Characters at the Cradle: Simeon, A Humble Sacrifice

by David Chadwick

There are so many characters whose lives purposefully and divinely intersect at the cradle with the main character we know as Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords. We have looked at Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, and Joseph.

Last week, we saw how all of these characters’ lives were leading up to, anticipating, and preparing for the birth of Jesus. From there, we looked at the angels who visited the shepherds in the field. Following one angel’s instructions, the shepherds set out to find the manger and the Christ child.

Today, we are going to look at Luke 2:24. Mary and Joseph went to bring their offering to the Temple for Jesus’s purification. This was a historical practice of the Jewish culture.

What did they bring to offer as their sacrifice? A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

This seems like a basic enough verse to understand until you realize that this kind of simple offering indicates that Mary and Joseph were poor. The turtledoves and pigeons were a sacrifice of modest means.

Look at Leviticus 12:8, “And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”

This kind of offering was the Old Testament option given to people who did not have as much. Wealthier people were able to offer a lamb as the sacrifice, but turtledoves and pigeons were typically the offerings of those who couldn’t afford more expensive things.

Unlike Hinduism and other religions that have caste systems and look at the poor with contempt, the God of Christianity came for the least and the lost. He loves the humble sacrifice. He holds a special place in his heart for those who are poor, destitute, and lacking material wealth.

The God of the Bible loves both a small sacrifice of two turtledoves and a larger sacrifice of a grand lamb. He cares more about a genuine love of God and a heart of faith than the size of a gift.

Mary and Joseph’s simple offering shows that great kids can come from even the poorest of homes! Two parents who love God, love one another, and are committed to raising their kids in the nurture and admonition of the Lord can produce fantastic kids who are great in the sight of the Lord. A great reminder for us all.

Characters at the Cradle: Simeon, Time for Purification

by David Chadwick

This week, we continue to look at the characters at the cradle. These are the people whose lives divinely intersected with the incarnation of Jesus. Even from the womb, Zechariah and Elizabeth’s lives were impacted by the miraculous conception of this soon-coming King of kings.

So, what is currently happening in the story? And what character is at the cradle this week? His name is Simeon. You will find his story in Luke 2:22-35 and we start by looking at verses 22 and 23.

Before Simeon comes on the scene, it is important to understand the context of what is happening in the story. Today and tomorrow, we will look at what is happening before Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus meet Simeon.

The birth of Jesus had just occurred. An angel, along with an angelic host, appeared to the shepherds and told them that the Savior of the world had just been born. The angel told them to go to the city of David, Bethlehem, where they would find the baby lying in a manger.

Luke 2:22-23 says that the time had come for their purification. Mary and Joseph brought Jesus “up to Jerusalem.” What does this mean? It implies walking up on Mount Zion, where the Temple was built. This was where they needed to take Jesus for the purification ceremony.

As written in Leviticus 12:3-4, this “time” was 40 days after birth, 33 days after circumcision (which is eight days after birth). According to the Law of Moses, the firstborn male child was to be presented to the Lord and called holy to the Lord.

Notice how devoted Mary and Joseph were to keeping the Law of God. Why did God choose them to be the mom and dad of his Son, the second person of the Godhead? I supposed it had a lot to do with their total devotion to God and obedience to his Law. They were not casually committed. They loved God with all their hearts.

Think about what most parents want for their kids—prestige, popularity, success, position, and prosperity. Now look at what God wanted for his Son: a mom and dad who would raise him in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. This should make all parents pause and refocus our priorities for our kids. Just as Jesus was brought to the temple for purification, we should live our lives in a way that always asks God to give us clean hands and pure hearts.

A fervent love for God and a willingness to wholeheartedly follow Jesus should be the primary aim. There should then be an intentional desire for husband and wife to love one another and extend that love to their children. From there, love should overflow into the world. That is what is most important in a family. That’s the strong foundation and Christlike environment that is needed to raise great and godly kids.

Characters at the Cradle: The Birth of Jesus, Power in a Name

by David Chadwick

Philippians 2:10-11 says, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

There is power in the name of Jesus. Wonder-working power. Even at conception, his name caused John to leap in his mother’s womb and Elizabeth to be filled with the Spirit. His mere presence on the earth, even in utero, began to have a profound impact on the world.

After Jesus was born. What happened next? Today we will finish by looking at Luke 2:21. It says, “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.” Two important things took place. Mary and Joseph’s new baby was circumcised and given the name Jesus.

Mary and Joseph were committed, orthodox Jews. Remaining true to their Jewish faith, they desired to obey every requirement of the Law and Jewish tradition. Oh, that all parents would be like this! Hungry and humble. Obedient and pure.

Out of all of the parents that God could have ordained for Jesus, these are the types of people who the Father wanted for his Son on earth.

The one who wrote this Law is now obeying what he wrote! I pray that those of us who follow Christ would model the same with our kids, obeying all that God requires of us. A home full of grace and truth, righteousness and holiness, obedient of the Word of God, and filled with the Spirit is the kind of environment in which God wants to raise his children.

For eight days Mary and Joseph waited. Loving this new baby. Can you imagine the conversations that occurred between them over these eight days? The long looks at the baby. The cuddling. The feedings. Wonder and awe!

On the eighth day, in fulfillment of the Law, Jesus was presented for circumcision. His name was also given to him, just as the angel Gabriel had instructed: the name Jesus. Both John and Jesus’s names were given in heaven to their parents before they were conceived in the womb to their respective moms. Again, never forget to take note of Mary and Elizabeth’s hearts of obedience in every detail, big and small. God will always honor a heart desirous of obedience to him.

Jesus, the main character at the cradle, the most important person in the entire story, is now alive in the story! There are more characters to come, but his presence in the world, God in human form, has marked history forever!