"And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord…And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." [Lk 2:22, 24]

In the Torah, The LORD gives instruction regarding the purification of women after giving birth. Whether a male or female child was born, the woman was commanded, “she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled,” [Lev 12:4] showing us God’s grace and mercy in not laying any heavy expectations upon the woman who just gave birth: a process not commonly regarded as easy. For a male child, this process was to last eighty days in total. The LORD said, “but if she bear a male child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.” [Lev 12:5] After these days were accomplished, The LORD commanded, “she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering…and if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons…” [Lev 12:6, 8] Again, the grace and mercy of God are revealed to us in that, as with most other sacrifices, a less expensive option was available for those lacking sufficient wealth. Therefore, when we read that Mary and Joseph brought “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons,” we understand, Joseph “being a just man” [Mt 1:19] and therefore not trying to cheat God, that they were not of any significant wealth. Not being able to afford a lamb, for they lacked affluence, they brought unto The LORD a pair of birds, thus offering for the most precious and valuable person to ever be born, The Christ, who is God’s “unspeakable gift,” [2 Cor 9:15] the humblest and poorest of offerings.

This speaks great volumes to us of God’s glory and character. It indicates to us the meekness of God; for Jesus’ coming was lowly and lacked parade, pomp, or grandeur: it was instead very subtle and easily missed. No doubt, if the birth of the long-awaited Messiah had been assigned to a man, there would have been a grand show and a rich family to welcome Him to earth. But with our God it was not so: for Jesus was born to a poor family, to poor, young parents. For us, who are “not many wise men after the flesh, not many might, [and] not many noble,” God having chosen “the foolish things of the world…[and] the weak things of the world…and base things of the world, and things which are despised,” [1 Cor 1:26-28] this is a most comforting and good truth. For Jesus came and lived much like us. He did not come to live in luxury or to be luxuriously treated. It is written, “ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” [2 Cor 8:9] Christ Jesus our Lord emptied Himself of all that wealth and wonder, stepping down into the likeness of sinful flesh, being born to a poor family, and possessing nothing in this world compared to those things which He enjoyed in heaven. Jesus Himself said, “foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head.” [Lk 9:58]

Seeing that Jesus came to earth in such a poor and humble state, even being born and placed “in a feeding trough,” [Lk 2:7] we learn firstly that Jesus is, as He said, “meek and lowly in heart.” [Mt 11:29] Jesus shows us that a righteous and pleasing life to God is not one that is surrounded by wealth, luxury, good health, or tangible prosperity; no, for Jesus had none of that, and those who preach such a word are liars and hypocrites. “Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love Him?” [Jam 2:5] And we learn secondly that our God loves to use us, and will even use those who have very little on this earth. If a man were to entrust his only Son to someone and had a choice between an affluent family or a very poor family, generally that man would choose the wealthy family. For as men are like to reason, he will be better provided for and safer there. But our Father shows us that He entrusted His only begotten Son, the Savior of the world, not only to grow up in a helpless, baby body as we have had to, but also to poor and inexperienced parents. What a glorious Father we have, who is so eager and loving to use us, His children, to glorify His name. For we, like Mary and Joseph, are just as inept and inexperienced, no matter what opinion we may hold of ourselves. Like them, who “supposing [Jesus] to have been in the company, went a day’s journey” and then had to backtrack to find their missing child, so too we often fail. But God is always there to guard us and help us. As David wrote long ago, so too it remains true today: “thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.” [2 Sam 22:37] And by reason that God is eternally merciful, good, longsuffering, and strong, He uses weak men such as ourselves to accomplish His will and to represent and bear the name of His Son Jesus to the world. Thank and praise God, who chose poor and inexperienced men and women to carry out His plan, and who still uses such (for we too have been called unto His family and His service). And thank God again, for Christ Jesus shows us that a life pleasing to God is not one full of wealth and status, but of love and righteousness.

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