THE YOUNG JESUS
by Charlene & Friedhelm Dohmann

Early Weeks

The Jewish law dictated that Jesus, like John before him, was circumcised eight days after his birth. Luke reminds us about other Jewish customs in connection with someones birth. According to Jewish law, for 40 days after the birth Mary was not allowed to visit the temple or touch anything which was destined as sacrifice in the Sanctuary. She was called impure for seven days after the birth. A woman who had a girl was 14 days impure and had to wait 80 days before she was called clean again. When the time was over, the family went to Jerusalem, to dedicate Jesus to God. According to law the first child, if it was a son, should belong to God. This custom was a reminder, that the Lord killed the first-born of the Egyptians, while the children of the Israelites were spared when they left Egypt.

Besides dedicating Jesus in the temple, Mary's cleansing ritual had to be finished. Leviticus 12:8 says, that women, when the days of their purification were fulfilled, should offer a lamb as a "Burnt" offering and a pigeon or turtledove as "Sin" offering. Or if they were unable to bring a lamb, two pigeons or two turtledoves should be brought and one used as a "Burnt" offering and the other as a "Sin" offering. Luke writes only of a pair of Turtledoves or two young pigeons, which Mary and Joseph sacrificed. The temple was built from light limestone, with colonnades of marble, golden gates and adorned with colorful wall hangings: a building of overwhelming beauty the center of all religious life in Israel. A couple hundred priests and believers gathered in the temple, prayed and offered sacrifices, when Jesus was brought there.

The Lord told Simon, a devout old man, he would not die, before he had seen Christ, the Lord, with his own eyes. He went up to the parents and took the child in his arms. He praised God and said: "Lord, now I can die in peace, for you have kept your promise! ... A light to lighten all people, and the glory of your people Israel." Jesus's parents were touched by this words. And he went on: "This child is certainly sent from God, many in Israel will stand or fall because of him, and the secret thoughts of many will be revealed. And you too, Mary, shall be pierced to the heart."

The 84 year-old Anna, a prophetess, who stayed in the temple fasting and praying day and night, came in just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Josef. She praised God and prophesied over the child to all, "that looked for redemption in Jerusalem."

The story of Luke about the first weeks in the life of Jesus ends here. The family ultimately returns to Nazareth and Luke continues, how the twelve-year old Jesus amazes the teachers in the temple.

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