The Hero

Joseph and Mary Dedicate Jesus

Picture: Joseph and Mary Dedicate Jesus 3TC 26.1

This chapter is based on Luke 2:21-38.

About forty days after the birth of Christ, Joseph and Mary took Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord and to offer a sacrifice. As our Substitute, Christ must fulfill the law in every point. He had already been circumcised as a pledge of His obedience to the law. 3TC 26.2

As an offering for the mother, the law required a lamb for a burnt offering and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. These offerings must be without blemish, for they represented Christ. He was the “lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:19. He was an example of what God intended humanity to be through obedience to His laws. 3TC 26.3

The dedication of the firstborn had its origin in earliest times. God had promised to give the Firstborn of heaven to save the sinner. Every household was to acknowledge this gift by consecrating the firstborn son. He was to be devoted to the priesthood, as a representative of Christ among us. 3TC 27.1

What meaning, then, was attached to Christ’s dedication at the temple! But the priest did not see beyond the outward appearances. Day after day he conducted the ceremony of presenting the infants, giving little attention to parents or children unless he saw some indication of wealth or high position. Joseph and Mary were poor, and the priest saw only a Galilean man and woman, dressed in the humblest garments. 3TC 27.2

The priest took the Child in his arms and held Him up before the altar. After handing Him back to His mother, he inscribed the name “Jesus” on the roll. As the Baby lay in his arms, little did the priest think that he was enrolling the name of the Majesty of heaven, the King of glory, the One who was the Foundation of the Jewish system. 3TC 27.3

This Baby was the One who declared Himself to Moses as the I AM, He who in the pillar of cloud and of fire had been Israel’s Guide. He was the Desire of all nations, the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star. Revelation 22:16. That helpless Baby was the hope of fallen humanity. He was to pay the ransom for the sins of the whole world. 3TC 27.4

Although the priest did not see or feel anything unusual, this occasion did not pass without some recognition of Christ. “There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, ... 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 had seen the Lord’s Christ.” 3TC 27.5

Venerable Simeon Recognized Jesus

As Simeon entered the temple, he was deeply impressed that the Infant being presented to the Lord was the One he had longed to see. To the astonished priest, he looked like a man filled with holy awe. He took the Child in his arms, while a joy he had never before felt entered his being. As he lifted the infant Savior toward heaven, he said, 3TC 27.6

“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation
Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
3TC 28.1

While Joseph and Mary stood by, amazed at Simeon’s words, he said to Mary, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” 3TC 28.2

Anna, a prophetess, also came in and confirmed Simeon’s testimony. Her face lighted up with glory, and she poured out her heartfelt thanks that she had been permitted to behold Christ the Lord. 3TC 28.3

These humble worshipers had studied the prophecies. But though the rulers and priests also had the precious prophecies, they were not walking in the way of the Lord, and their eyes were not open to see the Light of life. 3TC 28.4

Things are still this way. All heaven focuses its attention on events that religious leaders do not recognize. People acknowledge Christ in history, but they are no more ready today to receive Christ in the poor and suffering who plead for relief, in the righteous cause that involves poverty and scorn, than they were two thousand years ago. 3TC 28.5

As Mary looked at the Child in her arms and remembered the words the shepherds had spoken, she was full of bright hope. Simeon’s words called to her mind the prophetic message of Isaiah: 3TC 28.6

The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. ...
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:2-6 3TC 28.7

The Anguish Christ’s Mother Must Know

Yet Mary did not understand Christ’s mission. Simeon had prophesied of Him as a light to illuminate the Gentiles, and the angels had announced the Savior’s birth as tidings of joy to all peoples. God wanted everyone to see in Him the Redeemer of the world. But many years must pass before even the mother of Jesus would understand. 3TC 29.1

Mary did not see the baptism of suffering needed to bring about the Messiah’s reign on David’s throne. In Simeon’s words to Mary, “A sword will pierce through your own soul also,” God in tender mercy gave the mother of Jesus a hint of the anguish that she had already begun to bear for His sake. 3TC 29.2

“Behold,” Simeon had said, “this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel.” Whoever would rise again must first fall. We must fall upon the Rock and be broken before Christ can lift us up. Self must be dethroned. The Jews would not accept the honor that comes through humiliation. This is the reason they would not receive their Redeemer. 3TC 29.3

“That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” The hearts of all, from the Creator to the prince of darkness, are revealed in the light of the Savior’s life. Satan has represented God as selfish. But the gift of Christ testifies that while God’s hatred of sin is as strong as death, His love for the sinner is stronger than death. Having set out to redeem us, God will not withhold anything necessary for completing His work. Having collected the riches of the universe, He gives them all into the hands of Christ and says, Use these gifts to convince the human race that there is no love greater than Mine. They will find their greatest happiness in loving Me. 3TC 29.4

How Everyone Will Judge Himself

At the cross of Calvary, love and selfishness stood face to face. Christ had lived only to comfort and bless, and by putting Him to death, Satan showed his hatred against God. The real purpose of his rebellion was to dethrone God and to destroy Jesus, through whom God was showing His love. 3TC 30.1

The life and death of Christ also reveal the thoughts of men and women. Jesus’ life called everyone to self-surrender and to fellowship in suffering. All who were listening to the Holy Spirit were drawn to Him. Those who worshiped self belonged to Satan’s kingdom. In their attitude toward Christ, all would show on which side they stood. In this way, everyone passes judgment on himself. 3TC 30.2

In the day of final judgment, the Cross will be presented, and every mind will understand its real significance. Sinners will stand condemned before the vision of Calvary with its mysterious Victim. All will see what their choice has been. Every question in the controversy will have been made plain. God will stand clear of blame for the existence or continuance of evil. It will be proven that there was no defect in God’s government, no cause for dissatisfaction. Both the loyal and the rebellious will declare, 3TC 30.3

“Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the saints! ...
Your judgments have been manifested.”
Revelation 15:3, 4 3TC 30.4