And to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
Luke 2:24
The setting is the temple
A Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, is brought in the arms of His mother Mary. It is customary according to the law of Moses, for marking the dedication of a child to God, the mother had to bring a lamb of the first year as burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtle dove as sin- offering, making atonement. (Leviticus 12:6, 12:8). The mother’s requisite sacrifice is the same whether she gave birth to a boy or girl. There is provision for those who cannot afford a lamb, they may bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons. One as a burnt offering and other as sin offering.
Now when the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”).
Luke 2:22
People who came to the church that day focused on the wealth indicator, who offered a lamb, who wore the best clothes, drove the best car
But there was one from Jerusalem, Simeon, who was looking out for the Promised one, the Messiah. Since Simeon was Holy Spirit led, he had revelation that this poor couple were carrying the only Son of Yahweh, creator of heaven and earth, the King of King, the Lord of Lord, the Redeemer, the saviour. He did not go by the offering made for atonement. When many in the temple, ignored this baby he saw who this was. We know that this child grew strong in spirit, wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him.
By the time He was 12 years old He was an astonishment to eminent teachers and scholars, in the temple ,because of His understanding and answers too. And by the time He was 30, He revolutionized the world and at 33 the world knew He was the much awaited Messiah, the Lamb sacrificed on the cross for mine and your sins. Little did anyone know that day in the temple that this was the Lamb of God , in the arms of Mary.
If today you are labelled, branded, looked down upon, afflicted, written off, rejected, abandoned, forsaken, ignored then don’t worry. It’s not over until God says so. The day is not far when the people around you will consider you as an amazement, an astonishment. For the bible says,
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man, The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
1 Cor 2:9
In 2001, people close to me declared its all over and am done. But, look what the Lord has done!!!
Prayer
Loving heavenly Father, thank you for the assurance that when God is for us who can be against us and that You have a great plan for us, not to destroy us but to prosper us.
Amen!!
Sol. Lalitha Menon