Bibe Study of All 4 Gospels at the Same Time - Circumcision and Presentation of Jesus at the Temple - Post 9

Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple to be circumcised when Jesus was 8 days old.  This was done to fulfill the requirements stated in the Law of Moses.  According to the Law of Moses all male children were to be circumcised when they were 8 days old.  One of the requirements of Jesus saving us from our sins, was that he would keep all the Jewish Laws perfectly, Jesus had to be perfect, to take the sin out of the world, that Adam allowed in when he sinned at the fall in the Garden of Eden.  Adam was created perfect until he fell, Jesus would have to remain perfect in order to take sin out of the world.   Jesus could not be born from a man and a woman, because he would have been born into the same sin that Adam brought into the world.  Jesus had to come from above (Heaven), only God would be strong enough to withstand the devil's trials and not fail.  Along with presenting Jesus to be circumcised, a sacrifice was required due at the time of presentation.  Mary and Joseph gave a pair of doves or two small pigeons.  They gave this amount because they were poor.  Then they returned home in Bethlehem.    
A month after birth the Jewish parents that were not of the tribe of Levi would have to redeem their first-born male children back from God.  All first-born male children had to be dedicated to the Lord, as an offering of first fruit.  The Levites had to dedicate their male first-born into service of the Lord.  as  stated in Numbers 1: 47 - 54.  The rest of the Jewish males had to be redeemed from God's service as specified in Numbers 18:16.  This account is important, because Jesus had to satisfy all the Jewish Laws in order to be proclaimed the "propitiation" (1 John 4: 10b)  sacrifice, the complete sacrifice for the remission of all sin.  This was to occur approximately 30 days after birth.  It was during this Temple visit that Simeon and Anna met the infant Jesus.  Simeon was a devout Jew and was told by God that he would not die until he beheld the Christ child.  Simeon took Jesus into his arms and blessed him Luke 2: 29 - 32.

Anna was also in the Temple that day.  Her story is stated in Luke 2: 36 - 40.  Anna also was a devout Jewess and spent her days in the Temple after the death of her husband, she had been a widow for 84 years.  God told her also, that she would not die until she beheld the Messiah.  All of these things occurred so that the Word of the Lord would be fulfilled.

Study of all 4 Gospels at the Same Time The Praise of Angels and Homage of Shepherds to Babe in Manger - Post 8

Why were there shepherds outside Bethlehem at this time of year?  This is a good question and requires some thought in order to answer it.  The Lord's Temple was located in Jerusalem, some 7 miles from Bethlehem.  Lambs and goats were used in sacrifices in the Temple.  The animals used in the sacrifice were considered clean, but when they were part of the flock they were considered unclean.  Due to the smell that seems to follow the flock, they were not allowed any nearer to Jerusalem.  The Jews were not the only group of people that thought this way.  When Jacob brought his family to Egypt, they had to keep their flocks at Goshen, miles from the Palace of Egypt, because the Egyptians felt the flock or herd animals were unclean.  Notice the lambs for sacrifice were considered clean, but where they were born and kept was considered unclean.  It is kind of the same way with us.  When we are born we are born into sin, through the human nature that caused Adam to sin.  When we are introduced to the Holy Spirit (the first time we realize that there is a God); we start on the road to becoming clean.

We found out why the sheep and goats were on the hillside outside Bethlehem, but who are the shepherds?  In order for the lambs to be considered clean they would have to be kept in compliance with the Jewish Laws dealing with the handling of the animals.  You have probably heard the word "Kosher" before.  Kosher means that the item labeled that was inspected by a Rabi in all the processes used to bring that item to your market.  The idea in this situation is the same.  Who better to guarantee that the sheep were raised according to Jewish law, would be young Levites.  Levites were the tribe of Jews whose job it was to run all aspects of the Temple.  Just like David was a shepherd before he became king, so the young Levites would work as shepherds making sure the sacrifice animals were clean to be used at the Temple.

These sheep and shepherds were enjoying a quiet peaceful night on the hillsides outside Bethlehem, when all of a sudden the sky became full of Light, and a host of angels proclaimed the good news that God had brought His Son into the World.  If these shepherds were Levites, they would understand the message that the Angels gave to them.  They would send representatives to Bethlehem to see all that the Angels had told them.  The Levites would understand what this means.  God has sent His Messiah into the world to save His people, all people from their sins.  No other God loved His people, all people this much to bring His Son into the world to suffer and die to save us from our sins.