Infant Jesus at the Temple and Testimonies about Him

“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own side also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.’ “ -Luke 2:34-35 (ESV) [Read Luke 2:21-38]

Mary and Joseph as pious Jews had obligations concerning Jesus’ birth that had to be performed according to the law. On the eighth day after His birth they followed the command to circumcise a male child (see Genesis 17:12-24, 21:4, and Leviticus 12:3). This was a ritual act in evidence of the covenant God made with Abraham and his descendants. It indicated a devotion to Yahweh God. In Old Testament times, the father might perform the rite on his child. Later, the Jews had those who specialized in the operation, and it may have been to one of those that Mary and Joseph took Jesus. Circumcision also indicated that the person would not be cut off from the covenant of God. It was a solemn and binding agreement between parents and God and ceremonially passed on to the infant with the outward act of circumcision.

After forty days, the Jewish time set for purification of the mother after the birth of a male child (see Leviticus 12), Joseph and Mary went to the temple and presented the required offerings, two turtle doves or two young pigeons. This offering was for the poor. The more well-to-do couple would have offered a lamb. Their desire to follow Jewish law prompted them to do this. By not having the money to purchase a lamb, the act was symbolic: Jesus Himself would become the Lamb, Himself offered years later for the sins of the world. Mary and Joseph’s desired to follow Jewish law prompted them to follow purification rites. Had it not been for following the law, they should not have had to go for this purification rite, for Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and therefore holy. Their conformity to Jewish law shows their faithfulness and obedience in keeping the covenant.

Two people in the temple interact with the Baby. First came old Simeon. “Waiting for the consolation of Israel,” was a term meaning a sign that God would soon come to comfort and rescue Israel. Upon seeing Jesus, Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed Him. His psalm of gladness in Luke 2:29-32 echoes some of the Messianic words of Isaiah (see Isaiah 42:6, 49:6, 52:10) and Psalms (98:2). Following his outburst of praise, Simeon turned to Mary and made a prophecy of his own. He told her that her son would “cause the fall and rise of many in Israel.” Fall indicates judgment upon the arrogant; rise foretells salvation for those who will accept it. He also tells Mary her heart will be pierced as though by a sword. We know that Mary watched years later as her beloved Son was crucified. Old Simeon’s prophecy came true.

Next came old Anna, a prophetess and long-time widow who was given to fasting and prayer. She also recognized Baby Jesus as the Messiah and declared Him “the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). Not only did Mary and Joseph know of the mission of the Son, but now two elderly people recognized Him as the promised Messiah. From Mary and Joseph, we learn the lessons of piety and obedience. From old Simeon and old Annah we learn the importance of living close to God and watching for His revelation.

Prayer: Lord, whatever acts of piety and obedience You call us to do, may we perform them with sincerity and devotion in fulfillment of a binding covenant we make with you. Amen. -Ethelene Dyer Jones 12.27.2015

What Christmas Really Means

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” –Luke 2:7 (KJV)

The Word for all ages is contained in this verse from Luke. We heard it as children and were awed. We read (and have memorized) it as adults and still we try to comprehend its depth, breadth, height and meaning. I am a person who loves words and seeks to express through my own writing thoughts and impressions of my mind and heart. I long ago accepted by faith the immense truth of this statement from the gospel of Luke. For many Christmases now I have sought to express in poetic thought what this profound statement in Luke 2:7 means. I share with you here my poetic thoughts for Christmas, 2014. May God bless us all as we worship and adore Him.

What Christmas Really Means

“For my eyes have seen Your salvation that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” –Luke 2:30-32 (ESV)

More than two thousand years have passed

Since first the angels sang,

“Peace on earth, good-will to men,”

And hills and valleys rang

Echoing the news of glorious worth,

“A Savior is born tonight,

God’s only begotten Son to earth,

Come to bring peace and right.”

This Baby born in Bethlehem

Of King David’s lineage pure

Certainly the Messiah promised

Would reign with peace secure.

But mankind in his anger

And rulers with jealous rage

Would not accept God’s offered peace

For that and every age.

On a cruel cross He met His death,

This Son of Virgin Mary,

A sacrifice for sins of men

Upon Himself to carry.

The New Covenant with God and man

He mediated with His blood,

And once-for-all in sacred trust

In humble love He stood

To bear mankind’s sins upon Himself

His life bartered for our shame;

Now we can come to God, restored,

Through the power of Jesus’ name.

When we say, “Joyous Christmas”

Are we thinking of the cost,

How spanning earth and heaven,

Jesus paid the very most,

A life for lives, one for many,

To satisfy mankind’s breach

And give a pure sacrifice

Humanity’s heart to reach?

Yes, more than two thousand years have passed

And we stumble still in sin.

Look up, believe, confess, trust Christ,

And know true peace within.

-Ethelene Dyer Jones (Christmas Poem, 2014)

12.21.2014.

The King’s Birthday! Messianic Prophecy Fulfilled

“And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” –Luke 2:6-7 (KJV).

Prophecies made centuries before by Isaiah and Micah were fulfilled one night in Bethlehem of Judea as a young virgin, Mary of Nazareth, gave birth to her firstborn son.  This world-shaking event occurred in Bethlehem of Judea.  We are so familiar with the story that we may allow its importance, meaning and impact to escape us.

Let’s consider the birthday of the King.  His birthplace was a stable and his first resting place was a manger—a feeding trough.  Joseph, attentive to the needs of both Mary and the baby, no doubt found some fresh hay for the manger and even for Mary to rest upon.  Fresh hay in the manger:  a fragrant bed upon which Mary lovingly laid her firstborn.  She had wrapped Him in “swaddling clothes”—strips of cloth—that she no doubt had brought on the 70+ mile journey from Nazareth of Galilee to Bethlehem of Judea. 

What do the circumstances of his birthplace point out to us?  They bespeak the poverty, humility and humanity of Jesus.  The poverty:  “no crib for a bed”—we sing the words from the carol “Away in a Manger.”  Of lowly parents and lowly beginnings, His birth identified Him with the lowliest of humanity.  He told his disciples later in His ministry:  “The Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”  On the night of His birth, he was born where a lowly servant might have been born.  In Philippians 2:6-7, Paul wrote about His humility:  “Who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”  And, considering the humanity of the Babe:  He could cry, He felt heat and cold, He was subject in His body to all the feelings, emotions and needs of any human.  But at the same time he was (and is) God.  Later, the writer of Hebrews stated:  “He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.”  Jesus was wholly human, wholly divine, born in a manger, born the King of glory!

Jeremiah the prophet wrote:  “I will raise up…a King who will reign wisely” (Jeremiah 23:5 )  That night long ago in Bethlehem, our King was born, the one who has a right ordained by God to rule in the hearts of those whom He calls to follow Him.  Songwriter William Harold Neidlinger wrote both lyrics and music for “The Birthday of a King.”  His words express the awe and wonder of a birth like none other:

“In the little village of Bethlehem, There lay a child one day,

And the sky was bright with a holy light O’er the place where Jesus lay.

Aleluia!  O how the angels sang!  Aleluia, how it rang!

And the sky was bright with a holy light,

‘Twas the birthday of a King.

As we celebrate the King’s birthday, let us allow the depth of truth of the blessed event draw us ever closer to Him.  May we like the shepherds kneel and adore Him, and rise and go out to serve Him in true allegiance, crowning Him in our lives the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

                                                                            –Ethelene Dyer Jones  12.22.2013

Day’s Journey

“But supposing Him (Jesus) to be in the group, they (Mary and Joseph) went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.  After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.”  -Luke 2:44-47 (ESV).

When Jesus was twelve years of age, He went with his parents to Jerusalem to the Temple to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  Known, too, as The Passover, the Jewish laws concerning this sacred observation are given in Exodus 12:16-19  and Leviticus 23:4-8.  A holy convocation (for public worship) was ordered on the first day of the week-long religious celebration.  It was held in the spring, and in our modern observances it would be at about the time of our March/April Easter time.  In the twelve years since Jesus birth and this event, his life is summarized by Luke’s statement that “the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom.  And the favor of God was upon Him” (Luke 2:40). 

How does a “day’s journey” fit into this story?  And about how far is a day’s journey—when Jesus, the twelve-year old lad, was separated from his parents?  “Day’s journey” was a term given to how far a person could travel in a day’s time.  Given the terrain and other factors, the measurement was about 20 to 30 miles.  But when traveling in a group, the distance of a day’s journey could be perhaps only ten miles. 

Jesus was not in the crowd at the end of the day’s journey.  Does this mean that Mary and Joesph temporarily let down their guard as parents and were not keeping watch over their twelve-year-old?  Think in terms of relatives and friends traveling from Nazareth to Galilee together to worship and observe the Feast of the Passover.  And after a week’s worship, offering sacrifices and talking on the theme of the particular Holy Week (salvation), Mary and Joseph assumed Jesus was “in the crowd.”  Then came that “day’s journey” end—time to rest for the night.; They could not find Jesus anywhere among the others.  It was then they decided to return to Jerusalem to find Him.  I can imagine, with both of them having been instructed of their significant role in rearing Jesus, the Son of God, how they must have feared that danger had befallen the lad.  But when they arrived in Jerusalem, after three days (one to go, one to return, and one to search) they found Jesus, sitting among the learned men in the Temple, asking and answering questions.  We are told “they were astonished” (v. 48).  Mary’s words to Him are like those of any distressed mother whose child can’t be found:  “Son, why have you treated us so?”Jesus Himself had an answer in the form of a question:  “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (v. 49).  But Jesus went obediently with His parents, back north to Nazareth in Galilee, probably several days’ journey on foot, and already behind the crowd who liked to keep together for safety from robbers and other dangers on the road.  The “day’s journey” of Christ’s life (until he was about 30, scholars believe) from this incident when He was twelve until he appeared at the River Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptist and open his public ministry is summarized by Luke:  “And He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them.  And His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.  “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:51-52).