why is the presentation of jesus important

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The Deeper Meaning of the Presentation in the Temple

By Clement Harrold

For many Catholics, the fourth joyful mystery—the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple—can be a difficult scene to meditate on. What’s the episode about, anyway? And what might be its deeper meaning?

Beginning with the first question, it’s important to remember that the Presentation described in Luke 2:22-38 is not the circumcision of Jesus. That already took place eight days after His birth. Rather, the Presentation took place in order to fulfill two different dictates of the Mosaic Law.

The first of these, drawn from Leviticus 12, mandated that mothers needed to be purified forty days after giving birth to a male child. This is why the Presentation is celebrated in the Church’s calendar on February 2nd—also known as “Candlemas,” an allusion to Simeon’s words about the boy Jesus being “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Lk 2:32)—because the event takes place forty days after the nativity (counting December 25 as day one).

In order to make the purification, the mother in question was required to sacrifice a lamb as well as either a pigeon or a turtledove. The law made provision, however, for those families who were too poor to afford a lamb, in which case they could sacrifice two pigeons or two turtledoves instead. St. Luke goes out of his way to inform the reader that this is exactly what the Holy Family did, thereby reminding us of their material poverty (see Lk 2:24).

The second precept of the Mosaic Law which Mary and Joseph were following is the requirement from Exodus 13:2 that all firstborns be consecrated to God in a special way. More specifically, this ritual rested on the understanding that the firstborn naturally belonged to God, and so the child’s human parents were expected to “redeem” (from the Latin redimō , meaning to “buy back”) their child by paying five shekels to the priest.

All of this helps us to see that the Presentation in the Temple was about two important things: (1) the purification of Mary and (2) the redemption of baby Jesus. So far so good. But there are two other elements here which are worth paying attention to. For one thing, the Mosaic Law nowhere demanded that the purification or the redemption take place within the Temple. This means that the Holy Family was being extra devout by going to the Temple for this special day.

Additionally, there is one detail in the Presentation narrative which is startling for its absence. While St. Luke does mention that Mary and Joseph bought the two turtledoves, he never takes the time to mention the paying of the five shekels to redeem baby Jesus. In other words, he cites the redeeming-of-the-firstborns precept laid down in Exodus 13:2, but he leaves out a description of this redemption taking place. Why might that be?

For the late Pope Benedict XVI, in his Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives , the answer was obvious. St. Luke leaves a literary silence in the passage in order to drive home the point that the infant Jesus belongs to His Heavenly Father:

Evidently Luke intends to say that instead of being “redeemed” and restored to his parents, this child was personally handed over to God in the Temple, given over completely to God. . . . Luke has nothing to say regarding the act of “redemption” prescribed by the law. In its place we find the exact opposite: the child is handed over to God, and from now on belongs to him completely. (p. 3)

Understanding this detail can help us bring the fourth joyful mystery to life in a new way. The Presentation isn’t just another boring religious ritual. On the contrary, it is a deeply symbolic moment pointing to Jesus’s divine identity, and to Mary and Joseph’s perfect cooperation with His divine mission.

Why do Catholics celebrate the feast of the Presentation?

This feast day celebrates both the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, as well as the Purification of Mary, which was required by the Mosaic Law forty days after the birth of a child.

The Church celebrates the feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2, also called Candlemas for the custom of using lighted candles. In the early Church it was often celebrated on February 14th, 40 days after the Epiphany, in keeping with the practice of celebrating Christmas on that date in the East. Among the Orthodox it is known as the Hypapante (“Meeting” of the Lord with Simeon).

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why is the presentation of jesus important

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraph 529) teaches,

The presentation of Jesus in the temple shows him to be the firstborn Son who belongs to the Lord. With Simeon and Anna, all Israel awaits its encounter with the Savior-the name given to this event in the Byzantine tradition. Jesus is recognized as the long-expected Messiah, the “light to the nations” and the “glory of Israel,” but also “a sign that is spoken against.” The sword of sorrow predicted for Mary announces Christ's perfect and unique oblation on the cross that will impart the salvation God had “prepared in the presence of all peoples.”

It is also important to note that, as a poor family, the Holy Family gave an offering of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. However, the Lamb whom they brought to the Temple was the Lamb of God.

He was presented when He was still a newborn, only 40 days old.

“In the mysterious encounter between Simeon and Mary, the Old and New Testaments are joined. Together the aging prophet and the young mother give thanks for this Light which has kept the darkness from prevailing. It is the Light which shines in the heart of human life: Christ, the Saviour and Redeemer of the world, ‘a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory of his people Israel.’” – Pope St. John Paul II

The Gospel of Luke 2:22-40 states:

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 that 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.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.” And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Regarding Simeon and Anna, Pope Benedict XVI said,

Even the priests proved incapable of recognizing the signs of the new and special presence of the Messiah and Saviour. Alone two elderly people, Simeon and Anna, discover this great newness. Led by the Holy Spirit, in this Child they find the fulfilment of their long waiting and watchfulness. They both contemplate the light of God that comes to illuminate the world and their prophetic gaze is opened to the future in the proclamation of the Messiah: “Lumen ad revelationem gentium!” (Lk 2:32). The prophetic attitude of the two elderly people contains the entire Old Covenant which expresses the joy of the encounter with the Redeemer. Upon seeing the Child, Simeon and Anna understood that he was the Awaited One.

“… while we are still at the dawn of Jesus’ life, we are already oriented to Calvary. It is on the Cross that Jesus will be definitively confirmed as a sign of contradiction, and it is there that his Mother’s heart will be pierced by the sword of sorrow. We are told it all from the beginning, on the 40th day after Jesus’ birth, on the feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, so important in the Church’s liturgy.” - Pope St. John Paul II

This is a Hebrew name that means “he has heard” or “God has heard.”

When is St. Simeon’s feast day?

The Church celebrates his feast day on the day after Candlemas, February 3.

In Hebrew navi, a prophet is one who tells, a spokesperson of God, speaking divine truth, or foretelling what will be the consequences for the future. On both counts, Simeon was a prophet, who revealed the truth about who Jesus was, as well as the implications for Israel, for Jesus Himself and for Mary.

Originally taken from the Hebrew name Hannah, it means “favor” or “grace.”

When is St. Anna’s feast day?

Anna the Prophetess shares a feast day with St. Simeon on February 3.

“In the encounter between the old man Simeon and Mary, a young mother, the Old and New Testaments come together in a wondrous way in giving thanks for the gift of the light that shone in the darkness and has prevented it from prevailing: Christ the Lord.” - Pope Benedict XVI

St. Simeon offered this prayer,

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel. (Luke 2:29-32)

Called the Nunc Dimittis, for the first words in the Latin Vulgate, it is one of the three major Canticles used in the Church’s liturgy. It is said each evening at the end of Night Prayer, the last Divine Office of the Liturgy of the Hours, or Breviary. The other Canticles are that of Zechariah, used for Lauds or Morning Prayer, and of Mary (the Magnificat), used for Vespers or Evening Prayer.

After speaking of Jesus, St. Simeon then spoke to Mary of her role of accompanying her Son in His redemptive suffering. Simeon reveals, as well, Mary’s own mission of intercession and compassion for us, her spiritual children.

Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed. (Luke 2:34-35)

“This is the meeting point of the two Testaments, Old and New. Jesus enters the ancient temple; he who is the new Temple of God: he comes to visit his people, thus bringing to fulfilment obedience to the Law and ushering in the last times of salvation.” - Pope Benedict XVI

Anna is the prophetess who saw the Holy Family at the Presentation of Jesus at the temple. The Gospel of Luke 2:36-38 tells us about Anna:

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The purification was ritual, preparatory to worship, in this case after the momentous events of childbirth and the time of rest or “laying in” afterwards. Thus, the Jewish priest purified himself by bathing before entering the holy place, and, similarly, the priest at Mass washes his hands before beginning the Eucharistic Prayer and handing the Body and Blood of Christ.

Mary, although morally pure, fulfilled her religious obligations by being purified 40 days after Jesus’ birth. Throughout her life, the Blessed Mother was always obedient to God’s Will, in this case expressed through the laws given to Israel through Moses.

“Simeon’s words seem like a second Annunciation to Mary, for they tell her of the actual historical situation in which the Son is to accomplish his mission, namely, in misunderstanding and sorrow. While this announcement on the one hand confirms her faith in the accomplishment of the divine promises of salvation, on the other hand it also reveals to her that she will have to live her obedience of faith in suffering, at the side of the suffering Savior, and that her motherhood will be mysterious and sorrowful.” — Pope St. John Paul II

This is the day when candles are blessed in the Church and traditionally have been lit in celebration of the feast.

Pope St. John Paul II said, “Christian traditions of the East and West have been interwoven, enriching the liturgy of this feast with a special procession in which the light of candles both large and small is a symbol of Christ, the true Light who came to illumine his people and all peoples.”

Candlemas is celebrated 40 days after Christmas. According to Leviticus 12, women should be purified 40 days after a son’s birth (33 days after the boy’s circumcision) and 80 days after a daughter’s birth. The purification was ritual, and preparatory to worship, in this case after the momentous events of childbirth and the time of rest or “laying in” afterwards.

In the Ordinary Form of the Latin Rite, the liturgical forms and calendar as revised after the Second Vatican Council, the last day of the Christmas Season is the Baptism of Our Lord, when His hidden life ended and His public ministry began.

However, the Church maintains an Extraordinary Form of the Latin Rite which utilizes the forms and calendar in use prior to the Council. In this usage, the Christmas Season continues until the Feast of the Presentation. Many Catholics, therefore, maintain their Christmas decorations through Candlemas.

Videos About Presentation of the Lord

Pope St. John Paul II said,

The prophetic words spoken by the aged Simeon shed light on the mission of the Child brought to the temple by his parents: “Behold this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against ... that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed” (Lk 2:34-35). To Mary Simeon said: “And a sword will pierce through your own soul also” (Lk 2:35). The hymns of Bethlehem have now faded and the cross of Golgotha can already be glimpsed; this happens in the temple, the place where sacrifices are offered. The event we are commemorating today is thus a bridge as it were, linking the two most important seasons of the Church's year.

Pancakes are the traditional choice on Candlemas. In Mexico, people eat tamales on this feast day, and in France, they eat crepes.

What are the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary?

The Joyful Mysteries include:

The Annunciation
The Visitation
The Nativity of Our Lord
The Presentation in the Temple
The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

The Presentation is celebrated in the Church as the World Day for Consecrated Life. Pope St. John Paul II instituted this annual celebration in 1997 as a day of prayer for religious men and women and other consecrated persons. This recalls the special offering which they have made to the Lord through their vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. In Rome, the Holy Father celebrates a special Mass for them at St. Peter’s, which the religious living in Rome attend.

Pope Benedict XVI said,

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple is an eloquent image of the total gift of one’s life for all those, men and women, who are called to represent “the characteristic features of Jesus — the chaste, poor and obedient one” (Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Vita Consecrata, n. 1) in the Church and in the world, through the evangelical counsels. For this reason Venerable John Paul II chose today’s Feast to celebrate the Annual World Day of Consecrated Life.

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The Significance of the Presentation of the Lord

Traditionally, the Church has set aside Feb. 2 in observance of the Presentation of the Lord – or the day in which Joseph and Mary presented Jesus to the priests and elders in the Temple.

For years, this feast – which in the United States is only formally celebrated when it falls on a Sunday – marked the end of the Christmas season. In old days, the Presentation was often referred to as “Candlemas” and was celebrated by a candle-lit procession into the church, signifying Christ as the “light of nations.”

Known originally as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is a relatively ancient celebration. We know that the Church at Jerusalem was observing the feast as early as the first half of the fourth century, and likely earlier.

According to Jewish law, the firstborn male child belonged to God, and the parents had to “buy him back” on the 40th day after his birth, by offering a sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:24) in the temple — thus the “presentation” of the child. On that same day, the mother would be ritually purified — thus the “purification.”

St. Mary and St. Joseph kept this law, even though, since St. Mary remained a virgin after the birth of Christ, she would not have had to go through ritual purification. In his Gospel, Luke (2:22-39) recounts the story.

Originally, the feast was celebrated on Feb. 14, the 40th day after Epiphany (Jan. 6), because Christmas wasn’t yet celebrated as its own feast, and so the Nativity, Epiphany, the Baptism of the Lord (Theophany), and the feast celebrating Christ’s first miracle at the wedding in Cana were all celebrated on the same day. By the last quarter of the fourth century, however, the Church at Rome had begun to celebrate the Nativity on Dec. 25, so the Feast of the Presentation was moved to Feb. 2, 40 days later.

When Christ was presented in the temple, “there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel.” When St. Mary and St. Joseph brought Christ to the temple, Simeon embraced the Child and prayed the Canticle of Simeon: “Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace; because my eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: a light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2:29-32).

Because of the words of the canticle — “a light to the revelation of the Gentiles” — by the 11th century, the custom had developed in the West of blessing candles on the Feast of the Presentation. The candles were then lit, and a procession took place through the darkened church while the Canticle of Simeon was sung. Because of this, the feast also became known as Candlemas. While the procession and blessing of the candles is not often performed in the United States today, Candlemas is still an important feast in many European countries.

Things to Do:

— Hold your own candlelight procession at home, teaching your children the significance of the light as a symbol of Christ.

— Ask a priest to bless the candles you hope to use at home this year.

— Read the Gospel account of the Presentation, found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2, verses 22 to 35.

— Pray a decade of the Rosary, focusing upon the Presentation of the Lord, the fourth Joyful Mystery.

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The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

"A Light of Revelation to the Gentiles"

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Known originally as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is a relatively ancient celebration. The Church at Jerusalem observed the feast as early as the first half of the fourth century, and likely earlier. The feast celebrates the presentation of Christ in the temple at Jerusalem on the 40th day after His birth.

Quick Facts

Date: February 2
Type of Feast: Feast
Readings: Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40 ( full text here )
Prayers: Nunc Dimities , the Canticle of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32); see below
Other Names for the Feast: Candlemas, the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin, the Meeting of the Lord, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

History of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

According to Jewish law, the firstborn male child belonged to God, and the parents had to "buy him back" on the 40th day after his birth, by offering a sacrifice of "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons" ( Luke 2:24 ) in the temple (thus the "presentation" of the child). On that same day, the mother would be ritually purified (thus the "purification").

Saint Mary and Saint Joseph kept this law, even though, since Saint Mary remained a virgin after the birth of Christ, she would not have had to go through ritual purification. In his gospel, Luke recounts the story ( Luke 2:22-39 ).

When Christ was presented in the temple, "there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel" ( Luke 2:25 ) When Saint Mary and Saint Joseph brought Christ to the temple, Simeon embraced the Child and prayed the Canticle of Simeon:

Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace; because my eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: a light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel ( Luke 2:29-32 ).

The Original Date of the Presentation

Originally, the feast was celebrated on February 14, the 40th day after Epiphany (January 6), because Christmas wasn't yet celebrated as its own feast, and so the Nativity, Epiphany, the Baptism of the Lord (Theophany), and the feast celebrating Christ's first miracle at the wedding in Cana were all celebrated on the same day. By the last quarter of the fourth century, however, the Church at Rome had begun to celebrate the Nativity on December 25, so the Feast of the Presentation was moved to February 2, 40 days later.

Why Candlemas?

Inspired by the words of the Canticle of Simeon ("a light to the revelation of the Gentiles"), by the 11th century, the custom had developed in the West of blessing candles on the Feast of the Presentation. The candles were then lit, and a procession took place through the darkened church while the Canticle of Simeon was sung. Because of this, the feast also became known as Candlemas. While the procession and blessing of the candles is not often performed in the United States today, Candlemas is still an important feast in many European countries.

Candlemas and Groundhog Day

This emphasis on light, as well as the timing of the feast, falling as it does in the last weeks of winter, led to another, secular holiday celebrated in the United States on the same date: Groundhog Day. You can learn more about the connection between the religious holiday and the secular one in Why Did the Groundhog See His Shadow?

Meditations on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
How Long Did Jesus Live on Earth?
Scripture Readings for the First Week of Advent
Scripture Readings for the Second Week of Advent
When Is Christmas Day?
The Annunciation of the Lord
Chronology of the Birth and Life of Jesus Christ
What Is Epiphany Day?
What Were the 12 Tribes of Israel?
When Is Ascension?
Who Is the Virgin Mary?
Holy Saturday
When Is the Virgin Mary's Birthday?
Holy Days of Obligation in the Catholic Church
The Liturgical Seasons of the Catholic Church
Introduction to the Catholic Religion: Beliefs, Practices and History

Luke 2:22-35 New English Translation

Jesus’ presentation at the temple.

22 Now [ a ] when the time came for their [ b ] purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary [ c ] brought Jesus [ d ] up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “ Every firstborn male [ e ] will be set apart to the Lord ” [ f ] ), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves [ g ] or two young pigeons . [ h ]

Reflections for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Introduction: This feast commemorates how Jesus, as a baby, was presented to God in the Temple in Jerusalem. This presentation finds its complete and perfect fulfillment in the mystery of the passion, death and Resurrection of the Lord. The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is a combined feast , commemorating the Jewish practice of the purification of the mother after childbirth and the presentation of the child to God in the Temple and his buying back ( redemption ) from God. It is also known as the Feast of the Purification of Mary , and the Feast of Candlemas. It is also called the Feast of Encounter ( Hypapánte in Greek) because the New Testament, represented by the baby Jesus, encountered the Old Testament, represented by Simeon and Anna. Joseph offered two pigeons in the Temple as sacrifice for the purification of Mary after her childbirth and for the presentation and redemption ceremonies performed for baby Jesus.

Homily starter anecdote: “Four chaplains Sunday: Julia Duin in the Washington Times Sunday, February 1, 2009 told this story. Just after midnight on Feb. 3, 1943, an act of extraordinary unselfishness by a group of men became a legend of martyrdom and sacrifice. When the Army ship Dorchester was torpedoed by the Germans just south of Greenland that night, its passengers and crew had 25 minutes to get off the boat. As 902 people went for the life jackets, it quickly was discovered there weren’t near enough. Of the 13 lifeboats, only two functioned. In the ship’s final minutes, Methodist senior chaplain George Lansing Fox, Rabbi Alexander Goode, Dutch Reformed minister Clark V. Poling and John P. Washington, a Roman Catholic priest, were helping passengers leave the vessel. Then four men appeared all of them without life jackets. The chaplains quickly gave up their own vests and went down with the ship, perishing in the freezing water. Survivors saw them, locked arm in arm, praying and singing the Navy hymn, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” just before the ship dove beneath the waves. It was a night as dramatic as the sinking of the Titanic but without a blockbuster movie to record the drama. “The Four Immortal Chaplains,” as they are now known, have been honored many times, including on a stamp issued in their honor by the U.S. Postal Service. Hence the first Sunday in February is known as “Four Chaplains Sunday” in some Christian denominations. They presented and offered themselves completely for the wellbeing of others as Jesus was presented to God his Heavenly Father in the Temple of Jerusalem for the salvation of the world. ( http://frtonyshomilies.com/).

Scripture lessons summarized: In the first reading, taken from Malachi, the prophet speaks of the Lord suddenly coming to Jerusalem to purify the lax, lazy and indifferent priests of His Temple as silver is purified by fire. Simeon saw the Infant Jesus as the fulfillment of this passage. He saw Jesus as the Lord Who has come to the Temple, "destined to be the downfall and rise of many in Israel." In the second reading, St. Paul proclaims Jesus as our Eternal High Priest of the New Covenant (Heb 2:17), Who offered himself on the altar of Calvary, the only pure priestly sacrifice that could please God. He replaces the former priesthood. The Gospel describes how Joseph, as the head of the Holy Family of Nazareth, presented Mary and the baby Jesus in the Temple of God for the mother’s purification and the Child’s “redemption.” It also describes the Holy Family’s encounter with the old prophet Simeon and the holy old widow Anna. In his prophecy, Simeon extols the divine blessings which the Messiah is bringing to Israel and to all men and predicts that Mary will play a crucial and sacrificial role in her Son's redemptive work by sharing in her Son's sufferings.

The first reading explained : Malachi prophesies in the first reading that the Lord is going to appear suddenly in the Temple of Jerusalem to purify its priests and the people . The prophecy warns that nobody can endure the day of the messenger's coming because he will be like a refining fire, purifying the sons of Levi. Led by the Spirit, Simeon saw the Infant Jesus as the fulfillment of this passage . Simeon, even if unknown to himself, foresaw Christ and His priests of the New Covenant who were ordained during the Last Supper. He saw Jesus as the Lord Who would come to the Temple, "destined to be the downfall and rise of many in Israel." In today's reading, Malachi prophesies that God will purify the lax, lazy and indifferent priests of His Temple as silver is purified by fire. At the time of Malachi (around 460-450 BC), the priests were offering blemished (blind, lame) sacrifices and giving bad example (1:6-2:4). The people were negligent in their support of the Temple (3:6-12). Israelite wives were being rejected by husbands who wished to marry foreign women (2:14-16). Social injustice was rampant (3:5), and the people doubted God’s love (1:2-5). Hence, Malachi reminds them that the Day of the Lord, a Day of Judgment, reward and retribution is coming. He describes the Divine intervention as a two-stage process. First God’s messenger will appear to prepare the way by purifying the clergy and refining the cult (v. 3). This purification will take place until they present offerings to the Lord in a spirit of justice and righteousness. Then, the Lord of Hosts will suddenly appear in the Temple (v. 1), to bring judgment and justice against unfaithful sinners (v. 5). The Psalm announces to Jerusalem that Jerusalem is about to receive a great visitor. The Psalmist identifies him as “The LORD of hosts … the king of glory.”

The second reading explained: The second reading proclaims Jesus as our Eternal High Priest of the New Covenant (Heb 2:17), Who offered Himself on the altar of Calvary, the only pure priestly sacrifice that could please God. The Didache or the first catechism of the early Church (14:1-3), saw Malachi’s prophecy of a pure sacrifice and offering made from east to west as a prophecy of the sacrifice of the Eucharist. Hence Malachi prophesies that the Lord will enter His Temple, there will be a renewed priesthood, and there will be a pure sacrifice offered worldwide and pleasing to God -- the Eucharist. Jesus became like us in all things except sin in order that He might offer to the Father perfect praise and glory. Besides, since Jesus fully shared our experience, He is now a merciful and faithful High Priest on our behalf, "able to help those who are being tested." Jesus replaces the former priesthood. In keeping with the theme of today’s feast, namely, the presentation of the first fruits, this excerpt from Hebrews emphasizes Jesus’ dual role, as first-fruits , par excellence , and as the faithful High priest Who presents the perfect gift of Himself to God for the expiation of human sin. By virtue of His Incarnation, Jesus became human in every way (vv. 17-18) except as regards sin. As representative of His brothers and sisters before God and as their Mediator, Christ perfected His service as both sacrifice and priest. By so doing, Christ was able to “rob the devil” of power (v. 14). As the first-fruits from the dead, as the conqueror of sin and death, Christ, in His person and through His mission, has set the course and cleared the way we are to follow; the decision to do so must be a daily and deliberate one. It takes faith to see God's power at work in the death of Jesus. Simeon hinted at this when he told Mary that she herself would be pierced with a sword. Even knowing that her Son was the Savior of the world, it would be difficult for Mary to see him accomplish that salvation by being crucified.

Exegesis of today’s Gospel: The birth of Christ was revealed by three kinds of witnesses in three different ways -- first, by the shepherds, after the angel's announcement; second, by the Magi, who were guided by a star; third, by Simeon and Anna, who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Today’s Gospel describes the Presentation of the Baby Jesus in the Temple. It was intended to ritually redeem Jesus who was the first born in the family and where Mary herself will have to be ritually purified. Mary and Joseph was a typical pious Jewish couple, who went to the Temple in obedience to do all that was required and expected of them by the Law.The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus is a combined feast , commemorating the Jewish practice of the purification of the mother after childbirth and the presentation of the child in the Temple. It is known as the Hypapánte feast or Feast of the Purification of Mary (by the offering two pigeons in the Temple), the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (by prayers and a sacrifice offered in the Temple to redeem or buy the firstborn male child back from the Lord), the Feast of Candlemas (because of its ancient rite of blessing of the candles to be used in the church for the next year — a practice dating from the middle of the fifth century) and the Feast of Encounter (because the New Testament, represented by the Baby Jesus, encountered the Old Testament, represented by Simeon and Anna). Originally, there was no connection between today’s festival and the blessing of candles. In the ancient East, this celebration occurred on February 14, forty days after Epiphany. On February 15, pagans celebrated the festival of Lupercalia , a great “light” festival. Perhaps this is an instance of the Church's “baptizing” a pagan custom. At the principal Mass, the celebrant blesses candles, and people take part in a candlelight procession. This should remind us that Jesus is our High Priest and the Light of the World.

Purification and redemption ceremonies : The Gospel describes how Joseph, as the head of the Holy Family of Nazareth, presented Mary and the baby Jesus in the Temple of God for the mother’s purification and the child’s “redemption.” According to Leviticus 12:2-8, a woman who bore a child was unclean for forty days following the birth of a son or eighty days following the birth of a daughter. Although Mary, the most holy of women, ever-Virgin, was exempt from these precepts of the Law, because of her miraculous conception, she chose to submit herself to the Law just like any other Jewish mother. Joseph and Mary showed their total submission to Law and obey the norms prescribed by the Old Testament. The custom was practiced probably for the physical and emotional re-integration of the new mother into the community. There was a religious reason as well. Exodus 13:2, 12-13 prescribes that every first-born male belongs to God and must be set apart for the Lord, that is, dedicated to the service of God. However, once divine worship was reserved to the tribe of Levi, first-born who did not belong to that tribe were not dedicated to God's service, and to show that they continued to be God's special property, a rite of redemption was performed. The Law also commanded that the Israelites should offer in sacrifice some lesser victim -- for example, a lamb or, if they were poor, a pair of doves or two pigeons. The Book of Numbers 18: 15 taught that since every Jewish firstborn male child belonged to Yahweh, the parents had to “buy back” (redeem), the child by offering a lamb or turtledoves as a sacrifice in the Temple. The price of redemption for a human baby is five shekels of silver (Num 18:15-16). Jesus never needed to be "bought back," as he belonged wholly to the Lord, but Joseph kept these laws as an act of obedience to God.

The encounter with Simeon and Anna : By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the old, pious and Spirit-filled Simeon and Anna had been waiting in the Temple for the revelation of God’s salvation. The Greek Church celebrates the Hypapánte or Feast of the Encounter commemorating the encounter of the New Testament represented by Jesus with the Old Testament represented by Simeon and Anna. Simeon, who is described as a righteous and devout man, obedient to God's will, addresses himself to our Lord as a vassal or loyal servant who, having kept watch all his life in expectation of the coming of his Lord, sees that this moment has "now" come, the moment that explains his whole life. When he takes the Child in his arms, he learns, not through any reasoning process but through a special grace from God, that this Child is the promised Messiah, the Consolation of Israel, the Light of the nations. Simeon recognizes Jesus as the Lord’s anointed one, and in his prayer of blessing he prophesies that Jesus is meant to be the glory of Israel and the light of revelation to the Gentiles. Pope Francis: “Simeon took him in his arms and thanked God that he had finally “seen” salvation. Anna, despite her advanced age, found new vigor and began to speak to everyone about the Baby. It is a beautiful image: two young parents and two elderly people, brought together by Jesus. He is the one who brings together and unites generations! He is the inexhaustible font of that love which overcomes every occasion of self-absorption, solitude, and sadness. In your journey as a family, you share so many beautiful moments: meals, rest, housework, leisure, prayer, trips and pilgrimages, and times of mutual support… Nevertheless, if there is no love then there is no joy, and authentic love comes to us from Jesus. He offers us his word, which illuminates our path; he gives us the Bread of life which sustains us on our journey.”

Simeon’s prophecy: Simeon's canticle (verses 29-32) is also a prophecy. It consists of two stanzas: the first (verses 29-30) is his act of thanksgiving to God, filled with profound joy for having seen the Messiah. The second (verses 31-32) is more obviously prophetic and extols the divine blessings which the Messiah is bringing to Israel and to all men. The canticle highlights the fact that Christ brings redemption to all men without exception -- something foretold in many Old Testament prophecies (cf. Genesis 22:18; Isaiah 2:6; 42:6; 60:3; Psalm 28:2). While Simeon blessed Mary, he warned her that her child would be “ a sign of contradiction, ” and that she would be “ pierced with a sword.” Simeon was prophesying both the universal salvation that would be proclaimed by Jesus and the necessity of suffering in the mission of the Messiah. Jesus came to bring salvation to all men, yet He would be a sign of contradiction because some people would obstinately reject Him -- and for this reason He would be their ruin. But for those who would accept Him with faith, Jesus would be their salvation, freeing them from sin in this life and raising them up to eternal life. The Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph marveled, but not because they did not know who Christ was. They were in awe at the way God was revealing Him.

The paradox of blessedness: Mary was given the blessedness of being the mother of the Son of God. That blessedness also would become a sword which would pierce her heart as her Son died upon the cross. The words Simeon addressed to Mary announced that she would be intimately linked with her Son's redemptive work. The sword indicated that Mary would have a share in her Son's sufferings. Her suffering would be an unspeakable pain which would pierce her soul. Our Lord suffered on the cross for our sins, and it is those sins which forged the sword of Mary's pain. Mary received both a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow. But her joy was not diminished by her sorrow because it was fueled by her faith, hope, and trust in God and his promises. Jesus promised his disciples, "no one will take your joy from you" (John 16:22). The Lord gives us a supernatural joy which enables us to bear any sorrow or pain and which neither life nor death can take way. Do you know the joy of a life fully surrendered to God with faith and trust? According to Dr. Scot Hann, the feast we celebrate shows a curious turn of events. The Redeemer is redeemed. She who is all-pure presents herself to be purified. Such is the humility of our God. Such is the humility of the Blessed Virgin. They submit to the law even though they are not bound by it.

Anna’s encounter with the Lord and her testifying to the Messiah: Anna was an eighty-four-year-old widow who spent her days in the Temple in fasting and prayer, waiting for the promised Messiah. She was rewarded with the joy of seeing her Redeemer as a Baby. In her excitement, she praised God and introduced the Infant to others around her as the expected Messiah. Supernatural hope grows with prayer and age! Anna was pre-eminently a woman of great hope and expectation that God would fulfill all his promises. She is a model of godliness for all believers as we advance in age. Advancing age and the disappointments of life can easily make us cynical and hopeless if we do not have our hope placed rightly. Anna's hope in God and His promises grew with age. She never ceased to worship God in faith and to pray with hope. Her hope and faith in God's promises fueled her indomitable zeal and fervor in prayer and the service of God's people. We grow in hope by placing our trust in the promises of Jesus Christ and relying not on our own strength, but on the grace and help of the Holy Spirit. After completing the presentation and redemption of baby Jesus and the ritual purification of Mary and the meeting with Simeon and Anna, Joseph and Mary understood more fully their responsibility before God to protect the child as they return to Nazareth

Life messages : 1) Every Holy Mass in which we participate is our presentation . Although we were officially presented to God on the day of our Baptism, we present ourselves and our dear ones on the altar before God our Father through our Savior Jesus Christ at every Holy Mass. Hence, we need to live our daily lives with the awareness both that we are dedicated people consecrated to God and that we are obliged to lead holy lives.

2) We need the assistance of the Holy Spirit to recognize the presence of Jesus in ourselves and in others: All those who, like Simeon and Anna, persevere in piety and in the service of God, no matter how insignificant their lives seem in men's eyes, become instruments the Holy Spirit uses to make Christ known to others. In His plan of redemption, God makes use of these simple souls to do much good for all mankind. In other words, The Holy Spirit employs ordinary men and women with simple faith as His instruments to bear witness to Christ, His ideals and teachings, just as He used Simeon and Anna. The Holy Spirit reveals the presence of the Lord to us when we are receptive and eager to receive Him. Let us be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit within us to recognize the indwelling presence of the Lord with us and in others. (Fr. Antony Kadavil)

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The Presentation of the Lord reminds us of the importance of community

Today we celebrate Jesus’ presentation at the temple. This event is recorded only in the Gospel of Luke and is rooted in the Jewish practices of purification of a mother after childbirth and the offering of the firstborn son. While the event centers on Mary, Joseph and Jesus, two community members support the Holy Family during this celebration.

There was also a prophetess, Anna.... She gave thanks to God and spoke about the child. (Lk 2:36, 38)

How can I be a prophet in today’s society?

Do I recognize God in my life?

Do I invite people to praise and worship God?

The tradition described in Luke has its roots in Leviticus 12, which prescribes rules of purification and presentation. In ancient Judaism, after childbirth women were required to be purified before interacting with people and sacred objects. Giving birth to Jesus made Mary ceremonially unclean for 40 days (Lv 12:2-4). For the first seven days, she would avoid contact with people. For an additional 33 days, she would avoid contact with holy objects and the sanctuary. Though this may sound peculiar, it is important to remember that although childbirth was considered a divine blessing, purity regulations like these developed out of concerns and taboos regarding bodily fluids and their relation to religious activities.

At the end of the purification period, Mary and Joseph offered a sacrifice of two pigeons, which was expected from people who could not afford to offer a sheep (Lv 12:8).The parents also present Jesus at the temple, as was customary for all firstborn male children (Ex 13:2). The first and second readings complement this event, as Malachi prophesies about a messenger of the covenant at the temple, and the Letter to the Hebrews recognizes Jesus’ participation in Jewish rituals.

When Mary and Joseph present Jesus, they encounter two prophetic figures, Simeon and Anna, both of whom recognize the significance of Jesus. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Simeon had received a divine message that he would see the Messiah before his death. Recognizing the Messiah, Simeon takes Jesus into his arms and affirms that he can die having seen the Christ. Simeon asserts that Jesus is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel” (Lk 2:32). Jesus is the Messiah for both Gentiles and Jews. Mary and Joseph are surprised that this relative stranger recognizes who Jesus is. Simeon blesses the parents and offers a message specifically to Mary that despite his importance, Jesus would be rejected by many.

We also hear about a woman prophet, Anna. Anna’s piety is highlighted, as she regularly worships, prays and fasts at the temple. Although there is no quoted speech from Anna, we are told that at the presentation she offers praise and thanksgiving to God and speaks about Jesus to all who were looking for redemption (Lk 2:38).

Sponsored through "The Living Word: Scripture in the Life of the Church," a multi-platform project in collaboration with the American Bible Society's Catholic Initiatives aimed at promoting deeper engagement with the Bible.

Although the Holy Family is central to this feast of the Presentation, Simeon and Anna play vital roles. Simeon publicly confirms Jesus’ identity and future ministry, and Anna shares Jesus with the world, proclaiming him to the Gentiles and Jews mentioned in Simeon’s prophecy. These community members affirm the significance of Jesus to the world.

This article also appeared in print, under the headline “The Importance of Community,” in the January 20, 2020 , issue.

Jaime L. Waters teaches Scripture at DePaul University in Chicago. She is an associate professor of Catholic studies.

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Reflection for the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple - 2nd February 2021

Reflections Archive

Liturgical time is a strange thing – we have gone from the infant in his mother’s arms to the adult Jesus bursting upon the world with signs and wonders in Galilee in the space of a few weeks, and now once more he is the babe in arms as he is presented in the Temple 40 days after his birth.

Perhaps this is a bit like the action replays you get when watching sports on TV – go back, watch that superb goal in slow motion, savour again and again the moment of victory. For us now at this Feast of the Presentation it’s an opportunity to go back after the glory and excitement of Epiphanytide and look again in more detail at what went before. Here in the temple, at the beginning of Jesus’ earthly life, there are pointers to his earthly ministry of teaching and healing but also there are hints of what is to come beyond this. Any number of action replays cannot plumb the depths of the victory won for us by Jesus, God incarnate, but I share a few thoughts from pondering this feast.

It was a moment of joy for his parents, presenting their first-born son to God, and a moment of joy for Simeon who welcomed him in words recorded in the Gospel according to Luke Chapter 2:

“My eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."

But after these glorious words:

Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed — and a sword will pierce your own soul too."

I’ve heard it said that this feast of Candlemas is when we leave behind the joy of Christmas and turn towards Good Friday and Easter. Simeon speaks of an important dynamic of Jesus’ life and of our own lives as Christians – that the joy of salvation comes through embracing and transcending conflict and suffering.

In the Epiphanytide readings we have heard of Jesus’ healing ministry but also the questioning thoughts of those who encountered him. Where is all this coming from? Who does he think he is? We like to think that true love would be so obvious that we could not miss it, yet this open, inclusive love that welcomes the broken, the maimed and the outcasts can be very threatening to our tidy lives. Jesus is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” but light so often reveals things that we’d rather keep hidden. In the words of our Epiphanytide Lauds hymn:

Alive as early morning light Christ comes as daybreak to the world A shaft of shining clarity Revealing God’s pure holiness.

That pure holiness shines into our hearts to reveal both our glory and our sin. Yet it also reveals God’s infinite love for each one of us.

Our hymn continues:

May we with faith receive the Word, With love make answer to his love, Within the light of life now walk As children of the living God.

This Christmas season we have been pondering the way of peace. Simeon’s words touch on the paradox that this way of peace is also a way of conflict. In the words of St. Benedict, we are not to make a false peace but rather have the courage to confront the brokenness of life. At the beginning of Advent we stood with the prophet Anna, one who had been unafraid to embrace all that life brought to her. She still praised God in the midst of the suffering and humiliation of her people, and in the face of the tragedy of her own life. We now see God blessing her in her faithfulness and opening her eyes to the glory of the child who would be the redemption of Jerusalem.

The salvation that Anna and Simeon, and all of us, long for will be no easy answer to the mess and pain but it will be a source of great joy. May we have the courage to walk this journey to the cross, and thence to resurrection and new life in abundance.

As our hymn concludes:

With joy we worship Christ our Lord; May we embrace the life he brings, Reflect the glory of his face, Behold it for eternity.

Mother Anne - 2nd February 2021

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The Presentation of Jesus

Upon the eighth day following His birth, the Lord was Luke ii. 21. circumcised, and the name Jesus given Him. Forty days after the birth, Mary presented herself with the child Luke ii. 22-38. at the Temple in accordance with the law, and after the presentation returned again to Bethlehem.

The order of events following Christ's birth to the time He went to reside at Nazareth, is much disputed. The chief point of controversy is respecting the time of the visit of the Magi. If this can be determined, the other events may be easily arranged.

An early and current tradition placed the coming of the Magi on the 6th of January, or on the 13th day after His birth. 3 This day was early celebrated as the Feast of the Epiphany, or the manifestation of Christ, and originally had reference to His birth, to the visit of the Magi, and to His baptism. It is now observed both in the Greek and Roman Churches with reference to the latter two events, of which the adoration of the Magi is made most prominent. This is also the case in the English and American Episcopal Churches. But the tradition did not command universal assent. Eusebius and Epiphanius, reasoning from Matt, ii. 16, put the coming of the Magi two years after His birth. And others have thought the 6th January selected for convenience, rather than as having any direct chronological connection with the event. The apocryphal gospel of the birth of Mary puts their coming on the forty-second day, or after the presentation, but some copies on the 13th. 1

If we now ask the grounds upon which, aside from this tradition, the coming of the wise men is placed so soon after the birth, and before the presentation in the Temple, the more important are these: first, that the words Tov 8c Irjcrov yevvrjOevTos, " Now when Jesus was born," (Matt. ii. 1,) imply that the one event speedily followed the other, the participle being in the aoristandnot in the perfect; second, that directly after the presentation Jesus went with His parents to Nazareth, (Luke ii. 39,) and that therefore the presentation must have been preceded by their visit; third, that at the coming of the Magi Herod first heard of the birth of Jesus, but if the presentation at the Temple had previously taken place, he must have heard of it, as it had been made public by Anna, (Luke ii. 38.) But none of these reasons is decisive. There is nothing, as asserted, in the use of ytvvYjOevTos, " now when Jesus was born," that proves that they came so soon as He was born, or that an interval of two months may not have elapsed. 2 The opinion of many of the fathers that they found Him still in the manger, or stall, in spelunca ilia qua natus est, may be true, if the manger was in a cave in the rear of the house. (See Matt. ii. 11.) The statement of Luke, that " when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth," has often been interpreted as affirming that they went directly from the temple to Nazareth without any return to Bethlehem. 1 But this interpretation is arbitrary. It is apparent that Luke does not design to give a full history of Christ's infancy. He says nothing of the Magi, of the murder of the children, of the flight into Egypt. Whatever may have been the motive of this omission, which Alford, in common with many German critics, ascribes to ignorance, nothing can be inferred from it to the impugning of Matthew's accuracy. His statement respecting the return to Galilee is general, and does not imply any strict chronological connection. Elsewhere in Luke like instances occur, as in iv. 14, where Jesus is said to have " returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee," whence it would appear that this return followed immediately upon the temptation ; yet we know that an interval of several months must have elapsed. It is the fact that His childhood was.passed at Nazareth, which Luke brings prominently forward, not the precise time when He went thither, which w^as unimportant. It is not inconsistent with his language that Jesus should have returned to Bethlehem from the Temple, an afternoon walk of two hours, and have gone thence to Nazareth by way of Egypt, though had we this gospel alone, we could not infer this. Besides, it is apparent from Matthew's narrative (ii. 22-3) that Joseph did not design upon his return from Egypt to go to Galilee, and went thither only by express divine direction. Plainly he looked upon Bethlehem, not Nazareth, as the proper home of the child who should be the heir of David. 2 And finally the fact that Anna " spoke of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem," by no means shows that her words came to the ears of Herod.

Those who thus place the visit of the Magi before the purification of Mary and the presentation of Jesus, are by no means agreed as to the time of the latter events. If the visit of the Magi was on the thirteenth day after His birth, and the murder of the children and the flight into Egypt took place immediately after, the purification must have been delayed till the return, and so in any event after the legal time on the fortieth day. 1 To avoid this, some suppose that, although the suspicions of Herod had been aroused by the inquiries of the Magi, yet he took no active measures for the destruction of the child, till the rumor of what had taken place at the Temple at the time of the presentation (Luke ii. 27-38) reaching his ears, stirred him up to give immediate order for the murder of the children. 2 Others still, making the departure to Nazareth to have immediately followed the purification, are compelled to make Nazareth, not Bethlehem, the starting point of the flight into Egypt. 3

The obvious difficulties connected with this traditional view of the coming of the wise men on the thirteenth day after the Lord's birth, have led most in modern times to put it after the purification on the fortieth day. Some, who hold that Jesus went immediately after that event to Nazareth, suppose that after a short sojourn there He returned to Bethlehem, and there was found by the wise men. 4 But most who put the purification upon the fortieth day, make the visit of the Magi to have shortly followed, and prior to any departure to Nazareth. 5 And this order seems best to harmonize the scripture narratives. The language of Lukeii. 22, compared with v. 21, plainly intimates that as the circumcision took place on the eighth, or legal day, so did the presentation on the fortieth. Till this day, the mother was regarded as unclean, and was to abide at home, and it is therefore very improbable that the adoration of the Magi, and especially the flight into Egypt, should have previously taken place. Doubtless, in case of necessity, all the legal requisitions could have been set aside, but this necessity is not proved in this case to have existed. That the purification was after the return from Egypt, is inconsistent with Matthew's statements, (ii. 22), that after Joseph had heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea, he was afraid to go thither. If, then, he dare not even enter the king's territory, how much less would he dare to go to Jerusalem, and enter publicly into the temple. The conjecture of some, 1 that Archelaus was then absent at Rome, is wholly without historic proof.

1 Friedlieb, Bucher. a Augustine, Sepp, Alford. 3 Maldonati.

4 Epiphanius, and now Jarvis, and Patritius. 6 Robinson, Teschendorf, Wieseler, Lichtenstein.

That Matthew puts the flight into Egypt in immediate connection with the departure of the Magi, (ii. 13.) is plain. 2 No interval could have elapsed after their departure, for it is said, v. 14, that he " took the young child and His mother by night, and departed into Egypt." He went so soon as the angel appeared to him, apparently the same night. We cannot then place the history of the purification after their departure, and before the flight into Egypt, as is done by Calvin and many. Nor could Herod, after his jealousy had been aroused by the inquiries of the Magi after the new-born King of the Jews, have waited quietly several weeks till the events at the purification awakened his attention anew. He doubtless acted here with that decision that characterized all his movements, and seeing himself mocked by the wise men, took instant measures for the destruction of the child.

The fact that Mary offered the offering of the poor, (Luke ii. 24,) may be mentioned as incidentally confirming this view; for if she had received previously the gifts of the Magi, particularly the gold, we may suppose that she would have used it to provide a better offering. 1

We thus trace a threefold adoration of Christ: 1st, that of the shepherds; 2d, that of Simeon and Anna ; 3d, that of the Magi; or a twofold adoration of the Jews, and then the adoration of the heathen.

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Presentation of Our Lord

Why do catholics celebrate the feast of the presentation.

This feast day celebrates both the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, as well as the Purification of Mary, which was required by the Mosaic Law forty days after the birth of a child.

Why is the Presentation of Jesus important?

Why is the presentation after jesus’ baptism on the church calendar, at what age was jesus presented in the temple, who are simeon and anna in the bible.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraph 529) teaches,

The presentation of Jesus in the temple shows him to be the firstborn Son who belongs to the Lord. With Simeon and Anna, all Israel awaits its encounter with the Savior-the name given to this event in the Byzantine tradition. Jesus is recognized as the long-expected Messiah, the “light to the nations” and the “glory of Israel,” but also “a sign that is spoken against.” The sword of sorrow predicted for Mary announces Christ’s perfect and unique oblation on the cross that will impart the salvation God had “prepared in the presence of all peoples.”

We celebrate John the baptist on June 24th. Six months later is Christmas on December 25th. John the baptist mentions that he must decrease so Jesus can increase. So does the daylight decrease after the first day of summer. After the 21st of December the day light increases. The presentation falls 40 days after the birth of Jesus. We need to remember that Christ’s baptism occurs some 30 years after his presentation that occurred in the temple. The Church most likely put the baptism of the Lord near the presentation because the presentation has the tradition of the candle Mass with it. Connecting the baptismal candle to the light of Christ that came into the world tying into the Easter vigil.

There is also a significance of the Wiseman, Christ’s baptism and the Wedding feast of Cana: Peter Chrysologus brings together the three events traditionally remembered on the Solemnity of the Epiphany: the visit of the Magi or Wise men, Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River, and Jesus’ first miracle performed at the Wedding Feast of Cana. All three events are visible manifestations that Jesus is the divine king – his humanity is a sacrament of love which both reveals and veils his divinity. https://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/media/articles/epiphany-magi-cana-and-the-jordan-st-peter-chrysologus/

He was presented when He was still a newborn, only 40 days old.

The Gospel of Luke 2:22-40 states:

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 that 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.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel.”

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,

“Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.”

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Regarding Simeon and Anna, Pope Benedict XVI said,

Even the priests proved incapable of recognizing the signs of the new and special presence of the Messiah and Saviour. Alone two elderly people, Simeon and Anna, discover this great newness. Led by the Holy Spirit, in this Child they find the fulfillment of their long waiting and watchfulness. They both contemplate the light of God that comes to illuminate the world and their prophetic gaze is opened to the future in the proclamation of the Messiah: “Lumen ad revelationem gentium!” (Lk 2:32). The prophetic attitude of the two elderly people contains the entire Old Covenant which expresses the joy of the encounter with the Redeemer. Upon seeing the Child, Simeon and Anna understood that he was the Awaited One.

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Sunday Connection

The presentation of the lord.

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. The Sunday Connection provides useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Readings & Background

First Reading Malachi 3:1–4 The Lord you seek will come to the temple. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 24:7,8,9,10 The Lord is the king of glory. Second Reading Hebrews 2:14–18 Jesus became like us in order to save us. Gospel Reading Luke 2:22–40 (Shorter Form: Luke 2:22–32) Simeon recognizes the infant Jesus as the promised Messiah.

Background on the Gospel Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the temple. The Presentation, which is celebrated 40 days after Christmas, is not mentioned in the other Gospels. Only Luke tells the story, most likely because he writes for Gentile Christians who are not familiar with the Jewish rite of presentation and purification. In addition, the intent of Luke’s Gospel is to show that God’s promise to Israel, fulfilled in Jesus, extends to Gentiles.

Luke recognizes Joseph and Mary as faithful Jews who bring Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem. Here they present their firstborn son to the Lord. Jesus is thus consecrated as required by the Law of Moses. Present in the temple at this time are Simeon and Anna. Both are awaiting the restoration of God’s rule in Israel.

Simeon had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would see Christ the Lord, the Messiah, before he died. The holy man immediately recognized the infant Jesus as the promised Savior, a “light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” Anna also recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of the promise of redemption and spoke about him to all.

Gospel Reading Luke 2:22–40 (Shorter Form: Luke 2:22–32) Simeon recognizes the infant Jesus as the promised Messiah.

Making the Connection (Grades 1, 2, and 3) Children at this age like to receive gifts. Simeon and Anna and the people of Israel waited hopefully for the greatest gift of all—a Savior. We too must prove ourselves faithful followers of Jesus by being “gifts” to all we meet. Materials Needed

Presentation written on a sign or chalkboard
Symbols of Baptism, such as holy water, candle, oil, white garment, and/or baptismal certificate

Preparation for the Scripture Readings

Say: In the Gospel Reading for the Presentation of the Lord, we hear about Jesus’ Presentation. Does anyone recognize inside this long word a shorter word that would help us understand the reading? (present) Surely we know what a present is. Raise your hand if you’ve ever received a present. What’s another word we use to describe a present? (a gift) That’s right. Jesus is the greatest, the greatest gift we have ever received.
Explain: The Gospel for this feast day is long so we are going to read only part of it. Listen carefully and then we’ll talk about it afterward. Read aloud Luke 2:22–32, omitting verse 23 if desired.
Say: Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple to be presented to God. Your mother and father also brought you to church to be presented to God. Look at the items in the front of the room. What are they a sign of? (Baptism) That’s right. Your parents presented you to God in church just as Jesus’ parents presented him to God in the Temple. Baptism is the first sacrament we receive.
Continue: When Mary and Joseph arrived with baby Jesus, a holy man named Simeon was in the Temple. He was waiting for someone who would save him and all the people of Israel. He was waiting for a savior. Who is our Savior? (Jesus) Simeon knew the minute he saw the baby Jesus that he was the one he was waiting for—a Savior for all people. Simeon recognized the birth of Jesus as a great gift.
Say: We recognize, just as Simeon did, that Jesus is the greatest gift ever given. All of us who are followers of Jesus are also asked to be “gifts” to others by caring for them. What are some ways we can show we care? (Accept all reasonable answers.)
Conclude by praying the Glory Be to the Father with the children.

Making the Connection (Grades 4, 5, and 6) At this age, children are familiar with their parents or other adults introducing them to people they have not met before. Explain that Jesus, too, was “introduced” by Mary and Joseph to God. Materials Needed

Collection basket of “play” money
Say: This Gospel is probably not familiar to most of us. It is read on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, which is celebrated yearly on February 2.
Ask: What do you understand by the word presentation? (Accept all reasonable responses.) A presentation can be the introduction of a new product or a new idea or a new person. Let’s listen to this Sunday’s Gospel. Think about which definition applies.
Read aloud Luke 2:22–32, omitting verse 23 if desired.
Continue: In today’s reading, who or what is being presented? (Jesus) Who is presenting him? (Mary and Joseph) What was the name of the man in the temple? (Simeon) Whom did he recognize Jesus as? (the promised Savior) What was Simeon’s reaction? (He broke into prayer.) What had God had promised Simeon because of his great faith? (He wouldn’t die before seeing the Savior.)
Say: I didn’t expect you to remember all the answers after hearing the Gospel only one time. The important thing to remember is that God kept his promise by sending his Son to be our Savior.
Ask the children why there is a collection basket with “money” up front. Remind the children that in the Gospel story, “[Mary and Joseph took Jesus] to present him to the Lord . . . and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. . . .”
Explain: Everything that we have comes from God. From the beginning of time, people have offered sacrifice to pay homage to God and to thank him for his great gifts. Mary and Joseph offered turtledoves or pigeons. At Mass we offer gifts of money to support the spread of God’s Word and to care for people in need. As I pass this collection basket, take one “dollar bill” and write on it one thing you will do to show your love for God. Then put it in your pocket or in a drawer at home as a reminder until you do your good deed.
Say: Now spend some quiet time with Jesus—your Lord, your friend, and your Savior. After a few moments, pray the Sign of the Cross together.

Making the Connection (Grades 7 and 8) At this age, young people are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities. Remind them that the Gospel, too, is a call to action. We read and study the Scripture to become better acquainted with the ways we can serve God. Materials Needed

Copies of Luke 2:25–40 (one per student)
Canned goods and other nonperishable food items

Preparation for the cripture Reading

Explain that this feast day’s Gospel is a reading for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, which is celebrated on February 2.
Pass out copies of the Scripture reading and ask a volunteer to read aloud verses 25–28 and 33–34a; another to read Simeon’s words: verses 29–32 and 34b–35; and one to read about Anna: verses 36–40. Encourage the readers to speak distinctly and reverently; ask the other young people to follow along silently.
When finished, ask the young people: How did Luke describe Simeon? (devout, anxious for the redemption of Israel) What promise did the Holy Spirit make to Simeon? (that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah of the Lord) How was Simeon able to recognize the baby Jesus as the Savior? (through the power of the Holy Spirit) Anna also recognized the infant Jesus as the Savior. What enabled her to do so? (She worshiped night and day, fasted, and prayed.)
Say: Both Simeon and Anna were holy persons whose lives were focused on the coming of the Savior. Even though Jesus was only a newborn, they recognized him because they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
Point out the canned goods and other items in the front of the room and ask why they are there. (Accept all reasonable answers.) Then say: We are also called to recognize Jesus. We will find him in others. Sometimes they simply need a kind word or acknowledgment; often they may need food or clothing.
Pray aloud: Let us pray that, like Simeon and Anna, we too will be filled with the Holy Spirit so that we can recognize the goodness and holiness in all the people we meet and have the courage to help where needed. Come, Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with compassion and kindle in us the fire of your love. Amen.

Family Connection Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Discuss with the family the persons of Simeon and Anna as they meet Jesus. (Luke 2: 25–40)

Because Simeon and Anna lived lives of prayer and fasting in the Temple, they were filled with the Spirit of God. That is why they were able to identify Jesus as the Savior even though Jesus was only a baby. To these two holy people, he was recognizable as the Redeemer who had been promised. Simeon described Jesus as “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

We too are called to recognize Jesus as Lord. Together as a family discuss ways to recognize Jesus as Lord by praying and attending Mass, fasting, and serving others. As a family, decide on one specific sacrifice you can make in order to alleviate the suffering or need of someone you know.

Upcoming Connections

Palm sunday of the lord's passion, cycle b, easter vigil, cycle b, easter sunday of the resurrection of the lord, second sunday of easter, cycle b (or sunday of divine mercy), third sunday of easter, cycle b, fourth sunday of easter, cycle b, fifth sunday of easter, cycle b.

Build on Rock

The Presentation and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple

We can lose sight of how awesome the Nativity is due to the over-commercialization of Christmas. (I can imagine Jesus pulling down merchandise from the shelves of Walmart, saying, “The Word did not become flesh so you can get a deal on a giant TV!” Maybe that’s neither here nor there.) My last post tried to capture some of the joy and wonder of that event. With the final two of the Joyful Mysteries, the challenge can be finding meaning in what are to us more obscure events.

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

Obedience, or fidelity to the law, is a major theme in both mysteries. The Law required the new parents, after a period of forty days, to offer a sacrifice of a yearling lamb and a young turtledove or pigeon as a sin offering. If the couple could not afford a lamb, a second turtledove or pigeon could be sacrificed (Leviticus 12:6-8). In addition, every first-born child was to be consecrated to the Lord, “for it belongs to me” (Exodus 13:1-2). This consecration was intimately connected with God sparing the firstborn of the Israelites during the Passover.

Now, Mary had no need for a sin offering, for she was born without sin. Nor did Jesus need to be consecrated to God, for he was God, and was one with the Father. Nevertheless, the Holy Family was faithful to the Law, even going above and beyond the Law by presenting Jesus in the Temple, which was not a requirement. (1) Luke notes that Mary and Joseph sacrificed a pair of birds, implying that they could not afford a lamb (Luke 2:24). The contrast between their material poverty and spiritual riches is a theme throughout Luke’s Gospel.

In the Temple both the “righteous and devout” Simeon and the “prophetess” Anna proclaim the greatness of Jesus, to the amazement of Mary and Joseph. Simeon specifically tells Mary, “Behold, this child is destined to be the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35). For Simeon and Anna, the presentation of Jesus in the Temple was the fulfillment of many years of patient waiting, of many years of prayer finally answered in God’s good time. Their journey mirrors ours, as the culmination for the faithful of our years on Earth is to bow down and rejoice at the pierced feet of our Savior.

But what could Mary make of this message? Throughout the Joyful Mysteries, her “yes” to God in the Annunciation leads to nothing but surprises: joy and wonder one moment, hardships and trials the next. Luke tells us that Mary “kept all these things in her heart.” (2) She must have wondered what the future held for her and her son, and what Simeon meant by that sword.

The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

This is the only story recounted by any of the evangelists between the infancy narratives and the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry “when he was about thirty years of age” (Luke 3:23). Most of Jesus’ life on earth was spent in anonymity, as he went about being an obedient son, learning his foster father’s trade of carpentry, caring for his mother, and quietly doing his Heavenly Father’s will every day. We can learn much from this part of Jesus’ life as we try to do God’s will each day.

The Holy Family is again being obedient to the Law by traveling to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. As they journey home, Mary and Joseph look for Jesus among friends and relatives traveling in their caravan. When they cannot find him, they race back to Jerusalem, searching high and low for three stress-filled days before finding him, teaching, in the Temple.

I would guess that every parent has had the experience, even if it’s only for a minute on a playground, of having lost a child. Even that one minute is a little nerve wracking. Ten minutes is excruciating. So imagine how Mary and Joseph felt when they spent three days searching anxiously for their lost twelve year-old boy. When they found him, their incredible relief gave way to “astonishment,” as they saw him conversing with the teachers in the temple. If Mary was less than holy, she might have been angry with Jesus. She was upset enough to ask him, “Son, why have you done this? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” Jesus replied, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 3:48-49)

Jesus was a good son. Luke makes a point after this story that Jesus was obedient to his parents (Luke 3:51). But Jesus’ ultimate obedience was to his Heavenly Father, which nothing could keep him from. This is illustrated even more dramatically when Jesus predicts his passion, and Peter wants to talk him out of it. “Get behind me, Satan!” is Jesus’ response (Mark 8:33). Nothing will separate him from his Father’s love, nor keep him from carrying out his Father’s will. These two stories illustrate that be a Christian is to “love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength” and to be obedient to him at all times (Mark 13:29).

For Mary, her three days searching for Jesus, and the great anxiety it caused her, foreshadow the greater pain and suffering she would go through when Jesus died and was buried. Her “yes” to God had led to yet another trial that she did not understand. Pope Benedict XVI comments eloquently on this point:

“Even Mary’s faith is a ‘journeying’ faith, a faith that is repeatedly shrouded in darkness and has to mature by persevering through the darkness. Mary does not understand Jesus’ saying, but she keeps it in her heart and allows it to gradually come to maturity there.” (3)

Like Mary, we are all on a faith journey that will have trials and hardships along the way. The devil will try to use these to his advantage to lead us away from God. Tell him to go back to hell where he belongs. Emulate Mary, who bore her trials patiently, pondered them in her heart, and above all, put all her trust in God, who always rewarded her faith and hope with treasures beyond compare.

(1) Pope Benedict XVI. Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives . 2012: Liberia Editrice Vaticana, p. 82-83.

(2) By telling us what Mary kept in her heart, Luke strongly hints that the source for his infancy narratives is Mary herself.

(3) Pope Benedict XVI. Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives ., p. 125.

Image at top of pgae: Christ among the Doctors by Paolo Veronese – http://www.museodelprado.es/typo3temp/pics/2ce71c7a65.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20204530

About The Author

Michael Haverkamp

Michael Haverkamp is a lifelong member of the Roman Catholic Church. He is grateful to his parents for raising him in the faith. He resides in Columbus, Ohio with his amazing wife and three sons. By day he is a (usually) mild-mannered grant writer.

The Nativity

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2 thoughts on The Presentation and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple

Mike, this is an excellent and thoughtful commentary on these two Joyful Mysteries which I would agree are the least understood and appreciated mysteries. May God continue to bless you in this ministry.

Thanks, Tom. I appreciate your comments!

Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

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Bible story: The presentation of Jesus at the temple

Creative activities based on the bible story of the presentation of jesus at the temple.

In Luke 2:22-39a, we read about the presentation of Jesus at the temple. According to Jewish law, when a firstborn son is 40 days old, he is to be presented to the Lord at the temple and a sacrifice is to be made. Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple and presented him to Simeon, a righteous and devout man who had been waiting for the promised Messiah.

Simeon took the baby in his arms and praised God, saying that he had seen the salvation of the Lord. He also warned Mary that her son would cause controversy and that a sword would pierce her own soul. They also met Anna, a prophetess who recognized Jesus as the Messiah and gave thanks to God.

We have compiled a range of creative ideas and activities below that relate to this Bible story. These resources are designed to help you share this important message in an engaging and interactive way, whether you are a children's ministry leader, a Sunday school teacher, or a religious educator in a Christian primary school.

Our activities below are suitable for use in various settings such as church children's programs, children's ministry, catechism classes, children's services, Bible clubs, vacation Bible school, and Sunday school, and will help students understand the relevance of the Bible to their lives, and the importance of applying its teachings in practical ways.

Discover all 15 activities and ideas

Lesson%20-%20NT%20Life%20of%20Jesus%2001%20-%20Jesus%20presented%20at%20the%20temple%20Download%20PDF-a870bcb7 The presentation of Jesus at the temple

Lesson - NT: Life of Jesus 01 - Jesus presented at the temple (Download PDF)

childrens%20moment%20-%20simeon%20and%20anna%20-%20welcome-00c9c316 The presentation of Jesus at the temple

Children's moment - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - The welcoming committee

Craft%20-%20Baby%20Names-3a02e5bf The presentation of Jesus at the temple

Craft - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - Naming the baby

Craft%20-%20Messiah%20has%20come-24e01742 The presentation of Jesus at the temple

Craft - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - The arrival of the Messiah

Experiment%20-%20duck%20rabbit%20photo-bf190c3b The presentation of Jesus at the temple

Experiment - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - Is it a duck or a rabbit?

Bible%20game%20-%20tennisball%20relay-8a3573d7 The presentation of Jesus at the temple

Game - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - Bringing good tidings

Bible%20game%20-%20nine%20letters-dfd925f6 The presentation of Jesus at the temple

Game - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - Nine letters

Game%20-%20stopwatch-f14ff212 The presentation of Jesus at the temple

Game - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - The promise fulfilled

icebreaker%20-%20simeon%20and%20anna%20-%20shaving%20foam-312e559d The presentation of Jesus at the temple

Icebreaker - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - Unleash the shaving foam

Object%20lesson%20-%20Mr%20Flashlight%20and%20Mr%20Battery-ae2a9b69 The presentation of Jesus at the temple

Object lesson - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - An allegorical story

Object%20lesson%20-%20Crafting%20a%20Communal%20Swaddling%20Cloth-8634833e The presentation of Jesus at the temple

Object lesson - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - Creating a swaddling cloth

object%20lesson%20-%20forgotten-4699e5aa The presentation of Jesus at the temple

Object lesson - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - Israel feels forgotten by God

Creative%20prayer%20idea%20-%20Longing%20for%20God-f8c66a1c The presentation of Jesus at the temple

Prayer idea - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - Longing for God

Bible%20story%20Simeon%20and%20Hanna%20-%20Three%20storytelling%20tips-bc518016 The presentation of Jesus at the temple

Storytelling tips - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - Three tips

Lessons%20%204-b42e613d The presentation of Jesus at the temple

Video - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - Runaway

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what is the significance of the presentation of jesus in the temple

by Azshittu
July 24, 2022 December 24, 2023

The presentation of Jesus in the temple is significant because it marks the beginning of Jesus’ life as a man, and demonstrates his holiness.

Jesus was born to fulfill a prophecy in the Old Testament that said that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, which is why Mary and Joseph traveled there after they heard about it. However, according to Jewish law, all males were required to be circumcised when they turned eight days old. Since Jesus wasn’t yet eight days old when he was born, Mary and Joseph went back to Jerusalem for him to be circumcised—and for him to be presented in the temple.

The presentation of Jesus in the temple is important because it shows his parents’ devotion to God: they followed the law closely even though it was inconvenient for them. Also, since this was an important event in their son’s life, we can assume that they would have been open about who he was and what he meant for them.

Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

Century: –
Patronage: –
Feast Day: February 2nd

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple celebrates an early episode in the life of Jesus. It falls between the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul on January 25 th , and the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter on February 22 nd . In the Roman Catholic Church, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple is the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.

The event is described in the Gospel of Luke, 2:22-40. According to the gospel, Mary and Joseph took the baby Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem forty days after his birth to complete Mary’s ritual purification after childbirth, and to perform the redemption of the firstborn, in obedience to the Law of Moses, Leviticus 12, Exodus 13:12-15. Luke explicitly says that Joseph and Mary take the option provided for poor people, those who could not afford a lamb, sacrificing a “pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons”. Leviticus 12:1-4 indicates that this event should take place forty days after the birth of a male child, and that is whey the Church celebrates the Presentation in the Temple forty days after Christmas.

As they brought Jesus into the temple, they encountered Simeon. The Gospel records that Simeon had been promised that “He should not see death before he had seen the Lord” Luke 2:26. Simeon prayed the prayer that would become known as the “Canticle of Simeon”, which prophesied the redemption of the world by Jesus: “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace; according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; to be a light to lighten the gentiles and to be the glory of Thy people Israel”, Luke 2:29-32. Simeon then prophesied to Mary, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed”, Luke 2:34-35. The Elderly Prophetess Anna, was also in the Temple, and offered prayers and praise to God for Jesus, and spoke to everyone there about Jesus and his role in the redemption of Israel, Luke 2:36-38.

Why Is Jesus Important? A Detailed Look At The Significance Of Jesus Christ

The question of why Jesus Christ is important has been pondered for over 2000 years. As one of the most influential figures in human history, Jesus has shaped cultures, governments, art and more. But who exactly was Jesus, and why does he still captivate people today?

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Jesus Christ is important because he is believed to be the Son of God who was sent to redeem humanity from sin through his life, death and resurrection .

His teachings form the basis for Christianity and have impacted billions of lives over 2000 years.

In this comprehensive article, we will explore the significance of Jesus Christ in detail. We will look at Jesus’ life and identity, analyze his core teachings, discuss the impact of his death and resurrection, examine how he influenced history and culture, and reflect on why his legacy still endures today.

With over 3000 words, this article will provide an in-depth examination of the central figure of Christianity and one of the most monumental people to ever walk the earth.

The Life and Identity of Jesus Christ

Jesus’ origins and early life.

Jesus was born around 4 BC in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph. According to the Gospels, his birth was miraculous as Mary conceived Jesus while still a virgin. This fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah.

Jesus’ early life remains mostly a mystery except for a few stories like his family’s flight to Egypt to escape King Herod and Jesus discussing theology in the Jerusalem temple at 12 years old. These stories establish Jesus as exceptional from a very early age.

Ministry and preaching

Jesus began his public ministry around 30 AD when he was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan river. After 40 days of temptation in the Judaean Desert, Jesus returned to Galilee and chose 12 Apostles to accompany him.

He soon gained a reputation as a powerful preacher, teacher and miracle worker. His most famous sermon is the Sermon on the Mount where he expands on moral commandments with statements like “Love your enemies” and “Do not judge”.

Large crowds followed him wherever he went, attracted by his wisdom and ability to heal the sick.

The core themes of Jesus’ teaching centered on the Kingdom of God being imminent. He urged people to repent their sins before God’s judgment. Yet he also brought a message of grace, dining with sinners and outcasts of society.

Overall, Jesus placed love for God and neighbors as life’s greatest commands. His radical message threatened the authorities who eventually had him arrested.

Conflict with authorities

Jesus was popular with common people but seen as a troublemaker by the political and religious elite. They were alarmed at his claims to authority, including forgiving people’s sins. The Sadducees and Pharisees, two major Jewish sects, challenged Jesus on issues like the Sabbath, divorce laws and paying taxes.

They tried trapping him with loaded questions but he eluded their verbal snares.

As Jesus’ following grew, so did the authorities’ desire to quash his uprising. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead in Bethany, the chief priests seriously began plotting to arrest and execute him. Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ own disciples, betrayed him to the temple guards who arrested Jesus.

Over the next 18 hours, Jesus was put on trial before the Jewish Sanhedrin court and the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Though repeatedly declaring Jesus “not guilty” of any chargeable offense, Pilate eventually buckled under political pressure and ordered Jesus crucified.

The Teachings of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ’s teachings focused on concepts like love, forgiveness, the Kingdom of God, righteousness, and ethics. His words and lessons aimed to provide moral guidance and spiritual truths.

Love, Forgiveness, and Compassion

Central to Christ’s message was the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). He taught that love and compassion should extend to all people, even enemies. For example, he told followers to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

Forgiveness was another major theme. Christ emphasized forgiveness as a moral imperative, saying “if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:15). He told parables equating divine forgiveness with human forgiveness, like the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:23-35).

The Kingdom of God

Jesus frequently spoke in parables about the “Kingdom of God” or “Kingdom of Heaven.” This refers to both a literal kingdom that Christ will establish on earth upon his return as well as a spiritual kingdom centered around loving God and loving one’s neighbor.

Christ portrayed this kingdom as open to all people who embrace his teachings. He explained that “the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you” (Matthew 21:31) to the religious elite of his day who neglected justice, mercy and faithfulness.

Entering the Kingdom requires childlike faith, repentance, renewal, and obedience.

Ethics and Righteousness

Jesus called his followers to a high ethical standard summed up in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12), where he pronounced blessings on the meek, merciful, pure in heart, and peacemakers. Other famous ethical teachings include the directive to “do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12) known as the Golden Rule.

Christ placed love of God above traditional rituals. When asked about the greatest commandment in the Hebrew law, he replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).

He taught that outward displays of faith matter less than having a pure, moral heart.

The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ

The crucifixion.

Jesus Christ was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate and crucified in Jerusalem around 30-33 AD. According to the Gospels, Jesus was falsely accused of blasphemy by the Jewish Sanhedrin and turned over to the Romans, who mocked him and flogged him before leading him to Calvary hill to be nailed to a cross between two thieves (Luke 23:32-43).

As Jesus hung on the cross, he spoke his last words before dying: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46). This sacrificial death of Jesus is central to Christianity.

Resurrection and salvation

According to the New Testament, after Jesus’ death, his body was wrapped in linen and placed in a tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea. On the third day, Mary Magdalene and other women discovered the tomb empty except for the burial cloths (Luke 24:1-3).

Jesus then began making appearances to his disciples, convincing them he had been raised from the dead. His resurrection confirmed his power over sin and death, and paved the way for the salvation of mankind (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Most scholars date the resurrection to around 30-33 AD.

For Christians, Jesus’ resurrection symbolizes that death is not the end. Belief in Jesus’ resurrection brings the promise of everlasting life. As the risen Lord told his followers: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).

Faith in Christ and his atoning sacrifice on the cross makes redemption from sin possible.

Meaning for Christianity

Jesus’ death by crucifixion is undeniably one of the most influential events in history. This supreme act of sacrifice changed the course of mankind and is central to the Christian faith.

For Christians today, Good Friday and Easter remain the most significant religious holidays on the calendar. Jesus’ willing death to pay for human sin serves as a remarkable example of selfless love and humility (Philippians 2:5-8). His resurrection gives hope of new life both now and for eternity.

It confirms Jesus’ authority and the truth of His word (John 2:22).

Without Jesus’ atoning death and victorious triumph over the grave, he could not be considered the Son of God. As the divine savior, Jesus bridges the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity. He makes forgiveness and reconciliation possible through spiritual rebirth (Titus 3:4-7).

No other event holds as much meaning for Christianity as the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Historical Impact of Jesus Christ

The spread of christianity.

Jesus Christ’s life and teachings are at the very foundation of Christianity. After his death, his disciples spread his message far and wide, evangelizing across the Roman Empire and beyond. The apostle Paul played a pivotal role in the rapid expansion of the early Christian church.

Despite intense persecution, Christianity continued to grow throughout the first few centuries AD. By 300 AD, an estimated 6 million people in the Roman Empire were Christians, and by the middle ages most of Europe had converted to Christianity.

Today there are over 2.5 billion Christians worldwide, making Christianity the world’s largest religion. From humble beginnings, the faith inspired by Jesus revolutionized religion and society. The worldwide spread of Christianity is an incredible historical phenomenon directly traceable back to Jesus’s influence.

Influence on society and culture

Jesus’s teachings on love, forgiveness, humility and service have had a profound effect on human societies. Christian values emphasized the inherent dignity of all people, compassion for the poor and vulnerable, and the equality of all before God.

This led to reforms in social welfare, education, criminal justice and human rights in many Christian nations over the centuries. Christian influence helped end practices like slavery in the British empire, and inspired major social reformers like William Wilberforce.

In art and literature, Jesus has been one of the most influential figures in all of human history. Great artists like Michelangelo, Raphael and Salvador Dali created iconic paintings depicting his life.

Classic literary works ranging from Dante’s Divine Comedy to Tolstoy’s The Kingdom of God is Within You drew inspiration from the Gospels. Christmas and Easter are now celebrated globally, with major cultural traditions centered around Jesus.

Clearly his life resonated in the creative spirit of Western civilization.

Shaping history and politics

Jesus Christ has significantly shaped the trajectory of history on a political and economic level too. The emperor Constantine converted the Roman Empire to Christianity in the 4th century AD, altering the very fabric of one of the most powerful civilizations ever.

Medieval Europe was dominated by Christian kingdoms guided by Jesus’s teachings, for better and worse. The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, led by Martin Luther, challenged papal authority and spurred far-reaching changes in Europe.

Christian conviction has influenced numerous social justice and peace movements, like the campaigns to abolish slavery and the civil rights movement. On the other hand, wars have also been fought in Christ’s name, highlighting both the light and dark sides of organized religion.

Nonetheless, for over 2000 years Jesus has profoundly impacted law, culture, economics and politics across the globe. Perhaps no single person has shaped the course of human history more than Jesus Christ.

The Enduring Significance of Jesus Today

Central figure of the world’s largest religion.

Jesus Christ is the central figure and inspiration of Christianity, the world’s largest religion with over 2.5 billion adherents globally. As the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament, Jesus fulfilled God’s promises by sacrificing himself for the sins of humanity.

His life, teachings, death, and resurrection as documented in the New Testament are the foundation of Christian beliefs. From humble beginnings, the story of Jesus spread rapidly in the 1st century AD and continues to profoundly shape history and culture today.

The global growth and influence of Christianity for over 2000 years is tied directly to the significance of Jesus. Countries worldwide have been shaped by Christian values and teachings like the golden rule, forgiveness, and charity. Christian organizations provide aid to millions in need.

Even non-religious aspects of societies and cultures have been impacted by the life and message of Jesus.

A source of inspiration and hope

For over two millennia, Jesus has inspired countless lives with his message of unconditional love, sacrifice, and redemption. His teachings to love one’s neighbor, care for the poor and marginalized, and seek righteousness provide guidance for living a meaningful life.

Stories about his compassion, such as healing the sick or saving an adulteress from stoning, reveal a grace and empathy that inspires many to show similar compassion. Belief in Jesus’ resurrection and conquering of death provides hope beyond worldly suffering.

Jesus continues to inspire faith and perseverance today. Christian charities and missionaries bring comfort, aid, and salvation to millions globally. Celebrities, activists, and influencers credit Jesus as motivation for their work.

According to Pew Research in 2018, 69% of Americans said Jesus still holds relevance for their lives.

Legacy and relevance in modern times

The legacy of Jesus’ life and ministry endures today in culture, values, stories, art, and traditions worldwide. Elements like Christmas nativity scenes, the Gregorian calendar (marked from Jesus’ birth), and common phrases like “Good Samaritan” originated from Jesus’ influence.

Moral beliefs about human dignity, charity, justice and human rights in Western democracies are informed by a Christian ethic influenced by Jesus’ teachings.

Despite declining religious affiliation, Jesus remains widely admired. For instance, a 2013 poll by HuffPost/YouGov found that 85% of Americans viewed Jesus in a positive light, far more than major public figures.

His teachings to love others, serve the poor, practice grace and restore relationships remain relevant for addressing injustice, poverty and conflict worldwide. Though flawed, institutions carrying on Jesus’ mission like the church, universities, hospitals and charities continue impacting millions globally with kindness, education, healing and aid.

In conclusion, Jesus Christ remains a profoundly significant figure even 2000 years after his life on earth. As the central figure of Christianity, his teachings and example continue to influence the lives of billions of adherents across the globe.

Culturally and historically, Jesus has left an undeniable impact as well. His life story has shaped art, literature, philosophy, and social progress over two millennia. While faith in Jesus requires a spiritual leap, the mark he left on human civilization is impossible to deny.

Even in our modern, fast-paced world, the poignant story and timeless wisdom of Jesus Christ still provides meaning, inspiration and hope to people seeking truth. Regardless of one’s personal beliefs, grappling with the extraordinary life and legacy of Jesus is vital for anyone desiring to understand the unfolding of human history.

Amanda Williams is a dedicated Christian writer and blogger who is passionate about sharing Biblical truth and encouraging believers in their faith walks. After working as a youth pastor and Bible teacher for several years, she launched her blog in 2022 to minister to Christians online seeking to grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus Christ. When she's not creating content or connecting with readers, Amanda enjoys studying theology, being out in nature, baking, and spending time with family. Her goal is to provide practical wisdom and hope from a genuine Christian perspective. Amanda currently resides in Colorado with her husband, daughter, and two rescue dogs.

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The resurrection of Jesus (alongside his crucifixion) is the central historical event in the Christian faith. Without the Resurrection, there would be no Christianity. “If Christ has not been raised,” wrote St. Paul, “then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” ( 1 Corinthians 15:14 ).

I am a Christian because I believe in the resurrection. I am convinced that after dying a violent death on a Roman cross on a Friday afternoon in 30 A.D., Jesus of Nazareth came back to life and emerged from the tomb on Sunday morning.

This is not easy to believe. But if it is true, it is the most pivotal event in human history. Much has been written to defend Jesus’ resurrection, the most thorough and convincing book being N. T. Wright’s massive 800-page volume, The Resurrection of the Son of God. [1] If you haven’t done so, I hope you’ll weigh the evidence yourself.

What is unquestionable is that the first generation of Jesus’ followers did believe he had risen and were convinced that everything had changed as a result.

The Significance of Christ's Resurrection

Consider just three ways the New Testament highlights the significance of the resurrection.

1. Jesus’ Resurrection means that his sacrificial death on the cross was sufficient, and therefore our sins can be forgiven.

Paul emphasizes this in 1 Corinthians 15 , reminding us that “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” ( vv. 3-4 ). Then, in verse 17 , he argues that “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”

In other words, Paul saw a direct connection between the resurrection of Jesus and the sufficiency of his death to atone for our sins. When Jesus rose again on the third day, it was the public announcement that God was fully satisfied with the sacrificial death of his Son. In his resurrection, Jesus was vindicated ( 1 Timothy 3:16 ). But in his vindication, we are vindicated too. That’s why Paul says in Romans 4 that Jesus “was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” ( Romans 4:25 ). [2]

2. Jesus’ Resurrection means that death is defeated once and for all.

As Peter proclaimed on the Day of Pentecost, “God raised [Jesus] from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him” ( Acts 2:24 ). Death lost its grip on Jesus!

But the resurrection means that Jesus not only defeated death for himself, but that he defeated it for us. He died and rose as a new representative for humanity, as the Second Adam. “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead,” writes Paul, “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” ( 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 ). His resurrection guarantees ours.

Perhaps no one has said this more eloquently than C. S. Lewis. In his 1947 book Miracles, Lewis wrote:

“The New Testament writers speak as if Christ’s achievement in rising from the dead was the first event of its kind in the whole history of the universe. He is the ‘first fruits,’ the ‘pioneer of life.’ He has forced open a door that has been locked since the death of the first man. He has met, fought, and beaten the King of Death. Everything is different because He has done so. This is the beginning of the New Creation: a new chapter in cosmic history has been opened.” [3]

The empty tomb assures us that sickness and suffering, death and disease will not have the final word.

This is both personal and powerfully hope giving to me. I have terrible eyesight, because of a degenerative eye disorder called karetoconus. I have a child with Type 1 diabetes, who takes at least four insulin shots a day. And my mom, at only 64 years old has advanced Alzheimer’s and hasn’t recognized me for several years. But the resurrection of Jesus means that someday I will have 20/20 vision, and my son will never need another shot again, and that Mom will know me once more.

3. Jesus’ Resurrection means that the material world matters.

Lest there be any misunderstanding, when the apostles said that Jesus rose again, they meant that his physical body came back to life. The risen Jesus wasn’t a phantom or ghost, but a breakfast-eating, flesh-and-bone, human being (see Luke 24:36-43 and John 21:10-14 ).

As the Pulitzer Prize winning novelist John Updike once said,

How Many Hours Did Jesus Spend on the Cross?

Make no mistake: if He rose at all it was as His body; if the cells' dissolution did not reverse, the molecules reknit, the amino acids rekindle, the Church will fall. [4]

When Jesus came out of the tomb in a physical body, it was God’s definitive stamp of approval on the creation project with all of its materiality. The resurrection shows us that matter matters. And this is why the early Christians looked to the future with confidence that the created order itself would be redeemed (see Romans 8:18-25 ).

Though we wait for the full consummation of new creation, the Scriptures also teach that the power that raised Jesus from the dead is already working within us ( Ephesians 1:19-20 ). The resurrection, you see, not only assures of God’s forgiveness and comforts us in suffering as we anticipate the final reversal of death, disease, and decay; it also motivates and empowers us to push back the tide of suffering and evil in the present world, through word and deed, in mercy and justice, all in Jesus’ name.

What the Resurrection Means For Us

Transcribed from the video above with Sam Allberry:

[The Resurrection] should make all the difference. In the New Testament, we see a number of ways in which the reality you have Jesus' resurrection is applied to us as Christians. As we trust in Jesus, we are united to him by faith. And Paul says, therefore, there's a connection between what has happened to Jesus and what happens to us. So Jesus didn't just die and rise, but in Him, we died with Him. We rose with Him and that has massive implications. That's not just symbolic. We actually spiritually have been raised with Christ.

We've been given new spiritual life in Ephesians 2 . In Colossians 3 , we're told since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts and minds on things above. So we're to have the perspective of people who have been spiritually given life. And more than that, we're to have actions as those who have new spiritual life. We're to close ourselves now in this risen life that we've been given in Jesus. So as to affect us in terms of our holiness , we are to be what we are. As those who are raised in Christ, we are to live as risen people.

Brian G. Hedges is the Lead Pastor for Fulkerson Park Baptist Church and the author of Christ Formed in You: The Power of the Gospel for Personal Change , Licensed to Kill: A Field Manual for Mortifying Sin , and Active Spirituality: Grace and Effort in the Christian Life . Brian and his wife Holly have four children and live in South Bend, Indiana. Brian also blogs at www.brianghedges.com and you can follow him on Twitter @brianghedges .

[1] N. T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God (Christian Origins and the Question of God, Volume 3) (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2003).

[2] The Greek word for “justification” ( dikaiosin ) in Romans 4:25 is closely related to the word “vindicated” ( edikaiothe ) in 1 Timothy 3:16 .

[3] C. S. Lewis, Miracles (New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1947) 236–237.

[4] John Updike, “Seven Stanzas of Easter,” in Telephone Poles and Other Poems (Random House, 2013).

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What is Palm Sunday and how is it celebrated worldwide?

FILE - Nuns wait for the start of the Palm Sunday’s mass celebrate by pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square at The Vatican Sunday, April 2, 2023. Palm Sunday will be celebrated by Christians worldwide Sunday, March 24, 2024. It commemorates the Christian belief in the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, when palm branches were strewn before him. It marks the start of Holy Week. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

FILE - Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, center, walks in a procession during the Palm Sunday Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead, in the Old City of Jerusalem, Sunday, April 2, 2023. TPalm Sunday will be celebrated by Christians worldwide Sunday, March 24, 2024. It commemorates the Christian belief in the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, when palm branches were strewn before him. It marks the start of Holy Week. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File)

FILE - Christian faithful march carrying green Palm branches to commemorate Palm Sunday, which marks the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, in the streets of Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, April 2, 2023. Palm Sunday will be celebrated by Christians worldwide Sunday, March 24, 2024. It commemorates the Christian belief in the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, when palm branches were strewn before him. It marks the start of Holy Week. (AP Photo, File)

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Palm Sunday commemorates the Christian belief in the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, when he was greeted by cheering crowds waving palm branches that they set out on the ground along his path, according to the Bible.

This year, Palm Sunday falls on March 24. Also known as Passion Sunday, it marks the start of Holy Week. The most sacred week of the Christian year includes the Good Friday re-enactment of Jesus’ crucifixion story and death, and their belief in his resurrection on Easter.

Here is a quick look at Palm Sunday’s significance.

IS THERE A DONKEY IN THIS STORY?

The procession of Jesus into Jerusalem is described by the four Gospel writers in the Bible.

The Gospels differ, but based on one expert they agree on this: Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey — or a colt. So, which one is it?

Colt is defined as “a young male horse that is usually not castrated.” But in the Bible, the word meaning “colt” is used almost exclusively for young donkeys, not horses, writes Joanne M. Pierce , professor emerita of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross.

Pierce writes that this brings to mind a reference from the Book of Zechariah in Jewish scriptures, where the prophet describes a victorious king who enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey.

Chaplain of The Covenant School Matthew Sullivan stands in the school's church sanctuary where he lead chapel service in the past, Friday, March 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. Facing the first anniversary of a tragic shooting which left six people dead, the school, which has been meeting in a temporary location, prepares to move back into the building where it happened. (AP Photo/John Amis)

In Judaism, she says, the passage from Zechariah refers to the Messiah , a spiritual king who would peacefully redeem Israel, and the donkey is interpreted as a sign of humility .

“In Christianity, this animal becomes almost a symbol of Christ himself, given how it patiently suffers and bears others’ burdens,” Pierce writes in a piece published by The Conversation . “Horses, on the other hand, tend to be associated with royalty, power and war.”

WHAT ABOUT THE PALMS?

In the biblical Palm Sunday story, a cheering crowd greeted Jesus along the road. Some spread their garments on the ground; others threw down leafy branches they had cut from the fields. In the Gospel of John, they are branches from palms, a tree that symbolized victory and triumph.

In the Gospel of Matthew, people began to shout: “Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” The word “Hosanna” was a plea for salvation and an exclamation of adoration.

After the procession, the Bible says Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple.

HOW IS PALM SUNDAY CELEBRATED?

The ritual or liturgy typically starts with a blessing of the palms by clergy. It’s followed by a reading of the Passion of Christ, meaning an account of the final events of Jesus’ life.

Some ceremonies in German-speaking countries used to include a figure of Jesus riding a donkey, Encyclopedia Britannica says . The figure is called a “ Palmesel ,” or German for “palm donkey,” according to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, which on its site recounts how worshippers would lay palms on the ground before the Palmesel during lively processions.

Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land mark Palm Sunday by holding Masses and processions retracing Jesus’ triumphal entry. Worshippers carry palm fronds and olive branches and march from the top of the neighboring Mount of Olives to Jerusalem’s historic Old City, home to holy sites of the three Abrahamic monotheistic faiths.

In churches around the world, the palms are often taken home by congregants, and some will become ashes.

HOW DO THE PALMS TURN INTO ASHES?

Ashes can be purchased, but some churches make their own by burning the palms from prior years.

They’re used to make the ashes for Ash Wednesday , the solemn day of fasting and reflection that signals the start of Christianity’s most penitent season.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

What is Good Friday? Here's what to know about the holy holiday

The events leading up to good friday are known as holy week, which starts on palm sunday and ends on easter sunday, by danielle smith • published 2 hours ago.

In the springtime, families around the world celebrate Easter .

For many Christians , Easter is an important holiday with church services to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. For others, it’s a secular celebration with bunnies, treat-filled baskets and decorated eggs.

But two days before Easter Sunday is another important Christian holiday. Known as Good Friday, the holy day commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus.

Keep reading to learn about the meaning behind Good Friday and how Christians observe it:

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What is good friday.

According to the Christian faith, Jesus was arrested and put on trial for claiming to be the Son of God. Roman authorities sentenced him to death by crucifixion. He was beaten and forced to carry a wooden cross to the place of execution — called Golgotha or Calvary — where he was nailed to the cross and left to die. Jesus was eventually taken down from the cross and buried, according to the Bible.

Christians believe Jesus died on the cross to save humanity from its sins and restore people's relationship with God. Many Christians refer to this belief as the Atonement.

Commemorating Jesus' crucifixion, Good Friday is a solemn day of mourning and reflection for Christians, who often attend special church services and prayer vigils.

Good Friday is a part of Holy Week, which includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, and Good Friday, leading up to Easter Sunday.

When is Good Friday?

In 2024, the religious holiday will take place on Friday, March 29.

The date of Good Friday changes every year depending on when Passover occurs. Easter Sunday is always two days later.

Why is it called Good Friday?

So, what's so good about Good Friday?

“It’s a very weird day to call ‘good’ when you have your savior and Messiah die,” said Rev. Dr. Brent Strawn, a professor of Old Testament at Duke Divinity School and an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church. “Why would you call that a good day?”

The reason why Good Friday is called "good" is not entirely clear. One common explanation is that the word "good" originally meant "holy" in Old English, so "Good Friday" could be synonymous with "Holy Friday" or "God's Friday."

Strawn says he doesn't think the name is trivializing.

“For those people who have Christian faith, it is a good thing that Christ died for us,” Strawn said. “It gave us peace with God and made us at one with God.”

Strawn says another reason for the name Good Friday might stem from a deeper understanding of goodness and an awareness that Easter and the salvation of humanity are near.

“For me, it really suggests that, in Christianity’s most robust and thoughtful forms, this is not a rejection of the sadness and tragedy of death, but rather a real thick understanding of the goodness that came out of a very tragic thing,” Strawn said.

How do Christians observe Good Friday?

Christians observe Good Friday in different ways, but here are some standard practices:

Fasting : Some Christians fast to commemorate Jesus' sacrifice, while others will refrain from eating meat.

Stations of the Cross : In this 14-step devotional practice, people retrace Jesus' final steps before his crucifixion. The stations are often represented through paintings in a church or outdoors.

Good Friday Processions : Some countries and cultures march with images and statues of Jesus or reenact his crucifixion.

Prayer and Church Services : Many Christians pray to contemplate the significance of Jesus' sacrifice and his death.

Although Christians know Easter is approaching, church services on Good Friday often reflect the tone of the crucifixion and death of Jesus through Bible readings, prayers and hymns.

Strawn says Christian worship services often end with Jesus’ words from the cross — “It is finished” — with the congregation leaving quietly in total darkness.

“The downplayed or somber nature of worship on Good Friday shows that Christians are trying to take that low point seriously and to really feel the full weight of Christ’s death,” Strawn said.

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The Resurrection of Jesus Is the Most Important Event in History

Tyler O'Neil / @Tyler2ONeil / March 26, 2024

The Resurrection of Jesus is the most important event in world history, because if the disciples didn't believe Jesus rose from the dead, Christianity wouldn't have changed the world. (Photo: Getty Images)

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Christians around the world will commemorate the most important event in our faith’s history this Sunday, but the Resurrection of Jesus isn’t just important to those who believe a Nazarene who walked the earth 2,000 years ago is the Son of God. The secular world’s history also turns on this pivotal event, which inspired so much progress that we take for granted today.

Christianity turned the values of the Pagan Roman world upside-down . The Romans considered the early Christians subversives—many called them “atheists” because they didn’t worship any pagan gods—and put them to death for refusing to worship the emperor. After some emperors adopted the faith, Emperor Julian attempted to revive paganism, but lamented that the Christian ethic had transformed the empire.

“It is their benevolence to strangers, their care for the graves of the dead, and the pretended holiness of their lives that have done most to increase atheism,” Julian wrote to a pagan priest of Galatia in 362 A.D. Those who believed in the Resurrection established the first hospitals, and Christianity spread rapidly during Roman plagues, as pagans fled the cities, but Christians stayed and tended to the sick , risking death but saving souls.

Rodney Stark, a now-deceased social sciences professor at Baylor University and author of the book “The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success,” told PJ Media in 2017 that without the Resurrection, “we would still be in a world of mystery and probably in a world of repressive empires.”

“Remember, at the dawn of history, people didn’t live in really tiny countries. They lived under huge, huge empires, nasty ones,” the professor added. He argued that Christianity historically has been the driving force behind limited government, science, capitalism, the abolition of slavery, medicine, organized charities, and more—and that Christianity would have been impossible without the belief in the Resurrection.

According to the four Gospel narratives, Jesus’ followers were quick to abandon their rabbi after his excruciating and humiliating death at Golgatha. Something convinced the same Peter who denied Jesus three times to later go to his own painful death saying that Jesus is the Messiah. In I Corinthians 15:17, the Apostle Paul wrote, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins.”

1. Universities and Science

While many consider faith and science to be inherently incompatible, Stark noted that Christianity provides the worldview that makes science comprehensible.

“In the rest of the world, it’s thought that the universe is far too mystical to be worth thinking about,” much less experimenting on, Stark explained. But “in the West, the universe was created by a rational God , and consequently it runs by rules and, therefore, it makes sense to try to understand and discover the rules.”

Christians believe that a rational God created an ordered cosmos and created human beings in his image, enabling them to think his thoughts after him.

Modern universities grew out of the cathedral schools of the Middle Ages, and a bishop near the university at Paris made a surprising move in 1277. The bishop condemned certain ideas as anathema, among them the idea that the universe is eternal and could not have been different. These ideas, promulgated by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle (whom both the Muslim world and the university students held in extremely high regard), discouraged experimentation. If mere deductive reasoning could reveal the full truth of the cosmos, then there was no need to examine the world to test different hypotheses.

By condemning this idea, the bishop paradoxically helped free science from the shackles of Aristotelian thought.

2. Free Markets

It is hard to overstate just how wealthy modern Americans are in comparison to most human beings throughout history. Inflation is rising and it is increasingly difficult to afford a home, but Americans still enjoy the conveniences of indoor plumbing, heating and cooling, rapid transportation, refrigerators and microwave ovens, and endless options for learning and entertainment via the internet and electronic devices.

The term capitalism may be controversial, but the free market complexity that unleashed this jaw-dropping prosperity and innovation deserves respect and protection. While the German sociologist Max Weber famously traced capitalism back to the “Protestant work ethic,” Stark found an earlier source— the Catholic monasteries in the Middle Ages.

Catholic monasteries set up a complex network of lending at interest, and they also changed the narrative on commerce. “In almost all known societies at that time, commerce was degraded. It was thought to be nothing a gentleman would have any connection to,” Stark explained. Yet “Christian theologians, who had taken vows of poverty, nonetheless worked out that commerce was legitimate.”

The growth of complex markets took centuries, and some of it did tie in to darker chapters of world history.

3. The Abolition of Slavery

In one form or another, slavery appears in almost every human society, and if slaves ever succeed in overthrowing their masters, they often turn their former masters into slaves.

“It was only in the West that a society has ever overcome slavery, except when it’s forced by outside forces,” Stark said. Christianity inspired the “only civilization that has ever discovered within itself that slavery is immoral and gotten rid of it.”

Medieval Europe first eliminated slavery, often in fits and starts, and occasionally returning to the practice through trade. Slavery and the slave trade returned in force during the Age of Exploration, but in the 1800s, abolitionists such as William Wilberforce and Harriet Beecher Stowe led Britain and America in abolishing chattel slavery outright.

Abolitionists like them drew deep inspiration from the Christian belief that all humans are made in the image of God, and they deeply believed in the Resurrection of Jesus.

The New Testament does not require Christians to outlaw slavery, but outlawing slavery is the logical conclusion of key Christian doctrines. The Apostle Paul urged Philemon to free his former slave Onesimus. Paul also wrote to the Galatians that, when it comes to the grace of God in salvation, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

4. Limited Government

Most Americans today have no concept of how united religion and government have been in world history. In ancient Egypt, Pharaohs claimed to be gods on Earth, and in ancient Mesopotamia, kings built large temples to their gods in part to maintain their legitimacy. The three-generation Kim family in control of North Korea perpetuates the idea that the supreme ruler is god.

Christianity wrested ultimate power away from political rulers, teaching that God held the ultimate authority. St. Augustine divided the world into the “City of Man” and the “City of God,” emphasizing the independence of the life of faith and service from the concerns of power and everyday life.

Civil society grew and flourished because Christians believed both in helping the poor and in working together outside of government institutions. According to David Brooks’ 2007 book “ Who Really Cares : The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism,” conservatives in strong families who attend church and earn their own paychecks are most likely to give to charity.

While Jesus famously told his disciples to pay taxes to the government, he also drew an enormously important distinction. “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17) didn’t just mean “pay your taxes.” It also meant that Christians—who are made in God’s image as coins were made in Caesar’s image—owe their ultimate loyalty to God, not to the state.

The early settlers to America and the Founders employed these principles in government. The Declaration of Independence grounds Americans’ right to revolt from Britain in “the laws of nature and nature’s God.” The First Amendment forbids Congress from making any law “respecting an establishment of religion or abridging the free exercise thereof,” not because religion is unimportant, but because religion is far more important than the government.

This separation marks Christian civilization apart from the despotisms of the ancient world and from the communist and fascist totalitarianisms of the 20th century. Civil societies exist in other parts of the world as well, but Christianity provides a unique justification for subordinating state power to other concerns.

Does All This Suggest the Resurrection Is True?

These and other benefits of Christian civilization extend far beyond those who believe in Jesus’ Resurrection, and these benefits do not erase the many sins and deceptions perpetrated in the name of Christianity over the centuries. However, they do illustrate the side-effects of faith in Jesus, which calls Christians to become the “salt of the Earth” and the “light of the world.”

If the Holy Spirit is working in Christian churches, the blessings of this faith will spill over to those who do not accept the Gospel.

These blessings are exactly what we should look for, supposing the Resurrection is true.

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Palm Sunday is here: What the Holy Day means for Christians

Holy Week kicks off this weekend and Christians are preparing for Palm Sunday , which honors the last days of Jesus, his trial and crucifixion.

Palm Sunday is celebrated on the first day of Holy Week, the Sunday before Easter. This year, the Palm Sunday falls on March 24.

Christians celebrate the holiday by distributing blessed palm leaves among the congregation of the church.

Traditionally, churches will keep some of the blessed palms, burn them to ash and use the ashes for Ash Wednesday the next year and churchgoers will keep the leaves of the palms and fold them into crosses. But palm leaves are always involved in the celebration.

Christians around the world celebrate Palm Sunday to mark the beginning of the journey that ends with Jesus' death and resurrection, said Mark Jobe, president of the Moody Bible Institute and founding pastor of the New Life Community Church in Chicago.

According to the gospels, Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem and people welcomed him as their king with palm branches, said Jobe. People thought he'd release them from Roman oppression, but Roman soldiers crucified him days later.

What do palm branches symbolize on Palm Sunday?

The large, long palm branches were common in the Holy Land, Jobe said. During ancient times, they symbolized goodness and victory.

"It wasn't something unique to Jesus," he previously told USA TODAY. "When kings would come to town or when conquering warriors would come in, they would welcome them with palm branches, which they would throw on the ground in front of them."

And during Grecian Games, winners would be welcomed with the branches, too, he said.

Why do Christians celebrate Palm Sunday?

According to Jobe, the book of Luke states that as Jesus approached the cheering crowd that welcomed him, he saw that his people wanted political peace but were in desperate need of "spiritual peace."

"Palm Sunday makes no sense unless you understand that shortly after, Jesus would die and pay the price for anybody, no matter prostitute or religious person, to forgive their sins and to give them an entrance into a new kingdom called the kingdom of Heaven," Jobe said.

Jesus entered the city knowing he'd be crucified, Bishop Vashti McKenzie, interim president and general secretary of the National Council of Churches, told USA TODAY.

"The first chapter in Genesis talks about how God created the world," said McKenzie. "Palm Sunday begins the journey of how God saved the world through the death and resurrection of Jesus."

When was the first Palm Sunday?

After the first celebration in the gospels, the first recorded Palm Sunday dates back to the 4th century in Jerusalem, Jobe said. The ceremony wasn't introduced to Western Christianity until about the 9th century.

What does the donkey symbolize?

According to Jobe, Conquering kings typically rode in chariots or on the back of stallions, so Jesus riding a donkey went against the norm.

The donkey, he said, was a symbol of peace but it also represented the fulfillment of a prophecy from Zechariah 9:9.

"Your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey," the chapter reads.

The donkey is also a symbol of humility, said McKenzie, from the National Council of Churches.

What do modern Palm Sunday celebrations look like?

Today, Palm Sunday celebrations vary according to the denomination.

Some people wear red or purple that day, Jobe said.

Churchgoers sing praise songs and lift palm branches of various sizes at the "very celebratory worship service," said McKenzie.

The branches are blessed and some families take them home, placing them on desks or shelves to remember the event.

"Traditionally, some of the branches are saved," she said. "They're not given out to people. They are saved and when you get to Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent, the ashes come from those burnt palm branches."

She stressed a true understanding of why Christians celebrate Palm Sunday.

"It is a time of celebration," she said. "Jesus died on the cross and when he died on the cross, he died for all of us, not for some of us, not for a few chosen few, but all of us."

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter , Instagram and TikTok : @juliamariegz.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757 – and loves all things horror, witches, Christmas, and food. Follow her on Twitter at @Saleen_Martin or email her at [email protected] .

Good Friday 2024: Here's Why You Shouldn't Greet Anyone 'Happy Good Friday'

G ood Friday holds significant religious importance for Christians, commemorating the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is regarded as one of the most important religious events across the world. Despite its name, Good Friday is a solemn day, not a joyful one, so it’s advised to avoid wishing people a ‘Happy Good Friday’ on this occasion.

ALSO READ: Good Friday 2024: Quotes, and Can Catholics Eat Meat on This Day?

According to the New Testament, Jesus was crucified by the Romans on this day after being accused of blasphemy for proclaiming himself the Son of God. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, ordered his execution. Judas, one of his followers, betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver, leading to his arrest by Roman soldiers.

What happened on Good Friday?

According to the legends, Jesus carried the cross to Calvary, the site of his execution, where he was nailed to the crucifix and left until his death. This day is a time for Christians to reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice, suffering and death.

Easter Sunday, celebrated a day after Good Friday, commemorates Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, which the New Testament states occurred on the third day after his burial. The term Good Friday comes from the word ‘good’ in the sense of pious or holy. In German-speaking countries, it is often referred to as Mourning Friday.

Why is ‘Happy Good Friday’ inappropriate?

Given the solemn nature of Good Friday, it is considered inappropriate to greet someone with ‘Happy Good Friday.’ Unlike other holidays that are joyous occasions, such as Christmas or Easter, Good Friday is a day of mourning and contemplation. Christians observe this day by attending church services, reflecting on the passion and suffering of Christ and often fasting as a sign of mourning.

It is a day of deep spiritual significance, symbolising Jesus’ sacrifice to atone for the sins of humanity. While the word ‘good’ in Good Friday may seem contradictory, it is believed to signify the goodness of God’s act of salvation through Christ’s sacrifice.

“Describing the day of Jesus’ death as ‘good’ seems strange,” said Rev. Dr. Brent Strawn, a professor of Old Testament at Duke Divinity School, in an interview with NBC New York Times. He questioned, “Why would you consider a day when your savior and Messiah dies as good?”

The origins of why Good Friday is called “Good” are not entirely clear, the report explains. One common theory is that in Old English, “good” was synonymous with “holy,” so “Good Friday” could have originally meant “Holy Friday” or “God’s Friday.”

What to say instead?

Instead of saying ‘Happy Good Friday,’ it is more appropriate to offer a message of reflection and blessing. You can say, ‘Have a blessed Good Friday,’ or simply, ‘Thinking of you on this solemn day.’ These messages convey empathy and understanding of the significance of the day for Christians.

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The Deeper Meaning of the Presentation in the Temple
All of this helps us to see that the Presentation in the Temple was about two important things: (1) the purification of Mary and (2) the redemption of baby Jesus. So far so good. But there are two other elements here which are worth paying attention to. For one thing, the Mosaic Law nowhere demanded that the purification or the redemption take ...
Why the Feast of the Presentation is More Important Than You Think
February 2, 2017. There is one more sacred day that should not be lost in avalanche of the "winter holidays.". February 2 - the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord - deserves more attention than just being the absolute final day for the Christmas decorations. (Not that I am above playing the 'Catholic card' when questioned about ...
Presentation of the Lord
It is on the Cross that Jesus will be definitively confirmed as a sign of contradiction, and it is there that his Mother's heart will be pierced by the sword of sorrow. We are told it all from the beginning, on the 40th day after Jesus' birth, on the feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, so important in the Church's liturgy."
The Significance of the Presentation of the Lord
In old days, the Presentation was often referred to as "Candlemas" and was celebrated by a candle-lit procession into the church, signifying Christ as the "light of nations.". Known originally as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is a relatively ancient celebration.
Presentation of Jesus
The Presentation of Jesus is an early episode in the life of Jesus Christ, describing his presentation at the Temple in Jerusalem.It is celebrated by many churches 40 days after Christmas on Candlemas, or the "Feast of the Presentation of Jesus".The episode is described in chapter 2 of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament. Within the account, "Luke's narration of the Presentation in the ...
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas)
Updated on July 03, 2019. Known originally as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is a relatively ancient celebration. The Church at Jerusalem observed the feast as early as the first half of the fourth century, and likely earlier. The feast celebrates the presentation of Christ in the ...
Luke 2:22-35 NET
Jesus' Presentation at the Temple - Now when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male will be set apart to the Lord"), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves or two ...
Reflections for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Introduction: This feast commemorates how Jesus, as a baby, was presented to God in the Temple in Jerusalem.This presentation finds its complete and perfect fulfillment in the mystery of the passion, death and Resurrection of the Lord. The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is a combined feast, commemorating the Jewish practice of the purification of the mother after childbirth and the ...
The Presentation of the Lord reminds us of the importance of community
The Presentation of the Lord reminds us of the importance of community. Today we celebrate Jesus' presentation at the temple. This event is recorded only in the Gospel of Luke and is rooted in ...
Reflection for the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple
Simeon speaks of an important dynamic of Jesus' life and of our own lives as Christians - that the joy of salvation comes through embracing and transcending conflict and suffering. In the Epiphanytide readings we have heard of Jesus' healing ministry but also the questioning thoughts of those who encountered him.
Why We Celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
On February 2, we observe the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, honoring Jesus Christ's presentation in the Temple when he was a young child. The Fourth Joyful Mystery portrayed in the Presentation Chapel Fulfillment of the Old Covenant. Jesus' presentation in the Temple reflects how he fulfills the Old Covenant.
The Presentation of Jesus
Upon the eighth day following His birth, the Lord was Luke ii. 21. circumcised, and the name Jesus given Him. Forty days after the birth, Mary presented herself with the child Luke ii. 22-38. at the Temple in accordance with the law, and after the presentation returned again to Bethlehem.. The order of events following Christ's birth to the time He went to reside at Nazareth, is much disputed.
Presentation of Our Lord
Why is the Presentation of Jesus important? The Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraph 529) teaches, The presentation of Jesus in the temple shows him to be the firstborn Son who belongs to the Lord. With Simeon and Anna, all Israel awaits its encounter with the Savior-the name given to this event in the Byzantine tradition. Jesus is ...
The Presentation of the Lord
The important thing to remember is that God kept his promise by sending his Son to be our Savior. Ask the children why there is a collection basket with "money" up front. Remind the children that in the Gospel story, "[Mary and Joseph took Jesus] to present him to the Lord . . . and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two ...
The Presentation and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Obedience, or fidelity to the law, is a major theme in both mysteries. The Law required the new parents, after a period of forty days, to offer a sacrifice of a yearling lamb and a young turtledove or pigeon as a sin offering. If the couple could not afford a lamb, a second turtledove or pigeon could be ...
The Significance Of The Temple In Jesus'S Life
The temple in Jerusalem played a pivotal role in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. As the center of Jewish worship and tradition, Jesus's interactions with the temple shaped his mission and message in profound ways. This article will explore the deep meaning behind Jesus's experiences at the temple, from his presentation there as an ...
Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple celebrates an early episode in the life of Jesus. It falls between the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul on January 25 th, and the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter on February 22 nd . In the Roman Catholic Church, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple is the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.
The presentation of Jesus at the temple
In Luke 2:22-39a, we read about the presentation of Jesus at the temple. According to Jewish law, when a firstborn son is 40 days old, he is to be presented to the Lord at the temple and a sacrifice is to be made. Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple and presented him to Simeon, a righteous and devout man who had been waiting for the ...
Lessons from the presentation of jesus in the temple
The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple (or inthe temple) is an early episode in the life of Jesus Christ, describing his presentation at the Temple in Jerusalem, that is celebrated by many churches 40 days after Christmas on Candlemas, formally the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus. The episode is described in chapter 2 of the Gospel of Luke ...
what is the significance of the presentation of jesus in the temple
July 24, 2022. The presentation of Jesus in the temple is significant because it marks the beginning of Jesus' life as a man, and demonstrates his holiness. Jesus was born to fulfill a prophecy in the Old Testament that said that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, which is why Mary and Joseph traveled there after they heard about it.
Why Is Jesus Important? A Detailed Look At The Significance Of Jesus
The core themes of Jesus' teaching centered on the Kingdom of God being imminent. He urged people to repent their sins before God's judgment. Yet he also brought a message of grace, dining with sinners and outcasts of society. Overall, Jesus placed love for God and neighbors as life's greatest commands.
The Significance of Jesus' Resurrection: Why It Matters Today
Consider just three ways the New Testament highlights the significance of the resurrection. 1. Jesus' Resurrection means that his sacrificial death on the cross was sufficient, and therefore our sins can be forgiven. Paul emphasizes this in 1 Corinthians 15, reminding us that "Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that ...
Lorenzetti, Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
This is a common confusion but the Circumcision and the Presentation in the Temple are two DIFFERENT events. The circumcision occurred when Christ was eight days old. The Presentation, also known as the Purification of Mary, took place 40 days after his birth on Feb. 2 when Mary goes to the temple to be purified according to Jewish law.
What is Good Friday? What the holy day means for Christians wordwide
What is Good Friday? Good Friday is the day Christ was sacrificed on the cross. According to Britannica, it is a day for "sorrow, penance, and fasting." "Good Friday is part of something else ...
What is Palm Sunday and how is it celebrated worldwide?
FILE - Christian faithful march carrying green Palm branches to commemorate Palm Sunday, which marks the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, in the streets of Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, April 2, 2023. Palm Sunday will be celebrated by Christians worldwide Sunday, March 24, 2024. It commemorates the Christian belief in the triumphant entry of ...
Good Friday 2024: The meaning and history
Many Christians refer to this belief as the Atonement. Commemorating Jesus' crucifixion, Good Friday is a solemn day of mourning and reflection for Christians, who often attend special church ...
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Updated: 9:05 AM MDT March 29, 2024. WASHINGTON — On Easter morning, many Christians wake before dawn to celebrate their belief in the resurrection of Jesus, the son of God — as the sun rises ...
Why Jesus' Resurrection Is Most Important Event in World History
Tyler O'Neil / @Tyler2ONeil / March 26, 2024. The Resurrection of Jesus is the most important event in world history, because if the disciples didn't believe Jesus rose from the dead, Christianity ...
What is Palm Sunday? What it means for Christians, why it's celebrated
Holy Week kicks off this weekend and Christians are preparing for Palm Sunday, which honors the last days of Jesus, his trial and crucifixion. Palm Sunday is celebrated on the first day of Holy ...
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Good Friday holds significant religious importance for Christians, commemorating the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is regarded as one of the most important religious events across the world ...

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Lesson - NT: Life of Jesus 01 - Jesus presented at the temple (Download PDF)

Children's moment - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - The welcoming committee

Craft - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - Naming the baby

Craft - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - The arrival of the Messiah

Experiment - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - Is it a duck or a rabbit?

Game - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - Bringing good tidings

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Game - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - The promise fulfilled

Icebreaker - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - Unleash the shaving foam

Object lesson - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - An allegorical story

Object lesson - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - Creating a swaddling cloth

Object lesson - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - Israel feels forgotten by God

Prayer idea - NT: Life of Jesus 01: Jesus presented at the temple - Longing for God

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