Posted on 02/02/2018 8:31:01 AM PST by Salvation
The moment of the Presentation of Jesus was one of the most dramatic in biblical history, yet almost no one noticed.
The first part of this post is review for those of you who read my blog regularly. To skip to the newer insights, skip down to the sentence in red.
Joseph and Mary have gone to Jerusalem to fulfill two ancient mandates: the Rite of Purification for a woman after childbirth and the Rite of Presentation for a firstborn male child. These rites set the stage for a dramatic moment in biblical history, a moment missed by almost everyone.
Jewish law considered that after a woman gave birth she was ritually impure for a period of time. This was based on the flow of blood that occurred during childbirth. At that time, just about anyone who came in contact with blood incurred a ritual uncleanness for a period of time. The Book of Leviticus has this to say regarding a woman who has given birth:
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. If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding. 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” (Lev 12:1-8).
Some see a fairly negative concept at work here: a woman becomes ritually unclean by giving birth. This was due not to giving birth per se but to the flow of blood and other fluids during the process. Even more distressing to modern sensibilities is that a woman who gave birth to a daughter was considered ritually unclean for an even longer period of time. Alas, it is well that the power of the Church to bind and loose has freed us from this thinking. Keep in mind that this was ceremonial law, not moral law; hence, the Church is not setting aside immutable moral law in abrogating such notions of ritual impurity.
Obedient to the Law – Nevertheless Joseph and Mary, obedient to law, make the dramatic ascent to the Temple with the Son of God carried in Mary’s arms. It has been forty days since the birth of the Lord in fulfillment of the Law.
As they ascend the glorious steps to the Temple Mount they also fulfill another requirement of the Law:
You are to give over to the LORD the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons. In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons’’ (Ex 13:12-15).
Something even more dramatic takes place here. To understand what it is, let’s look back to 587 B.C.
The Babylonians had invaded Jerusalem and the unthinkable had happened. The Holy City was destroyed and, along with it, the Temple of God. Inside the Temple something even more precious than the building had been housed: the Ark of the Covenant.
Recall what the Ark of Covenant was in the Old Testament. It was a box of acacia wood, covered in gold. Inside it were placed the two tablets on which God had inscribed the Ten Commandments. Also in it was the staff of Aaron and a vial of the manna. Even more important, in this box, this ark, dwelt the very Presence of God in Israel. God mysteriously dwelt within, much as is the case today in our understanding of the tabernacle in our Catholic churches.
The Lost Ark – Incredibly, however, the Ark was lost when the Babylonians destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem in 587 BC. Some thought that Jeremiah had hidden it in the mountains. Others, that the priests had hastily hidden it in the maze of caves beneath the Temple Mount. Still others argued that it was taken to Ethiopia. But the Ark was gone.
Empty Temple – When the Temple was rebuilt some eighty years later, the Holy of Holies was restored but the Ark was still missing. The High Priest still performed the yearly ritual and entered the Holy of Holies, but the room was empty. Some argued for a spiritual presence in the Temple, but in fact the Ark and the certain presence of God were missing in the Temple after 587 B.C. Something—someone—was missing. The very Holy of Holies was an empty room. The Ark and the presence of God it carried were missing. The Ark, the mercy seat, was gone. Would it ever be found? Would it ever be returned to the Temple? Would the Holy Presence of God ever find its way to the Temple again?
The ascent to Jerusalem is a steep one. Mountains surround Jerusalem and it sits up at a higher altitude than the area around it. As the ancient Jews made the climb they sang the psalms of ascent (120-134). As Joseph and Mary ascended, they too sang the words that instilled joy: I Lift up mine eye to the mountains from whence cometh my help (Ps 121). I rejoiced when they said to me let us go up to the House of the Lord (Ps 122). To you O Lord I have lifted my eyes (Ps 123). Like Mount Zion are those who trust in the Lord (Ps 125). Out of the depths I call unto you O Lord (Ps 130). Let us enter God’s dwelling, let us worship at the Lord’s footstool. Arise O Lord and enter your dwelling place, You and the Ark of your strength (132). Come and bless the Lord. You who stand in the House of the Lord Lift your hands to the Sanctuary and bless the Lord. The Lord bless you from Zion (134).
Singing these songs, Mary carried Jesus. The climb was even more difficult when carrying a newborn, but the burden was sweet. Then came the final ascent up the stairs to the Temple Mount. They probably entered on the southern side through the Huldah gates. They went up the steep stairs, through the tunnel in the walls, and emerged on the bright Temple platform above.
God had returned to His Temple. He and the Ark who carried Him were now found. Mary, the Ark, carrying Jesus in her arms. Jesus, very God, true God from True God. Yes, God and the Ark had been found and God was once again present among His people on the Temple Mount. Scripture says,
And the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his Temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? (Mal 3:1-2)
What a dramatic moment and yet what a remarkable understatement by God! If I had directed the moment I would have called for blaring trumpet, claps of thunder, and multitudes of angels! And everyone would have fallen to his knees in recognition of the great fulfillment and the great return of God to His Temple.
Yet it would seem that only an elderly man and woman (Simeon and Anna) took any note at all. They alone understood that they were in the presence of greatness and beheld the drama of the moment.
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 … 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 (Luke 2).
Yes, this was the dramatic moment that had been anticipated for centuries. The Ark of God was found (Mary) and God (Jesus) returned to His temple, but only a few noticed. Just a few understood and celebrated.
What about us? At every Mass, Jesus, God Himself, is present. Do you notice? Do you really see Him? Or do you see only the priest and the human elements of the Mass? Are you Simeon? Anna? Mary? Joseph? Or are you just among those on the Temple Mount who miss the dramatic moment of God with us?
Monsignor Pope Ping!
Notice it was for “a sin offering”, this verse proves Mary was not sinless as the catholics claim.
Concur....Joseph and Mary knew they were sinners. No where in Scripture is an exception carved out for Mary. No where.
bump
By the same logic, it’s a good thing Jesus was baptized for the forgiveness of his sins.
They were Jewish, they followed Jewish law.
I often wonder, when I read this, if they passed a contingent of soldiers heading for Bethlehem to slaughter the innocents.
What "sin" did Mary commit in bringing Jesus into the world? Be specific. Do you think that mothers sin by giving birth? Which of the commandments do they break?
The term "sin offering" refers to a ritual purification, not a reparation for a moral fault.
The time of purification was a blessed time which allowed the mother and child to bond. It allowed the mother to heal from what was then a very risky event. It was her time off from what was a life of hard labor. I picture the other women bringing her food and fussing over her. The time with the baby girl was longer because the girl would grow up with her mother and learn that roll while the boy needed more to bond with his father.
Aren’t we talking about the purification of the woman (40 days) required by Jewish law?
Does Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan “prove” that He was a sinner?
Just askin’
To worship Mary is to worship Semiramis, the bride of Nimrod of Babylon. The Madonna and child is much older than Mary and Jesus. Semiramis had a child after Nimrod died and she said this child was the reincarnation of Nimrod. She is known as the mother of god. This newborn son was named Tammuz and we celebrate his birth on Dec 25, the winter solstice. This is why The RCC changed the birth of Christ to Dec 25th and not Tabernacles as the Jews teach God came to live with His people in the Wilderness. In about the 4th century AD Changes came to Rome for the Christian religion should be observed by everyone. There was no Repentence, no observation of Jewish faith, and the calendars were changed as prophesied in the Bible.
All of this and more point to the Babylonian pagan religion being worshiped today as spoken of in Revelation.
For more http://aletheia.consultronix.com/7.html
For true Christian worship, the church should resemble more of a Messianic Jewish church. The Romans wanted to mix Pagan rites with Christians at the time. Jesus came as a Jew, lived as a Jew under Jewish culture and religion, Died as a Jew, and is on the Throne in Heaven as a Jew. Jews were given the oracles of God. To mimic pagan Babylon is dangerous and spoken of in Revelation. Another aspect can be found in the letter to the church at Thyatira. Thyatira was the daughter of Semiramis. Churches in Scripture are described as women or female, and a daughter is just a branch of the same mother church. Just as the Lutheran church is a daughter of the mother church in Rome, the RCC is a branch of the mother church in Babylon. Babylon was founded by the descendants of Ham. The Jews come from Shem, and Noah blessed Shem and cursed Ham. The keys for proper worship of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is found in the Messianic Jewish worship. All of the first of the Apostles were Jewish. Jesus didn't come to start a new religion but to fulfill the Scriptures given to the Jews.
Romam Catholic eisegesis.
And as explained numerous times before it does not mean what Romam Catholics want it to mean. For you to continue to post this is disengenuos.
NO. Jesus said to permit it to be so to fulfill all righteousness. He was submitting to show what His followers should do.
Mat 3:14-15.
If someone says to follow Jesus or be like Jesus, He provided us His example. Had He not done this, you might think you don't have to. If you have confessed Jesus as Lord and have faith in Him, then unless you are on your death bed, you should attempt to get Baptized as your first act of obedience to God. Your faith is what saves you however, and not baptism. People that come to Jesus on their deathbed and other situations are still saved if they cry out to Him. If you've been saved for months, however and never get baptized, I have to wonder about your commitment to Him. We are commanded to be saved and then baptized.
Mat 28:19-20
Nope. Because we have the texts, and knowledge, that He did not sin. He is the only person documented beyond doubt to have not sinned.
If you go to Luke 1:28 and look up the Strong's Greek for G5487 or Favored, it in no way means she is without sin. Noah found favor with God because he believed God, not because he was without sin. It says Noah found grace with God which means he needed it. The other sentence there saying his generations were perfect, just means his flesh had not been corrupted by the Fallen angels of Gen 6:1. The whole Bible is founded on the seed of the woman killing the seed of Satan. Abraham was a pagan, but he believed God and righteousness was imputed to him. Mary received the seed of God, but she was not without sin. Jesus is the seed of the woman. Jesus is the seed that kills Satan's seed, the Antichrist. It won't be Mary coming back in Revelation to kill the Antichrist and his followers. If Mary was sinless, we wouldn't need to sacrifice Jesus. God used many faulty people to accomplish His purposes. Jonah messed up 9 ways to Sunday, yet God used him for His glory. Mary was blessed beyond measure to be God's chosen vessel, but can we say John was blessed? John was the one Jesus loved. Peter? Was Peter without sin?
Mary had the unique position of needing her son to die for her sins in her place. Can you be joyous that your son is going to die to set you free? Peter said it would not be so when Jesus spoke of dying on the cross and Jesus told Peter to get thee behind me Satan. If The whole world stood up to protect Jesus from death, then God's plan for the world would have been thwarted and we wouldn't have a blood sacrifice today. Satan, being Satan, killed all the children in Moses' time and killed all the babies in Herod's day trying to kill God's seed. Why not kill all the child bearing aged women if Mary was the only woman God could use? Mary was just a girl chosen by God to fulfill His plan just as Noah, Abraham, and Moses, was used to fulfil the same plan.
The keys for proper worship of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is found in the Messianic Jewish worship. All of the first of the Apostles were Jewish. Jesus didn’t come to start a new religion but to fulfill the Scriptures given to the Jews.
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While I can’t say that I agree with all you say in your response to the post, it is indeed full of insight.
While I do not agree with everything in the post it too is full of insight, I especially like to think of The Lord suddenly coming to His Temple.
I don’t have to agree with everything in a post or all the answers to find them very intelligent and great food for thought and inspiring.
Thanks
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