Note: This devotion material was purchased digitally from YM360 to be used for the Advent Season of 2024.
Day Twenty: The Hope in the Temple
“And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.’” — Luke 2:22-24
When Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the temple, they were fulfilling the Jewish law given by God long before. But this wasn’t just about following the rules. It was part of a bigger plan. In these verses, we see a glimpse of God’s incredible faithfulness. God had made promises throughout the Old Testament about a coming Savior, and here, Jesus is presented as the fulfillment of those promises. This small, quiet moment in the temple of offering turtledoves as a sacrifice was part of something much bigger: God keeping His word to rescue the world.
When Jesus was brought to the temple as a baby, it was a moment pointing to the future, where He would offer Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. His mission was clear, even if no one else fully understood it yet.
Jesus was born not just to live a normal life but to save humanity from their sins. From His birth, He was set apart for a purpose: to bring light and life to a world in darkness.The Christmas hymn “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” celebrates this exact thing:
“Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.”
These lyrics celebrate the promises God kept and the hope we have because of Him: that Jesus came to bring healing, peace, and life to the world. We can choose to experience that same healing, peace, and life in Jesus today, too!
Questions:
1. How does knowing that Jesus’s birth was part of God’s plan to save the world make you feel?
2. What promises of God have you seen fulfilled in your life, or what promises are you still waiting for?