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Jesus presented in the Temple at 8 days old

Lessons learned

Be obedient. Joseph and Mary had just experienced an incredible high point in their lives. Mary had delivered her firstborn son and their lives would never be the same. Their past 9 months had been a time of wonder and upheaval: angelic visitations, supernatural conception, mockery and unbelief from family members and neighbors, prophecies being uttered and fulfilled, and a forced journey that resulted in a birth in a cave. The baby’s birth was attended by a wondrous star and visits by shepherds with tales of glory and angels! What an incredible climax to a tale that had been thousands of years in the making! Now what?

Illustrate: many young married couples under estimate the impact of a baby. They have been doing married life together for at least 9 months, possibly several years, so they think their live will stay the same. A baby, however, changes things and will often turn routines upside down. They cannot be ignored!

J&M start their family life with obedience. The Law of Moses stated that all first-born males were to be presented at the Temple in Jerusalem when they were 8 days old. That is exactly what they did (v. 22)

Argument: If anyone was in a position to look for some down time, J&M could definitely be included. Instead of trying to wrangle a pass, they chose to be obedient and follow the Law.

Application: What is your next step of obedience as a new year rolls in? Are you doing what God has set before you as an individual and as a family? Are we at Smyrna fulfilling the Great Commission as God desires?

Be Authentic. Joseph and Mary were not wealthy. The law of the firstborn male called for a sacrifice of a lamb for a burnt offering and a turtledove for a sin offering. The couple did not have a lamb, so they made use of the law’s provision for the poor: “And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; (Leviticus 12:8)

Mary was a normal mother and wife. The Bible never places her in a category separate from other humans. In Mary’s song of praise we do hear her declaring that future generations “shall call me blessed” (Luke 1:48b), but that is because she was fortunate enough to be chosen by God to give birth to the Messiah, NOT because she was sinless. Mary acknowledges her humble estate immediately prior to the statement of being blessed (Luke 1:46b), and she never attempted to have a leadership role in the early church. She did not play the “I’m the mother of the Messiah” card to get anything.

Argument: Our culture is filled with people who are pretending to be more important than they are. If given a chance, some would buy a lamb on credit so they wouldn’t have to be seen giving a pigeon. Pride and status are over-rated, and we are much more content when we are authentic instead of fake.

Application: God made provision for all levels of society; He did not leave anyone out. The point is for you to give YOUR best, not some other person. The main point of the sacrifice is to remind us that ALL of us are needy before a holy God - we are ALL equally in need of His grace. Be content with what God has given and serve Him out of that position with a clear heart!

Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. As the family went about the rites of purification they were approached by a man named Simeon. Simeon was a righteous man who was Spirit filled (Luke 2:25) and he had been informed by the Holy Spirit that he would see the Messiah before he died (Luke 2:26). We are not told the length of time between the promise and the fulfillment, but Simeon waited and was sensitive to the Spirit’s leading. In the providence of God, Simeon was led to the Temple at the exact same time Joseph, Mary and Jesus were arriving.

We are not given the content of the Spirit’s promise to Simeon, but there is no reason to think Simeon was expecting a baby. Abraham appears as a man, Moses is recognized as an adult man, and David was a young man when he was brought before Saul. Andrew Mclaren offers this possibility: “There is no reason to believe that he knew he was to see an infant; and he waits. And presently a peasant woman comes in with a child in her arms, and there arises in his soul the voice ‘Anoint Him! for this is He!’ And so, whether he expected such a vision or no, he takes the Child in his arms, and says, ‘Lord! Now, now !-after all these years of waiting-lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace.’” (cited from preceptaustin.org/luke-2-commentary#2.22)

Argument: Simeon had a unique promise given to him in regards to remaining alive until he would see the Messiah. That was a non-repeatable, specific promise to Simeon alone. The truth of being sensitive to the Holy Spirit still applies to us. The Spirit of Christ is still working in and through his people and we can grow in this grace.

Application: You CAN be led by the Holy Spirit. You CAN do the will of God. Gal 5:16

Galatians 5:16 KJV 1900

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Fulfill your ministry. Simeon was able to praise God and affirm that God was “letting your servant depart in peace” (Luke 2:29) Simeon had finished his earthly mission and God was going to take him to glory. What an incredible triumph for Simeon!

Only a very choice few persons in the Bible were given to know the time of their leave taking, so we should not expect to receive that piece of information. We can, however, focus on completing OUR own mission. For those who are IN Christ - we have a purpose, and our life is NOT random. We are not just taking up space until the Return of Christ or until God calls our Name in death. Short of the Jesus’ Coming, we will all die. Let it be said of us as it was said of King David: “after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep” (Acts 13:36)

Question: Are you IN Christ? In order to be obedient and authentic, you first have to be sensitive to the Spirit’s call for salvation. Simeon was able to say “for mine eyes have seen thy salvation!” (Luke 2:30). If you are not able to affirm that same truth you CAN. Respond to call of the Spirit and surrender yourself to the Savior.

For those of us in Christ - let us be obedient to God’s purpose and let’s serve with authenticity and Joy! We belong to Christ and our lives have meaning! I want to encourage you with a quote from Dr. Jeremiah: “The man of God in the will of God is immortal until his work is done.”