Dear Explorer,
Read Luke 2:21-24
Eight days after Jesus was born – just like John – He was circumcised and named. Both Jesus and John were given names that an angel had instructed their parents.
This ceremony is still practiced by Jewish people today and is called a Brit Milah, or Bris. I attended a Bris while we lived in New Jersey. It is carried out much the same way it was in Jesus' and John's time.
I don't know if Jesus was circumcised at home, in the stable, or at the local synagogue in Bethlehem, since it is not mentioned.
On the 40th day after Jesus' birth, his parents traveled from Bethlehem to Jerusalem for two more Jewish ceremonies. The first was the “Redemption of the First-Born”. This was established during the time of Moses and is recorded in Exodus 13:1-16 if you want to read about it. God had said that every first-born belonged to Him – whether human or animal. To “purchase” or “redeem” a first-born's life, a lamb had to be sacrificed in his/her place. But there was a provision for the very poor who did not even own a lamb. They could offer 2 pigeons instead.
What does this tell you about Mary and Joseph's finances?
If you were the King of the Universe and wanted to send Your Son to earth, what parents would you pick?
The second ceremony was the “Purification of the Mother”. When a woman gave birth, she was considered to be “unclean” until she healed and stopped bleeding (about 40 days). This was not a punishment – this was God's provision so that others would need to do her work so that she could rest and heal. She would not be allowed to “go to the well” to carry water, or “go to the market” to get food. At the end of this period, she would go to the temple and present her sacrifice and the priest would declare her to be clean.
Yesterday's lesson showed that God sent a marvelous display of angels to announce Jesus' birth. Who was the audience?
God's ways are not our ways! He didn't send Jesus to earth just for the wealthy and powerful. He also sent Him for the poorest of the poor and announced Him to the outcasts of society – the lowest “class”, if you please.
Because of this, you can be assured of God's love no matter how poor or rich, loved or unloved you might feel. God loves you and sent His Son for YOU.
In His service, dale
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