Today
– A Special Day for Jesus
Do you know what today is? <><> Yes, it’s
February 3rd. <><> And there are other things going on
much more important than the Super Bowl.
It’s the anniversary of a special day for Jesus, at forty
days old; a special day for Joseph and Mary; and THE VERY BEST DAY in the lives
of an old man and an old woman.
Let me tell you about it.
If, in fact, Jesus' birthday is December 25th, then
February 3rd would have been the day Joseph and Mary took Him to the Temple to
be dedicated—forty days after His birth.
The Gospel writer, Luke,
tells of the miraculous event. My book, He Is The ONE, also tells the story
along with a parallel donkey story, to help captivate children's attention. It
also features full color illustrations by artist, Molly Keller.
I wrote this story because I
wanted my grandchildren to know the wonder-filled account of Jesus' dedication.
It’s one of my favorite Bible stories and one that is rarely shared. I did not
learn it in Sunday School. I learned it as an adult when I simply read through
the Book of Luke.
You might want the children
in your life to know this story as well. You can read it in the second chapter
of Luke’s Gospel. (And you can purchase my book and also enjoy the accompanying
illustrations.)
Here is an excerpt from He Is
The ONE:
“As Mary busied herself with preparations
for their trip into The Holy City, she imagined what Jesus’ dedication would be
like. She thought about the Jewish Law regarding the dedication of a first-born
son. Now that Jesus was 40 days old, it was His time. According to the Law,
every boy baby, who is the first child born in a family, shall be called holy
to the Lord, and is to be dedicated to the Lord in a special way. An offering
of two young pigeons or two turtledoves is to be brought to the temple and
given to the priest.
“So the little family made their way to Jerusalem to present Jesus to the Lord, according to the Law of Moses. *” *Luke 2:22-24
When Joseph, Mary, and Jesus
arrived at the Temple amazing and unexpected things happened.
Many years
earlier, God had told a man named Simeon and a woman named Anna that they would
live to see their Messiah—the Promised One of Israel. On this special day, it happened. (As far as we know Simeon
and Anna did not know one another.)
When Joseph and Mary brought
Jesus into the Temple court, the Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon and to Anna
that He was the One. There He was, lying in the arms of His mother—this tiny
forty-day old baby. To everyone else in the area He was just another infant
being dedicated that day.
Here’s another excerpt from He Is
The ONE:
“The gospel writer, Luke, said that Simeon
“took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: ‘Lord, now You are letting
Your servant depart in peace, according to Your Word; for my eyes have seen
Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light
to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.’”
* *Luke 2:28-33
Today in the United States is Super
Bowl Sunday and we too will be watching the big game and
chowing down on some fun food. But, let’s be mindful that before any sport the
most important thing in our lives is our relationship with Jesus. Let’s learn
all we can about Him and teach our children the amazing events of His life.
If interested in ordering a copy of He Is The ONE, ($10.50 + shipping + in VA, sales tax), contact me via email: author@conniewohlford.com. Also, let me know if you want an info sheet about all of my books. Thanks so much and God bless you!
Thanks for reading my blog. Your comments are welcome.
©Copyright
2019 Connie Wohlford
