Circumcision and Presentation

 

Circumcision and Presentation: Jesus Under the Law

These two events, recorded in Luke 2, establish that Jesus was born not just for Israel, but fully within Israel, fulfilling the legal and covenantal requirements of Judaism.

1. The Circumcision (Luke 2:21)

This ritual took place on the eighth day after birth, following the mandate given to Abraham in Genesis 17.

• Adherence to the Covenant: Circumcision was the sign of the covenant between God and Abraham's descendants. By undergoing it, Jesus formally entered the covenant community of Israel, affirming his humanity and his place among God's chosen people.

• The Naming: It was at this ceremony that the child was formally given his name: Jesus (Yeshua), which means "God saves." This name was given by the Angel Gabriel during the Annunciation, signifying his identity and mission as the Savior of the world.

• Theological Significance: The Circumcision is considered the first shedding of Christ's blood for humanity. It foreshadows His eventual sacrifice and shows His willingness to be "born under the law" ($Galatians\ 4:4$) to redeem those who were also under the law.

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2. The Presentation in the Temple (Luke 2:22–38)

Forty days after the birth, Mary and Joseph traveled to Jerusalem to perform two required rituals: the Purification of the Mother and the Redemption of the Firstborn.

• Purification of the Mother (Leviticus 12): After giving birth, a woman was considered ritually unclean and required a period of purification, culminating in an offering at the Temple. Since Mary and Joseph were poor, they offered the offering prescribed for the needy: "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." This detail emphasizes the Holy Family's poverty.

• Redemption of the Firstborn (Exodus 13): The firstborn male was considered consecrated to God and had to be "redeemed" with a payment (the equivalent of five shekels). This ritual remembered the Passover, when the firstborn sons of Israel were spared from death in Egypt.

The Prophecies of Simeon and Anna

While at the Temple, the Holy Family encountered two aged prophets, Simeon and Anna, who were faithfully awaiting the Messiah.

• Simeon's Blessing and the Nunc Dimittis: Simeon, guided by the Holy Spirit, took the infant Jesus and offered his famous prayer of praise, known as the Nunc Dimittis (Latin for "Now dismiss").

  “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for 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.” (Luke 2:29–32)

  • Universal Salvation: This prayer is critical because it explicitly identifies Jesus's mission as extending beyond Israel to the Gentiles (all non-Jewish people), making Him a light for universal salvation.

• Simeon's Prophecy of the Sword: Simeon then delivered a solemn warning to Mary: “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 soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34–35)

  • Mary's Sorrow: This is the first clear prophecy of the Passion (Christ's suffering and death) and the first prophecy of Mary's profound sorrow—the "sword" that would pierce her heart (one of the Seven Sorrows of Mary).

• Anna the Prophetess: The widow Anna, a prophetess who worshipped constantly in the Temple, also recognized Jesus and spoke about him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

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