Lesson 7 – The Presentation of Jesus

God’s Law requires payment for every sin. God’s Son fulfilled the Law and paid for our sin.

Opening

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

This lesson will use the Bible. Also paper and pencil will be needed.

 How do we welcome new babies in our church? Sharing parent and baby information in newsletters or bulletin notes; visiting the hospital and home by pastor and other members; baptizing them; praying for them: and sending them gifts from the congregation.

Watch the video, "Kid President's Letter to a Person on Their First Day Here".

Now that you have heard Kid President's advice, is there anything you'd add to your previous answer? What was your favorite advice from Kid President?  Did you disagree with any advice? If so, what?

Prayer: Lord God, giver of all good gifts, send the Holy Spirit to help us understand and apply God's Word to our Christian lives. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Speaks

We wait for and anticipate many events in our lives. Today, we meet two people who waited their whole lives for something that finally happened.

To understand this lesson, we need to know some Old Testament background. At the Passover the Lord told His people to paint lamb's blood on the doorposts of their homes so the angel of death would passover them. That night, God killed all the firstborn of Egypt in homes without lamb's blood around their doors. The firstborn of God's people were spared, and Pharaoh let the Israelite slaves go.

To remember these great actions, God told the people to eat a Passover meal of lamb and other symbolic foods once a year. Later, God claimed all firstborn animals and sons, saying they belonged to Him and His priests.

Parents presented firstborn sons to the Lord in the temple, acknowledging that they belonged to the Lord. Then they redeemed, or bought them back.

On the Student Page at the end of the lesson, read Numbers 18:15-16.

What did parents do to buy back or redeem their children from the Lord and His priests? They paid five shekels of silver, equal to about two ounces.

Let's find out about another Law, this one related to childbirth. Read Leviticus 12:6-8 (on Student Page).

After a specific number of days of purification, what two offerings did women make in the temple after childbirth? A burnt offering and a sin offering

What did the sacrifices accomplish? God received the sacrifices and provided atonement by covering sin. The Hebrew word for atonement is kaphar, which means “to cover”. Atonement covers sin so that God no longer sees it.

What allowance was made for women who could not afford a lamb as a sin offering? Poor women could offer a pigeon or turtledove for the burnt offering and another for the sin offering.

Read Luke 2:22-40 and answer the questions on the Student Page.

Which Old Testament law sent Mary and Joseph to the temple in verse 22? The one requiring women to make sacrifices for atonement after childbirth.

Which Old Testament law sent Mary and Joseph to the temple in verse 23? The one requiring parents to present their firstborn son to the Lord and redeem Him.

What sacrifice did Mary and Joseph make? What does this tell us about their financial situation? They offered two birds, showing they could not afford a lamb, that they were poor.

Describe Simeon. He was righteous and devout, the Holy Spirit was upon him, and he waited for the "Consolation of Israel”, the appearance of the Lord's Messiah.

Simeon was "waiting for the Consolation of Israel." Verse 26 explains be was waiting for the Lord's Christ. What had the Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon about this? That he would see the Lord's Christ before he died.

Who led Simeon to the temple that day and showed him that Jesus Was the Promised One? The Holy Spirit.

What did Simeon do when he recognized the Christ? He took the baby in his arms and thanked God. He said he saw God's salvation for Israel and Gentiles and so the Lord could let him die in peace.

What did Simeon prophesy about Jesus? How was this fulfilled? He said that Jesus was "a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and...Israel".

How did Mary and Joseph respond to Simeon's words? They marveled.

What did Simeon prophesy to Mary about Jesus? How was this fulfilled? Simeon told Mary the child would be the fall and rising of many in Israel to reveal people's faith and beliefs. He would be opposed and a sword would pierce her heart. This was fulfilled when many Jewish leaders fell away, while others believed in Christ. Through Jesus' death and resurrection, believers will rise to eternal life with Him.

Describe Anna. She was a prophetess; a daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher; married, but widowed after seven years; eighty-four years old; did not depart from the temple; worshiped God with fasting and prayer night and day.

What did Anna do when she saw Jesus? She also recognized the Christ and gave thanks to God, speaking of Him to all who waited for the redemption of Jerusalem by the Messiah.

Where did Mary and Joseph go after this? They went home to Nazareth in the region of Galilee.

Describe Jesus as a child. He grew and became strong and filled with wisdom. The favor of God was upon Him.

Once again, Jesus, the perfect Son of God, fulfilled the Law's demands. Why? What does this mean for us? Due to our sinful nature, we are unable to fulfill the Law, so the sinless Christ fulfilled the Law for us. Through Jesus death and resurrection, we have eternal life.

We Live

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Priests in the temple repeatedly offered blood sacrifices on the altar for the atonement of the people. Christ, our great High Priest, sacrificed Himself once for all to atone for (cover) our sins when He died on the cross and rose from the dead.

Answer the remaining questions on the Student Page.

Since we no longer need to make sacrifices, what purpose does our altar serve? Our altar is a banquet table. We find the blood of Christ there in Holy Communion. He is present in bread and wine with His very body and blood.

Simeon and Anna rejoiced in the presence of Jesus. We also celebrate in the presence of Jesus. When does this happen during the Divine Service? When we celebrate Holy Communion

How are we like Simeon when we receive Holy Communion? We are like Simeon because we also rejoice in holding the very body of Christ.

Jesus, the perfect Son of God, fulfilled the Law's demands. Why? What does this mean for us? Jesus fulfilled the Law because we cannot. The sinless Son of God did this for us and then became the perfect sacrifice to pay for our sins.

Jesus would be opposed, cause the fall and rising of many in Israel, and reveal people's faith. Mary's heart would break. Simeon's prophesy was fulfilled in Jesus ministry and passion. Through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, believers rise to eternal life with Him. Those who reject Him fall.

Closing

Read the Nunc Dimittis from the Student Page. This is the song of Simeon from Lutheran Service Book.

Lord, now You let Your servant go in peace; Your word has been fulfilled. My own eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared in the sight of ev'ry people: A light to reveal You to the nations and the glory of Your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.