CHRIST is seen in seven characters in Luke 2:25-34.
Consolation of Israel (Luk 2:25). Christ in this character is One who is alongside to encourage and comfort. An old Christian, as he was lying on what proved to be his deathbed, said…
"My soul most surely prizes
The sin atoning Lamb;
Thence all my hope arises,
Unworthy though I am."
1. Lord's Christ (Luk 2:26). Jesus as the "Christ" signifies God's Anointed (Jhn 1:41, margin). Jesus being anointed with the Holy Spirit was the evidence that He was the Sent of God (Act 10:38), and the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit (Jhn 1:32-33).
2. Jesus (Luk 2:27). The name "Jesus" means "Saviour," and is always associated with Him in His humiliation, as is illustrated in His being circumcised. Godet says upon the presentation of Christ in the Temple, "After the circumcision there were two other rites to observe. One concerned the mother. Levitically unclean for eight days after the birth of a son, and for fourteen days after that of a daughter, the Israelitish mother, after a seclusion of thirty-three days in the first case, and of double this time in the second, had to offer in the Temple a sacrifice of purification (Lev 12). The other rite had reference to the child; when it was the firstborn it had to be redeemed by a sum of money from consecration to the service of God and the sanctuary. In fact, the tribe of Levi had been chosen for this office simply to take the place of the firstborn males of all the families of Israel; and in order to keep alive a feeling of His rights in the hearts of the people, God had fixed a ransom to be paid for every firstborn male. It was five shekels, or, reckoning the shekel at 2s. 4d., nearly 12s. (Exd 13:2; Num 8:16; Num 18:15). Luk 2:22-23 refers to the ransom of the child, Luk 2:24 to Mary's sacrifice.
3. Salvation (Luk 2:30). Salvation is here personified. It is well to let all our blessings resolve themselves into Christ, as He Himself said when He went into the house of Zaccheus, "Today is salvation come to thy house" (Luk 19:9).
4. Light (Luk 2:32). He is Light to discover evil to us: He is Light to remove the consequence of evil from us, through cleansing by His blood; and He is Light in showing us the path in which to walk.
5. Glory of Thy people Israel (Luk 2:32). Israel, alas! would have none of Him; hence they are wanting in glory, but when they shall look upon Him whom they have pierced, and receive Him as their Messiah, then Christ shall be their glory indeed.
6. Sign (Luk 2:34). Christ is the Rise or Fall of every being. They who speak against Him shall find He is opposed to them, and a Sign of their eternal condemnation.