When Faithfulness Walks Through the Temple Doors.

When Mary and Joseph walked into the temple, in obedience to the laws of their ancestors, they brought offerings and sacrifices. Unlike many parents, who were undoubtedly there doing the same thing, they also knew something of their child’s future. And of course, while in the temple, not one but two revered elders prophesied over the baby boy in their arms. One can scarcely imagine the layers of weight the new parents must have felt. I mean, who wants to be told that a sword will pierce your soul?! What does that even mean?!

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
—Luke 2:34-35, NIV

Thankfully, Mary and Joseph had the centuries-old instructions for parenting. First given in the law of Moses, then reiterated and taught even when their ancestors were scattered to different lands. Since Mary and Joseph knew what to present at the temple as an offering, they also would have known the following passage,

So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lordyour God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul— then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lordswore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.
—Deuteronomy 11:13-14, 18-21, NIV

The actions of Mary and Joseph are those of people who lived by the commands God had given throughout the generations. Listening to dreams and angels is the action of people who love God. Going to the temple, welcoming shepherds, magi, and everyone else who stops by to pay homage, is the behavior of people who fixed the words of God in their hearts and minds. When it is time to build a home, they have literally written these words on their doorposts. I imagine them telling stories of the prophets in the temple, of living in Egypt, sharing the stories of their ancestors until the children are sick of hearing them. Perhaps, Jesus, like my children, will ask to hear the story of his birth every year on his birthday, or presentation feast, or whatever form of annual remembrance was common at the time. 

Presenting Jesus at the temple is merely one of the many acts of faithfulness that Mary and Joseph demonstrate as parents, and they are not the only ones who do so. Anna and Simeon are two other examples of a life spent living out the commands to “serve God with all your heart and with all your soul.” Simeon is listening to the nudges of the Holy Spirit, nudges that tell him when to go to the temple and what to look for. Anna, it is said, never left the temple, but worshipped with prayer and fasting day and night. This devotion, this deep desire to witness God’s acts, has indeed contributed to their long lives, though correlation does not equal causation. Perhaps this devotion would have inspired Mary and Joseph to continue walking and talking about the goodness of God in their families. 

There are many lessons and themes that we could glean from the story of the Presentation of Jesus. Right now, the one I see the most clearly is faithfulness. 

The faithfulness of Mary and Joseph, following ancient commands and new dreams.

The faithfulness of Simeon’s heart in listening to the Holy Spirit.

The faithfulness of Anna’s devotion to prayer.

Above all, the faithfulness of God, keeping his promises to generation after generation. 

May we all be faithful to our faithful God. 

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If you were to “present” something to God today, what would it be?

What is one simple way you can practice faithfulness in your household this week?