WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday December 20, 2015
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DEDICATION OF THE FIRST BORN
(JESUS presented in the temple)
(Luke 2:21-35)
The Jews had a saying
that, in the birth of every child there are three parents, the father, the
mother, and the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD. They believed that no child could be born
without the SPIRIT. I believe that too. And it may well be that Old and New
Testament stories of child birth are little more than just lovely and poetic
ways of saying, that, whether our child is born of a high calling or not, the
HOLY SPIRIT of GOD is operative in that child’s birth in a very special way.
And for men, while it may not make life easier, child birth has always been
what makes men great. And as for women, the paradox of child birth represents,
perhaps, the greatest pain, that is followed immediately by the greatest joy,
she will ever have to experience in life.
In
Luke chapter 2, taking up at verse 21, we see that eight days after JESUS was
born, HE was circumcised according to the Jewish Rite, and covenant with GOD. Baby
JESUS’ name had already been given to HIM by the archangel Gabriel before HE
was even conceived by the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:31).
When
it was time for the “Purification Offering”, which, according to Law is one
month after the birth of a first son (Exodus 13:2 & 12), Joseph and Mary
took Baby JESUS to Jerusalem to dedicate HIM to the LORD. The Law of Moses
requires that if a woman’s first child is a male, he must be presented to the LORD
GOD of Israel at a purification and baby dedication ceremony at the temple. The
parents must also bring, either a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons as
a sacrifice offering to the LORD.
There
was a righteous and devout man of GOD named Simeon, who was filled with the
HOLY SPIRIT, and who had waited patiently on the LORD for many years, just so
he could see the MESSIAH WHO would come to rescue Israel, and indeed, the whole
world, from the grip of their own sin. The HOLY SPIRIT had already revealed to
him that he would not die until he had seen the MESSIAH with his own eyes.
On
the day that Mary and Joseph came to the temple, the HOLY SPIRIT led Simeon
there so that GOD’s promise would be fulfilled. Simeon took Baby JESUS into his
arms and praised GOD, and proclaimed the words of Scripture contained in Luke
2:29-32, that have came to be known as “The Nunc Dimittis” from the Latin
Vulgate, which is interpreted, “Now let me depart”. There Simeon declares;
“LORD, now I can die in peace! As YOU
promised me, I have seen the SAVIOR YOU have given to all people. HE is a light
to reveal GOD to the nations, and HE is the glory of YOUR people Israel!” (NLT)
Joseph
and Mary, of course, were amazed at what Simeon had proclaimed about their SON,
JESUS. Simeon then blessed the couple and further said to Mary,
“This CHILD will be rejected by many in
Israel, and it will be their undoing. But HE will be the greatest joy to many
others. Thus, the deepest thoughts of many will be revealed. And a sword will
pierce your very soul”
Here
the Prophet Simeon is informing Mary that she would be emotionally torn by the
coming opposition to her SON JESUS, by both the professed Church, and by the World.
JESUS would later manifest HIMSELF as the very source of our salvation, and
that salvation would be extended, not only to the Jews, but to the Gentiles of
the world also. JESUS would come to be known as “the SAVIOR of the whole world”,
and not just the world of HIS earthly generation. HIS salvation offer would
also extend to every generation, past present, and future, who would ever live,
in the history of this world.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official
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