Christmas is a time where we observe church traditions in commemoration of God sending Jesus, God’s Son to be our Messiah. The lighting of the Advent Candles is one. It is also a time when we attend to some family traditions in celebration of the Season. What traditions and even rites did you observe this Christmas?

 

The Jesus birth story brings us to the rites which Jews observe. And Jesus, born a Jew was no exception. His mother and father made sure Jesus goes through these rites for it was the law, the Law of Moses where Jewish traditions are based.

 

Naming and circumcision (Luke 2: 21)

Jesus Is Named

21 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

 

It says after eight days, it could mean 8 days after  Jesus was born which could mean was just eight years old. He was circumcised and named Yeshua or Jesus.

 

Presentation to the Lord according to the Law of Moses (Luke 2:22) which is done on the temple.

 

There are two rituals happening here:

 

The presentation of the first born Exo. 13:2 – The Lord said to Moses: Consecrate to me all the firstborn; whatever is the first to open the womb among the Israelites, of human beings and animals, is mine.

 

In Luke 2:23: “The firstborn male is to be designated as holy to the Lord.”

 

Purification of the mother of the child some 40 days after childbirth as laid down in Leviticus 12:18. On this occasion, an offering has to be made – in case of the poor, as Luke notes, “a pair of two turtle doves or two young pigeons.”

 

Now you can tell me where else you can find the words “two turtle doves”.

 

Not just in the Christmas carol “12 Days of Christmas”. It is in the Bible. In the Gospel reading this morning and in many places in the Old testament.

 

Today’s Gospel Reading reminds us that there is a lot more to learn and share about the birth of Jesus. First is the socio-economic status of Mary and Joseph. The second is the prophetic witness confirming the infant Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah.

 

The socio-economic status of Jesus family

 

The two turtledoves Jesus’ family brings are the sacrifices designated for the poor, according to the Levitical code (Leviticus 5:7, 12:8, 14:22). Leviticus 14: 21-22.

 

21If, however, the person is poor and cannot afford these offerings, he is to take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make atonement for him, along with a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, a log of olive oil, 22and two turtledoves or two young pigeons, whichever he can afford, one to be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering.

 

Let us not miss the significance of this small detail. Luke makes clear where in Jewish society Jesus’ family is located. Let us notice Jesus’ affinity and attentiveness to the needs of the poor. For instance, Jesus speaks of the poor in his prophetic inaugural speech (Luke 4:18; see also 7:22) and in his sermon on the plain (Luke 6:20). Jesus places the poor and the rich in contrast, if not in conflict, with each other, assuring the poor of having access to the kingdom (Luke 16:19-3; 18:18-27; 21:1-4).

 

This is why long before the birth of Jesus, prophets in the Old Testament had already foretold of a Messiah that shall come from their ranks. Immediately before Jesus was born, Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin and Zechariah spoke about the purpose and the relationships of the babies inside their wombs.

 

Mary sang about her baby:

 

50 His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.

 

 

 

 

Confirmed by witnesses

 

The prophesies of a Messiah now coming true before their eyes are confirmed by two prophets in the Bible, male and female: Simeon a righteous and devout man; and Anna, a woman of great age and prophet.

 

Upon seeing the family, Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God saying:

29 ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.’

 

He also told Mary and Joseph:

‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’

 

Meanwhile, Anna, when she came, began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. With Simeon and Anna, we have two credible witnesses to Jesus the Messiah, Redeemer and Saviour.

 

Just a short exploration on Simeon Anna from the article: Anna of Asher[1]

 

Anna is the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. The meaning of each name is important. The name Anna, or as some translations render it, Hannah, reminds us of the other famous Hannah in the Bible. Hannah presented her son Samuel in the temple as a boy before God, so also, now, Mary is presenting Jesus in the temple as a boy before God. Eli met Samuel in the temple and blessed Samuel. Simeon met Jesus in the Temple and blessed Jesus.

 

The name Anna reminds us of these helpful connections. We see a replay of the events of Samuel in the life of Jesus. He is the New Samuel to lead Israel.

 

Phanuel is not mentioned in any other Scripture. The name Phanuel brings to mind the place where Jacob receives his limp after wrestling with God, Penuel (Genesis 32). The name Phanuel means “Face of God.” Anna has seen the Face of God in Jesus Christ, the Face of her Heavenly Father. When Anna looks at Mary’s child Jesus, Anna is looking at the Face of God.

 

Asher is Leah’s son. In Genesis 30:13 Leah says, “Blessed am I! For women have called me blessed.” Therefore she named the child Asher. Asher means Blessed. 

 

Mary’s visit to Elizabeth come to mind when the latter was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed to Mary with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Luke 1:42)

 

We see a lot of connections and meanings of this temple dedication and Mary’s purification which reminds early believers or the early readers of the Gospel of Luke the significance of Jesus birth.

 

So the question that comes to mind is: why would Jesus and his family go through all that is required by law to make them holy and cleansed when Jesus, the perfect one was born of a virgin’s birth (immaculate conception) through the action of the Holy Spirit?

 

We find the answer in Paul’s letter to the Galatians, in Chapter 4:4-7:

 

4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.

6And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

 

For the Jews, the law was not enough to redeem themselves towards the Fatherhood of God. But this time redemption includes the non-Jews or the Gentiles? What about us who are neither Jews nor Gentiles?

 

The way according to Paul is through “adoption as children”. God sends the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, enabling our hearts to claim  God as our Father, Abba, granting to us the status as children of God and heirs to God’s kingdom.

 

Isn’t that amazing!

 

And finally God’s word’s through Isaiah continues to empower and provide us what it means to be children of God. Isaiah compares God’s children to shoots in the garden in springtime:

 

11For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

 

This reminds me of the song Pass it on:, It’s second stanza says:

 

What a wondrous time is spring,

when all the trees are budding,

the birds begin to sing,

the flowers start their blooming.

 

That’s how it is with God’s love,

once you’ve experienced it

you want to sing its fresh-like spring,

you want to pass it on.

 

Let us pass on the good news of God’s saving and liberating grace, and as God’s children, work for peace, justice and righteousness.

Amen.

 

[1] Shaw, Dave, Anna of Asher, Theopolis, 25 February 2015; https://theopolisinstitute.com/anna-of-asher/ (Accessed 26 Dec 2020).