Purification And Jesus

We have come to our third and final living image of light, as illuminated by this Bible text. 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. KJV

On this sixth day of our Covenant Week, our living image of light, as illuminated by this Bible text, is Jesus.

Holy Spirit, Counsellor, Teacher, Guide,

Work within me all that I need to show,

Capture me that I in You will abide,

Grace and mercy Lord upon me bestow.    

Amen!

We have been speaking of purification of a woman after childbirth. Mary had to be purified because she had given birth to the Christ Child, Jesus. We also were made learners of many irremovable facts, including these which have been listed for us. Remember there are several kinds of purification, all for different reasons and purposes. Don’t forget, we are specifically referring to that of giving birth to offspring, that of bearing fruit or offspring.

Purification is a command of God.

Purification is for the one who has given birth.

Purification is ordered as coming first, before consecration.   

Purification is a conscious, definite and super religious act.

Having been so vividly reminded of these, where does Jesus fit in? How does Jesus aid us in purification? As obvious and simplistic as this may seem, this is the pivot on which all that we are about to witness, firmly hangs. The key here then, is that at this time of purification, Jesus was a Baby. Scripture informs us, in clear vivid voice of this fact.

On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified of her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purifying are over. Leviticus 12: 3 – 4. A simple mathematical calculation, confirms that Jesus was still a baby – just over a month old, when Joseph and Mary took Him to be offered up to God in the temple. Having established this fact, it makes our understanding of purification and Jesus much more vivid, real and alive to us and in us.

Permit me to have a little recap here of what we have accepted so far in relation to purification before offering up our gift or offspring to the Lord.

Mary – She is the one who was pregnant and had a Baby Boy, who was named Jesus. She is the one who needed to be purified according to the stipulations of Sovereign God, because she had a baby.

Joseph – He is driven by Love not law, so he remains one with her in her isolation and apartness, during this disciplined time of purification. Love stood where she stood in this solemn and serious cleansing time.

Now we turn to Jesus who is but a Baby. We are coming to purification through three disciplines. 

The first discipline brings us to the reality of purification taking place when He was a Baby.

The second discipline brings us to the realization that purification took place when Jesus was unable to help His parents in any way.

The third discipline brings us to the consciousness that purification took place when Jesus was dependent on His parents being faithful and obedient to God. 

We shall very carefully and truthfully surrender ourselves – our hearts, minds, wills and ways - to learn all that we are being taught. We need this teaching so that our entire perspective of this purification before offering of God, is pleasing to Him.

We continue, tomorrow.