And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who 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.” (Luke 2:21-24)

Jesus Had Faithful Parents

The Son of God dwelt in glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit before time began. Through Jesus, God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth, both seen and unseen. The universe was created for Him. Jesus would come to earth in the form of a man and possess the power to raise the dead, heal all diseases, control nature to His will, and exercise authority over the world of Satan. When He rose from the dead, He was given all authority both in heaven and on earth. Jesus would be the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, preeminent above all. There is salvation in no other name but Jesus Christ.

There was a time in the life of Jesus that He was not in control of His surroundings. Conceived in the womb by the Holy Spirit, the Son of God would enter the world like every other human since Eve gave birth to Cain. The pregnancy of Mary would be the characteristic nine months with the child growing daily in her womb. Arriving in Bethlehem for the census required by the Roman government, Mary gave birth to Jesus and laid Him in a manger as Joseph looked on with wonderment. Eight days later, in accordance with the Law of Moses, Jesus was circumcised and officially called Jesus as directed by the angel before the Son of God was conceived in the womb. Forty days after Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary made the short trip to Jerusalem to present their son to the Lord as directed by the Law of Moses. The law required every male to be dedicated to the Lord, offering either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. Joseph and Mary did exactly what the law required.

Luke records in the genealogy of Jesus that Joseph was the supposed father of Jesus. This is in accordance with the fact that Joseph was not the father of Jesus but he took on the role of the earthly father for the Son of God. Joseph was responsible for caring for Mary and Jesus and he exemplified himself to that task. After the birth of Jesus, Joseph found a house to live in for the next few years. When Joseph was warned by an angel of the Lord of Herod’s murderous plot, he took Mary and the young child Jesus to Egypt. It was on the shoulders of Joseph to care for the family. Jesus crawled on all fours and then learned how to walk. The Son of God began to form sentences and go from baby babble to words. His hair began to grow and His body changed from an infant to a young boy. The family left Egypt and took up residence in Nazareth, where Jesus would be known as the son of a carpenter. At the age of twelve, He astonished the teachers at the Temple with His wisdom. Luke again notes the relationship of Jesus with Joseph and Mary when he writes the Son of God was subject to them as He increased in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and men.

The parents of Jesus were faithful to the word of the Lord. Gabriel came to Mary to tell her of the blessing bestowed upon her by the grace of God and she believed his word. When the angel of the Lord told Joseph not to put Mary away because she was pregnant, he humbly obeyed. Giving birth to the Son of God did not change the requirements of the Law. On the eighth day, Jesus had to be circumcised and presented at the Temple on the 40^th day. Joseph and Mary obeyed the word of the Lord. They went each year to the Temple to fulfill the law, a journey of seventy miles. Joseph and Mary taught Jesus the word of the Lord and talked of the law in their home when they walked by the way and lay down and arose in the morning. The word of the Lord was placed before Jesus to know and understand the will of the Father. Jesus was taught to love the Lord God with all His heart, soul, and strength.

When Jesus hung on the cross, knowing His life was quickly fading, He turned to His mother and told her He loved her. Joseph had died before Jesus began His ministry and Mary had been a constant companion during His short ministry. Jesus knew He would be raised from the dead but then return to the Heavenly Father. He looked upon the tear-stained face of the beloved woman who bore Him into the world and said, “Behold your son.” It is clear how much Jesus loved His mother. He knew the burdens she carried and the sword that pierced her heart as she cared for Jesus. The amazing picture of Mary at the cross is that she knew without any doubt that Jesus was the Son of God and said nothing. That was the will of God and she obeyed. Mary was faithful even as her beloved little boy suffered greatly on a Roman cross.

The faithfulness of Mary did not end at the death of Jesus. Luke records the final chapter in the story of Mary when he opens the book of the apostles with her being part of the disciples meeting in an upper room. She witnessed Pentecost and the Holy Spirit coming upon the twelve. Mary saw the three thousand baptized and the infant church growing in spirit and number. Nothing is said of her involvement in the early church, but one thing is certain: she was faithful.