John Baptist Jackson - The Presentation in the Temple

Public domain scan of 18th-century woodcut print, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

The Presentation in the Temple, also known as the Purification of the Virgin or the Meeting of the Lord, is a scene from the New Testament that depicts the presentation of the baby Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem. According to the Gospel of Luke, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple to fulfill the requirements of Jewish law, which mandated that a mother who had given birth to a male child must undergo a period of purification before being allowed to reenter the community. At the Temple, they encountered two elderly prophets, Simeon and Anna, who recognized Jesus as the Messiah and praised God for his arrival.

The Presentation in the Temple is significant in several ways. It highlights the obedience of Mary and Joseph to the laws and traditions of their faith, and underscores their commitment to raising Jesus as a faithful Jew. It also foreshadows the role that Jesus would play as a teacher and leader, as Simeon and Anna recognized him as the Messiah and praised God for his arrival.

The scene is often depicted as a peaceful and contemplative moment, with Mary and Joseph holding the baby Jesus, while Simeon and Anna look on with awe and wonder. The imagery of the Presentation in the Temple is often used to evoke themes of obedience, devotion, and recognition of the divine presence in the world.

The image of Mary holding the Christ Child is a common depiction in Christian art and is known as the "Madonna and Child." It represents the mother of Jesus and her son and is a symbol of motherhood, love, and compassion.