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Only Luke records these two events. We might have expected Matthew to have recorded these events as they fulfilled the Law and he was writing to the Jews who were certainly concerned about the Law.
Eight days after His birth, we see again that He came not to destroy the Law, but to fulfill the Law. Here they take care of two requirements of a male child and one for the mother of a child. The burden of these requirements, along with many others, Christ took to the cross and the "lifting" of these requirements was signified by the "renting" of the vail of the Temple at the moment of His death.
The first of these was His circumcision. At that time He was named. They called Him Jesus, as they were told by the Angel, Jesus being the Greek translation and Joshua being the Hebrew.
The second of these requirements was His presentation at the Temple. This coincided with Mary's purification rites and was done when He was 40 days old. According to the Law, Numbers 18:15, the first born shall be redeemed for 5 shekels (2oz. of silver) by today's standard about $3.20. Now this may not sound like very much but it was a hugh sum for those days and most people didn't have it. No mention is made here. A fee was charged for Mary's purification. Normally a lamb was brought for a burnt offering and a dove for a sin offering, but Mary, being poor, was allowed to bring two doves.
In the process of fulfilling these requirements, two very special people were blessed. Like Elizabeth and the unborn John the Baptist, these two people were led by the Holy Spirit to recognize this child as the Christ, the promised Messiah. The first was Simeon or Simon. Jewish Historians note that there lived in Jerusalem at this time, a devout man said to be a prophet that had a close relationship with the Lord. This man was fairly young as his father was still living, even so, he indicates upon seeing Jesus, that he is willing to die as he had seen Israel's salvation, his life was now complete. Note these things about Simeon:
Notice the timing, just as Mary and Joseph enter the Temple, Simeon appears. See the joy that Simeon displays as he takes the infant Jesus in his arms and embraces Him and held Him near his heart. God had fulfilled His promise to Siomeon but also so much more, for Simeon had held the infant Jesus in his arms. His reason for living, his goal in life and long waiting and patience had paid off and now he was ready for what ever God had planned for him. He was now at peace for his eyes had seen God's Salvation. Notice Simeon's knowledge of the Messiah's mission. He had come to ALL PEOPLE. As he handed the infant Jesus back to his parents, what wonderment he must have caused in their hearts as he prophesied of the impact this infant would have on the people of Israel in the days to come.
Notice what Simeon said about Jesus:
The second person, in this portion of the life of Christ, to recognize who Jesus was, was a lady by the name of Anna. She is referred to as a "prophet" by it is believed that no more is meant here than that she was well versed in the scriptures and the Holy Spirit had given her understanding above other women. She was undoubtedly a teacher, she was a widow, about 84 years old.
She was continually at the Temple which probably meant that she was always there when anything was going on or when she was needed. So now, her many years of devotion to the Lord, pays off. Mary and Joseph have brought the infant Jesus to be presented at the Temple and she instantly recognizes Him as the Christ, the promised Messiah. She, then, gives thanks to God for this revelation and the great honor given her and immediately tells all others of what she had seen.
The Holy Family leave Jerusalem and go back to Bethlehem, about 5 miles south of Jerusalem, where they stay until the arrival of the Wise Men when Jesus was about 18 months old.
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