The Rite of Redemption

The Rite of Redemption

In Luke 2:22–24 two distinct rites were observed by Mary and Joseph. Before we research them, please note that a segment of time has passed between the circumcision and the presentation. According to Leviticus 12:1–8 a woman was to wait thirty-three days after the circumcision before presenting a son at the temple. Exodus 13 tells us the reason why every firstborn male was to be redeemed. The redemption was a reminder “that the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand” (Exod. 13:16).

Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem in obedience to this command. Like all devout Jewish parents, they presented their infant to the Lord to depict sacrifice and redemption. When Jewish parents presented their firstborn son to the Lord, they were symbolizing the act of giving him up by saying, “He is Yours and we give him back to You.” Then they would immediately redeem him or, in effect, buy him back.

Few teachings are more important and consistent in God’s Word than the doctrine of redemption. The Hebrew word is padhah, meaning “to redeem by paying a price.” The New Testament tells us Christ came to fulfill for us the very rite Mary and Joseph observed as they presented the Christ child to the Lord.

Ephesians 1:7 says, “in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Consider the verse from the apostle Paul’s Jewish perspective. He drew a parallel to our entrance into the family of God. Since most of us are Gentiles, we are considered the “adopted ones” in God’s family. What was true in a tangible sense after the birth of a Jewish son is true of us in a spiritual sense after our rebirth as “sons” of God. We all must be redeemed. The wonderful picture for us, however, is that we are not bought from God by our natural parents. Rather, Christ buys us from our natural parentage, which is sinful flesh, to give us to His Father. If the concept is too confusing, just celebrate that Christ has redeemed you!

Before we turn our attention to the third rite Mary and Joseph observed, look back at the last phrase of Luke 2:22: “Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.” Centuries of parents had presented baby boys to the Father. He loved them all, but that day in Jerusalem two new parents presented God with His One and Only Son. I’m about to cry just thinking about it. Do you think God smiled? Or do you think He cried? Don’t you think He thought Jesus was the most beautiful baby He had ever seen?

An unimpressive-looking couple walked into a temple built for the very presence of God—and God had never been more present. No cloudy pillar. No consuming fire. The Word made flesh first entered the temple wrapped in a baby blanket. His earthly parents lifted Him to His Father and, in essence, purchased Him from heaven—for a while—for a lost world. One day that baby would buy them from earth for the glory of heaven. Wow. Now we see a third aspect of their observance that day.