Dedicated
By Vernette Kureck
“When the time
of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph
and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in
the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’)
and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord, ‘a
pair of doves or two young pigeons.’”
Child dedication at my church is
always a joy-filled Sunday. There’s an excited buzz as extended family members
and friends fill the chairs, and parents prepare their infants and themselves
for the presentation of their precious child to God and to the congregation.
This is the day that promises are made to rear their child to know Jesus as
their Redeemer and Rescuer. After parents commit to this journey to honor Him
in their family, the child is walked around the worship center for all the
congregation to pray for and admire.
It makes me think about the infant
Jesus. Can you imagine being in the temple when he was brought by Mary and
Joseph? A very righteous, old man named Simeon was waiting there: He had been
promised he would not die until he had seen the Christ/Messiah. Simeon took
Jesus in his arms and praised God for allowing him to see God’s salvation who
would be a light for the Gentiles and glory for the Israelites. There was also
an old widow who came up to the parents, giving thanks to God for the
redemption of Jerusalem. The temple must have buzzed with excitement.
Jesus was likely about six weeks old
when Mary and Joseph traveled to Jerusalem to consecrate the baby. The levitical
requirement was to bring a burnt offering and a sin offering to the temple. Usually
the burnt offering was a lamb, but those who were poor could offer one bird for
the burnt offering and one for the sin offering.
Also, according to the Law of Moses,
all firstborns (including animals) were considered to belong to the Lord. Here’s
a beautiful foreshadowing: Firstborn children were to be redeemed by the
sacrifice of a lamb. As they grew older, the parents would explain how this
represented Israel’s rescue from Egypt.
At the time, Jesus’ parents marveled
at what was said about Him. But I wonder: Did they really understand what it
all meant? This child was to be the
Redeemer of the world…the Rescuer of all mankind. Now that (was) is something
to get excited about!
GOING
DEEPER:
1. Ponder the responsibility of
raising Jesus.
2.
Encourage parents who are dedicating their children to know the Lord Jesus as
their Redeemer and Rescuer.
FURTHER READING:
Vernette and her husband Ken have been married
50 years. They have been blessed with
two sons and eight grandchildren. She serves Oakwood on the prayer chain and
with Family Promise.
