My second (different) christmas address

Leviticus 12

Luke 2. 21-40

The jewish Law required that a boy be circumcised on the eighth day thus entering into a covenant relationship.  This was the old covenant.  We therefore see in Jesus the old covenant ending and the new beginning with his death and resurrection.

Luke was a gentile and in his gospel he explains to the reader that  that a pair of doves or pigeons was required.  ( Jews would not need to be told this)

When we look at the old testament we find that these were to be presented if that was all the couple could afford and in the case of Joseph and Mary, not being wealthy, then this was a pleasing offering to the lord, but they were really offering Jesus.

Mary and joseph were obeying the law as written in Leviticus 12.( read this)

Leviticus 12 specifies what a woman is to do after she gives birth to a son:

• She is religiously unclean or impure for seven days after childbirth.

• On the eighth day, the boy is to be circumcised.

• The woman must wait thirty three days to be purified from her bleeding.

• After this purification period, she is to bring a lamb to the priest to sacrifice, and a young pigeon or dove for a sin offering.

Every aspect of life, had to be holy.

In order to be acceptable to God, all these things in Leviticus 12 had to be done

We are told very little about Simeon, except that he was a Godly man, and the holy spirit had come upon him and shown him that he would not die until he had seen christ.

On the day that Jesus was to be circumcised, it was the holy spirit who prompted him that this child was the Christ, and his words have been recorded and Joseph and Marys reaction is recorded.

Although they were aware of who Jesus was, even they marvelled at what Simeon had to say.  It was also a warning of the grief that Mary in particular would suffer when he was crucified.

We do not know how God revealed to Simeon that he would have a role in this drama before he

died. We don’t know how many long years he might have waited in faith and expectation. We

don’t know if he wavered in doubt or if he persevered with unwavering faith. What really

matters is that when the critical time came to trust and obey God he did.

Note also that Simeon revealed that he would be a light for revelation to the Gentiles.  This would have been difficult for the Jews to comprehend. Is it any wonder that Mary and Joseph marvelled?  He would also be for the glory of Israel. This he revealed to all, however he also had a word that was only for Mary.

“This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Isreal, and to be a sign that will be spoken against so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed and a sword will pierce your owns soul to”.

We see in these words a warning.  Jesus would cause MANY to FALL.  At this time when people are thinking of “Gentle Jesus Meek and Mild”, let us not lose sight of the fact that Jesus is the Son the second person of the trinity and that one day he will Judge the earth and those who have rejected him will fall.  They will suffer his wrath.

Indeed jesus does know the true thoughts of our hearts and reveals them, but there was a to be a very personal heartache that would belong only to Mary.  I wonder if she fully comprehended it at the time.  Somehow I doubt that, but when he was crucified, perhaps she remembered what Simeon told her that day.

Anna was an old woman, the daughter of  Phanuel. (His name meant, THE FACE OF GOD)

We are not told what Anna had to say, but I presume that it built upon what Simeon had said. She spoke to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Israel.  Whatever she had to say would have been of great benefit to their understanding.

Can you imagine what that was like?  Here was an old woman who worshipped the lord, and she was telling them that the very thing they were praying for and looking forward to was happening before their very eyes that day.

In a day when people had largely turned their backs upon God, God carried out his promise of sending the messiah and Simeon and Anna had remained faithful.

In our own day, when we see all the things around us that are going on that we know are not pleasing to God, we need to be faithful as Simeon and Anna were.