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.
Since the Exodus faithful Israelites were called to consecrate their firstborn to the Lord. The firstborn were always special to the Lord because they represented Israel itself.
Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’” (see Exodus 4:22-23).
We saw already in the story of the Exodus the need for the blood of the lamb to spare the firstborn of Israel from death at the hands of the avenging angel. Before the incident with the golden calf, in which only the tribe of Levi remained faithful, it was the firstborn who inherited the priesthood.
Israel's lack of fidelity meant that their role of being God's firstborn was not being fulfilled, that no one was truly consecrated to the Lord in the way he himself wished. Yet this obligation to consecrate the firstborn to the Lord remained, showing that he still desired to reestablish what he had always intended.
Jesus himself was presented in the temple and consecrated to the Lord. He himself was truly the firstborn of the Lord (see for example Colossians 1:15 and Romans 1:5), not because of his birth in time but from all eternity. He would therefore be able to fulfill God's intention for Israel in his person, and restore the prerogatives of the firstborn to those who would be united with him by faith.
to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven (see Hebrews 12:23).
This restoration was the hope for which Simeon and Anna were waiting, the realization of which finally fulfilled their deepest longings, bringing completion to lives which were entirely ordered to waiting for the Messiah.
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:
These two holy individuals had the discernment to recognize in Jesus the fulfillment of God's promises, such as the one made through Isaiah.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles (see Isaiah 42:6).
It took desire and dedication, commitment, stillness, and patience for Simeon and Anna to recognize that the one brought into the temple was precisely, as Malachi predicted, "the LORD whom you seek, and the messenger of the covenant whom you desire". To most of the world Jesus seemed to be just another poor couple's child. But to eyes long trained by faith he was revealed to be much more.
Does the revelation of Jesus strike us with the same weight as it did for Simeon? Do we truly feel that he himself is what brings our lives meaning and completion? Or are we still living more in "the fear of death" and under the power of the Devil? It was precisely in a human nature completely and perfectly consecrated to God, acting as a great high priest on our behalf, that Jesus destroyed the power of sin and death that held us bound. Now, together with him we can raise our minds and hearts to the Father. If we continue to walk with him and to trust him he can make of our own lives consecrated offerings pleasing to God. And when this happens we too will be able to "go in peace".
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