Messiah.
THE SONG OF SIMEON
And 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,
28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,"Now Lord, Thou dost let; Thy bond-servant depart in peace, according to Thy word;
For my eyes have seen Thy salvation,
Which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
A light of revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Thy people Israel ." (Luke 2:27-32).
The Spirit moves Simeon into the temple in Jerusalem at the very moment that Mary and Joseph and the Child are there.
Immediately, Simeon recognizes the Child for who He really is. Here is a man with spiritual perception. None of the temple priests recognize this Child as the Messiah. No rabbi has stopped to determine that this Child is the Holy One of God. None of the other worshipers have paused to discover the true identity of this Child. But this one old man saw the Child and recognized Him for who He was — God’s Anointed One.
1. A Warm Embrace: He took Him into his arms (2:28).
Can you imagine how Simeon felt to hold the Messiah in his arms? This little baby was the promised Redeemer! Upon this tiny infant hinged the salvation of the world! It is no wonder that. Simeon breaks into song and praises the Lord.
2. A Contented Entreaty: "Now Lord… let Thy bond-servant depart in peace" (2:29).
These are striking words. We normally take them to be spoken by an old man at the end of his life. But the passage does not actually tell us that Simeon was an old man. It only tells us that it had been revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s salvation. And now that had happened. This little baby is the embodiment of God’s salvation of men.
Simeon is really saying, "Okay, lord, I’m ready to die." Here was a man who had lived his life looking to the day when he could see the Messiah. In his mind, nothing greater could ever happen in his life. This is the climax of his life. Nothing else can ever compare to this one moment. No matter what else takes place, it will be anticlimactic for him.
3. A Divine Endorsement.
It is interesting to note that every time we see Jesus in the role of His humanity, we also see the glory of His divinity shining forth.
So it is here in the temple. Mary and Joseph make the "poor man’s" offering in the temple. It seems just another insignificant child of the Jews. And yet, the Holy Spirit brings this man to the temple to bear witness that this Child is the Messiah.
THE PROPHECY OF SIMEON
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
34 and a sword will pierce even your own soul — to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2:33-35).Simeon now turns from singing His praise to the Lord to speak to Mary and Joseph. He has been blessing the Lord. Now he blesses them. And he gives a special word of prophecy to Mary.
1. An Destined Appointment: "This Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many" (2:34).
Depending on whether the Jews accepted or rejected Jesus as their Messiah and King, they would decide their future destiny.
Those who rejected Jesus as their King would call. One of the greatest examples of this fall would be in 70 A.D. when the Roman general Titus would sack Jerusalem and carry off its inhabitants into slavery.
On the other hand, those Jews who accepted Jesus as their King will find themselves as heirs of the kingdom.
2. A Distressful Adversity: "And a sword will pierce even your own soul" (2:35).
Who is Simeon speaking to? He is speaking to Mary. Something will happen that will bring her inner pain. It will strike deep. It will be a sorrow so sharp that it will be as though a sword has cut through her.
Mary is going to witness the death of Her Son. She is going to see Him rejected and tried and mocked and crucified like some common criminal.
THE WITNESS OF ANNA
And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with a husband seven years after her marriage,
37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. And she never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.And 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. (Luke 2: 36-38).
This woman’s name was Anna. It is a Hebrew name. The Hebrew form of this name -- Hanniah -- was the name of the mother of Samuel the prophet. This woman in our passage had been a widow for many years. She is now 84 years old.
Now I want to ask you a question. Does God use women in the ministry? Absolutely. This woman had a wonderful ministry.
a. She was a prophetess.
b. She fasted regularly.
c. She was constantly in prayer.
The realm of her ministry was within the temple. The temple, with its symbolic testimonies to the promised Messiah, was something on which Anna had spent many hours meditating. Thus when the Messiah-Child actually appeared in the temple, she was quick to recognize Him.
1. A Thankful Recital: She… began giving thanks to God (2:38).
The direction of Anna’s reaction was twofold.
Notice which came first. Her relationship with the Lord preceded her testimony before men. We tend to do it backwards. We start talking and witnessing and planning and doing, and then we take it all to God and ask Him to rubber-stamp it. We need to talk to the Lord about men before we talk to men about the Lord.
2. A Message of Redemption: …who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem (2:38).
There were many Jews who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. Simeon had been such a man — we saw that he was looking for the "consolation of Israel" (Luke 2:25). Zacharias had praised God for accomplishing redemption for His people (Luke 1:68). Now we see that there were many who were looking for the "redemption of Jerusalem."
Do yon see what is happening? God is already preparing people for the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus. It will be thirty years before their ministries actually begin, but God is already at work preparing people’s hearts.
There is a principle here. It is that God prepares the way. Maybe you are going through hard times. Maybe you are facing a dry period in your life. Maybe you are journeying through the valley of the shadow of death.
I have a message for you. It is a message of comfort and encouragement. God has prepared a way. You may not he able to see it. Your situation may look hopelessly tangled. But God has prepared a way.
RETURN TO NAZARETH
And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.
And the Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. (Luke 2:39-40).
Notice that Luke does not say that after they had performed everything according to the Law, they returned IMMEDIATELY to Galilee.
Luke omits the story of the Magi and the flight of the family to Egypt. It is only after those events that the family would eventually return to Nazareth.
The question naturally arises — why did Luke leave this story out of his account? We cannot know for certain. But perhaps it is because it was not crucial to Luke’s theme. Luke does not dwell on any of the ministry of Jesus that took place outside of Palestine. He does not mention the ministry in Decapolis or Samaria or Phoenicia. Although he records the events which took place in Caesarea, he does not mention it by name.
You see, Luke will describe the progress of the ministry of the gospel in those other countries when he writes the book of Acts. At that time he will deal with the gospel going to Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth. But for now his focus is upon the Lord’s covenant community who live in the land of Israel.
LESSONS OF APPLICATION