The dedication of the Christ Child.
Josiah is now 2 months old, and soon we will have the privilege of dedicating him to the Lord with our friends and family at our church. I read an article the other day that spoke to the significance of dedication from a biblical perspective. This post isn’t about dedication versus infant baptism- maybe another day. Rather, the impression that was left in my mind after reading the passage in Luke, chapter 2 about Jesus being brought to the temple when he was eight days old. In the Old Testament, Hannah brought her son Samuel to be dedicated to the Lord and ended up making a great sacrifice as a mother. I am sure it must have been difficult, after saying, ‘Lord he’s yours’ to actually have to say goodbye to him so God could use him. And God did just that. Hannah had to trust God to see the bigger picture when she couldn’t.
And then in the New Testament, Mary and Joseph, faithfully following the religious laws of the times took Jesus to the temple as a ‘holy offering’ (the Message). They got so much more than they expected. If I were to imagine I was Mary, I see myself walking into Quest on that dedication Sunday morning, with Josiah in my arms, when someone older and wiser from our congregation would run up to me, look at my son, and then look to the Heavens praising God. Saying my child is special and God is going to use him to do miracles, and free people, and bring justice and compassion to an unjust and scary world! Would I believe them? Would I think they were crazy? Again, Mary had to trust God to see the bigger picture when she couldn’t.
Dedicating our children, committing them to the Lord, is not just a religious rite of passage or rule that we must follow to be good Christians. It is a sign of a parents faith and trust in God to see the greatness in our children, and their ability to be used by Him. It is our response of worship to God, entrusting our children into His care, and also a very serious and reverent commitment to teach our children the ways of God so they can know Him, love Him, serve Him, and be used by Him. We dedicate them in community to have both accountability and support from people with whom we share the joys and burdens of raising our kids to have faith.
And then, there is Simeon, the old man at the temple who saw Jesus, being carried by his mother Mary, and knew from listening to God, that he was the ONE. And he had no fear to declare it though I’m sure many around him thought he was crazy! Do I have ears to hear God in that way? And what Simeon spoke about Jesus to his mother Mary was beautiful! (from the Message) ‘The child marks both the failure and recovery of many in Israel, a figure misunderstood and contradicted- the pain of a sword- thrust through you- but the rejection will force honesty, as God reveals who they really are.’
The Christ Child, though fully God, was also fully human (especially from his parents perspective I’m sure!) and when he was brought to the temple to be dedicated Simeon saw in Him the greatness of God, and God’s bigger picture, God’s revelation to each of us that we need a Savior, and that Savior is Him, Christ Jesus.
This is what I have learned today when I opened God’s word.
santa or jesus?
for the past few months, Corey and I have been reading two christmas books to Ezra that explain the birth of Jesus and how he came to earth to save us from our sins. Since the christmas season has begun we’ve talked about the birth of Jesus, but we have also been talking about Santa and snow and christmas trees and gift giving (and receiving). Many people have asked Ezra if he’s met santa, or if he’s been a good boy this year so he will get presents. Santa and the american culture christmas I must say is very easy to introduce because we are surrounded by visual aids everywhere we go. When we put our Christmas tree up, we talked about the star at the top that is like the star God put in the sky to show where Baby Jesus was. Every time we see a star we try to make that connection. we haven’t been very good about giving other visual symbols of the story of the birth of christ yet other than the books.
S0 I found it quite amusing this afternoon, a while after putting some window cling-ons up of santa, snowflakes and some reindeer, that Ezra looked at them, pointed and said “Jesus! Stars!” Clearly he was confusing Santa with Jesus and the snowflakes with stars.
In a season that is inundated with excitement about gift giving,shopping, sending cards, holiday parties, and christmas decorations, how do we truly make Christ the center of this season, while still enjoying the fun traditions and tales of the season? Having a toddler in my home definitely makes this issue so much more important. I suppose in years past I’ve been able to balance or intwine my faith and cultural traditions in a way that makes sense to me. But as we try to teach our children it takes much more thought and intention to share with them what is most important, what it most valuable and significant in this season, and what the true meaning of Christmas actually is.
I doubt that Jesus would mind be likened to Saint Nicolas of old, but I’m not sure about the jolly round man with a beard. A conversation with Ezra about Santa goes like this, “chin. beard. pull it.” (thanks Brian) A conversation with Ezra about Jesus usually goes like this, “bible. amen.” I hope by the end of the season we have given Ezra a few more words and images to attach to his understanding of who Jesus is, what Christmas is, and clarify this whole santa, jesus mistaken identity issue.
