Epiphany Part 3

Epiphany #3 - The Naming of Jesus 

Luke 2:22-40

This was the day of dedication to God of the baby Christ. Epiphany - a making known. There are many points here being manifested and made know. The overall theme is redemption and salvation. Redemption is spoken over and over in this passage with everyone involved. The sacrifice was a sign of devotion and dedication to God. A complete commitment to giving the child to God. Christ came to satisfy the law, He came to come and fulfill it for us. The firstborn of anything was considered to be holy and sacred and set apart as a consecration of God. So Christ was the firstborn to be set aside for the purpose and consecration of God. Without the shedding of blood, there is no consecration for sin. 

The Bible records that Simeon was promised to see the Christ. The words that Simeon speaks of Christ reflects exact passages from Isaiah when they speak of Christ and His nations, speaking of the light of the nations that overcomes the darkness of the world. Christ is the light that must suffer but will eventually overcome any darkness. We find the light of Christ explodes out to all nations and whole people groups are brought into the salvation paid for on the cross. We labor and pray for the West, that the light originally there will be shown forth and restored as it once was. Christ is coming to bring hat salvation, but it cannot come without the idea also of judgement. There will be those that will fall. To some He is the salvation of life and to others the destruction of eternal damnation. Simeon's words bring the conflict to our minds, the conflict of Christ. Christ cannot leave men neutral, either life or death. 

With the visitation of Anna we see that Christ opens up salvation to all, men and women alike, it is for all people from everywhere. Shepherds, wise men. , men and women everywhere. Anna was a prophetess and it was unusual for a woman to do this. She was older, reminding us that salvation is for young and old. She was to be especially respected for her age. 

Christ has come to divide people. Those that choose Christ shall have redemption.