8/11/2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 2. 5-6)

“When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, [Yahweh Elohim].  (They did so as it was written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord.’) There they went to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons.’” (Luke 2.22-24)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

What a conundrum Luke presents us with his presentation of Jesus’ first anointing in the Temple of Jerusalem! It is a conundrum we must pay close attention to because it speaks volumes to the relevance and reality of Jesus as Redeemer, Savior and Friend. Luke is clear when he says “His parents were obedient to the Law of Purification for first-born sons to be presented to the Lord.” The picture is straightforward. We can see it clearly without ever having been to the Temple in Jerusalem ourselves. What we are presented with is a place in which those of the Jewish faith enter into which represents the abiding presence of God. In that presence of God, certain activities and rites are done in order to represent obedience to God’s word and witness to others in an outward fashion their faith in the Lord of All. On this occasion, Jesus was to be presented to the priest for consecration and blessing into the service of God. Yesterday, I reflected on the background upon which the rite of Purification as it was stated in “The Law as given to Moses.” Its roots, of course, were founded in the soil of God’s will and purpose for His people; those who would be called by His name and those who would call upon His name. But, the seed had long before been planted in the days of Abraham who was called out of the Ur of the Chaldees to journey to the Promised Land. Abraham, looked upon since as “The father of faith,” acted upon that certain call without seeing God and without seeing the land to which he and his family would be called. He was called with a promise and a promotion. It didn’t happen all at once and it didn’t come quickly. There were established steps in this engaging dance of faith which Abraham took up with God. But, Abraham was never intended to take the lead. Abraham was intended to be a leader by being a follower. Abraham didn’t always go the direction that led straight to the fulfillment of the promise which God has made with him. There were twists, turns and side trips which Abraham and his brother Lot took along the way. The time came, however, when the land was gained and a son was born to him and his wife, Sarai. Of all the things which God had called Abraham to do, the sacrifice of the son He longed to bring into the world through Abraham was the most challenging in history…to that point.

And I bring that point to mind as a means of reminding us that all life belongs to God. He is the Creator and Sustainer of Life. This means He is also the Savior and Redeemer of Life. This further means He is also the Judge and Executioner of the will to live Life. As much as Abraham and Sarai rejoiced in the miraculous birth of Isaac, Isaac was still God’s son. Isaac was God’s gift of life and living to Abraham and Sarai. From Him would come nations which would praise God (Isaac) just as the promise of him had resulted in nations which would not praise God (Ishmael). So, in the practice of remembering the challenge of faith-testing by God and the substitutional offering which God had provided to spare and empower Isaac’s life, we find ourselves rehearsing it in our reading of the blessing Jesus in the Temple. That appearance is defined by the instructions giving in “The Law as provided to Moses by God.” It is far more than a test of faith, as we saw in the story of Abraham and Isaac. It is a setting of the stage of being ceremonially acceptable before the Lord. Without question, few if any, endured the purification rite which Abraham and Sarai endured to get to the point where Abraham would offer a sacrifice in commiting their son to God in thanksgiving and in service. So, the rite of purification was given to prepare, in this case, the “parents” to bring their first born son and commit Him to the service of God.

This is where the conundrum presented in Luke’s gospel concerning that moment in time appears for us to acknowledge. We would not be able to do so if we were uninformed of certain prescribed conditions which had to be met. For the uninformed, as were most all of the Gentiles where it concerned Jewish religion and practices, the story of Joseph and Mary making the journey from Bethlehem to Jerusalem to present their newborn son, Jesus, for consecration is straightforward. We are informed of the destiny of their son, God’s Son, through the words of two people: Simeon and Anna. Their recognition of the significance of this infant borne by Mary and Joseph is prophetic. Simeon declares, “My eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.” Anna confirms, “Give thanks to God for the word He has spoken about the Child who is to come for all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” I am not sure who all took notice of their affirmations and declarations apart from Mary and Joseph and God. Simeon declares he is ready now to die having been led to Jerusalem for this moment of revelation. Anna commits herself to spreading the good news of the arrival of the Messiah. What is important is not the declaration, recognized by others or not, but the timing of it. Simeon was led by the Spirit to that time and place. Anna had been waiting for this time and place. Joseph was led by the Spirit to that time and place. Mary had to wait for this time and place. Why did she have to wait? Because she herself was “ritually impure” having given birth to a child. The Law as given to Moses prescribed a waiting period of 33 days before she could be considered “clean” and able to enter into the Temple. Further, if not for our knowledge of the Old Testament descriptors of this practice, we might miss the personal impact altogether. Subsequently, we might lessen the impact which it has for all those who believe that Jesus is the “Salvation and Redemption of God’s People in Jerusalem and beyond.” What descriptor am I alluding to? I refer to Leviticus 12.7 which says, “He, the priest at the entrance to the Holy of Holies, shall offer them (the designated sacrifice: lamb and dove, two doves or two pigeons) before the Lord to make atonement for her, and then she will be [recognized/declared/proven] ceremonially clean from her flow of blood.”

The act of presenting Jesus at the doorstep of the Holy of Holies with the appropriate substitutionary sacrifice redeemed Mary and thus consecrated them both into the service of the Lord for the days which were ahead. What a beautiful transition Luke provides for us in this story to see how Jesus is the substitutional sacrifice provided by God to declare we are worthy, made whole, restored and established for a future life of great significance in the Kingdom of God on earth as it will be in Heaven. Not to be missed is that chronological assertion by comparison of personal salvation (Mary after 33 days since Jesus was born) and the corporate salvation (the people of God after 33 years since Jesus was born and then reborn in resurrection.) The message of Simeon was personal and spoke of personal salvation. The message of Anna was corporate and a testimony for the redemption of Jerusalem as the launching point of this good news. Now we have a straight line of the gospel drawn from start to finish, from beginning to end. We are led full circle from Jerusalem to Jerusalem to see what God has done and continues to do for those whom He has a great desire to call “His people.” In the words of John the Baptizer who cried out in the wilderness “Repent and prepare for the coming of the Lord, make straight the path between you and Him. Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and gives us life eternal and abundant!” There is no other way, no other truth and no other life which saves and redeems, reconciles and establishes and brings hope to the people and glory to God! Shalom.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD:

Father, You have revealed Yourself to us best in Jesus the Christ. By Him and Him alone shall we gain the eternal life and our place in eternal rest, living for You always. Show us more and by Your Holy Spirit instruct us in the way we should go, the truth we should reveal and the life we shall live with you forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.