The TIME CAME for Mary and Joseph to do what the Law of Moses says a mother is supposed to do after her baby is born.
They took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem and presented him to the Lord, just as the Law of the Lord says, “Each first-born baby boy belongs to the Lord. “The Law of the Lord also says that parents have to offer a sacrifice, giving at least a pair of doves or two young pigeons. So that is what Mary and Joseph did.
At this time a man named Simeon was living in Jerusalem. Simeon was a good man. He loved God and was waiting for God to save the people of Israel. God’s spirit came to him and told him that he would not die until he had seen Jesus Christ the Lord.
When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to do what the Law of Moses says should be done for a new baby, the Spirit told Simeon to go into the temple. Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God,
“Lord, I am your servant, and now I can die in peace, because you have kept your promise to me. With my own eyes I have seen what you have done to save your people, and foreign nations will also see this. Your mighty power is a light for all nations, and it will bring honor to your people Israel.” Jesus’ parents were surprised at what Simeon had said. Then he blessed them and told Mary, “This child of yours will cause many of people in Israel to rise and many to fall and others to stand. The child will be like a warning sign. Many people will reject him, and you, Mary, will suffer as you have been stabbed by a dagger. But all this will show what people are really thinking.”
The prophet Anna was also there in the temple. She was the daughter of Famuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. In her youth she had been married for seven years, but her husband died. And now she was 84 years old. Night and day she served God in the temple by praying and often going without eating.
At that time Anna went in and praised God. She spoke about the child Jesus to everyone who hoped for Jerusalem to be set free.
After Joseph and Mary have done everything that the law of the Lord commands, they returned home to Nazareth and Galilee. The child Jesus grew. He became strong and wise, and God blessed him.
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for Passover. And when Jesus was 12 years old, they all went there as usual for the celebration. After Passover his parents left, but they did not know that Jesus stayed on in the city. They thought he was travelling with some other people, and they went a whole day before they started looking for him. When they could not find him with their relatives and friends, they went back to Jerusalem and started looking for him there.
Three days later they found Jesus, listening to the teachers and asking him questions. Everyone who heard him was surprised. Everyone who heard him was surprised at how much he knew and at all the answers he gave.
When his parents found him, they were amazed. His mother said, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been very worried, and we have been searching for you!”
Jesus answered, “Why did you have to look for me? Didn’t you know that I would be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he meant.
Jesus went back to Nazareth with his parents and obeyed them. His mother kept on thinking about all that had happened.
Jesus became wise, and he grew strong. God was pleased with him and so were the people.
(Quoted from Luke 2:P22-52,
(Contemporary English Version)