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The Birth of Jesus Christ 6: Shepherds visit Jesus Stock

The Birth of Jesus Christ

Jesus and Mary presented at the temple in Jerusalem

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.

When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, 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 own soul too."

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. (Luke 2:21-39)

Comments

1) This part is almost always left out of the story of the birth of Jesus. But if we want chronological order then we include it. These events occurred before the visit of the Magi. And it helps us to understand some things about the timing of the visit of the Magi and the holy family's escape to Egypt.

2) Their purpose in going to the temple was two-fold. The first was to offer sacrifices for Mary. Lev 12:1-4 follows. The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites: 'A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over." So Joseph and Mary would have been at the temple at least 41 days after the birth of Jesus. 8 days + 33 days = 41. She would probably do it on the first day possible.

3) We can tell that Joseph and Mary were really poor, because they were bringing doves or pigeons. We also see that Mary was not sinless, since she had to make a sin offering like every other woman in that situation. Lev 12:6-8 follows. "When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. He shall offer them before the LORD to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood. These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. If she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean. "

4) The second purpose was to present Jesus for consecration. Every Israelite was to consecrate the first-born to the Lord, according to Exodus 13:2 and Numbers 18:14-15.

5) Notice the last sentence in the passage says, "When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth." It would seem that they probably would have been staying in Bethlehem, near Jerusalem, for the six weeks of ceremonial impurity for Mary, and then made the short trip into Jerusalem. The text appears to say that as soon as they finished these important spiritual steps in Jerusalem they started the long journey to Nazareth in Galilee where they had come from.

The Birth of Jesus Christ 8: Magi visit Jesus The Call to Freedom 人物

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