Useful to God

February 2, 2022 (Wednesday)

 

It’s “Presentation Day.” Historically this is when the church celebrates when Jesus was presented at the Temple. Let’s look in when Mary and Joseph arrive at the Temple. Of course, as always, the central figure is Jesus.

 

 Luke 2:22 tells us, “When the time came for their ritual cleansing, in accordance with the Law from Moses, they brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.” [CEB] Remember Jesus is Jewish. His parents carefully followed the Law. According to Exodus 13, God claimed every firstborn, either human or animal. At the specified time they could be bought back. Leviticus 12 required a lamb; however, the poor could bring two pigeons. So, 43 days after Jesus’ birth, Mary and Joseph did as the Law commanded.

 

Jesus is greeted by two characters, the first is named Simeon. This mind is called “righteous and devout” (see Luke 2:25) and had a special connection to the Holy Spirit (see Luke 2:25 – 27). Calling Jesus God’s salvation (see Luke 2:30 – 31) Simeon declares, “It’s a light for revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel.” [Luke 2:32 CEB] Despite Jesus being Jewish, His light was not to be contained within one ethnic population. He finishes by prophesying, “As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” [Luke 2:35 NLT]

 

Light reveals what is in darkness. Growing up my Grandma used to say “everything looks different in the light.” When confronted with Jesus, the deepest thoughts of our heart are revealed. Jeremiah warned, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” [Jeremiah 17:9 NLT] That “desperately wicked” part carries the idea of “beyond help/cure” [CEB, NIV] Only God can probe the truth and discern all those hidden motives that lurks in the darkness. Get it? Jesus = light. Jesus probes, discerns, and disturbs the deepest secrets of our heart, mind, and soul.

 

The second character is Anna. Luke 2:36a informs us, “Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple.” {NLT] We are then, “She was now an 84-year-old widow. She never left the temple area but worshipped God with fasting and prayer night and day.” [Luke 2:37 CEB] I want to point out that both Anna and Simeon had deliberately developed disciplines that advanced and refined characteristics God could use at the right time. Both were available at the critical junction in time.

 

That day Anna must have seemed the crazy old lady, “She approached at that very moment and began to praise God and to speak about Jesus to everyone who was looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” [Luke 2:38 CEB] Can you imagine her excitement? Can you feel the impact of her unbridled passion over the arrival of the Savior? This was the moment, and she was not going to miss it or allow the opportunity to pass for others to miss.

 

Character, discipline, and availability.