Worship Note -- The Presentation of Our Lord

The Presentation of Our Lord

Lutheran worship is liturgical.  While that often refers to an order of worship, it can also refer to the calendar of the Church Year.  The Church Year includes major festivals, such as Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Pentecost, etc...  On Sunday, February 2, we recognize a minor festival, the Festival of the Presentation of Our Lord.

When Jesus was 40 days old, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple for the rite of presentation.  Since the Lord had spared the firstborn of all Israel at the Passover, the Lord claimed the right of each firstborn of the Israelites.  At the presentation, Joseph and Mary offered the sacrifice to “redeem” Jesus from the Lord.  This was done to fulfill the Law (Exodus 13:2,12).  It was at this visit to the temple that both Simeon and Anna praised the Lord for sending the Savior he had promised long ago.  The account of the Presentation of our Lord is found in Luke 2:22-39.