by Bill Randles

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

(Luke 1:5-10)

It had been four hundred long years since there had been a Word from God given to Israel. The congregation had the Torah, the Prophets and the Law, but God had not spoken to them through any prophet for four hundred years.

In that long silence, the holy nation had been wracked with sufferings, under the various Gentile Rulers such as the Ptolemeys and Seleucids, and had changed hands between these "kings of the North" and "kings of the South". Eventually the suffering reached a crescendo, under Antiochus Epiphanies, the Syrian mad man who tried to extinguish Judaism entirely, forcing "Reverse Circumcisions" and killing the parents of any who would circumcise, or keep the Sabbath.

In that time also there were bright spots, such as the rise of the Maccabees, the war to overthrow the Syrians, and the reconsecration of the defiled temple, memorialized in the miracle of Hannukah. But eventually the Romans entered, and began to exercise their smothering "statecraft" over the land once ruled by David and Solomon.

But a glimmer of light came about in, when an old Priest was called up by lottery to perform his priestly duty along with the rest of his priestly course. This priest, Zechariah, had married Elizabeth, a direct descendant of Aaron, but they were childless and in their old age.

A Priest could live his whole life without ever being called to minister in the temple, so this was already quite an experience.

Zechariah and the rest of his course would show up in the temple on the day appointed well before sunrise, and under the direction of permanent priests, they would make a torchlit inspection of the temple worship area.

The company of priests would then assemble for the casting of four lots to determine priestly functions; One lot determined the priests who would prepare the Altar of sacrifice, a second lot determined the twelve Priests who would be assigned to make the sacrifice and cleanse the candlestick and altar of incense.

A third lot was drawn to determine which Priest, would attend to the altar of incense in the Holy Place of the temple. Finally the fourth lot would determine which Priests would be called upon to lay the sacrifices on the altar, and to pour out the drink offerings.

Zechariah was chosen by lot to go into the Holy Place and offer the incense at the Altar of incense, directly before the Ark behind the curtain in the Holy of Holies.

Zechariah's service allowed hm t chose two assistants, One to gather holy incense into the golden censor, the other to gather in a golden pail the burning coals of the golden altar, and to spread them out on the altar of incense in the Holy Place, coals first, then incense. The two assistants were to leave Zechariah alone in the Holy Place before the altar, in total silence.

It is this most solemn period, when throughout the vast Temple buildings deep silence rested on the worshipping multitude, while within the sanctuary itself the priest laid the incense on the golden altar, and the cloud of ‘odours' (Rev 5:8) rose up before the Lord, which serves as the image of heavenly things in this description (Rev 8:1,3,4): * ‘and when He had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour…And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.' (Alfred EiderShiem, The Temple and its services)

Outside the rest of the Priests and the multitude of temple worshippers, pilgrims who had come to attend the daily service, waited in awesome silence, there were no songs at this point …only silence as Zechariah waited for the signal to commence the prayers.

by Bill Randles

And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
(Luke 1:11-17)

The aged priest Zechariah, had been selected by lot, along with his priestly group (Course), to perform the daily ministry in the temple. This would be a once in a lifetime opportunity, for there were tens of thousands of priests in Judea, and a priest could go a lifetime without experiencing this privilege.

Zechariah had also been selected among those fifty, to be the one who ministered before the altar of incense in the Holy Place of the temple. He would be accompanied by two priestly helpers, who clean off the ashes of the previous sacrifice, and lay out the burning coals from the golden altar, onto the altar of incense.

The two aids would then reverently bow, and worship as they backed out of the Holy Place, leaving Zechariah by himself with his censor, awaiting the signal to administer the prayers and intercessions before the golden altar before him, aglow with the burning coals.

To His right would have been the table of Shewbread, the twelve loaves signifying Israel's continual fellowship with God. Other than the glowing coals on the golden altar of incense, the room was only illuminated by the seven branched Candlabra, to the left of the Priest.

All that remained was for the Priest to hear the signal and to spread the incense on the altar, and to offer prayers such as ,

‘True it is that Thou art Jehovah our God, and the God of our fathers; our King and the King of our fathers; our Saviour and the Saviour of our fathers; our Maker and the Rock of our salvation; our Help and our Deliverer. Thy name is from everlasting, and there is no God beside Thee. A new song did they that were delivered sing to Thy name by the sea-shore; together did all praise and own Thee as King, and say, Jehovah shall reign who saveth Israel.

‘Be graciously pleased, Jehovah our God, with Thy people Israel, and with their prayer. Restore the service to the oracle of Thy house; and the burnt-offerings of Israel and their prayer accept graciously and in love; and let the service of Thy people Israel be ever well-pleasing unto Thee.

‘We praise Thee, who art Jehovah our God, and the God of our fathers, the God of all flesh, our Creator, and the Creator from the beginning! Blessing and praise be to Thy great and holy name, that Thou hast preserved us in life and kept us. So preserve us and keep us, and gather the scattered ones into Thy holy courts, to keep Thy statutes, and to do Thy good pleasure, and to serve Thee with our whole heart, as this day we confess unto Thee. Blessed be the Lord, unto whom belongeth praise.

‘Appoint peace, goodness, and blessing; grace, mercy, and compassion for us, and for all Israel Thy people. Bless us, O our Father, all of us as one, with the light of Thy countenance. For in the light of Thy countenance hast Thou, Jehovah, our God, given us the law of life, and loving mercy, and righteousness, and blessing, and compassion, and life, and peace. And may it please Thee to bless Thy people Israel at all times, and at every hour with Thy peace. [May we and all Thy people Israel be remembered and written before Thee in the book of life, with blessing and peace and support.] Blessed be Thou, Jehovah, who blessest Thy people Israel with peace.'

**(EiderSheim,Alfred,The Temple and its Services)

Outside of the Holy place at this time, the other Priests and the multitude of worshippers are prostrated before the LORD, in holy adoration. All that remained of the service was for the incensing priest to worshipfully back out of the Holy Place, and stand at the top of the steps, joined by other Priests, and to pray the Aaronic Benediction over the congregation. But the service was interrupted, by something known only to Zechariah…

In the midst of His holy ministrations, the aged priest realized he wasn't alone in the Holy place for an Angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the Altar.

And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Luke 1:12-17)

"Thy Prayer is heard…", that is the prayer, long since renounced by the aged couple, for a son. Like Abraham and Sarah, the priestly couple would indeed have a miracle son, and they were to name him "John", Johannon, i.e. "God is gracious".

The miracle Son would not just be a joy to his parents and family, for "Many shall rejoice at His birth". He would always be consecrated to God entirely,having been born into a lifelong Nazarite vow, such as Samson and Samuel.

The power to fulfill his lifelong task would be evident, for "He would be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb". His task? To turn many of the backslidden children of Israel back "to the Lord their God".

The Last Word from God, four hundred years earlier, spoke of the coming of the Messiah, who would be proceeded by the forerunner, "Elijah the Prophet" Who would turn the hearts of the children to the Fathers and the hearts of Fathers to the children, lest Israel be smitten with a curse.

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.(Malachi 3:1)

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.(Malachi 4:5-6)

by Bill Randles

And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
(Luke 1:10-25)

The aged priest Zechariah, is standing in the holiest place on earth, in a room which most men would not be qualified to stand in, and doing a task, for which he had been selected by two different lotteries.

There in the house of God, he encounters an Angel, something no other officiating Priest has reported ever to have happened in all of history.

But he asks the Angel how it would be possible for He and his wife to bear a Son, as the Angel reported! This is a Priest of the religion of Abraham and Sarah! The entire Hebrew people came about by the same miracle for with God nothing is too difficult!

The Angel brought this Priest the gospel and the Priest questioned it in doubt and unbelief. Zechariah's unbelief stuck at the heart of the gospel. In order for Zechariah and his wife to have a son in their old age, death and the decay of their bodies would have to be reversed, by the power of God.

The ultimate program of God, ever since the fall in the garden and the promise of the coming seed of the woman, was to "redeem all of creation from the bondage of corruption" by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. If he couldn't believe the Word of God concerning the birth of his Son the forerunner, how would he be able to believe in the resurrection of the dead for the whole world.

Zechariah's unbelief struck at the very heart of the gospel, so the Angel struck the Priest dumb!

Remember all of this took place during the morning temple service, and right at the climax of it. The Worshippers were prostrated, waiting for the emergence of Zechariah from the Holy Place, anticipating the Priestly Blessing from Numbers 6

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.(Numbers 6:24)

What kind of a blessing can come from a priest who demands an authoritative sign, when spoken by an Angel in the Holy Place? What is there to say, when unbelief in the reversal of death and decay by the power of God surfaces? How many modern ministers of God have been silenced or struck dumb, because of the same unbelief?

The basic principle of Redemption is that "God gives life to the dead and calls those things which be not as though they are", even reversing the processes of death! .To lose faith in that is to nullify ministry.

Eidersheim's description of how the service ended "Life and times of Jesus the Messiah" is poignant here,

A period of unusual length had passed, since the signal for incensing had been given. The prayers of the people had been offered, and their anxious gaze was directed towards the Holy Place. At last Zacharias emerged to take his stand on the top of the steps which led from the Porch to the Court of the Priests, waiting to lead in the priestly benediction,36 that preceded the daily meat-offering and the chant of the Psalms of praise, accompanied with joyous sound of music, as the drink-offering was poured out.

But already the sign of Zacharias was to be a sign to all the people. The pieces of the sacrifices had been ranged in due order on the altar of burnt-offering; the priests stood on the steps to the porch, and the people were in waiting. Zacharias essayed to speak the words of benediction, unconscious that the stoke had fallen. But the people knew it by his silence, that he had seen a vision in the Temple. Yet as he stood helpless, trying by signs to indicate it to the awestruck assembly, he remained dumb.

by Bill Randles

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
(Luke 1:26-33)

Our gospel proceeds from the temple, with it's beautiful but interrupted service, the throngs of worshippers, Priests, the smell of sacrifice and of incense, the ancient tapestries, the sounds of songs, prayers and hymns echoing throughout the sanctuary, to a small town perched upon a hill in the Galilee district of Judea.

There sat Nazareth, on the northern border of what in the days of Joshua was bequeathed by God , to the tribe of Zebulon. The Angel Gabriel was sent to a private home in Nazareth, to make a momentous announcement to a young woman of Nazareth, a direct descendant of King David, thus fulfilling the prediction of Isaiah,

Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
(Isaiah 9:1-2)

The Angelic greeting must have stunned the virgin, "Hail, thou that art highly favored…". What could this mean?

"The Lord is with thee", this saying would have reminded the devout Jewess of the saying of the Angel before a great deliverance in Judges, when Gideon was told, "The Lord is with Thee…".

The Angel then announced that Mary is "blessed among all women…", then proceeded to tell her in so many words, that she had been chosen to be the woman, who would bring into the world the "Seed of the woman"announced in Genesis 3:15.

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

God had announced it first to Satan, after he had seduced the first man and woman into joining his rebellion, that salvation would come to man, through the woman, that is, "Seed of the woman".One born solely of a woman would crush the serpent's head, but not without immense pain and grief, for the serpent would bruise his heel.

How could a man be called the "Seed of a woman"? Everyone knows that we are all born of the union of the seed of a man, and the egg of the woman. What could possibly be meant by the seed of the woman, other than someone who would come , born of a virgin.

You will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall call his name, Jesus… A very familiar saying among the Rabbi's and pious in the Judaism of the first century was of those named before birth in scripture,

Isaac, Ishmael, Moses, Solomon, Josiah, and 'the Name of the Messiah, Whom may the Holy One, blessed be His Name, bring quickly in our days! (Eidersheim,the Life and times of Jesus the Messiah)

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His Father David, And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there shall be no end…".

Ages and Ages earlier, at the beginning of time, another Angel (this one was fallen) had a conversation with the first woman,(her husband was there but didn't protect her), and talked her into rejecting God, her benevolent Creator. In reaching out for the fruit, she repudiated the moral authority of God, so that she and her husband could decide for themselves 'good and evil', and thus make themselves to be "as gods'.

She said in effect, "Not thy will Oh God, but mine be done…".

This act of rebellion by the woman and her husband became the fountain head of all sin, misery, brokenness, horror, evil, and every tear shed in bitter anguish of heart ever since.Truly the wages of Adam's sin is death, and death passed upon all of us, as Adam's children.

But in this gospel of Luke, we see the antidote to the Woman and the fallen Angel. This time the woman is one of a fallen race, but the Angel is not fallen, he is Gabriel, "The might of God". He brings a proposition to the woman, from heaven, staggering in its implications for good, and for reproach.

She needed to know how this would be…not in the same demand for a sign as Zechariah, who should have known better.

In Mary's case, a pregnancy outside of marriage would bear the possibility of great reproach and misunderstanding. This is not unbelief, rather a genuine need for detail, to satisfy moral concerns.

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.

The child would be conceived by the Holy Spirit, He would be the Son of God. In mercy God also gave her a sign, for her formerly barren and older cousin Elizabeth was now six months pregnant.

The moment in Nazareth was every bit as pregnant as the moment in Genesis three when Eve pondered that the fruit looked good, and probably would make her wise… thus did she take it and eat it, saying "no" to God.

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

by Bill Randles

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
( Luke 1:39-45)

A young Galilean virgin had just been told by an Angel, that she would bear the "Seed of the woman", who would one day "Crush the serpent's head", and be the Saviour of the whole world. Her virgin born son would be the Son of God, and would sit on the throne of David to rule forever.

There would be one person who would possibly be able to understand this mystery in part, for the same Angel made mention of Mary's cousin, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth, who had long since passed her child-bearing age, had conceived a child and was now six months pregnant. Her Husband, the Priest Zechariah, had some kind of an experience in his Priestly service which rendered him unable to make the Priestly Blessing at the climax of the service. For these long six months, Zechariah remained dumb.

As soon as Mary entered the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth, the babe in Elizabeth's womb, kept for joy, and the Spirit of the LORD came upon Mary, flowing out through the gift of Prophecy.

"Blessed are you among woman…", this was the same blessing that the prophetess Deborah conferred upon the woman Jael, in Judges 5, after Jael drove a tent peg through the temple of Sisera, a vicious enemy of Israel.

Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent. He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish. She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples. At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead. (Judges 5:24-27)

Like Jael, Mary is Blessed above women, for she would bear the "Seed of the woman" who would crush head of the ultimate enemy of Israel, Satan himself.

Blessed is the fruit of thy womb…Her son would be the one, born of a woman and not of a man, man's blessed redeemer.

How is it that the Mother of My Lord should visit me…? By the Spirit of the LORD, Elizabeth called Mary the mother of her Lord. It was the baby in her womb, who pointed this out to her, already fulfilling the task he was called to, that is pointing people to Jesus as LORD and Saviour!

Blessed is She who Believes, for there shall be a performance of those things… from the LORD… Like Abraham, Sarah, and so many other of God's faithful through the Ages, Mary's belief in a miracle baby , sent to save us, from heaven, would be rewarded.

Then the Spirit of Prophecy fell upon Mary herself,

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior… Mary's inner man, her soul has been focused upon the LORD< and her Spirit rejoices in God, her Savior!

Mary knew and confessed that she was a sinner , that she needed God, and His salvation. As a true believer and pious Jew, she waited for His salvation to come in due time. Now, the time had come!

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Mary didn't consider herself to be some kind of divine or semi divine being. She would have abhorred as Pagan all talk of Theotokos, or Queen of heaven, or anyone praying "Hail Mary"…Mary knew she was nothing, a sinner, a lowly handmaiden of the LORD, and that it is "HE who is mighty" who has done great things to her.

This prophecy is similar to the Prophecy of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2, when Samuel was born in answer to a prayer that went far beyond a woman's desperate request for a son, for Hannah's prayer initiated an entire reversal of the decline of Israel.

Mary is an observant Jew, and would hold an intensely Monotheistic Creed and worship. Holy is His name, and his name alone!

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name…

In the Spirit of Prophecy, she marvels at who God is, what God has done what God does, and who He does it for. Ultimately , it is in the coming of Jesus into this world, that the nature and character of God is fully revealed.

Who is this Holy God and what is He like?

She praises his power and might. What awesome power is revealed, that God should become a babe, and enter into his own creation? What an entirely different view of what power really is! That God should become a babe.

Why does he thus display his power? To bring us salvation. This is what it took to save us, God had to become a man, He condescended to us, and regarded our "Low estate".

Why did God have to save us this way?

Because as Mary prophesied, "Holy is His name". Because God is Holy He had to make a Holy way to save us. Someone had to suffer for sin. Jesus is God, become a man, to come down to us and take our place in judgment.

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation… Salvation is due to the mercy of God. He is a God who pities lost sinners and weak, fallen humanity. That mercy took him from heaven to earth, from glory to humiliation.

He hath shewed strength with his arm;…In the advent of Jesus, God reveals His power to His congregation, He is an active God, and not indifferent to the plight of His people.

…he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts…

But it is not power as conventionally understood. The proud cannot see in the babe in the manger, the power of God, even as Peter couldn't see power, in the prospect of Jesus , the Messiah, dying at the hands of his enemies on the cross.

He destroys the Wisdom of the wise, and brings to nothing the understanding of the wise in this world, he scatters those united in Pride, and of all of those who rely on their own ample resources, and see no need of God.

In the coming of the Holy Child, everything the worldly think about power, wisdom, righteousness, and truth is exposed as false, shallow and corrupt, in the light of God.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree...God demotes and God elevates. In Jesus, the hierarchies of this world are set on their head. The Last shall be first, and the first last, the humble shall be exalted and the proud made low. Whoever humbles himself shall be exalted, and the proud be made low.

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away…He feeds only the hungry, and cures only the sick… the self sufficient and proud are sent away empty. Those "Rich" and "Learned" cannot see the gospel, He hides it from them, to reveal it unto babes. One has to duck to enter into the place where Jesus was born, as well as to see the empty tomb, that he was interred in.

He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever…God has not forgotten His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to bless every family in the world through the "seed of Abraham".The word for "Helped" is the same as the word, "Succor" , he has run to the aid of Israel, or better, he has "lifted up his Servant Israel".

by Bill Randles

Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
(Luke 1:57-64)

It is now nine months from the announcement in the Holy Place of the temple, to Zechariah and Elizabeth, that they would bear a Son who would be the forerunner of the Messiah.

Elizabeth, who had been considered barren, like her forbearer Sarai, brought forth a miracle baby. Her family and friends rejoiced with her, likewise her silent husband, and the Lord was glorified for shewing mercy to the pious couple in their old age.

On the eight day, according to the Law of Moses, the child underwent the ritual of circumcision, laying upon his shoulders the yoke of the Law of God, and bringing him into the covenant.

The room would have filled with family and friends, and the 1st century circumcision would have commenced with a benediction, something similar to this according to Alfred Eidersheim;

'Our God, and the God of our fathers, raise up this child to his father and mother, and let his name be called in Israel Zacharias, the son of Zacharias. Let his father rejoice in the issue of his loins, and his mother in the fruit of her womb, as it is written in Prov. xxiii. 25,

Let your father and your mother be glad,
And let her who bore you rejoice.

and as it is said in Ezek. xvi. 6, "And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you in your blood, 'Live!' Yes, I said to you in your blood, 'Live!

and again in Ps. cv. 8,He remembers His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,

and Gen. xxi. 4; then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him

… The prayer closed with the hope that the child might grow up, and successfully, 'attain to the Torah, the marriagebaldachino, and good works.

But when the Rabbi got to the point of the benediction which actually named the child, Elizabeth interrupted…saying, His name shall be John! Zechariah also motioned for a writing tablet and agreed with his wife, 'His name shall be John"!

As soon as Zechariah named his Son, his tongue was loosed and he began to prophesy;

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The prophecy of Zechariah follows closely upon and is the spiritual expansion of a common prayer in the Jewish liturgy, the "Eighteen Benedictions"

Zechariah would have prayed this prayer on the day he was struck dumb for nine months, and perhaps he spent those months meditating on it;

'Speedily make to shoot forth the Branch of David, Thy servant, and exalt Thou his horn by Thy salvation, for in Thy salvation we trust all the day long. Blessed art Thou, Jehovah! Who causeth to spring forth the Horn of Salvation'

Eidersheim summarizes the main thoughts in the ancient liturgical prayer, and an examination of Zechariah's prophecy reveals that point by point, the Holy Spirit of God inspired the answer to this plea,

This analogy between the hymn of Zacharias and the prayers of Israel will best appear from the benedictions with which these eulogies closed. For, when thus examined, their leading thoughts will be found to be as follows: God as the Shield of Abraham; He that raises the dead, and causes salvation to shoot forth; the Holy One; Who graciously giveth knowledge; Who taketh pleasure in repentance; Who multiplieth forgiveness; Who redeemeth Israel; Who healeth their (spiritual) diseases; Who blesseth the years; Who gathereth the outcasts of His people; Who loveth righteousness and judgment; Who is the abode and stay of the righteous; Who buildeth Jerusalem; Who causeth the Horn of Salvation to shoot forth; Who heareth prayer; Who bringeth back His Shekhinah to Zion; God the Gracious One, to Whom praise is due; Who blesseth His people Israel with peace.(Life and Times of Jesus Messiah,Alfred Eidersheim)

by Bill Randles

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
(Luke 2:1-6)

The "seed of the woman", the Messiah Saviour promised from the very beginning in Genesis chapter three, came into the world at a time appointed by God himself, the ‘fulness of time'.

By this time, the series of Jewish exiles and captivities had seeded the known world with Synagogues in nearly every town of any size. The conquests and cultural colonization of Alexander the Great had made Hellenism the common culture, and Greek the ‘lingua franca' of the known world. Everyone spoke Greek and the Hebrew Bible had been translated into Greek (the Septuagint).

The Roman empire had cleared the Meditteranean of the infestation of pirates, and had threaded the entire known world with excellent paved roads, making travel and trade safe and easier than ever before in history. Roman law imposed a kind of order upon the world, the pax Romana.

The Roman world also imposed a religious pluralism, one could worship in any fashion as long as due allegiance was paid to the Emperor, in the form of a pinch of incense to the ‘genius of the Emperor' at spacial government shrines.

A special status was afforded the Jews, who thought it abominable to pray to the Emperor, instead they pledged to pray for the Emperor.

Julius Caesar's nephew, Octavian, took upon himself the name of his benefactor and uncle, thus He was called Caesar. It was said of him that he initiated the golden age of peace and prosperity. It seemed inevitable that all of the world was Rome.

In 27 BC Octavian Caesar accepted the name Augustus, "One worthy of worship or veneration". Thus Caesar was called, the "Lord", "Son of God", the "Divine Emperor", and "the Savior of the world". His emissaries were called evangelists, and his messages were called gospels. This was the beginning of the cult of Caesar worship.

His birthday announcement called for the date to become the new beginning of the year, and virtually deified Him;

The most divine Caesar…we should consider equal to the Beginning of all things…; for when everything was falling [into disorder] and tending toward dissolution, he restored it once more and gave to the whole world a new aura; Caesar…the common good Fortune of all…the beginning of life and vitality….All the cities unanimously adopt the birthday of the divine Caesar as the new beginning of the year….Whereas Providence, which has regulated our whole existence…has brought our life to the climax of perfection in giving to us [the emperor] Augustus, whom it [Providence] filled with strength for the welfare of men, and who being sent to us and our descendants as Savior, has put an end to war and has set all things in order; and [whereas,] having become [god] manifest (phaneis), Caesar has fulfilled all the hopes of earlier times …in surpassing all the benefactors who preceded him…, and whereas, finally, the birthday of the god [Augustus] has been for the whole world the beginning of good news (euangelion) concerning him [therefore let a new era begin from his birth]. Horsley, Jesus and Empire: The Kingdom of God and the New World Disorder, 23.

The Holy Land had burned with the fires of Messianic expectation in the days of the Maccabean revolt, in which the Anti-God measures of the pagan Greek oppressor Antiochus Epiphanes were resisted until Judea gained a brief independence in 142 bc..

In 63 bc, Rome intervened in a civil war in Judea, and took control over the Holy land, installing an Edomite convert to Judaism , King Herod.

Herod, with all of his flaws, was one of the greatest builders of the Ancient world. One of his projects was the restoration and refurbishment of the temple of God in Jerusalem. His forts , palaces, aqueducts and the temple project caused him to load the people of Judea down with excessive taxes, which came on top of the heavy Roman taxes, and the temple tithes.

Herod was somewhat scrupulous about keeping kosher, but was paranoid about possible usurpers to the Kingdom. HE once killed a Son he suspected of having ambitions to his throne, causing Caesar to quip,"It is safer to be Herod's pig, than his son".

Late in the pregnancy of Mary, Caesar instituted a census, an enrollment to number the people of the Empire for the purposes of taxation. Herod instituted his own enrollment at the same time, this causing Mary and Joseph to have to travel to Bethlehem, the city of Mary and Joseph's tribal clan, to be counted.

Caesar thought He was sovereignly issuing his decree, in order to build his army, cities and to better order his Kingdom. Millions of people were inconvenienced and relocated for the census. But all of this took place to fulfill the ancient prophecy of the Messiah,

by Bill Randles

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
(Luke 2:4-9)

Joseph, Mary's espoused husband, almost divorced his wife to be, (in Jewish marriage, the betrothal is binding and only broken by divorce).

But God revealed to this righteous man , that he too would have special part in the redemption of the world, for the Babe in Mary's womb did indeed come by the "power of the most high, overshadowing her". Thus Joseph entered into the reproach of Christ, with his wife to be. They would bear the shame, in what looked like a moral failure, to safely bring Messiah into the world.

The time to deliver the child came, while they were traveling to Bethlehem, the home of Joseph's forefathers. But there was no room for the couple in the Inn. The little town of Bethlehem would have been swollen with those seeking to be enrolled in Caesar's census, so the couple had to resort to bearing a child in a stable.

That the Inn couldn't receive Jesus, but a filthy stable did, became a sign of the human reaction to the Saviour.

An Inn, in our modern times, (something like the Holiday Inns) is a public house for rent, and is usually kept clean, ideally spotless, every sheet properly tucked in, towels neatly folded, and everything in order for the convenience of the guests.The idea is to rent every room possible.

Some people's lives are similar. Everything seems clean and in order. Their lives are full, there is no vacancy. When the gospel comes to them they see no need, for seemingly they have t together, thus there is no sense of need for Jesus. You could say there is "no room in the Inn" of their hearts, for business is brisk, and everything is in order.

But others lives are like that filthy stable. Who would lay down on the floor of a stable/cave, and have a baby? A place where animals live and feed, and perhaps a place needing the offal of animals to be pitchforked out of it! But there was room in the stable for the Messiah.

Millions of souls, those filthy, ruined, and living almost bestial lives, stained and spotted by sin, would recognize in Jesus the promise of Redemption, New Birth and the hope of eternal Life. Unlike the "Inns" of humanity, these "filthy stables" open their hearts to the Savior and allow him to come in, and purify their lives through the sacrifice He would make for them, of his own blood.

The Sign Of The Swaddling Clothes…

At the beginning of Luke's gospel, Joseph and Mary are together in an enclosed place, wrapping Jesus tightly in cloth strips, laying him out on a table/manger.

An almost identical scene plays itself almost at the end of Luke's gospel. True its a different Joseph in the second instance, but the scene repeats, Joseph and Mary are in a tomb, Jesus is laid out on a table, and this time Joseph wraps Jesus' body in strips of cloth for burial. And Mary is there.

And he (Joseph) took it (The Body of Jesus) down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. (Luke 23:53-56)

Everything in scripture is meaningful, all is the Word of God. What is it that God is saying in this double binding of Jesus?

I believe it is a statement that Jesus, who is the eternal God, allowed himself for thirty-three years to be bound by men, that He whose power is limitless, could save us from our sin. This is real Power, power restrained voluntarily, even hidden, that we might be saved.

God entered into limitation, "he emptied himself" as Paul said in Phillipians 2. The ancient psalmist cried out "Bind the sacrifice with cords to the altar"! Sampson once put forth his hands to his brethren, the men of Judah, and allowed them to bind him, and lead him as a captive, to the Philistines where he won one of his greatest victories.

Power restrained, hidden glory, power revealed in apparent weakness, this is the gospel A sign was given to the Shepherds by the Heavenly hosts, but not one that anyone would associate with raw power or heavenly mystery,

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2;10-14)

Our God bound himself, he allowed himself to be bound by men, that men might be free of sin! We can only join those who have given us our beloved Christmas Carols, in singing-

"Highest, most holy,
Light of light eternal,
Born of a virgin,
A mortal he comes;
Son of the Father
Now in flesh appearing!
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!

by Bill Randles

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
(Luke 2:8-20)

The story of the birth of Jesus, is perhaps the most familiar and loved portions of the Bible. But the problem with familiar passages of scripture is that people think they know what needs to be known about them and often aren't open to a fresh look at the same text from another angle.

It is called the Christmas story, but I believe we should look at it as an account of some of the same conditions that will be prevalent at the time of the second coming of our Lord and Saviour to this earth. As it was in the first coming, so shall it be at the second coming.

* Once again the world will be globalized and ruled from the west,

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (Luke 2:1)

We have just this week seen the spectacle of the World Conference on Climate Change, in which 191 world leaders agreed to heavily tax the productive people's of the world , to offset the supposed "man made climate change" due to the Industrial revolution.

Think of it, a world tax has just been agreed to.

Rome ruled the Mediterranean world, in the days of the first coming of the Messiah, and there will be a revived Roman empire, a European,western super state at the time of the second coming.

*And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:16-17)

Once again a man claiming to be god will seek to count and number the people of the world at the time of the return of the Saviour.

Caesar Augustus was the first Roman Emperor to be deified while yet alive, his decrees were called ‘gospels', his emissaries were called evangelists, he was described as "Divine Saviour of the world" and was thought to have ushered in a golden age. The world worshipped him.

The World is being prepared for another ultimate Caesar, the antiChrist, he will be heralded by all, at first, as the leader we have long-awaited, and will seem to have solved many of the world's most intractable problems, such as the economy, terrorism, and the mideast peace problem.

People will have no problem rendering worship to Him. After so many decades of our own impotent, feckless, terror appeasing leadership in the western world, the man the Bible warns of,calling him "the Beast" will seem like a breath of fresh air.

And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? (Revelation 13:3-4)

* Once again Jerusalem and Judea will exist under foreign domination. True, Israel is a reborn nation, as of May 1948, and this is a major sign of the second coming. But the U.N. and the European Union, and the USA and Russia have formed a quartet, and they presume to determine the boundaries that Israel should have and what territory she should cede to her enemies.

Just as Jesus came at first unto an occupied Israel, languishing under the domination of gentiles, Jesus shall come again to an Israel in the same situation. An ancient prophesy by Jacob, concerning the future of each of his twelve sons, foretold that the coming of "Shiloh", that is the Messiah, would be at the time that Judah should lose her national sovereignty.

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.(Genesis 49:10)

The situation today is similar, for though Israel captured the city of Jerusalem in 1967, she immediately ceded the custodianship of the most sacred piece of real estate , the Temple Mount, to the Muslim Wafq. Israel watches helplessly while Muslims dig out the Holy mountain, destroying priceless relics from the first and second temple, crushing them into gravel! Neither Israel or Judah wield a sceptre to this day .

The logical capital of Israel, would be Jerusalem, right? But virtually all the nations of the world,including the USA refuse to have their embassies there, in order not to offend the Muslims. As at the first coming ,so the second coming of Christ. Jesus himself predicted this,and that it would be an issue until he returned-

…Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)

* Once again, popular religion will not be ready for his return, as they were unprepared for his first coming. Herod had a Jewish Rabbi in his court. When there were rumblings about who the Magi were and what they were seeking, Herod asked the Rabbi where in scripture was Christ to be born.

The Rabbi immediately rattled off the scripture from Micah 5 that I opened this article with. Messiah will be born in Bethlehem Ephratah! But there is no record that he made the slightest effort to go see for himself. He knew the scripture but he wasn't expecting anything real to happen.

* Once again, very few will even be aware of what is happening.

What happened at the first coming of Jesus?

>Shepherds were watching their flocks at night – He came at night-He comes again in the night, the moral and spiritual night of apostasy,moral decline, darkness and rebellion. But some Shepherds,(Pastors) who were watchful for their flocks, they were ready when the Angels came, they saw him.

> Zechariah and Elisabeth a pious priest and his wife in a time of corruption, they saw what was coming.

> The Magi- who were a caste of gentile wise men from Persia(Iran) whose school was once headed up by the prophet Daniel, and who searched the prophecies of Daniel, they saw Him and worshipped him. Another earlier gentile prophet that they were no doubt well aware of named Balaam had predicted the star which would lead them to Jesus .

The 9th chapter of Daniel alone is an amazing prophecy which pinpointed the exact timing of the Messiah's coming, death and the destruction of te temple following it.Jesus would tell us in Matthew 24 that once again an understanding of Daniel the Prophet is essential to being ready for his second coming.

by Bill Randles

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
(Luke 2:8-14)

I know, I know, I've already heard it all, every year.' Christmas is a pagan holiday, the celebration of the winter solstice, a christianised celebration of the feast of Bauchus. The Yule log is Celtic paganism, the decorated tree is all about Babylonian Tamuz worship', and besides all that Jesus probably even born in December! Right?

But once a year, there is a holiday, that however imperfectly, commemorates the Incarnation of God into this sinful "weary world". It wouldn't matter to us what month or day, because the Bible doesn't give us the birthdate of Jesus. What matters is that "unto us a child is born, and unto us a son is given". I love it.

Upon my conversion to Jesus Christ somewhere around 1977-78, I remember being amazed to find around Christmas time, that the familiar words to the carols I had sung for years actually conveyed powerful ,relevant, theological meaning.

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Tears streamed down my face as I sang again the songs I had known and loved since childhood, now realizing personally the depth of the message,

"…God and sinners reconciled…veiled in flesh, the Godhead see,Hail the incarnate Deity, pleased as man with man to dwell,Jesus our Emmanuel…Born to raise the Sons of earth, born to give them second birth…"

Everywhere I go this time of year, I hear this evangel streaming from the radio, covered by popular singers, pouring out of loudspeakers at shopping malls,sung by choirs and carolers in the streets themselves. Personally , I love it.

Who knows how many hard hearts have been touched, melted, perhaps even turned back to God in repentance. by Lyrics such as ;

"Silent Night, Holy Night , Son of God, Loves pure Light, radiant beams from thy Holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace, Christ our Saviour is born…Silen night, Holy Night, Shepherds quake, at the sight, Glories stream from heaven afar,Heavenly Hosts sing Hallelujah, Christ the Saviour is born…"

And yet as I was for years, so many are oblivious to the meaning of the songs of the "Heavenly Hosts", repeated every Christmas season. But this is as it was at the first Noel. How else could it be that of all the people of Judea, who had long been promised a coming deliverer, that only the lonely and despised Shepherds heard the Angelic songs ?

"Gloria ,Gloria,Gloria, in Exelcis Deo !…Glory to God in the Highest and Peace on earth to Men with whom He is pleased!"

We are told that the Sovereign God himself has chosen to hide the things of God from the wise of this Age, yet reveals them unto babes in his sight ,

At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. (Matthew 11:24-28)

How fitting, that not to the powerful, but to the lowly, and not into a palace or temple, but into a lowly, filthy barn, basically a cave, did the "High and Lofty God", from of Old, choose to condescend unto us, in order to save us.

You would have to be willing to stoop to enter into the place where "unto us The child was born…" even as one would have to stoop 33 years later to enter into the other cave, the empty tomb! Don't you love it? Has the Incarnation of God yet done its softening work in your heart?

But other than scripture who says it better than Philip Brooks, the hymnist who gave us "O Little Town of Bethlehem"?

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in

by Bill Randles

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
(Luke 2: 21-24)

Eight days have passed, since the birth of the Savior, therefore the time had come for Joseph and Mary to present Jesus for circumcision. The Son of God would come under the Law and covenant of God with all of its obligations and privileges. He as a Son of Israel, would bear the mark of the covenant.

Circumcision bears a deeper, spiritual meaning. There is something wrong with everything that pertains to natural birth, since the fall of man. Scriptures such as "In sin did my mother conceive me…", and, "the wicked are estranged from the womb, speaking lies…" teach the doctrine of original sin. Circumcision presupposes participation in Adam's guilt and shame.

This child, of course, was not born in sin, for he was conceived of the Holy Ghost and born of the virgin Mary. But he came to identify with sinners, and to be "numbered with the transgressors".

Therefore his first blood-shedding points to His last. "HE who knew no sin was made to be sin for us, that we might be the Righteousness of God in Christ"(2 Cor 5:21).

Joseph and Mary were yet bound by the law to submit to two other God ordained rituals involving the birth of the Son of God, the redemption of the first born, and the purification of Mary. These involved a trip to the Temple in Jerusalem.

Jesus, as firstborn male, must be redeemed at the age of 30 days;

Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the Lord, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem. And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.(Numbers 18:16)

Joseph would find a Cohen (Priest) to perform the rite, which went something like this;

Jesus would be handed over to the Cohen, then Joseph would give the five shekels Redemption price to the Cohen who would then hand Jesus back to Joseph.

Joseph would say something like,

"Blessed art thou O Lord Our God, King of the Universe, who hast sanctified us by thy commandments, and given us command concerning the redemption of the son."

"Blessed art Thou O lord our God, King of the universe, who hast Kept us in Life, and hast preserved us, and enabled us to reach this season"

The Cohen would then take the redemption money, and holding it over the head of the child, says-

"This instead of that, this in commutation for that, this in remission for that. May this child enter into life, into the law, and the fear of Heaven. May it be God's will that even as he has been admitted to redemption, so may he enter into the law, the nuptial canopy, and into good deeds. Amen."

The Cohen then places his hand over the child's head and pronounces the following benediction;

God make thee as Ephraim and Mannaseh. The Lord Bless thee and Keep thee, the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; the Lord turn his face unto thee and give thee peace.

The LORD is thy guardian; the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. For Length of days and years of life and peace shall they add to thee. The LORD shall guard thee from all evil; He shall guard thy soul. Amen.

Now Mary and Joseph, had given their son up to the LORD and had received him back, by way of Redemption. One ritual remained.

Mary must make her way to the court of women, which which was a raised gallery section overlooking the main court of the temple reserved for Jewish men. She would have bought her two turtle doves at trumpet number three, for the daily offering and service was beginning.

Eidersheim notes that but those women who had come for purification after birth were moved to the place nearest the very gate which opened into the Holy Place, where the offering and incense was arising,

The chief of the ministrant lay-representatives of Israel on duty (the so-called 'station-men') ranged those, who presented themselves before the Lord as offerers of special sacrifices, within the wickets on either side the great Nicanor Gate, at the top of the fifteen steps which led up from the Court of the Women to that of Israel.

It was, as if they were to be brought nearest to the Sanctuary; as if theirs were to be specially the 'prayers' that rose in the cloud of incense from the Golden Altar; as if for them specially the sacrifices were laid on the Altar of Burnt-offering; as if theirs was a larger share of the benediction which, spoken by the lips of the priests, seemed like Jehovah's answer to the prayers of the people; theirs especially the expression of joy symbolised in the drink-offering, and the hymn of praise whose Tris-Hagion filled the Temple.

From where they stood they could see it all, share in it, rejoice in it. And now the general service was over, and only those remained who brought special sacrifices, or who lingered near them that had such, or whose loved abode was ever in the Temple. The purification-service, with such unspoken prayer and praise as would be the outcome of a grateful heart, was soon ended, and they who had shared in it were Levitically clean. Now all stain was removed, and, as the Law put it, they might again partake of sacred offerings. (Life And Times Of Jesus The Messiah)

by Bill Randles

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said…
(Luke 2:25-28)

One of the last prophetic words given to Israel through the prophet Malachi, was a warning that "The Lord Whom you seek shall appear suddenly in the temple", and the prophet asks, "Who may abide the day of his coming? for he shall be like a refiners fire, and a launderers soap and He shall purify the sons of Levi that they may offer an offering in Righteousness…"(Malachi 3:1-2)

Little did the worshippers who thronged the temple that day realize, that the scripture was being fulfilled in the little peasant couple, making their way through the crowds, the new mother, having been ritually purified after bearing her first Son, and the Son having been redeemed according to the law of Moses.

Cradled in the couple's loving arms, was no less than the LORD of the Covenant himself, making a sudden appearance in the temple. The implications of the otherwise routine events of that day, would lead to nothing less than the salvation of all men, the destruction of Satan and the downfall of all of the Kingdoms of this world, to be replaced by the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ!

But first the little child must take upon his shoulders the entirety of the LAW of God, fulfilling it in every exacting detail in Spirit and in Truth. He too must undergo circumcision, Redemption, and become a "Son of the Law of God". Though He never sinned, He must be numbered with the transgressors and suffer with the transgressor nation.

Who really saw what was going on there? At east two of the worshippers did.

Simeon was an old man, whose description seems to embody all of Old Testament piety, for He was Just ( regarding his relations with God and man), and Devout, truly devoted inwardly and outwardly to God, A God fearer and a worshipper. His life was also characterized by an expectancy, He waited for the coming of the Messiah, the restoration of Israel, the end of the "Times of the Gentiles", and the "Time of favor" promised by God.

Since the "Secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him", God had shown this man, that He would not see death until he had seen the Messiah. One author said,'… it is almost as though the sting of death departs upon seeing him…'.

Simeon recognized by the Spirit of God that the newly redeemed babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes was the Messiah he, and Israel had been waiting for. He took Him in His arms and began to prophesy over the child…

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.(Luke 2:29-32)

Simeon called Jesus, "Thy Salvation", and "a Light to enlighten the Gentiles", and finally, The Glory of Israel". Flesh and Blood didn't reveal this to him, for the Glory of God was hidden beneath the roughly woven swaddling clothes and the poor man's offering brought to the temple by Joseph and Mary.

And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.(Luke 2:33-35)

Simeon also prophesied that Jesus would be a kind of sign…a sign of contradiction, that is Jesus' presence will bring out of others either the hidden love or hidden hatred for God within their hearts. People will in essence be exposed in their true nature, especially towards God, in this child.

Reaction to him will be the fall or rising of many in Israel, for there can be no neutral position. Fake love and piety will be revealed as false, depending on people's reaction to Him, the cloud of obfuscation and pretense will be cleared away in His presence and the secrets of all men's hearts will be revealed.

Will this child unite? Yes, but he will also be a divider, for he brings a sword of division. All men from here on will be divided in accordance with their reaction to him. Those who love sin will hate him, and those ready to forsake sin will cling to Him.

To reject Him is to reject goodness and truth no matter what your religion is. To accept Him is to come over to the side of goodness, to love him is the only way to love truth itself.

Those who come into contact with this one, can never be the same, either they will be bettered or worsened but they will never remain as they were.

Therefore this child is destined to endure fanatical opposition, since by contact with him, men are forced to reveal their true feelings towards God. The closer one gets to Him, the more conscious they are of their sin…The sword will even pierce your own soul,Mary, for no one is exempt from the examination of the heart which he brings.

As the Law of God says, "Let everything be confirmed by the mouth of two or three witnesses…". As if Simeon's prophecy was not enough, another remarkable elder was alert and looking in the temple and recognized "The LORD whom we seek".

Anna of the tribe of Asher, an eighty-four year old widow, who took her refuge in the temple, living to worship, pray and intercede, and fast. She too recognized Him and came in as Simeon was prophesied, to give her Amen, and to praise God for his Redemption was nigh!