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INFANT IN THE TEMPLE
Luke 2:21-40
The Setting.
“And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was
then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived
in the womb. And when the days for their purification according to the
law of Moses were completed, 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"),
and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the
Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
Simeon.
"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."
Anna.
"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."
The Family Moves To Nazareth.
"When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. The Child
continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace
of God was upon Him."
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