December 17 Advent

This is the last part of the Luke 2 story! (don't worry, all of Matthew’s version of Christmas is un-touched yet, so I have LOTS of material to work from for the next 8 devotionals. Hehe!) Today we look at the dedication of Christ. Some people stop reading after the shepherds, since it is a nice “end of scene” spot, but I really like reading this section, for two reasons: Simeon, and Anna. (they fall into this whole “faith” theme nicely too!) But I’ll get to them in a minute. 

Mary and Joseph are bringing Jesus to the temple on his eight-day birthday to be circumcised. We can gather from both John’s and Jesus’s circumcision ceremonies, that a baby boys name was not official until the ceremony, since in both situations the parents name the child there. So again, there is a significant moment of faith when both Mary and Joseph agree to call the baby Jesus. What is interesting about this name choice, is that Joseph and Jesus sound quite similar... unlike Zechariah and John. I wonder if this also was God’s grace that Jesus would be raised under Joseph’s care without any questioning.

Anyway, there was a law in the old testament that every firstborn male was to be consecrated to the Lord, and that the parents were to offer a sacrifice on the child’s behalf. This was sort-of a two for one special, you see, because Mary and Joseph would have been considered unclean until 7 days after Christ’s birth (technically because Mary would still be bleeding, she was STILL unclean...) so the sacrifice also covered the ceremonial declaring them clean again. This was all every-day ritual for them, no big deal at this point. This was one of God’s many laws he ordained to keep his people safe (especially before the invention of SOAP!). Lots of things made people “unclean” and they would need to be washed with water, and act as one who is “unclean” for seven days (don't touch people, don't go into the temple) after which time a priest would declare them clean again. Killing animals, touching wounds, monthly periods/other things to do with blood, etc... It all makes perfect scientific sense really! 

So anyway, It was day 8, Mary and Joseph were considered clean after the birth, and Jesus was 8 days old which is when babies were ceremonially circumcised.  Mary and Joseph offer their sacrifices, and are on their way to the “snippy snip zone” when they are interrupted by an old man! The man’s name was Simeon! God had declared to Simeon he would not die before seeing the Christ child. Simeon, with GREAT excitement declares

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
    you may now dismiss^[a] your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
    which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32)

The parents just marvel over these words... what a beautiful affirmation of their faith again! This was clearly a rocky time for them (as it would be for any first-time parents, never mind the faith involved) and God was so gracious in giving Mary and Joseph affirmation after affirmation of their obedience in caring for his son. Simeon also blesses Mary and Joseph and tells Mary some somber words...

“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.” (Luke 2:34-35)

Ouch! I bet those words haunted her until the day of her son’s execution... What bold faith on the part of Simeon, to declare such words to her in such a joyful time of celebration. He knew he didn’t have much time left, and he chose to act on the message God gave him. This too, would have kept up Mary’s faith to support Jesus throughout his ministry. She may have even prepared her own son for what would be his final days... we don't know the ramifications of Mary hearing these words, however we do know the theological ramifications of them being in scripture. They are a huge affirmation of Christ’s divinity despite the chaos that he causes.

This isn’t the end though! They meet a prophetess named Anna as well!  She is also very old, and had been a widow for eighty-four years. Married seven years prior to that, so  even if she was married at 14 years old, that would make her 105 years old! The bible says she never left the temple, but worshiped day and night, fasting and praying... we can almost assume she was on her dying bed, in the temple courts by those words...but what a way to go! Serving and worshipping her God! We know she was still mobile because the word says she came up to them while they were still with Simeon.

What did she do first? She told OTHERS about Jesus. She walked up to Mary and Joseph, but turned to the people around her instead and was telling them that this was the redemption of Jerusalem. Interesting eh? There’s nothing written about what she said to Mary and Joseph, but simply that she saw Christ, and began declaring his salvation. How powerful that the spirit of God worked so strongly through Jesus even as an infant! What a beautiful picture of how very little we must do, to be used by God. It isn’t about us or what our earthly bodies are capable of... It is ALL about God, and his  glory in our lives.

The story closes by telling us that Mary and Joseph complete all the requirements of the law, and that they went to Nazareth, and that Jesus grew strong, full of wisdom and that God’s grace was on him. The end! (actually, the beginning...)

That is the Christmas story according to Luke. Chapter two also accounts Christ’s barmitzva trip to the temple, however  this is where I am choosing to end my account, as I would like to spend time going through Matthew as well.

But I just love this account with the two prophets who boldly had faith about Christ from no other source but God alone, and had the faith to wait for him at the temple. Then without ANY warnings, they just KNEW from God that this was the Christ child! How beautiful, and how intimate their faith and relationship with God was... We can aspire to have such intimacy...They had this intimacy even before the grace and salvation of Christ had come! Now we are all able to be just as close to Christ! We can ALL hear from God, and develop such a closeness that he could whisper in our ears “see that person? I am  going to do ______ in their life today”...

 God speaks and people hear him today! The question is, are you listening for his voice? And the follow-up question, will you act on what you hear from God? These are two very important lessons we can learn from Simeon and Anna, who both listened for God, and acted boldly on their faith. Let us spend more time today glorifying our savior and growing our faith in him!

Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus so that we can ALL be prophets and prophetesses. God you speak to all of us. Please help us quiet our souls so that we can hear your voice. Please let us know what we need to cut out of our lives, to die down the noise. Please help us make time for you each day, so we can learn to hear your voice. God, your word says that your sheep know your voice... Help us be your sheep, and help us to know your voice so very intimately. Please teach us how to discern your spirit from our own, and from other spirits. And please gracefully grant us the boldness in faith to act on what you tell us in those intimate moments. Please lord, we ask this in your son’s name, Jesus Christ.
Amen