Luke 2:21-24
"21 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. Jesus Presented in the Temple.
22 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 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD”),
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

When eight days were completed, Jesus was taken by his parents to be circumcised. It was difficult. There were no anesthetic. The Lord suffered even though it was unnecessary for Him but it was a sign that He belonged to the nation of Israel. It symbolized cutting away the unclean and the sin in your life. We need circumcision of the heart. Babies were circumcised on the eighth day. Experts in this field say that on the eighth day there is the least bleeding and healing takes the shortest time.

Forty days after the birth of the Lord Jesus, Mary had to go to the temple to be purified. Six weeks after the birth of the firstborn child, the mother and father brought a sacrifice to the Lord. If they were wealthy, they brought an ox but if they were poor they brought two doves or flour. They had to enter through the East gate for the purification ceremony. They did this to present the child to the Lord and for purification. Without blood, you can not draw nigh to God. The priest couldn't enter the Holy of Holies if blood hadn't been shed. The Lord Jesus shed His blood for us and so we don't need these sacrifices today. In the Holy of Holies, there is a thick veil but when the Lamb of God was sacrificed, the veil split from top to bottom because salvation comes from above. The sprinkling of the blood on the mother in the Old Testament was done to signify her physical and spiritual cleansing. Parents today need to teach their children to fear God and thank God for His protection. Giving birth was difficult in those days. In the New Testament, however, everyone has to be sanctified; not just the first born.

While Mary and Joseph were in the temple, Simeon approached them. When he saw the child, he embraced Him and then said that he could now die in peace. Simeon was righteous and God revealed to him that he would see God's salvation. The Spirit revealed it to him and moved him to do things. He said that now he could die in peace. Woe to everyone if you die without salvation. You are doomed if you are not cleansed from your sin. Death does not cleanse you from sin. It is only a gate to hell if you are not cleansed. Mary and Joseph were amazed at what Simeon said. Salvation is for all nations as a result of Jesus coming to earth. Simeon also said that the child would lead to the rise and fall of many. Herod spoke against the Lord Jesus and will burn in hell for all eternity. Simeon will be raised up. It also says the thoughts of many will be revealed. The Spirit convicts you of sin.

Anna had been in the temple for many years. She was a widow and faithful to the Lord. She was married for seven years and then her husband died. She was very old and spent her time in the temple. No-one announced to them that the Lord Jesus would come for the purification ceremony. The Spirit revealed it to them. It is terrible if you receive the Holy Spirit but He doesn't speak to you and you get side-tracked by the devil. The early church was united. A man who was faithful to his wife, dreamt that a girl was in bed with him. The dream had a spiritual meaning. It is tragic if you let the prostitute of anger, grudges or gossip into your life. It will mean death if you don't separate from sin.