Advent - Day 19
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah
Luke 2:22-26
We are anticipating the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, our Lord. This is advent. And this year we are following Luke’s gospel as he passes on to us the eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life.
It’s funny how the gospel accounts often provide details that feel, well, less important. Do we really need to know that two doves or young pigeons were sacrificed?
Well, not necessarily. But it is helpful to be reminded that Jesus was born a Jew. It’s an important aspect of His Messiahship. Jesus is first and foremost the Jewish Messiah.
All the promises we look back on. Isaiah 53, 7 & 9, Deuteronomy 18:15, Micah 5:2 etc. All are made through Israel's prophets and to Israel. It’s actually crucial that Jesus was Jewish.
How do we know Jesus was perfect? Well, it’s not because of his looks. Jesus can claim to be perfect because He followed the law of Israel perfectly. If Jesus had followed the laws of China or the customs of Indigenous Australians or if he had perfectly followed Roman law, then Jesus can’t die for us.
It’s only because He followed the law of Moses, given to the Jews that Jesus can claim perfection. Because this is the only law that is perfectly and purely God-given. Jesus was a Jew, so that He could be a perfect for us.
But does this mean that Jesus is hope for Israel alone? More in tomorrow’s blog.
But for today, it’s a timely reminder that there is no place for anti-semitism (or any form of racism). Jesus died for all people. But Christians, it’s also a reminder that the appropriate response toward Jewish people is to encourage them to check out the Messiah that came from them - that He might truly be their Messiah.
For Today:
Pray:
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah
Luke 2:22-26
We are anticipating the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, our Lord. This is advent. And this year we are following Luke’s gospel as he passes on to us the eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life.
It’s funny how the gospel accounts often provide details that feel, well, less important. Do we really need to know that two doves or young pigeons were sacrificed?
Well, not necessarily. But it is helpful to be reminded that Jesus was born a Jew. It’s an important aspect of His Messiahship. Jesus is first and foremost the Jewish Messiah.
All the promises we look back on. Isaiah 53, 7 & 9, Deuteronomy 18:15, Micah 5:2 etc. All are made through Israel's prophets and to Israel. It’s actually crucial that Jesus was Jewish.
How do we know Jesus was perfect? Well, it’s not because of his looks. Jesus can claim to be perfect because He followed the law of Israel perfectly. If Jesus had followed the laws of China or the customs of Indigenous Australians or if he had perfectly followed Roman law, then Jesus can’t die for us.
It’s only because He followed the law of Moses, given to the Jews that Jesus can claim perfection. Because this is the only law that is perfectly and purely God-given. Jesus was a Jew, so that He could be a perfect for us.
But does this mean that Jesus is hope for Israel alone? More in tomorrow’s blog.
But for today, it’s a timely reminder that there is no place for anti-semitism (or any form of racism). Jesus died for all people. But Christians, it’s also a reminder that the appropriate response toward Jewish people is to encourage them to check out the Messiah that came from them - that He might truly be their Messiah.
For Today:
- Do you think of Jesus as Jewish?
- Have you ever had a conversation with a Jewish person?
- Pray for Jewish people → that they would find Jesus.
Pray:
- Praise the Father that He is the God of all people.
- Give thanks for Jesus who came to save people from all tribes and nations.
- Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others love all people.
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