Consolation Of Israel Series

Message

Luke 2:25

Name Above All Names - Consolation of Israel

As we continue our series focussing on the names of Jesus we're going to be focusing on a name that's found in the book of Luke.

The name is in Luke 2:25 … but to get the context we will read Luke 2:21-35 (read)

He here is a historical situation that actually happened quite a lot of times. Because there were certain rules that applied when a Jewish child was born, and particularly this was the case went at the child was a firstborn, and also when the child was a male.

So all of these factor are coincide with Jesus who is the first born and who is a male.

One part of the process was the purification after childbirth. And there was a various rites that took place – the first of those right was on the 8th day that that child would be circumcised.

Now circumcision was so important in Jewish law that even if the 8th day turned out to be a Sabbath day you could still circumcise a child on the Sabbath day. That's how important this rite is – the importance of making sure that the child has fulfilled the covenant and the law and the promise as necessary. Then after another 33 days have taken place there's a purification right that needs to take place. You can read about this rite in Leviticus 12:1-8. Tis purification is necessary because blood has been involved in the process of childbirth.

Anytime blood is involved in any sort of problem or life situation in the Old Testament … then there needs to be purification. At the same time when that purification rite takes place – in this case because Jesus is the oldest male - there's also this process which is the consecration of the firstborn.

That comes as a result of Exodus chapter 13:1-16. There we read, in the time just after the Passover, a declaration from God that all of the firstborn belongs to God. The consecration process is basically saying, “Yes I recognise this child belongs to God. I know there is a sacrifice that is involved in this rite. And I promise to continue to look after my child recognising that he indeed belongs to the Lord.”

The first born … the first fruits … it's all around the same reality of saying, “Let's give God the first - let's give God the best - and when we do God will bless us and he will show us his continued grace and flavour.

In that situation an offering is involved. Now generally the offering would involve a sheep - a sheep without defect. The very fact that in this particular case it's not a sheep that is offered but it is in this case it is two doves or two pigeons reminds us of how poor Joseph and Mary are. They were so poor that they were able to offer … not the lesser sacrifice … it's a sacrifice which enables those who are poorer to continue to fulfil the law.

As an side with that in mind I would say that means the visit of the Magi definitely took place after this purification rite. Because if the Magi had arrived at the birth of Jesus Mary and Joseph would have had the frankincense and the gold and they would have had plenty of money to be able to do this sacrifice.

So here we have the family of Jesus and they're down at the temple amongst all the busyness of the temple. You have to keep in mind that the temple is a very busy place in Jerusalem. Lots and lots of sacrifice needs to be made there.

It is also a noisy place because there's animals there that are being lead for sacrifice.

It's also a smelly place because you've got the animals - they're doing what animals normally do. Which you don't associate with the temple but that's what's going on.

There's blood everywhere.

There's offal.

It is not a nice place to be. It smells more like an abattoir then it would a church.

So you've got this busyness at the temple. Amongst all of this busyness there's this old guy called Simeon who's been hanging around the temple for ages. Now if an old guy hangs around the church for no apparent reason that is kind of creepy isn't it.

But this is not a creepy thing.

Simeon is 's hang around and waiting because he's been told to wait.

He's waiting for something important.

Now we know Simeon is a righteous man because Scripture describes him as a righteous man. Lots of other people in Scripture are described as being righteous.

Job was described as a righteous man.