"Messiah - Prophecy of Glory and Purity"

Scripture: Leviticus 12:1-3, 6-8; Luke 2:21-35

Mary had given birth to her first Son, and just as Joseph had been told by the angel, the Child would be named Jesus. But the birth brought with it certain responsibilities. Today, the primary concern of new parents, beyond trying to figure out how to take care of a new baby, is finding the money to pay the doctor and hospital bills.

But for this Jewish couple, there were also religious obligations to care for. There was, of course, circumcision for the male babies, but Mary would also have to go through a ritual of purification, as any issue of blood would, by the law, cause the woman to be unclean. This would mean that the person was unworthy to worship, and in a new mother’s case, the very process of childbirth was, in and of itself, a cause of uncleanliness, and she could not enter temple until purification was completed.

There would also be the consecration of the first born son – a commitment to Jehovah God that the child was dedicated in service to him and his will. This would require a visit to the temple, after Mary had completed her purification, of course, to make the required dedication and offering to God.

In Jesus’ case, though, there would be much more - far more. But the new parents would have to wait to discover all that their new baby would come to mean for this world.

Read Leviticus 12:1-3, 6-8

The term “unclean” was not intended to actually mean “sinful”. More appropriately, it meant unworthy to come before Jehovah. Purification would be required, and would be specific for each and every reason for the uncleanliness, and would have to be cared for before the person could enter temple, before they could offer sacrifices, before they could be part of consecrations or dedications.

For us, this may seem a bit extreme, as the presence of blood during childbirth is as natural as the birth itself. But the Lord had put certain rituals and requirements in place for Israel to set them apart from other nations. The styles of worship for other peoples was drastically different than what was acceptable to the Lord, but to just say “Don’t do it!” would never suffice for this nation. So God gave them rituals and rites to drive home the point that they were to be held to a higher standard than the ones that others followed.

An initial period of purification would be the first step, and in the case of a male child, the circumcision, the full purification, and the offering at temple would follow. The couple would bring their baby to the center of worship – in Moses’ day, it would be at the Tent of Meeting, and later during the reign of Solomon, it would become temple. The sacrificial offering, depending on their financial resources, would be presented as a sign of “redeeming” the child back from the Lord, and all would be well for the new family – under normal circumstances. But this was a very special Boy Child, and the gifts that were about to be given to Jesus’ family would put this birth into perspective for all the people of earth.

Read Luke 2:21-24

At the time of circumcision, the child would also be named, but normally, the boy would receive a name from his family’s history. The name Jesus, which means “the Lord Saves”, would not be of Joseph’s family, but it would be given from the boy’s heavenly Father! Circumcision would be a sign that this boy was a child of Israel, and having been born in Bethlehem, with his earthly parents as descendants of King David, he would also be seen as one from David’s family.

The requirements of the Law were being carried out to the letter, but the timing that Luke seems to imply leaves some accuracy in doubt. After Mary’s initial 7 days of purification, circumcision would be performed on the 8th day after birth, but her purification from the issue of blood would have taken a month, and during that time, she would have been unable to enter the temple for the consecration. But the time did arrive, and the “clean” and worthy mother, along with Joseph, brought their new born son to the temple for dedication to the Lord’s purpose, and they brought the price of “redemption” so they could take the child home with them.

Consider the significance of all of these rituals. Circumcision – a sign that the child was of Israel, the chosen people of Jehovah God. Purification – a time of cleansing, showing that this family was worthy of a relationship and worship of Almighty God. Redemption – proof that this first born Child was given to God for his purpose, and had been purchased back to serve a Godly purpose for the people of earth.
Jesus would be born in a human way, and would be proven worthy through his family’s obedience to the Law. And throughout his life, the Lord would show that even though he was thought to be one who violated the Law of Moses over and over again, the truth is that he fulfilled the Law of God perfectly and completely.

Jesus was truly the foretold Son of Man and Son of God – the Worthy of heaven, and the Lord’s Gift to the world. Mary and Joseph had both been told just who this Child would be through visits from the Angel, but now they were being told once again, just what this precious life would mean for the people of earth, as well as to his earthly family. It would be glorious beyond all understanding, but it would also be traumatic beyond all imagination.

Read Luke 2:25-32

As we read the story of Simeon’s prophecy, we have to remember that there hadn’t been a prophet for Israel for over 400 years – not since the prophet Malachi. Not a word about Messiah, not a hint about his ministry and purpose, not a single encouragement that he would be coming soon to be their salvation. Four centuries without any contact with the Lord God Almighty of Israel. Is there any wonder that the nation was surprised at Messiah’s coming?

But Simeon wasn’t surprised – he had been expectant since the day that the Holy Spirit revealed God’s great promise to this faithful man. And he knew that the day would come when he would see the Anointed One of God, and on this day, he did. Guided, once again, by the Spirit, he was waiting as the Child was brought into the temple court for consecration.

And a long awaited prophecy was heard – he would be a light for the gentiles, and glory for Israel – a paraphrase of Isaiah’s words in Isaiah 42:6-9 (“I … will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release [them] from … darkness.”)

Over and over again, the people had heard that Messiah, the Christ, would be, not only for the people of Israel, but also for the gentile nations. And this faithful man, who had waited years to see the promise of God, now knew that he could die, not just happy, but in the heavenly peace of seeing with his eyes, and holding with his arms, the salvation of his glorious Lord God.

But his task wasn’t quite finished. He still had a word to give to Mary.

Read Luke 2:33-35

It had always been believed that Messiah would bring glory to all of Israel, but Simeon reveals the truth of Christ – that only some will be saved, and the rest will be lost, and that it would all come about through what they see and believe in this Child. And by their reaction and response to this woman’s Son and all that he would bring to them, the hearts and minds of all would be opened, and the reality of their thoughts would be exposed to the Light of Messiah.

Some would know his joy of welcome, while others would know the consequence of denial, but Mary, this young woman who had been chosen to be mother for the Savior of the Earth, would have to know the same pain of rejection that would fall upon her beloved Son.


Messiah, the glory of heaven and the hope of the world, would never measure up to the expectations of Israel, but he would fulfill every need and every plan that had been prepared for them since before time began. And the joy that Mary would know for being chosen by God for this distinct and blessed purpose, as well as the agony that she would know at the refusal by so many to accept Jesus for who she knew, without a doubt, he was, would be the same prophecy for all who would accept this Child of Bethlehem as their personal Lord and Redeemer and Light and Savior. The purity, the glory, the redemption that comes by faith in the Child of Christmas has been offered to all if we simply accept who he is and why he has come.

May the joy of your salvation guide your love for the many who are still immersed in the darkness of this world, and may the love of Christ lead you to share your joyful hope with all who still need to know him.