The Presentation at the Temple may seem a rather humdrum event in the life of Christ, but that is now how it was viewed in first century Israel. God had not been back to the Temple since the destruction of the first temple (Solomon’s Temple) to the Babylonians in 586 BC.
You may recall that in the desert during the Exodus, the LORD came to the Tabernacle (the tent with the Ark of the Covenant) in a cloud; He made his presence with them. Once in Israel, when Solomon built the first Temple, the cloud of the LORD came there as well. However, the Lord departed the Temple before the Babylonian's attacked.
After the Babylonian Exile, a smaller 2nd Temple was built as rebuilt in 516 AD. But the cloud of the LORD did not return. Ezekiel prophesied that the LORD would return, and so did Malachi, which is the first reading Sunday. “And suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord who you seek, the Messenger of the Covenant.” (Mal 3:1). These long-awaited prophesies are finally fulfilled at the Presentation of Jesus. The prophet Simeon and the prophetess Anna are there to herald the event.
There’s more. Hope to see you Tuesday.
Ron
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