TEXT: Luke 2:21-39

SUBJECT: Studies in the Nativity #7: In the Temple

Our story takes place in the Temple of God, at Jerusalem, over a span of thirty-three days. Three persons are named in the story and others implied. But it's not about Simeon or Anna ; it's not about Joseph or Mary; its not about the presiding priest. No, the central figure of this story--like the rest of the Bible--is Jesus Christ, our Lord. "Search the Scriptures--He once said--for it is they which testify of Me".

CIRCUMCISION

At eight days old, our Lord is brought to the Temple to be circumcised. A priest performs the sacred rite, and asks Joseph for the Boy's name.

Without hesitation, the carpenter replies, "Jesus". This was a common name, of course; its Hebrew equivalent is "Joshua", one of the great heroes in the history of Israel.

Why is that name chosen? Not because Joseph and Mary liked it; not because it went well with the family name. No, the name was given in obedience to God. Some months before, an Angel had come to Mary with some great and startling news: She would soon bear a Child, but He wouldn't belong to her fiance' or to any other man. No, her Child would belong to God. A miracle was about to occur--"The Grand Miracle".

"Behold, a virgin shall conceive

and bring forth a Son".

His name must be "Jesus", the Angel commanded, for that means "The LORD saves". No other name will do, for "Jesus" only captures the Person and Work of that Sacred Child.

What a mystery! The helpless Baby is Savior of the World! The name is "Jesus", for...

"He shall save His people

from their sins".

How will He do that?

PRESENTATION

At the moment, we don't know. But a month later, we receive an inkling from heaven, a Divine hint is given. The Holy Family goes to Jerusalem to "present" the Boy to God.

But first, Mary must be "purified". Under the Old Covenant, a woman was "unclean" forty days after the birth of her son. On the next day, though, she would come to the Temple with a lamb and a dove. If she couldn't afford a lamb, a pair of doves would do. How great is God's grace! Asking of the poor,

"What a man has, and not

what he does not have".

The doves are brought to the priest, they're offered to God, and now Mary and her husband may stand before the LORD and "present" their Son to Him.

What does this mean? We needn't guess, for Luke gives the reference, Exodus 13:2.

"Every male that opens the womb

shall be called holy to the LORD".

The word "holy" stands for "separate". In this case, it means "detached from the world and devoted to God". Every firstborn son was "presented" to the LORD; some of them lived up to the privilege. Samuel did and so did John the Baptist, for example.

But no son was perfectly holy. No son, that is, but this Son--God's Son. This explains how He came to "Save His people from their sins".

Our Lord Jesus was perfectly detached from the world. Not the world itself, of course, for He was "made flesh", but from the sin of the world. To His worst enemies, He laid down the challenge: "Which of you convicts Me of sin"? Nobody could say a word. Even Pontius Pilate who scoffed at goodness, beauty, and truth must admit, "I find no fault in this Man". The Holy Spirit calls Him

"Holy, harmless, undefiled,

separate from sinners, and

made higher than the heavens".

This is half the "Presentation". Jesus Christ is "Holy to the LORD" because He is separate from the sin and guilt of this world.

"Holy to the LORD" also means "devoted to God". Was our Savior devoted? Let the Bloody Sweat answer: "Not as I will, but as You will".

"I came down from heaven

not to do My will, but

The will of Him who sent Me".

The Will of God is both general and specific. He has one will for everyone--the moral law we sometimes call it. Our Lord kept that. He also has a particular will--various things He wants each person to do. Some for you; some for me; and some for Christ.

What was God's special will for His Son? It was the cross. In its shadow, He prayed, "What shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour? But for this cause I came to this hour! Father, glorify Your Name!"

He prayed heroically, to be sure. Did He back it up? The Gospels say He did; Paul summarizes them: "He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross".

Our Savior is "Holy to the LORD" because He is supremely devoted to Him. No conflict of loyalties in Christ. "I do always those things which please Him".

Our Lord's holiness was promised in His Presentation and fulfilled in His perfect life...and death.

SIMEON'S TRIBUTE

Our Lord's Presentation began as a quiet, family affair. No one was with Him, it seems, but Mary, Joseph, and the Priest. But the privacy doesn't last long. Before you know it, some people crash the party!

The first is "Simeon".

He is an old saint who longed for "the consolation of Israel". But it seems his hope was vain; things were getting worse rather than better; Messiah seemed farther away than ever.

To this good man, the Holy Spirit spoke with the cheering news: "You will not die till you have seen the LORD's Christ". Led by the same Spirit to the Temple one day, the old man spotted a poor couple presenting their Baby to the LORD.

When he saw the Child, he took him into his arms and burst into praise,

"LORD, you are letting your servant

depart in peace, according to Your Word;

For my eyes have seen Your salvation

which You have prepared for all peoples--

A Light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of Your people, Israel".

Simeon is ready to die, for in that little boy he sees the salvation of the world.

But before he goes, Simeon has some advice for Mary. "This Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel". This Bringer of Salvation is also the Bringer of Judgment. Some will "rise" to eternal life through Him; others will "fall" to everlasting shame. He must "separate the wheat from the chaff. The wheat will go into His silo. As for the chaff? Burned with unquenchable fire!

Jesus Christ is the world's most controversial Figure. No one is neutral about Him. You're for Him or against Him. You worship Him or you crucify Him. The Hebrews long prayed for Messiah, but when He came, "His own received Him not". He is a "sign to be spoken against".

His rejection says nothing about Him at all, but everything about the ones rejecting Him. "The thoughts of many hearts may be revealed".

As for Mary, her life will be a hard one. Her son will grow up to suffer and die an excruciating and public death. She'll be there to see it all. It will be "a sword piercing her heart".

That's what Simeon has to say.

ANNA'S PROPHECY

But he's not alone. Another person has come in; her name is Anna, the Prophetess. Like Simeon, she's very old and devout. For years she has lived in the Temple, with much fasting and prayer. Fasting over the sins of her people and praying for Messiah.

When she sees the Child, she speaks up for Him. A mute witness is a contradiction in terms. Like the disciples, Anna "Cannot but speak the things which she has seen and heard".

What did she say? "She gave thanks to the LORD" for the gift of His Son. She told everyone "looking for redemption" to look no further--there it is!--in Jesus Christ.

UNIFYING THEME

I've raced through the passage, I fear, but I hope you haven't missed its unifying theme. What is it? It's not "Circumcision is good"; it's not "You ought to dedicate your children to the Lord"; it's not "Old people have a place in God's work".

Some of these things may be inferred from the passage, but they're not why Luke wrote it.

Why did he? To make a single point: Jesus Saves. His name means "Savior"; God devotes Him to that purpose; a holy man finds "consolation" in Him; an inspired woman calls Him "Redeemer".

This is why Luke wrote: To show our faith is not in vain, but is placed in the Only Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

CLOSE AND APPEAL

Are you looking for something? Everyone is, really; even the most cynical person who says he isn't. One person calls it, "Truth, Beauty, and Goodness"; somebody else calls it "The Meaning of Life"; others call it "Happiness". Or "Love" or "Serenity" or "Freedom" or something else.

God combines all these things and more and calls them "Salvation". That's what you're looking for. That's what God provides. In Jesus Christ. Believe in Christ and you will have it. You'll have it right now, in full, just as you are.

But if you look elsewhere, you can't have it. The LORD offers salvation to everyone in Christ. In Christ; and in no one but Christ.

Have you found Christ, but still, "something's missing"? Many believers feel this way and some of them turn to fads, looking for "the answer". One man says, "Ah, now I've got it--I believe in Christ and fast once a month". Somebody else says, "It's Christ and Reformed Theology--that's the ticket!" Someone else says, "It's Christ and the home church--that's all I need!"

None of these things are wrong, of course. But they don't add anything to Christ!

"In Him you are complete!"

Under the Lordship of Christ, these things are a blessing. But, if they start rivaling Him, they become a curse. The Brazen Serpent was wonderful till it was worshipped! Then the good king broke it to pieces. Maybe you need to do that with your "thing", your fad, your specialty.

The temptation is always there: "Having begun in the Spirit [we want to be] made perfect through the flesh". The "flesh" did the Galatians no good at all! It won't help you either. And so, practice these disciplines if you will, but put you hope and trust in Jesus Christ. And in no one else.

The Love of God be with you all. Amen.