The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple

A name from heaven. “His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb” (2:21). God chose the name, not Mary and Joseph. What the name means. Jesus means the Lord saves. The angel told Joseph the reason: “for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Born under the law. Mary and Joseph did everything the law of Moses said. Paul wrote that God sent His Son, “born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law” (Galatians 4:4-5). Redeem means to buy back. Holy to the Lord. The law said, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord” (2:23). A firstborn son belonged to God in a special way. This Firstborn was God's own Son. A poor family's gift. They offered “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons” (2:24). God's law let a family that could not afford a lamb bring two birds instead (Leviticus 12:8). Rich, yet poor. “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). The Lamb in their arms. Many Christians see a picture here. The family had no lamb to bring, but they carried “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). What we learn. Jesus came humbly, to an ordinary family that obeyed God. He did it to save you.

The eighth day (2:21). Circumcision on the eighth day went back to God's promise to Abraham (Genesis 17:12). From His first week, Jesus carried the sign of God's people. The name. Jesus is the same name as Joshua in Hebrew. It means the Lord saves. Gabriel gave the name to Mary (Luke 1:31), and the angel told Joseph why: “He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Purification (2:22). Leviticus 12 told a mother to wait a set time after a birth and then bring an offering. This was about being ceremonially clean for worship, not about the baby being sinful. The firstborn (2:23). After the Passover, God claimed every firstborn son in Israel as His own (Exodus 13:2, 12). Parents bought the child back with five shekels (Numbers 18:15-16). Jesus was presented to the Lord, and His whole life belonged to the Father. The poor family's offering (2:24). Leviticus 12:8 allowed two turtledoves or two young pigeons when a family could not afford a lamb. The Son of God grew up in a working family without much money (2 Corinthians 8:9). Born under the law. God sent His Son “born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law” (Galatians 4:4-5). Jesus kept the law perfectly from the start, so that He could take the place of law-breakers. The Lamb in their arms. Many Christians see a picture in 2:24. The family could not bring a lamb, but they carried the One John the Baptist would call “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

God picked the name Jesus before the baby was born. The name Jesus means the Lord saves. Jesus came to save people from their sins. Mary and Joseph obeyed God's law in every part. God's own Son grew up in a family that obeyed God. Mary and Joseph brought two small birds to the Temple. Families with more money brought a lamb. Mary and Joseph did not have much money. Jesus is the King over everything. Yet He came to a poor family. He did that because He loves us. Many Christians see a picture here. The family had no lamb to give. But they carried Jesus, the Lamb of God!

Baby Jesus got His name. Jesus means the Lord saves. Mary and Joseph obeyed God. They took Jesus to God's house.

Just and devout. Simeon was “just and devout” (2:25). Just means he did what was right. Devout means he loved God and took Him seriously. Waiting for comfort. He was “waiting for the Consolation of Israel” (2:25). Consolation means comfort. God's people had waited hundreds of years for the Savior God promised to send. Old promises. God promised a Child who would crush the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15). He promised a blessing for all families through Abraham (Genesis 12:3), and a Ruler from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). The Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit was upon him” (2:25). The Spirit showed him “that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ” (2:26). Christ means the Anointed One, God's chosen King. Led at the right time. “So he came by the Spirit into the temple” (2:27). Simeon walked in at the very moment Mary and Joseph brought Jesus. Waiting well. “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart” (Psalm 27:14). God is never late. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise” (2 Peter 3:9). Slack means slow or careless. What we learn. God keeps every promise, and His timing is perfect. While you wait, keep loving God and listening to Him.

Simeon's character (2:25). Just describes how Simeon treated people, and devout describes how he treated God. Both were true while he waited, so his waiting was active and faithful. The Consolation. The Greek word paraklēsis (say: pah-RAH-klay-sis) means comfort or encouragement. Isaiah 40 opens with God's call to comfort His people. Simeon waited for God Himself to come and comfort Israel. Upon him (2:25-27). The Holy Spirit rested upon Simeon, showed him God's promise and led him into the temple. Before Pentecost, the Spirit came upon chosen people for special work. Today He lives in every believer (John 14:16-17). The Lord's Christ (2:26). Christ is the Greek form of the Hebrew word Messiah. Both mean the Anointed One. The Lord's Christ is the King whom God Himself anointed and sent. Guided timing (2:27). Simeon came “by the Spirit into the temple” just as the parents brought in the Child. God guided both families to the same place at the same moment. Seeing the promise. Hebrews 11:13 says many believers “died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off.” Simeon was given the joy of seeing the promise with his own eyes. The fullness of the time. “When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son” (Galatians 4:4-5). God's calendar is never early and never late. Application. Waiting on God is not doing nothing. Like Simeon, keep doing what is right, keep worshiping and keep listening to the Holy Spirit.

Simeon did what was right, and he loved God. He was waiting for God to help Israel. Long ago God promised to send a Savior. Simeon believed God would do it. Waiting can be very hard. But Simeon kept loving God while he waited. The Holy Spirit was in Simeon. The Spirit gave him a special promise. Simeon would see the Christ before he died. The Christ is the King God promised to send. On just the right day, the Spirit led Simeon to the Temple. Mary and Joseph arrived at that very moment. God's timing is always right. We can trust God while we wait.

Simeon loved God. He waited a long time for God's promise. The Holy Spirit helped him. God always keeps His promises.

In his arms. Simeon “took Him up in his arms and blessed God” (2:28). He was holding God's promise. Ready to go home. “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word” (2:29). Simeon was ready to die in peace, because God had kept His word. Salvation is a Person. “For my eyes have seen Your salvation” (2:30). Simeon did not see a plan on paper. He saw a baby. Jesus Himself is God's salvation. For everyone. Jesus is “A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel” (2:32). Gentiles are people who are not Jewish. Isaiah had said, “I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles” (Isaiah 49:6). A sign spoken against. Simeon told Mary that Jesus was “destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against” (2:34). Some would trust Him and rise. Others would reject Him and fall. A sword for Mary. “Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also” (2:35). Years later, Mary stood near the cross and watched her Son die. What we learn. Everyone must decide what to do with Jesus. Simeon took Him into his arms. You can receive Him too.

Master and servant (2:29). Simeon calls God Master and calls himself a servant. The word for depart was used for setting a servant free from duty. Simeon's long watch was over. Your salvation (2:30). The word sōtērion (say: so-TAY-ree-on) means God's saving work. Simeon looked at a baby and called Him God's salvation. Salvation is found in a Person (Acts 4:12). All peoples (2:31-32). Simeon's song echoes Isaiah 49:6, where God's Servant is “a light to the Gentiles” and God's “salvation to the ends of the earth.” From the start, Jesus came for the whole world. They marveled (2:33). Even after the angel's message and the shepherds' visit, Joseph and Mary were still amazed at what God was revealing about their Son. Fall and rising (2:34). Jesus would be like a stone on the road. Some would stumble over Him, and others would build their lives on Him. Psalm 118:22 says, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.” Hearts revealed (2:35). How people respond to Jesus shows “the thoughts of many hearts.” No one can stay neutral about Him. The sword (2:35). Simeon spoke of a large, heavy sword. Simeon's words came true when Mary stood by the cross (John 19:25). Her Son was dying for her sins and for ours.

Simeon held baby Jesus and praised God. He said he could now die in peace. He had seen God's Salvation with his own eyes. Simeon was holding a tiny baby. That baby was God's way to save us. We cannot earn salvation by being good. Salvation is a Person, and His name is Jesus. Jesus came for the people of Israel. He came for people from every nation too. Simeon also said some hard things. Many people would not accept Jesus. Mary would feel very sad one day. Jesus would die on the cross. But He would die to save us.

Simeon held baby Jesus. He thanked God. Jesus came to save us. Jesus came for people everywhere.

A prophetess. Anna was “a prophetess” (2:36), a woman who spoke God's messages. Her family. She was “the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher” (2:36). Asher was one of the twelve tribes of Israel. A hard life. Anna was married for seven years, and then her husband died. She had been a widow for many years. Now she was about eighty-four (2:37). Night and day. She “did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day” (2:37). Fasting means going without food to give extra time and attention to God. Right on time. “And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord” (2:38). Like Simeon, Anna arrived at just the right moment. She told others. She “spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (2:38). Redemption means being rescued and set free. Old and young. God said, “Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams” (Joel 2:28). God uses people of every age. What we learn. Thank God for Jesus, and tell others about Him. No one is too old or too young to serve God.

Anna's name and family (2:36). Anna is the Greek form of Hannah, a name that means grace. Her father's name, Phanuel, means face of God. The tribe of Asher. Asher was one of the northern tribes scattered when Assyria conquered Israel centuries earlier (2 Kings 17:6). God had kept a faithful family from Asher, and one of them met the Messiah. A prophetess (2:36). A prophetess is a woman who speaks God's message. Before her came Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Deborah (Judges 4:4) and Huldah (2 Kings 22:14). Worship without stopping (2:37). Night and day means she prayed constantly. Her worship included fasting, going without food to seek God. Jesus later taught that fasting should be done for God's eyes, not to be seen (Matthew 6:16-18). Coming in that instant (2:38). Again God's timing was exact. The law said a matter was confirmed by two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15). Many Christians see Simeon and Anna as God's two witnesses in the temple. Redemption (2:38). The Greek lytrōsis (say: LOO-troh-sis) means setting free by paying a price. Peter names the price: “the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). Application. Anna's long years of prayer ended in praise and in telling others. When you meet Jesus, thank God and tell others what you have seen.

Anna was a widow for a long, long time. A widow is a woman whose husband has died. Anna could have been sad and lonely. Instead, she spent her days with God. She prayed day and night at the Temple. Sometimes she went without food to pray more. This is called fasting. When Anna saw Jesus, she thanked God. Then she told others who were waiting for God's help. Anna was about eighty-four years old. You are never too old to serve God. And you are not too young either! Like Anna, you can pray and thank God. You can tell others about Jesus too.

Anna was very old. She prayed every day. She thanked God for Jesus. Then she told others about Him!