Presentation of Jesus in the temple
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21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
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.”33 The child’s father and mother marvelled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
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The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. 3 On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. 4 Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. 5 If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding.
6 “‘When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. 7 He shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood. These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl.
8 But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”
Today we are looking into the presentation of Jesus at the temple. Officially it is the end of the festive season! In some countries people take their decorations down at this time. It is thirty three days after Jesus’ circumcision. We read about that ritual in Leviticus 12.
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21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
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.”
33 The child’s father and mother marvelled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Our reading in Luke 2:21 begins:
‘When the time was right, on the eighth day the child was circumcised, he was named Jesus.’
Luke does not emphasise the circumcision after eight days in accordance with Jewish Law but the naming of the child – Jesus. The divine purpose of this child is written in his name – Yeshua, Jesus meaning Saviour, He comes to rescue. Christianity is a rescue religion, not self-help not mindfulness techniques to empty your mind but a Saviour to fill you to overflowing with his HS. A rescuer who came to rescue needy, lost people. The angel gave him that name before he was born so there could be no doubt about it – Saviour and what he saves us from the misery of life in spiritual darkness and Christ-less life hereafter.
From conception in the womb of the Virgin Mary, the trinity was at work, Father-Son and Holy Spirit to appoint the Son to take on human nature to be our Saviour. It’s all in his name!
Having been circumcised he is then presented at the temple as part of the Jewish Purification law and Consecration of the first child ‘Holy reserved for God.’ Exodus 13:1 and Leviticus 12:1-8. Right from his birth, the Holy Spirit was guiding his parents to act wisely so that the law would be fulfilled.
Jesus born under the Jewish laws would be the one to set them and us free from those laws by being without sin and taking our sins upon himself.
‘When the right time came God sent his son. He came…and lived under Jewish law, to redeem those who were under the law so that we might become Gods children.’ —Galatians 4:4
Jesus said “Do not think I have come to abolish the law or the prophets but to fulfil.” — Matthew 5:17-20
Simeon
‘Simeon was righteous and devout… and the Holy Spirit rested upon him….’
If Jesus is the lead role in our drama the best supporting actor is Simeon. ‘Simeon a (righteous) good man and a devout man….the Holy Spirit was upon him.’
When I look at Simeon and think he had the privilege of holding the Christ child in their arms. God’s answer to a world gone wrong and Simeon held him. God’s promise having waited years expecting and believing. Simeon was righteous and devout the Holy Spirit was upon him.
As I meet Simeon I see three qualities which I want more of in my life and these three qualities are found in Luke 2:25:
Simeon was righteous
and devout…
and the Holy Spirit rested upon him…’
Righteous
If we are to be open to the Lord’s promptings in our lives we must be righteous (v25). Righteous is referring to the way he dealt with other people devout is referring to the way he related to God. Righteousness is not something we can do ourselves.
If I say I’m going to be a nice guy today, it’s not long before someone pinches my place in a queue or I come on some road works!
Nice or righteousness is not something we can do of ourselves... and because of that we must learn to recognise when we fall short of his righteousness and come to the Lord quickly and often, asking for cleansing, forgiveness, a new start. Asking for the Lord to grow the fruits of his Spirit in us.
Fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control — Galatians 5:22
Christ in us is our righteousness and the more we come to the Lord, the more we will become a people who are readily available for needy people around us and in our needy world. He will prompt you to notice the needs of those around you. Needs he wants you to do something about. Sometimes there are so many needs around us that we can feel swamped but it’s a different thing to know the Holy Spirit wants you to do something. Students taking gap years, pray about what the Holy Spirit is prompting you to do?
My friend Ray Barnett was prompted to visit Uganda and was overcome by the joyous singing of the children and way back then the African Children’s Choir began, all because he followed the Spirit’s prompt. There were many other needs around but he was prompted in that way
So let us desire righteousness which means right in the way we relate to others through the fruit of the Spirit in you.
Devout
If righteousness is about relating to those around us; then Devout was how he was with God. Here is a man so in touch with the Holy Spirit that he was able to be there at the Temple (right place right time) to hold the baby Jesus and so in touch with the Holy Spirit that he was able to speak God’s words of prophecy over the Christ child for all to hear. As I read about Simeon, I wondered how could I be that type of person who moves and goes to places because God guides me. The type of person who speaks out God’s words or prays God’s prayers.
The Holy Spirit Rested on Him
The meaning is of the Holy Spirit being on him like a gown or over him like water (Baptism echo). When I see the level of insight Simeon received, my heart cries out to Lord ‘I want the Spirit to be upon me like a gown, or to drench me like a baptism so that I am overflowing, (not a FiF - funny internal feeling) touching those around me with the Spirit of God. Some people call it being filled with the Holy Spirit and today we can ask God to fill us so we can receive his promptings and his gifts of Spirit and his power to witness for him. If you have come here feeling spiritually dry, feeling like you need a good drenching by Spirit – we can pray and ask God to fill you to overflowing today... so you can overflow to those you mix and mingle with at work, at home or socially. Chose to yearn, to long for – to seek the fullness of the Spirit in your life
DL Moody was heckled in one of hsi sermons and asked, ‘Are you filled with the Holy Spirit’ and her replied ‘Yes but I leak’!
Simeon is the type of person we can all aspire to be.
Anna
Anna was devout and waiting (dedicated, staunch, committed).
Anna did not depart from the temple but served God with prayer and fasting day and night…..at that moment, she came and began to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. — Luke 2:37-38
All we know about Prophet Anna is contained in three verses Luke 2:36-38. We know her father’s name was Phanuel and we know her tribe is Asher. That she was married for seven years before her husband died and she was a widow of 84 years.
Anna was constantly in the Temple and ‘did not depart from the temple but served God with prayer and fasting day and night (v38).’
What can we learn from Anna?
Waiting
She is waiting, waiting for the messiah. Waiting is hard, there’s nothing to show for waiting, it can be painful.
What are you waiting for? To inherit some money, to get the all-clear regarding your health, waiting for a job, for healing, or reconciliation with a relative or friend, waiting for a marriage partner, for the salvation of a loved one.
Waiting is hard and painful, yet Anna waited with hope. Anna’s hope is not an anxious hope ( a desperate hope that it will work out) Anna’s was an expectant hope. Anna’s hope knows that God’s promises merge with the prayers of his people.
2 Chronicles 7:14 says ‘if my people will humble themselves and pray.’ In Anna’s case, it was prayer and fasting.
Waiting is hard, but what happens in waiting if we commit time to prayer, is the Holy Spirit causes the desire or longing to well up in his people and it comes out in passionate prayer (and fasting). Not to twist God’s arm to give a speedy answer but to express how much that prayer means, and in Anna’s case, how much she longs for God to fulfil his promise.
What an example Anna is to us all… those who have faced a crisis like a bereavement or a major loss of some sort (a job, a possession, health). These times are crucial times spiritually for holding tightly to faith, seeking God, trusting in him without the answers. Anna a widow of 84 years is a challenge to each one of us.
Anna was devout - a regular in the temple, regular in her devotions. Devoted to reading the scriptures and in prayer and in praising God v37 says she ‘worshipped God….fasting and praying. Fasting – missing a meal to spend more time in prayer to God.
Anna was devout and I wish I could be more like her. We can make a start today. We can commit to reading the bible…order Bible read notes. Commit to worship, both in church and personal devotions, filling our hearts and homes with praises. Committed to personal prayer for 5, 10 or 15 minutes each morning. Time with the Lord inviting Him into your day.
Doris Roberts was a Christian lady I met in Leeds, Yorkshire when I was an accountant. She was a widow for 50 years. Alone from the day her husband died when she was 44 until she died aged 94. But she wasn’t alone because Doris was devout in her daily walk with the Lord in prayer, bible reading, and in praise.
And if we do likewise, we become more available to God – open to his promptings and guidance, as Simeon and Anna were. So we are able to speak for the Lord when we are led to that right place at that right time.
In Conclusion, as we think of these two older people, Simeon and Anna, allow them to influence us at the start of this new year.
But wait a minute, there’s more in this drama — there are the Extras!
Read 2:38 again
‘Anna spoke to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.’
We don’t know who these people were; they gathered around Anna, who held the baby Jesus and listened to her.
Waiting can be lonely. When we are waiting, it feels like everyone is moving on while we are waiting, stuck with it, powerless – it can be lonely but waiting together makes such a difference – waiting for that healing or reconciliation – in a community of believers. Waiting is hard but those ‘extras’ are you and I. those people waiting together strengthened each other’s resolve. One person doubts another reassures and encourages to keep praying, keep coming to the meetings, and keep on keeping on. Through all the ups and downs those extras waited together and here we are in this fellowship, waiting together, not a passive waiting but active waiting in our daily lives, loving God, loving neighbour – giving self (you could say being a living sacrifice) praying – ‘your kingdom come,’ praying for the salvation of friends relatives, acquaintances and neighbours – waiting together
Have you heard of the anacronym T E A M? It stands for ‘Together Everyone Achieves More.’ Waiting and praying together keeps us hoping, believing, and encouraging. These gathered people are not named - the ‘extras’ but they are you and I looking forward to the day when the Lord fulfils his promises:
for this fellowship,
for this Island
for this country
for the Church,
for His return is glory and great power.
