Return to "Topical" Menu

Who is Jesus?
Part - 3
By Joan A Deering

These next two eyewitnesses were found in the Temple.  I am leaving them together for this section as they are connected.  The following tells of the Jewish law and why Joseph and Mary went to the temple in Jerusalem with Jesus. [1]

“And when eight days were completed before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

And when the days for their purification according to the Law of Moses was completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every first-born male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord, a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.’”  [Luke 2:21-24]

Simeon is the first witness in this section.  He came into the temple and the following verses tell the account of his encounter with Mary, Joseph, and Jesus.

“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he has seen the Lord’s Christ (Messiah.)

And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God and said,

“Now Lord, Thou dost let Thy bond servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for my eyes have seen thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel.”  [Luke 2:25-32]

One thing to note is that Simeon recognized that Jesus is God’s promise of salvation and that He is a light of revelation to the Gentiles (non-Jews) and the Glory of Thy people Israel (Jews)! This baby was God born as a human being to bring us God’s salvation!

Even though this very thing was prophesied 2,500 years ago we’ll see what people thought of this. They were expecting the Messiah Jesus come a totally different way than this.  They missed it. They expected the Messiah to come as King to reign.  Why would God come here like this even though it was foretold? The following verses answer that question:

“For the Son of man also came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  [Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45]

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.  [Romans 3:23-25]

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life”  John 3:16

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  [Romans 6:23]

“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  [Romans 5:8]

Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?  For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot and like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him.  Not appearance that we should be attracted to him.  [Isaiah 53:1-4]

The following is Joseph and Mary’s reaction to what Simeon announced!  There was so much information that was given by Simeon as to this baby being Christ the Messiah that was foretold so long ago. 

And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.  And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed-and a sword will pierce even your own soul-to the end that the thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”  [Luke 2:33-35]

Our second witness is the prophetess named Anna. She witnessed to those who came to the temple about the Messiah and His purpose for coming.  This Baby was God come to earth to save us from our sins as it had been revealed to her by the Lord.

“And there was a prophetess Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.  She was advanced in years, having lived with a husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four.  And she never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.”

And at that very moment she came and began giving thanks to God and continued to speak of Him (Jesus the Messiah) to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.   [Luke 2:36-38]

To summarize, there were two people in the Temple, in Jerusalem, and this was their Spirit of God given message of who Jesus is and why He came to earth more than 2000 years ago.

Return to "Topical" Menu

2022-02-04 1245