The Unredeemed Firstborn Redeemer

by David Battle
Luke 2:21-40

The Gospels of Luke and Matthew provide us with a glimpse into the early years of our
Redeemer’s earthly life. Matthew recounts how Joseph assumed a fatherly role over Jesus. He
brought Mary into his family though she was pregnant with the child of another (Matt 1:18-24).
Joseph took the child to Egypt when Herod the Great plotted to kill the Anointed One (Matt 2:13-
16). After the death of Herod, Joseph returned with the Prince of Peace and settled his family in
Nazareth (Matt 2:19-23).
While Matthew tells how Joseph did all that the Sovereign Lord commanded through His angels,
Luke dramatizes how the earthly parents of Jesus did not fully understand the plan of God. Mary
struggled with the announcement of the virgin birth (Luke 1:26-34), and so she visited her relative
Elizabeth from whom she received council and companionship. Mary wondered at the shepherds
who worshiped the new born babe in her arms (Luke 2:19). Later, she pondered (Luke 2:51) how
her son, Jesus, disowned Joseph as His father by saying that His real Father owned the Temple.
His words that day may have pierced her heart when he said:
“Why are you looking for me? Did you not know that I had to be in my Father’s house?”
(Like 2:49)
The events surrounding the presentation and redemption of their firstborn son amazed Mary and
Joseph (Luke 2:33). They traveled to the temple, just a little over a month since the birth of Jesus,
to do two things (Luke 2:22-24). Mary needed to offer a pair of turtle doves or young pigeons for
their purification (Lev 12:6-8), and Joseph thought that he must redeem Mary’s firstborn son
(Exod 13:1-2, 11-13) with five shekels just as the Law of Moses required (Num 8:17-19, 18: 14-
16). Joseph would have gone before a priest and presented his firstborn, saying something like:
“This is my son, the firstborn of his mother . . .”
The priest would then ask,
“Which would you rather give me the firstborn son, the firstborn of his mother, or redeem
him for five shekels, which you are bound to give according to the law?”
Joseph would have been expected to answer,
“I desire, rather, to redeem my son, and here you have the value of his redemption, which
I am bound to give according to the law.”
Joseph would have then placed before the priest the five shekels to redeem his firstborn son back
into his family. After this, the priest would pronounce a blessing upon the child.*
Joseph and Mary went to the temple that day as many other parents to fulfill their legal duties
under the Mosaic Law. While Luke does inform us that Joseph and Mary did all that the Law of
the Lord required (Luke 2:22, 39), this is just the historical and sociological background to the
events which he narrates for us.
Two elderly saints of God, individuals who followed the Holy Spirit, met Jesus in the Temple of
*
Consult any Jewish book of prayer which contains the Service for the Redemption of the
Firstborn.
the Lord that day. Simeon apparently took the baby Jesus out of His earthly parents’ arms and
blessed Him (Luke 2: 25-35). It was almost as if Simeon was acting the part of the priest at the
redemption service, except this was no redemption liturgy. Instead, this firstborn son would
continue to belong to God. He would remain consecrated to the Lord being set aside for a special
service and divine purpose. Simeon’s blessing revealed that God had commissioned this Christ
Child to become His salvific work (Luke 2:30). The Lord’s promised provision of atonement, His
payment for mankind’s debt, was bonded to the destiny of this Child. Simeon prophesied that this
Infant would bless the nations by being a light of revelation (Luke 2: 32). The life’s work and
teachings of Jesus were destined to show the world the fullness of the Creator, to demonstrate the
integrity of the Godhead, and the intentions of the Lord of Armies. The Firstborn of God would
fulfill the proper role of the firstborn as the Intermediary between God and the families of the
world. He is the glory of Israel.
Luke also records how a second godly individual drew near to the holy family and Simeon (Luke
2: 36-38). Anna, daughter of Phaneul, praised the Lord at the sight of His Anointed, and
continued to speak to those who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2: 38). Her
testimony confirmed the dedication of Jesus.
The Gospel writer is plainly showing that this month old infant had a divine commission. Though
Joseph did all that the Law required by paying the redemption price of five shekels, God did not
accept the payment for at least two reasons. First, the father of the firstborn son had to redeem the
child. Joseph was not the father of Jesus (Luke 3:23). It was not his place to redeem Mary’s
firstborn. Since the Holy Spirit had conceived the Incarnate One (Luke 1:35), God the Father was
responsible for redeeming the Christ Child. But, the Father had other plans for the Son.
Immanuel remained unredeemed so that He would be the Redeemer. Just as the firstborn lamb,
who was a male, was dedicated for sacrifice (Deut 15:19-22), the firstborn of Mary was
consecrated by God through Simeon to be our atoning payment and restitution for all our
transgressions and sins.
As we approach the holy days of Easter, let us remember that in the fullness of time, God
dedicated His Only Begotten as the substitution for our lives. Christ fulfilled His earthly destiny
by presenting His own life’s blood as our redemption price. He redeemed us from the
condemnation of sin and adopted us into the family of God; therefore, let us show our
appreciation by learning the ways of God and by living worthy of our redemption and adoption.
Originally published in The Southern Methodist issue of February/March 2003.