12/30/13- The Priest Who Circumcised Jesus

21On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.       22When 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”^b ), 24and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons...27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, (Luke 2:)

Thoughts: Jesus was probably circumcised in Bethlehem and was dedicated as the firstborn in the Temple in Jerusalem.  These were both two very ancient and important rites for a young male firstborn.
     Colossians 1 says that Jesus was also the firstborn of all creation- having created all things; and that he also was the firstborn from the dead- leading the way for the rest of us from death into life by His resurrection and ascension. The word "firstborn" is used 97 times in the Bible.  But Exodus 13:2 tells us that because God spared the firstborn of Israel in Passover's final plague, the firstborn of Israel should be consecrated to God. Jesus as the firstborn (born of a virgin would definitely qualify- maybe the ultimate firstborn), would be consecrated to the Lord and to His kingdom.
     These rites were both dedication and purification rites. They remind each of us of our need to be dedicated to the Lord and to seek to have a pure, dedicated heart to God.
      Interestingly, there is no mention of the priest in either rite here (Simeon was not a priest).  It is not the priest who matters, but the God that makes the rite a reality who matters.  Still, what a privilege and joy it would have been to administer the dedication rites to the One who was dedicated to the Father for us.  What an honor to have administer the sacrament of circumcision with its symbol of purification to the pure hearted Son of God. The circumcision of Jesus was a symbol of His being a part of the chosen people; that he underwent the pain that they underwent; that uncleanness was rolled away and He was dedicated to God.
      The grace is that the priest probably didn't know what he was doing, but God used him anyway.  The grace is that though the priest may have actually come up short in having true faith, God used the priest anyway to accomplish his rite of purification.  Years ago there was the ancient heresy of Donatism that said that if the priest wasn't pure he couldn't do the purification rites.  But there is no pure priest.  Priests and ministers need forgiveness of sins too.  Only Christ is the Great High Priest who did not need purification nor baptism- but did such things as examples for us of obedience, humility, and grace. 

Prayer: Lord, I give myself to you, and ask that you would make me pure and holy.  I claim your grace and mercy.  

(Rembrandt's The Circumcision of baby Jesus)