Fulfilling the Law
So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.” (Luke 2:21-24 NIV)
When a baby was born into a Jewish family, there were ceremonies required by law to be performed. The first occurred when a male baby was eight days old... circumcision. Begun with Abraham (Genesis 17:10-12), this symbolized the separation of the Jewish people from the Gentile world and was continuing evidence of their unique relationship with God. After that, the first born male child was to be brought to the temple one month after his birth for the "redemption of the firstborn" - when the parents "bought" the child back from God. This ceremony signified the parents' acknowledgement that the child belonged to God Who alone had given the child life. The third ceremony occurred either forty days after birth (for a male child) or eighty days after birth (for a female child). Until this time, the mother was considered "unclean" and could not enter the temple. At this ceremony, the parents brought a lamb for a burnt offering and a dove or pigeon for a sin offering. If the parents were poor, a second dove or pigeon could be brought in place of the lamb. The priest would sacrifice these animals and declare the mother to be clean.
Joseph and Mary were not well off financially, even though Joseph had a good trade as a carpenter. So they brought two doves for the sacrifice at the temple. Some might ask, if Joseph and Mary knew Who Jesus was, why would they go through all these ceremonies? If Jesus was the Messiah, was all this really necessary? Yes, it was. Because Jesus was not above the law; He came to fulfill it. And, because of Jesus' death on the cross, we are no longer subject to the Law, we still need the Law as a reference point, a guideline that helps to teach us what sin is.
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There are so many people who feel that what is in the Old Testament is not relevant to us today... citing the reason that when Jesus was crucified, everything in the Old Testament went out the window. This is just not so. Every word written in the Old Testament is necessary and relevant, just as is every word in the New Testament. In fact, it is difficult to understand much of the New Testament without a thorough knowledge of the Old Testament as background.
As you study God's Word, get to know all of it... from Genesis to Revelation. All of it is important, lest why would God have made sure it was preserved? All of it teaches us about our God and His relationship with the world. All of it helps us to know and understand Jesus Christ, the better to reflect Him in everything we say and think and do. All of it helps us to better understand the world today and the world to come. So when you study God's Word, don't leave anything out.
"Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” Matthew 5:17
From Newsong Ministries
Newsong6@bellsouth.net
Used with permission.
