The Lord said to Moses, “Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.”
- Exodus 13:1-2
“After the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he promised on oath to you and your ancestors, you are to give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord. Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.
“In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. This is why I sacrifice to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’ And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.”
- Exodus 13:11-16
“Everything in Israel that is devoted to the Lord is yours. The first offspring of every womb, both human and animal, that is offered to the Lord is yours. But you must redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals.
- Numbers 18:14-15
The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding.
“‘When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. He shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood.
“‘These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl.
- Leviticus 12:1-7
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. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved 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, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 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.”
There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
- Luke 2:25-38
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
- Matthew 16:27
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
king of kings and lord of lords.
- Revelation 19:11-16
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
- Revelation 3:11
Boaz acted as kinsman-redeemer to redeem the land allotted to Elimilek, Naomi’s dead husband. Thus, Naomi would have a boy child, Obed, born of Ruth. Obed was the father of Jesse, the father of David. Thus, Joseph went back to his hometown to be counted, the town of Bethlehem to the property once owned by Jesse. If there had not been an act of redemption, it would not have been in Bethlehem.
But in Exodus 13, God speaks of having redeemed the people of Israel, but that came at a cost. Since the firstborn of Egypt, both humans and animals all died, the firstborn of Israel belong to God, both animal and human. For people to keep them, they must be redeemed by sacrifice. The Levites had slightly different rules, but the first issue from all wombs, human or animal, must be redeemed.
But then, Mary, thirty-three days after Jesus was circumcised had to go to the temple to be declared cleansed from her issue of blood when she gave birth to Jesus. Luke says they presented the child for the purification rights. Thus, the firstborn was redeemed, and Mary was purified so that she could be ceremonially clean. Two doves were offered, showing that Joseph and Mary were poor.
On this trip, Simeon, who was promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he met the Lord’s Messiah. He praised God at seeing Jesus, Simeon speaks of Jesus being the source of salvation and a light unto the Gentiles. In other words, all people, not just the Jews. Simeon blesses the child, saying that there will be turmoil, and even a sword will pierce Mary’s soul. And so it was when Mary saw her precious Son die an agonizing death on the cross.
Then Anna was there. She had been a widow for forty-eight years. After her husband’s death after seven years of marriage, she never left the temple. She spent all her time, day and night, fasting and praying and worshipping God. When she sees the child, she tells everyone that this child will be the redemption of Jerusalem.
He had come to Jerusalem to be redeemed, but Anna declared Him the redeemer. Christ indeed is the redeemer.
Jesus redeemed the world, those within the world who call upon Him as their Lord and Savior and trust in Him. He redeemed us through the blood shed and His death on the cross. But He rose from the dead to show the victory over death.
But now, to two of Dr. Jeremiah’s questions in the book. Why the Nativity? How should Anna and Simeon challenge us? And why must Jesus Christ return?
Do most of us know who Simeon and Anna were? Jesus said that He will return soon. It has been nearly 2,000 years. We could apply the excuse that this is God’s timing, but Jesus was meaning our frame of mind. If we are ready, regardless of day or night… If we worship day and night… If we praise God and eagerly anticipate Christ’s return, as if Jesus could return within the next hour, then we know why Jesus said “soon.” We aren’t taking a nap, we are worshiping, praying, rejoicing, singing, and glorifying God. It will be good practice for when we get to Heaven. There, in Heaven, there will be no more pain, no more death, no more sin. The rest is a lot of mystery, but it will be wonderful just to be rid of sin, pain, and Jesus will even wipe away our tears, probably tears of joy, since there will be no crying.
Simeon trusted what the Holy Spirit promised Him. He lived a long life as a result. Anna also lived a long life and she spent probably more than two-thirds of her life worshiping at the temple in anticipation of God doing something miraculous.
And they instantly recognized who Jesus was. Even this is miraculous. Jesus was a mere baby, but they recognized Him. We will recognize Jesus upon His return.
But when Jesus comes again, we need to be looking for a warrior, a king. And if you are looking in a manger, you will miss Him. His eyes will be like fire, His tongue like a double-edged sword. His robes will be dipped in blood and on His thigh it will read King of kings and Lord of lords.
And He will fulfill the rest of all prophecies, bringing an end to suffering, bringing true peace with all nations bowing to Him, and the land between Egypt and Jerusalem will be lush, green, and wild.
Advent is a time of anticipation, but how do you anticipate? Do you visit the temple regularly like Simeon? Do you stay at the temple all the time like Anna? And what are you anticipating? Christ will return. He will return with an army and make all things right.
Soli Deo Gloria. Only to God be the Glory.
Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley 
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