Jesus Presented in the Temple

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Monday May 27, 2024}

Luke 2:22-38

Father, Leviticus 12 now takes control of this story. Jesus is circumcised on the eighth day. Mary then waited 33 days to be purified after the birth of her male child. When her time of purification ended, she went to Jerusalem to make a sacrifice of two doves and a pigeon, an acceptable sacrifice given her poverty. In accordance with Exodus 13:1-2, the firstborn male Jesus was consecrated for service to God.

You orchestrated a divine appointment for Joseph and Mary with two stalwarts of faith. In Your love for Simeon and Anna, two godly senior citizens who had faithfully prayed to see the promised Messiah before they passed away, You answered their prayer. You made sure they were present in the temple at the moment Joseph and Mary brought Jesus into the temple.

Simeon held baby Jesus and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, proclaimed that he can now die. He had seen the promised Savior as foretold by the prophets in the Old Testament. He summarized the theme of what would become the New Testament by saying the glory of Israel, the promised Messiah from the line of David, had come to give light (salvation) to the Gentiles. Jesus was not just Israel’s savior; He was the Gentiles’ savior as well.

I can imagine both Joseph and Mary were left speechless. Despite all that they had anticipated about what the birth of Jesus would be like for them, they did not anticipate such a reception in the temple.

“How many people are out there, like Simeon, who are waiting to see our baby?”

However, the triumphant mood was popped like a balloon as Simeon compassionately prepared Joseph and Mary’s hearts for the troubles to come. In short, Jesus is not going to be liked by many people. He will reveal the corruption in many people’s hearts, and He will suffer and be persecuted because of it. He has come to die a horrific death on the cross, receiving the wrath of God for the sins of mankind. His suffering will break Mary’s heart. I am sure that Mary responded to this with a mother’s instinct, clutching Jesus close to her breast and wanting her little One to feel the love of His mother.

Anna was an old prophetess, the daughter of a well-known figure in Jerusalem named Phanuel , who lost her husband many decades before. Anna was among the most dedicated worshippers in the temple, fasting and praying night and day. She also gave thanks to You that she was able to see the promised Redeemer of Israel. Amen.