1st Sunday after Christmas 12/28/08 Text: Luke 2:22-40 Title: Lord, now let your servant depart in peace.
First Sunday of Christmas
12/28/08
Text: Luke 2:22-40
Title: Now Let Your Servant Depart in Peace.
Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to take a piece of Christmas with you wherever you go? If only we could package it up, put it in our pockets or purses, and be able to take it out at any time. It seems so to come to an end so abruptly. It is fleeting. Perhaps the feeling lasts as long as the batteries. Maybe Christmas sticks with us beyond the opening of the presents or dinner. But by the time we’re back at work or school things are back to normal. Our Gospel lesson for this morning is going to change all that, for today you will be able to live Christmas every day.
Before I get started on the text, I want to make you aware of some things that you cannot know just by reading the text. The story we are looking at this morning takes place in Jerusalem, the spiritual center of Judaism. It is the temple that the people believe God exists in. The temple rebuilt by the emperor around 30 BC is huge. Josephus the Jewish historian wrote that it covered 19 acres and could hold 210, 000 worshipers, so there could have been lots of families there that morning with their babies. Talk about a mega-church.
The two characters Simeon and Anna represent the end of the Old Testament prophets. Simeon we are told is very old and he had been told by an angel that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. Anna, a woman around 104 years old both saw the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies in Jesus.
God had told the people that every first-born son had to be dedicated to the Lord. This was to be a reminder to them that he had spared their first-born sons in Egypt. It was the law and had to be done. The parents after dedicating their son would buy him back from the Lord for a small amount of money. That is, if the boy was not from the Levites. Levites all belonged to the Lord and served in the temple.
There was also the law that after a woman had given birth, she, after waiting 40 days, if she gave birth to a boy, would have to go to the temple, so that she could be purified. At this time the child, if he is a first-born boy is dedicated and then bought back from the Lord. I mention that, because in this account by Saint Luke, the purification of the mother is mentioned, but there is no mention of buying back Jesus from the Lord. Saint Luke, who is exacting in his detail, in showing that Jesus was a Jew, would have mentioned that Jesus had been bought back from God, if Joseph and Mary had done it. An oversight, I don’t think so. Saint Luke wants his readers to know that Jesus had not been bought back from God. How could he, he is God.
In verse 39 Luke tells us, “When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord” shows us that Mary and Joseph were good Jews. They obeyed all the aspects of the Law. In and through his parents Jesus was fulfilling the Law of the Lord; something he had to do on our behalf.
Simeon is one of the principle characters in our story, but he had nothing to do with Jesus becoming who he is. Jesus would have been Jesus, the Savior of the world whether Simeon saw it or not. Still, Simeon was God’s chosen instrument to announce to anyone and everyone within ears’ range that God had entered His temple. He was, in fact, God’s instrument to remind Mary and Joseph that this child that they had perhaps gotten used to doing what one-month-olds do was more than your average one-month-old.
But it’s not so much what Simeon said to others that I want to focus on this morning. It is rather what he said to God: “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
Yes, Simeon saw in Jesus something that was different than all the rest of the baby boys that were there that day. Led by the Holy Spirit, he saw the very salvation of God. Did he see the cross looming in the distance? Did he see the pain and suffering this small child would endure? It is hard to say, but it appears so. But there is one thing we can say. He saw in the face of this child God bringing salvation to His people and the whole world. That’s huge!
It’s even bigger than the shepherds; even more radical than the Magi. The shepherds went back to the job. The Magi returned to their country. Those folks kept on living. Simeon, on the other hand, is now prepared to die. Can you imagine? Can you picture waiting for the Messiah, year after year, decade after decade? Simeon was an Old Testament believer as was Anna. He was a Messiah seeker. Now, after seeing this forty-day-old baby Simeon has been the first to experience the peace the angels sang about in such a way that it made it possible for him to die in peace.
That’s all we hear of Simeon. When did he die? How did it happen? How old was he? Did he continue to announce who Jesus was for a few weeks or months in the temple, the very House of God? Who knows? We just know that he was really old, as Anna. Their part in telling us who this Jesus is, is done. All we know is that he was ready. He has seen his ending in Jesus’ beginning. He has all he needs, as he holds this child. Before the Christ-child ever went to the cross He gave the peace that passes all understanding to this devout Old Testament believer.
Now, you’re probably starting to see that you do have a piece of Christmas with you, all the time. You have the same peace Simeon had; a piece of God’s peace that passes all understanding. You too have held the Christ-child. You also have seen the salvation God has prepared before the face of a people; “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
The church chose to use the words of Simeon as the post-communion canticle, centuries ago. They are most fitting. For here, at this rail, the very same child Mary held and fed now feeds you His body. Here, at the Lord’s Table, the Lord Himself lets you “taste and see that the Lord is good.” Here, He delivers life and salvation into your very mouths. Here, you have everything you need to carry a piece of Christmas with you; the peace and joy of Christmas.
The sentimental part of Christmas comes and passes. The things that are so much a part of our celebrations are fleeting. But Jesus is never fleeting! His incarnation and birth are never over and done. Every week he continues to give us the peace that passes all understanding, the joy of knowing we are free from God’s condemnation, even as we set here deserving it, as we hear His Word and are joyful beneficiaries of His Sacraments.
The more mature one becomes in one’s faith the less important some of the sentimental parts of Christmas become because we know that the real presence of Christ in His Supper continues to bring us tidings of comfort and joy throughout the year.
Now, we do not know what happened to Simeon or Anna. It is quite possible that they faced persecution for blurting out his song of joy. After all, it would have been considered blasphemy by those who did not see in Jesus what God showed them that day. They might have had, I would say that they more than likely had a challenging and difficult life, for however long they lived. But it did not make any difference for they both carried the peace God gave them to the grave.
God blessed Simeon with a piece of Christmas. And He will bless you once more this morning with the peace of Christmas. You can face anything that comes your way, because of this peace. No matter how much strife there is in your life, Jesus has promised it will all be fleeting! The pain and strain won’t remain. For the next time He comes He will bring us into His heavenly kingdom for an eternal joy.
That’s the peace of Christmas. That’s your piece of Christmas you can carry with you throughout the year. The peace that passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ, our Lord, unto life everlasting. AMEN
12/28/08
Text: Luke 2:22-40
Title: Now Let Your Servant Depart in Peace.
Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to take a piece of Christmas with you wherever you go? If only we could package it up, put it in our pockets or purses, and be able to take it out at any time. It seems so to come to an end so abruptly. It is fleeting. Perhaps the feeling lasts as long as the batteries. Maybe Christmas sticks with us beyond the opening of the presents or dinner. But by the time we’re back at work or school things are back to normal. Our Gospel lesson for this morning is going to change all that, for today you will be able to live Christmas every day.
Before I get started on the text, I want to make you aware of some things that you cannot know just by reading the text. The story we are looking at this morning takes place in Jerusalem, the spiritual center of Judaism. It is the temple that the people believe God exists in. The temple rebuilt by the emperor around 30 BC is huge. Josephus the Jewish historian wrote that it covered 19 acres and could hold 210, 000 worshipers, so there could have been lots of families there that morning with their babies. Talk about a mega-church.
The two characters Simeon and Anna represent the end of the Old Testament prophets. Simeon we are told is very old and he had been told by an angel that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. Anna, a woman around 104 years old both saw the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies in Jesus.
God had told the people that every first-born son had to be dedicated to the Lord. This was to be a reminder to them that he had spared their first-born sons in Egypt. It was the law and had to be done. The parents after dedicating their son would buy him back from the Lord for a small amount of money. That is, if the boy was not from the Levites. Levites all belonged to the Lord and served in the temple.
There was also the law that after a woman had given birth, she, after waiting 40 days, if she gave birth to a boy, would have to go to the temple, so that she could be purified. At this time the child, if he is a first-born boy is dedicated and then bought back from the Lord. I mention that, because in this account by Saint Luke, the purification of the mother is mentioned, but there is no mention of buying back Jesus from the Lord. Saint Luke, who is exacting in his detail, in showing that Jesus was a Jew, would have mentioned that Jesus had been bought back from God, if Joseph and Mary had done it. An oversight, I don’t think so. Saint Luke wants his readers to know that Jesus had not been bought back from God. How could he, he is God.
In verse 39 Luke tells us, “When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord” shows us that Mary and Joseph were good Jews. They obeyed all the aspects of the Law. In and through his parents Jesus was fulfilling the Law of the Lord; something he had to do on our behalf.
Simeon is one of the principle characters in our story, but he had nothing to do with Jesus becoming who he is. Jesus would have been Jesus, the Savior of the world whether Simeon saw it or not. Still, Simeon was God’s chosen instrument to announce to anyone and everyone within ears’ range that God had entered His temple. He was, in fact, God’s instrument to remind Mary and Joseph that this child that they had perhaps gotten used to doing what one-month-olds do was more than your average one-month-old.
But it’s not so much what Simeon said to others that I want to focus on this morning. It is rather what he said to God: “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
Yes, Simeon saw in Jesus something that was different than all the rest of the baby boys that were there that day. Led by the Holy Spirit, he saw the very salvation of God. Did he see the cross looming in the distance? Did he see the pain and suffering this small child would endure? It is hard to say, but it appears so. But there is one thing we can say. He saw in the face of this child God bringing salvation to His people and the whole world. That’s huge!
It’s even bigger than the shepherds; even more radical than the Magi. The shepherds went back to the job. The Magi returned to their country. Those folks kept on living. Simeon, on the other hand, is now prepared to die. Can you imagine? Can you picture waiting for the Messiah, year after year, decade after decade? Simeon was an Old Testament believer as was Anna. He was a Messiah seeker. Now, after seeing this forty-day-old baby Simeon has been the first to experience the peace the angels sang about in such a way that it made it possible for him to die in peace.
That’s all we hear of Simeon. When did he die? How did it happen? How old was he? Did he continue to announce who Jesus was for a few weeks or months in the temple, the very House of God? Who knows? We just know that he was really old, as Anna. Their part in telling us who this Jesus is, is done. All we know is that he was ready. He has seen his ending in Jesus’ beginning. He has all he needs, as he holds this child. Before the Christ-child ever went to the cross He gave the peace that passes all understanding to this devout Old Testament believer.
Now, you’re probably starting to see that you do have a piece of Christmas with you, all the time. You have the same peace Simeon had; a piece of God’s peace that passes all understanding. You too have held the Christ-child. You also have seen the salvation God has prepared before the face of a people; “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
The church chose to use the words of Simeon as the post-communion canticle, centuries ago. They are most fitting. For here, at this rail, the very same child Mary held and fed now feeds you His body. Here, at the Lord’s Table, the Lord Himself lets you “taste and see that the Lord is good.” Here, He delivers life and salvation into your very mouths. Here, you have everything you need to carry a piece of Christmas with you; the peace and joy of Christmas.
The sentimental part of Christmas comes and passes. The things that are so much a part of our celebrations are fleeting. But Jesus is never fleeting! His incarnation and birth are never over and done. Every week he continues to give us the peace that passes all understanding, the joy of knowing we are free from God’s condemnation, even as we set here deserving it, as we hear His Word and are joyful beneficiaries of His Sacraments.
The more mature one becomes in one’s faith the less important some of the sentimental parts of Christmas become because we know that the real presence of Christ in His Supper continues to bring us tidings of comfort and joy throughout the year.
Now, we do not know what happened to Simeon or Anna. It is quite possible that they faced persecution for blurting out his song of joy. After all, it would have been considered blasphemy by those who did not see in Jesus what God showed them that day. They might have had, I would say that they more than likely had a challenging and difficult life, for however long they lived. But it did not make any difference for they both carried the peace God gave them to the grave.
God blessed Simeon with a piece of Christmas. And He will bless you once more this morning with the peace of Christmas. You can face anything that comes your way, because of this peace. No matter how much strife there is in your life, Jesus has promised it will all be fleeting! The pain and strain won’t remain. For the next time He comes He will bring us into His heavenly kingdom for an eternal joy.
That’s the peace of Christmas. That’s your piece of Christmas you can carry with you throughout the year. The peace that passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ, our Lord, unto life everlasting. AMEN
posted by Pastor Rhoads | 1:36 PM
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