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by Sandy Shaw
We come to Luke 2:21-40. We have read of the circumstances surrounding JOHN when he was 8 days old. Let’s look at the amazing and wonderful things which happened and which were said, when Jesus was 8 days old.
When Jesus is 8 days old, it is time to circumcise Him, and name Him JESUS. Joseph and Mary take Him to The Temple in Jerusalem to present Him to The Lord.
These verses will appear quite unfamiliar to many. This scene is almost totally overlooked and ignored, yet this is just a week after the angels appeared to the shepherds. I am not aware of any hymns or carols or pictures on cards depicting these events.
It comes between the visit of the shepherds and the wise men. It may not sound so romantic - or sentimental - as the shepherds and wise men - but perhaps there is a much more serious reason for these truths being overlooked by many.
Why are these verses so unfamiliar? Well, the scene doesn’t quite fit what men would like the scene to be. It does not appear so soothing nor so exciting, yet, when you read it carefully it is.
It is a very JEWISH aspect of the birth of Jesus, and it really only has a message to believers - for disciples - and that is significant. I have a note saying that I preached on this in 1977, and three people told me they would not be back. They never did come back - and now, they cannot. But to disciples of Jesus Christ, these words will minister strength and comfort and courage and boldness - and the longing to remain faith to Jesus and His Word.
God has said in His word that boys should be circumcised, so Mary and Joseph arranged for this to be done. They did it. There is no arguing with what God had said - no questioning - no discussion about it - no hinting that their Son was so special that this was unnecessary - and that they did not need to obey God’s Law. They did what GOD told them to do, and here we see a beautiful picture of obedience. Jesus received a mark which could never be erased. Not only does JESUS receive the mark of The Jew, but for the first time, HE is shedding blood. His blood is shed at the hands of men - this is the beginning of The Cross. There would be no singing “The Little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes” that day!
Do you se how Mary and Joseph did EVERYTHING that was required of them?
Verse 39. They put GOD first. This shows us what Mary and Joseph were like. It is important for us too to put GOD first. When we come together for Praise and Worship, we can tell HIM that HE is going to be first in our lives.
The first born boy belonged to The Lord anyway, and here we see Mary and Joseph openly recognising this fact. They are telling The Father - Jesus is Your’s!
They had to offer a sacrifice, and they offered the sacrifice which only the very poor gave - a pair of pigeons. Jesus was raised in a poor home – financially, poor - godly, yes. That is why later on Jesus knows what it is to look for a lost coin - Jesus knew what it was to have patches on His Clothes and He uses these experiences in His Preaching and Teaching.
Yet, you can never outgive God. Perhaps Mary and Joseph had to scrape things together to make this sacrifice, but on their way were wise men travelling and one of them had gold. You can never outgive GOD. HE knows how to reward you when you have given and sown and obeyed. Sow generously of your time and money and whatever talents and gifts you have and be open and prepared to reap the harvest which God will pour into your life.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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