The circumcision and the Presentation in the Temple

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WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THIS PICTURE...AND IN OTHER PICTURES

It is the Temple of Jerusalem that gives its unity to the representation of two or three different events.

The Circumcision of Jesus is, as for any Jewish baby, a family ceremony that takes place eight days after birth. It is performed at home; a specialist cuts the prepuce, the father gives the child’s name and imposes his hands on him.

The representation of this scene is often realistic but the ceremony is frequently placed in the Temple of Jerusalem; which eliminates the family character, but the presence of the altar serves to link the blood of the Circumcision to that of the Passion. Sometimes a lamb is added.
The role of Mary and Joseph, which was very important in the Middle-Ages, disappeared later to emphasize that of the priest.

When the circumcision is isolated, it can easily be mistaken for other circumcisions; those of Isaac and Samson in particular but, in this case, the mother‘s role is absent.

Mary’s Churching marks her return to public life. Actually, every new mother was impure and her purification or “churching” had to be performed forty days after her confinement. This ceremony is not represented directly but, insofar as Mary is in the Temple, her purification must have taken place; which is impossible since the Circumcision is done only 8 days after birth.

The presentation of Jesus in the Temple is a public rite of consecration of the first-born child to God, the child being “redeemed” by the offering of an animal. The representation follows Luke’s narrative by laying the stress on Mary who presents the child on the altar and brings some doves. Old Simeon dressed as a priest, and the prophetess Anna are often present but more or less recognisable.

The emphasis is sometimes put on Simeon, who takes the child in his arms and sings a canticle traditionally entitled “ nunc dimittis”, that is to say “now let go…” while Anna bears the text of the prophecy.

The picture often mixes all these ceremonies in the middle of a crowd often numerous; which sometimes makes it difficult to read the scene.

The biblical narrative

The Gospel according to Luke, chapter 2

Jesus has just been born.

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, who was so named by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
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;
(As it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord")
And to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons".

A just and pious man named Simeon is “waiting for the consolation of Israel”; he receives the child in his arms, blesses God and says: 

"Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word:
For my eyes have seen your salvation..."

An old woman, a prophetess named Anna, also starts to praise God for the birth of this child.

(Luke 2:21:30)

Comment 

These narratives show that Jesus is a real man and a Jew submitted to the Law. The circumcision is the sign of the covenant between God and Abraham; it is the fundamental rite of belonging to the Jewish people. The ending of the text announces that Jesus is the Messiah expected by those who hope like Simeon and Anna.

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