Since the children share in blood and flesh,
Jesus likewise shared in them,
that through death he might destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,
and free those who through fear of death
had been subject to slavery all their life.
Jesus came to be like us so that he could save us. Yet he came to do something that none of us could do. He came to defeat death forever. He was not subject to death. Angels were not subject to death. But our flesh and blood is subject to death. So Jesus chose to share in that very weakness in order to confront death face to face. Every offering before Jesus pointed toward the final offering which only he could make.
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
In times past, we offered so many things to God. We offered them in our stead, acknowledging our debt to God. But Jesus finally came to pay that debt. Only his life as God had the value to pay it. Only as one of us, sharing all of our brokenness, could he do so. This is why it is on the cross that Jesus draws us to himself. It is when his offering is most apparent that we are most drawn. This, then, must be why God chose this path. It reveals his love in the most perfect way, both human and divine.
Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.
He is the fulfillment of our desires.
And suddenly there will come to the temple
the LORD whom you seek,
And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.
Yet we prefer distractions. We're too busy entertaining ourselves and criticizing others. We allow all of the circumstances of life to take precedence. We're afraid of and intimidated by the child presented in the temple today. We know that things cannot be the same now.
Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
Band you yourself a sword will pierce
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
The very offering Jesus offers for us becomes our purification as we live his offering in our own lives. His death becomes our death to self. His love becomes our love.
He will sit refining and purifying silver,
and he will purify the sons of Levi,
Refining them like gold or like silver
that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.
So we ought not to complain when we suffer. We are experiencing the transformation from the gift Jesus came to bring to the human race. The suffering for us was not optional while Jesus chose us. Yet without Jesus our suffering had no merit, no value. United to Christ it has infinite value. When we encounter suffering we can take comfort in knowing, not only that it matters, but that Jesus himself is sympathetic to every trial we face.
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