PRESENTATION OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE (Luke 2: 21)

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In today’s Christian Religious Studies class, We will be discussing “Presentation of Jesus in the Temple”. We hope you enjoy the class!

PRESENTATION OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE (Luke 2: 21)

Jesus Presented in the Temple

Eight days after the birth of Jesus, He was circumcised and named Jesus, as given by the angel even before He was conceived. Then it was time for the purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.” So they offered a sacrifice according to what was required in the law of the Lord “either a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.”

The Importance of a Child’s Presentation in the Church

The Jewish practice of presenting the firstborn to the Lord has been adopted by the church. But in our churches today, we do not only present the firstborn but all our children. Presentation of our children is for the purpose of christening the child and giving him/her a Christian name.

Two people of God made prophecies during the presentation of Jesus.

 

• The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)

Simeon was a righteous and devout man. He lived in Jerusalem and had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would see Jesus before his death. So he was in the temple when he was brought for presentation, he took Jesus in his arms and blessed God.

The Significance of the Prophecy of Simeon

1. The first part of Simeon’s prophecy refers to God’s plan to save mankind. With the birth of Jesus Christ, God fulfilled His plan to save the world.
2. The second part of Simeon’s prophecy refers to the response of the Israelites to the ministry of Jesus that as many people that accepted Jesus would be saved and those who reject Him would not be saved.
3. The sign of a sword piercing through Mary’s soul refers to the anxious moments that Mary would experience as Jesus carried out His ministry. And Mary had such moments during the arrest, trial and death of Jesus.

 

 

• The Prophecy of Anna (Luke 2:36-40)

Anna was an old woman of 84 years, a prophetess and the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She was a widow and lived with her husband for seven years before his death. All her time in the temple, worshipping God with prayers and fasting day and night.

She was in the temple during the presentation of Jesus, she gave thanks to God and spoke of Jesus Christ to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Significance of the Prophecy of Anna

Anna’s prophecy confirmed the fact that the time to save the world had come, with the birth of Jesus.

Moral Lessons

1. We must learn to pray to God through Jesus Christ to help us cooperate with all those who are older than us in training us to be obedient, respectful and hardworking so that we can grow up to become upright and responsible Christian citizens.
2. We must learn to see ourselves as children of God walking in the light of Christ and avoid all the deeds of darkness.

 

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