Luke 2:21-35
21 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.
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 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 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
Simeon Sees God's Salvation
25 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. 26 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. 27 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, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel."
33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 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 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
NKJV
[Editor's Comment: What a wonderful story. Jesus, the Christ Child was brought to the Temple by Joseph and Mary to be presented to the Lord. To reveal their poverty they presented a pair of turtle doves. This presentation of Jesus was prior to the visit of the Wise men who came a year or so later and they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Those gifts from the wise men, kings of the East, provided for the journey of this holy family to Egypt.
I would call this experience in the Temple the dedication of Jesus to God. It is proper and wise for parents to realize that their children are a gift from God and they are stewards to raise them in the fear of God and dedicate them to the Lord. My parents did that for me. In fact, I have been dedicated many times by men of God my parents respected and loved.
This story of Simeon is one of my favorites. To be able to hold in his arms the Christ Child, the Consolation of Israel, and blessed the Child is something to behold. He came by the Holy Spirit to worship in the Temple. I want that kind of life. With his own eyes he saw the salvation for all people, including us who are gentiles.
I love his statement: "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word." I remember once when the congregation of Holmes Memorial Church in Greenville. SC. was doing a "This is Your Life" for Dr. Paul F. Beacham, the pastor and president of Holmes Bible College, his only response to the tribute given to him was:
"Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace." He was a great man and demonstrated that greatness God had given him by his humility.
May God help us to keep in focus Jesus, the Christ Child, the Son of God, the Last Adam, our Savior and Lord during this Advent season and Christmas. He is indeed the reason for this season of the year. We come to worship Him Who is worthy of all praise and honor and glory.]
21 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.
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 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 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
Simeon Sees God's Salvation
25 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. 26 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. 27 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, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel."
33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 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 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
NKJV
[Editor's Comment: What a wonderful story. Jesus, the Christ Child was brought to the Temple by Joseph and Mary to be presented to the Lord. To reveal their poverty they presented a pair of turtle doves. This presentation of Jesus was prior to the visit of the Wise men who came a year or so later and they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Those gifts from the wise men, kings of the East, provided for the journey of this holy family to Egypt.
I would call this experience in the Temple the dedication of Jesus to God. It is proper and wise for parents to realize that their children are a gift from God and they are stewards to raise them in the fear of God and dedicate them to the Lord. My parents did that for me. In fact, I have been dedicated many times by men of God my parents respected and loved.
This story of Simeon is one of my favorites. To be able to hold in his arms the Christ Child, the Consolation of Israel, and blessed the Child is something to behold. He came by the Holy Spirit to worship in the Temple. I want that kind of life. With his own eyes he saw the salvation for all people, including us who are gentiles.
I love his statement: "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word." I remember once when the congregation of Holmes Memorial Church in Greenville. SC. was doing a "This is Your Life" for Dr. Paul F. Beacham, the pastor and president of Holmes Bible College, his only response to the tribute given to him was:
"Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace." He was a great man and demonstrated that greatness God had given him by his humility.
May God help us to keep in focus Jesus, the Christ Child, the Son of God, the Last Adam, our Savior and Lord during this Advent season and Christmas. He is indeed the reason for this season of the year. We come to worship Him Who is worthy of all praise and honor and glory.]