As we continue with the topic of Jesus and women, today we look at a very often-neglected passage of scripture. Here we see Mary and Joseph bringing Jesus to the Temple to be circumcised.
They were obedient to the Law and to the Will of God.
I find here a very profound thought and truth.
They brought a pair of turtledoves or two pigeons to be sacrificed. The first priority was to be a lamb.
Leviticus 12:6-8
‘When the days of her purification are fulfilled, whether for a son or a daughter,
she shall bring to the priest a lamb of the first year as a burnt offering,
and a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering,
to the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
‘Then he shall offer it before the LORD, and make atonement for her. And she shall be clean from the flow of her blood.
This is the law for her who has borne a male or a female.
‘And if she is not able to bring a lamb,
then she may bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons
— one as a burnt offering and the other as a sin offering.
So the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean.'”
Oh, now hear me’¦Mary did not bring an animal lamb to sacrifice that day
One Lamb was enough! She brought Jesus!
John 1:35-36
Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.
And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said,
“Behold the Lamb of God!”
Mary brought her Son, Jesus Who Is “The Lamb Of God’ To take away the sins of the World! Wow, Glory, Glory!
I just had to point this out and I’m sure many of you have never thought of this before.
Now please read the following and I will comment.
And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child,
His name was called Jesus,
the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem
to present Him to the Lord
(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord’),
and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord,
“A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.’
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting 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.
So he came by the Spirit into the temple.
And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus,
to do for Him according to the custom of the law,
he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation
Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.’
And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things, which were spoken of Him.
Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother,
“Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel,
and for a sign which will be spoken against
(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also),
that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.’
Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;
and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years,
who did not depart from the temple,
but served God with fasting and prayers night and day.
And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord,
and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Luke 2:21-38
The parents of Jesus brought Him to the temple as noted above.
Simeon was led by the Holy Spirit into the temple to Praise God and to Bless them declare the message of God.
Simeon prayed to God and he spoke to Mary His mother! As we are looking at women in the life of Jesus I think it important to note that the prophetic Word as addressed to Mary and not Joseph who was there also.
Then we have this awesome woman Anna, a prophetess and a widow who stayed and lived in the temple for 84 years fasting and praying day and night. This holy woman came in to Mary and Joseph and Jesus and with Simeon and began to give thanks to the Lord spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
This was indeed another moment in time much like when Mary and Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist met.
At this great outpouring of the Holy Spirit were two men and two women. Joseph and Simeon plus Mary and Anna!
Here again we see the mighty Hand of God upon both men and women.
God want to move in your life and through you.
Will you led the Spirit lead you as He did these in this story today.
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever!
Receive Him now as your Savior and Lord as you repent and believe. Glory
Pilgrim followers of Jesus,
Arthur and Denise Blessitt
Luke 18:1
