Mysteries Of JoySample

The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple

The fourth mystery to ponder concerns Jesus, as a baby, being presented at the temple. The reason that Luke includes this story in his Gospel is worth considering.

The Israelites had made a promise when God rescued them from Egypt, told in the book of Exodus. The promise was to sacrifice every firstborn animal and to pay a price to save their firstborn child from sacrifice. These ‘firstborns,’ whether sacrificed or not, belonged to God.

So Jesus, as a ‘firstborn,’ belongs to God. This maybe makes us smile when we read it, and I am sure the irony is not lost on Luke. But that is not the point of telling the story. No, the significance comes when we consider that Mary and Joseph paid the ransom, a pair of turtle doves or pigeons. This is the price to redeem their son. He does not have to be sacrificed. Although he belongs to God, he is free to live.

This becomes significant when we know that, at the crucifixion, Jesus chooses to lay down his life as the ransom for us all. He does not have to be sacrificed. That price has been paid. His sacrifice is purely for us.

This is confirmed by the remarkable responses of Simeon and Anna, two prophets filled with the Holy Spirit. They both recognize God in action. They both see in Jesus the saving plan of God, our faithful Father.

It is highly unlikely that either of them saw Jesus actually complete this saving work, but both had enough faith to trust God and his promises.

Maybe the challenge for us today is to trust God. We can live with a sense of peace, hope, and joy knowing that it is all in God’s hands.

Pray a simple prayer over and over as you consider this piece of scripture.