And when eight days had passed for His circumcision, His Name was then called Jesus, the Name given by the Angel before He was conceived in the womb.
This was just a week after He was born, probably before Herod realized that the Magi had tricked him. So He was still circumcised on the eighth day, as Moses had given God's command in Leviticus 12: 3.
And when the days for their purification according to the Law of Moses were completed,
This was later, the 40 days after the birth, counting the seven and the thirty-three as proscribed in Leviticus 12: 2-4.
they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
(as it is written in the Law of the Lord,
"Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") (Exodus 13: 2),and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord,
"A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons" (see Leviticus 12: 6-8).Jesus, being the firstborn son, would be presented to the Lord in the Temple, at this same time when Mary would need to offer a sacrifice of cleansing from the issue of blood from the birth.
Their offering of the birds shows their poverty, as they could not afford a lamb. And all the stipulations of the Law were meticulously done.
And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,
then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
"Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to 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 of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel."
And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed--
"and a sword will pierce even your own soul--to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."
Simeon was led by the Spirit there, just in time to meet Jesus. And Joseph and Mary were amazed by what he said about "their" Son.
Then he also said something to Mary, that her very soul would be pierced by a "sword;" which happened thirty-three years later, when she witnessed this dear Son being executed as a criminal by the most gruesome and excruciatingly painful death ever devised by Mankind.
And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.
At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the Redemption of Jerusalem.
Anna also was there, she just happened upon them, and she also spoke about Him to everyone who wanted to hear about how God was now fulfilling His Promise to send a Redeemer.
When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.
This must have been after their brief trip to Egypt, returning back home to their own city again, to bring up this Boy in in Nazareth, in the trade of His legal father, Joseph.
The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him.
Jesus had a normal childhood, just like all the rest of us, growing up healthy, learning and being educated, and training in a trade. The only difference was that He never made a mistake, never did anything wrong, and everything He did worked out well.
O my Father, You were careful to have both Matthew and Luke to tell us what we need to know happened with the first coming of Your Son. That everything was orchestrated to all work out perfectly, with all the characters and places performing their parts in Your Plan. Every detail of the Law was fulfilled, and all the prophesies that were fulfilled that we learn here, are totally amazing!
With all the traveling and all the timing of the Law to be done, You had everything worked out ahead of time, to make sure it would all be accomplished without a hitch.
Thank You for Joseph's instant obedience, and for his and Mary's strong, unwavering faith to trust You implicitly. Thank You for this little family showing us how to love one another as You have Loved us; and to trust and honor one another, in healthy family relationships.
Father, I pray that relationships in our families would show that trust and honor that You intend for us. Mend the rifts and heal the wounds we have endured in our families, and draw to Yourself those loved ones who don't know You yet.
Use this holy holiday season to grow and enhance the manifestation of Your Kingdom right here on this Earth, as we wait for our King to return.
Even so, come swiftly, Lord Jesus!
