Redeemed that He might Redeem Us

"Joseph and Mary took Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord"

Luke 2:22

@@ The presentation of Jesus in the temple 40 days after His birth was meaningful. It showed, for one thing, how completely He was "born under Law, to redeem those under Law"(Galatians 4:4).

@@ Jesus' presentation has yet another dimension. Among the Israelites every firstborn son belonged to God to minister to Him as a priest. By giving their number 1 son to God, parents were showing gratitude for the deliveranceof their son when the angel slew all the firstborn among the Egyptians.

@@ Later the tribe of Levi took over the priestly functions. Then the parents in the other tribes could "reedem" their firstborn sons from obligatory temple service by bringing an offering, as Mary and Joseph did.

@@ It was not God's intention that Jesus should be a regular, full-time temple priest of Levite, for He had other work in mind for His Son. Through the offering brought by His parents, Jesus was "redeemed" from the earthly priesthood to assume a heavenly one- to be our High Priest to redeem us by offering Himself.

@@ Jesus redeemed us by His obedience to the Law and by the shedding of his blood on the cross. To be able to be our self-giving, High Priest, He had to be "redeemed" from an earthly priesthood. Because He was now redeemed, He could pursure His work to redeem us.

Thank the Lord Jesus for being your Substitute in fulfilling the Law of God to its fullest extend.

With Jesus Every Day Rudolph F. Norden CPH