Dedication of Jesus

Sunday, December 20, 2015
Exodus 13:13-15; Luke 2:22-32 KJV

13 And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem. 14 And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What [is] this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage: 15 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem. 


22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present [him] to the Lord; 23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name [was] Simeon; and the same man [was] just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What were the children of God to redeem after taking possession of their land of promise and with what were they to redeem each? (v.13)
2) What were the children of Israel to tell their children when they asked why they made these sacrifices? (v.14-15)
3) What did Mary do following the birth of Jesus? Why? (v.22-24)
4) Who was Simeon and what did God do for him? Why? (v.25-26)
5) What was Simeon doing when Jesus' earthly parents brought Him to the temple and what did Simeon say upon seeing the Christ child? (v.27-32)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) What are you expecting from the Lord before Jesus returns?

LIFE LESSONS
7) To prepare for Jesus' return, we must ask the Lord to rid us of all that is not like Him or of Him.
8) To prepare for the Lord's return, we must ask Him to bring us into alignment with His word and His will.