Luke 2:21-38 ~ for my eyes have seen your salvation

Luke 2:21-38

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.


22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 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. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 

34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Christmas Jesus was born is absolutely inspiring with the help of the Heavenly Hosts of the Lord God Almighty. And then the details and nuts and bolts were carried out for the next 30 years by the people doing the work of believing God.

More comfortable by far - would have been to skip 'the ceremony'. This Jewish community does not have social media - but they are fully accounted for - by their lineage and father, by their tribe, by their town. We see Mary's cousin-in-law comes from 70 miles away for Zechariah to take his turn in line as priest to have duties within the Temple itself.

You betcha - Mary is known as Mary, daughter of Heli, Line of David, Nazareth. And Joseph is known as Line of David, through the Davidic line of Kings, Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the 'betrothed' of Mary. The Temple is going to remember Zechariah and the baby John the Baptist.

Shepherds have said:

Luke 2
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.


This action of Joseph and Mary in the Temple is obedience to the Lord God. Surely they had hesitation. And delight. And with the obedience to do all that the Lord God has commanded.

Deuteronomy 5

31 But you, stand here by me, and I will tell you the whole commandment and the statutes and the rules that you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land that I am giving them to possess.’ 32 You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.


Wise advice, in the midst of uncertainty, ask the Lord God to be a refuge and Believe Him.

And in trusting God they would be strong enough to weather the shepherds eagerness to tell and the time frame of Jesus' birth to the Temple Presentation - this was going to be observed. Mary had just given birth after riding a Donkey 80 miles and 8 days later she is now 6 more miles down the road into the Huge Temple with an infant.


What was the reward?

Luke 2

19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about Jesus.


What they would have missed - if they had only been concerned with safety. The rewards are memories not just for their lifetime - but the Gospels we find God's Word lives richly around us still for us to live, love and learn.

Mary and Joseph are trusting God. Doing the work God has called mankind. To believe Him.  John 6: 29.  To not just be the blessed eyes to see God's Salvation. What Joy they must feel to hold the Light of God. Jesus is comfort as King of Kings. God allowing Himself to be so tiny, to be cared for by His Beloved.  Strength.

Our Abba,

This Your creation of Jesus' birth, in this Christmas, is an example of being obedient to God.

You have told us about Love - if we love You, Father God, we will keep Your Commandments.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?"

Jesus has said this about calling on the Name of the Lord God Almighty. "“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

Repeating what the Prophet Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice?"

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

James 2:24
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

John 14:21
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will beloved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.

We Celebrate, Rejoice, Draw Strength, Have Joy, Delight and Love for Jesus!!! Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

“For God, our Father, has so loved the world, Abba gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Jesus should not perish but have eternal life!"

We bless You Father, for Jesus. For our loved ones. The people you give us. Prosper, bless, delight, strengthen, embolden, complete, lead, guide, forgive, cherish and help us each day to Please You for the Love You have given us. Let us bless the Lord God. Thanks Be To God for Jesus Christ Our Savior. Amen. Alleluia.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †