12-28-31 After Jesus was Born

Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to share this morning.

Can I start today by asking a few people to share a joy from Christmas this year.

Doesn’t have to be big, but something that brought a smile to your face this year.

That’s really nice. (Share a memory)

One of my critiques about Christmas, and it’s one I’ve fallen into myself, is December 26. Christmas is over, pack it up, put it away, see you next year.

In my favorite Christmas movie, “Charlie Brown Christmas,’ we learn that Christmas is all about Jesus. So, if Christmas is all about Jesus why are we always in such a rush to put Jesus away the day after Christmas. And I’m not talking about the tree and decorations, I know some of those last until February in some homes.

But what I mean is we look at the birth of Jesus and then we go back to the norm.

I have loved spending time this year looking for Jesus in the Old Testament and I am gearing up for seeing him in Joshua and Judges; I’m so excited. But there is a gift in scripture that happens after Jesus is born that is sometimes talked about, but often overlooked at Christmas time.

Today we are going to look at Luke 2:22-38 and learn about dedication, promise, and patience.

Let’s begin with the first few verses:

Luke 2:22–24 ESV

22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

We spent a lot of time in the first five books of the Bible this year and it should be no surprise to see Jesus, just a few weeks after his birth fulfilling scripture.

Now this wasn’t a special thing in 1st century Judea, it was the Law, people had to pay to redeem their first born, it wasn’t just a faith practice, it was law. But it wasn’t a law that was punished if you didn’t do it. You had to redeem your child, but if you didn’t then they would have to redeem themselves later.

All that aside, it was more common than not that people would redeem their first born. However, what wasn’t common was going to the temple for it. You would just pay your local priest the 5 shekels required by law and go about your life.

Also, Mary DID have to go to Temple for her purification, every woman did or she could enter Temple. Now, this was often overlooked. I mean if you had to walk from Salem to Medford just to hand over two birds right after you’ve given birth, it would be understandable that the trip might wait til later.

But not Mary and Joseph, they didn’t do anything half way. They went to the temple at the first opportunity and, thanks to the Roman’s they were much closer then they would have been in Nazareth.

But even if they weren’t they are described as dedicated. They did what God asked them to do, not because it was the law and they had to, but because they loved God.

2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV

7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

This verse is often used in reference to monetary giving, but it is so much more than that. You don’t just give God money and hope for the best. You give God your life. And all that includes your, money, time, energy. And this is the forefront of Mary and Josephs life. God is #1. Not just a one day a week habit, not just a morning devotional. A life.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to the same. To give over our lives to Jesus. And when we give him more of our time and energy we see some amazing stuff happen. Not necessarily to use but to the world around us. Imagine if you kept your head down in your faith. You loved Jesus, you came to church, you helped out when asked, but you didn’t make the effort to show others your faith. You coast.

You know Jesus as your savior, but because you don’t share that faith with others, you are alone in your faith in so many places. This isn’t a guilt trip like, “If you don’t share your faith then you are sending your loved ones to hell.” That’s not where I’m going with this. Because God calls everyone to repentance, but if you’re not going to share, then someone else will. And I know there are people, believers, who I know I was supposed to share my faith with and I didn’t. Now, they are believers now, but it’s part of their story I don’t get to share in.

I want that for you. It’s not a reward, it’s not payment for a good work. But it is wonderful, when you love Jesus enough and are dedicated enough to share him with others, you get to share in their story.

That was Mary and Joseph, they went out to share Jesus and there are two people who got to share in his story.

And these people are Simeon and Anna. Each of these two has a unique story and because they each have their own unique story, what better way to share than having one person share on Simeon and another on Anna.

Therefore, I yield to Jim to tell us about Simeon.

Luke 2:25–35 ESV

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” 33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Thank you Jim, I love hearing about Simeon.

To broaden this out there are a lot of people throughout Biblical history that were anointed. Moses anointed Aaron, Samuel anointed Saul and then David, Elijah anointed Elisha. Interesting stuff. Notice, though all these anointings were commanded by God, it was someone else who did the anointing. And with Jesus the word Christ adds that word One, Anointed ONE.

There is one more in the story in this passage today about a woman whose life of patience led to the biggest payout in human history.

Luke 2:36–38 ESV

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

There is a woman that Kati and I knew in Kodiak who reminds me a lot of Anna.

Her Name is Florence and man does she love Jesus

And if someone is a mirror image of Anna, it’s Florence. When she was much younger she married a man who was called to missions and she and him answered that call and spent years overseas sharing Jesus and growing a family.

But, when her husband had to leave suddenly do to a family emergency back home she was left with her kids with what she thought would be a short time away.

While he was gone tragedy struck again and she was left a widow far overseas with a family to care for.

It would have been completely understandable for her to pack up, go home, mourn, wait a few years and find someone to love and care for her and go one with her life.

But Florence made a commitment to share Jesus, so instead of settling to go back home, she found herself in Kodiak Alaska where she spent over 50 years sharing the gospel with anyone who would listen.

And if that was all, that would have made a wonderful story of someone who despite terrible circumstances still did what God called her to day.

But that isn’t all. A few years ago, as it became harder for her to live on her own in Kodiak, and she had to move to a place where she could have a little help.

And as I heard the story, as Florence was shown her new room and her new home, she set her stuff down, grabbed her Bible, headed to where people were and started to share Jesus.

She, like Anna, is a patience person. Nothing in this world keeps these ladies down.

Imagine this woman Anna with me. She was, as scripture says, of the tribe of Asher. Not a bad tribe, but not one with much of a population anymore. Most Israelites of this time are known from one of three tribes, Judah, Benjamin and Levi. The tribes who stayed and even through an exile maintained their identity. Asher was one of the 10 who when they went into exile stayed and merged with other nations. I don’t know anything about Anna’s history outside of this passage, but as a woman inside the temple that tells us she is more than likely not from a family who mixed with other cultures, as that would have made it harder to live in the temple.

But regardless of her history, what is she doing in the here and now?

She is patiently waiting for the redemption of of Jerusalem.

I wonder sometimes what it must be like to have that call on your life. To lose everything and still love Jesus. Not because we love the loss or the pain, but because in our weakness we know that in the end her will make us strong.

Let’s look at this parable from the man who Anna waited a lifetime for.

Mark 4:30–32 ESV

30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

A lot of us go through life just getting by. Some of us even revel in our weakness. Knowing that what we can’t do defines us more than what we can do.

ANd in reality, that’s kind of true. There is much more that we are weak in than what we are strong in.

But if you look through scripture, God does not call the strong and capable. He calls the weak.

Moses couldn’t talk right, David was the youngest of 8 brothers and the least capable, Jeremiah was too young, the disciples were mostly fishermen.

If you think not being good enough excludes yo, think again.

Anna was much too old to be an effective witness, yet, here she is over 2000 years later, still sharing and worshiping.

Jesus came not for those who deserve it, but for those who didn’t.

We are all called to share that. And believe me we are all too weak to do it. Which is why we need Jesus.

Without Jesus our weaknesses define us, but with Jesus we are defined by him in spite of our weaknesses.

That mustard seed is very small.

But when this tiny little weak thing is put in the ground and cared for

It get’s bigger.

When Jesus is in charge our weaknesses fade away and he grows in us.

The I can’ts become I can’s and like Simeon and Anna we too become effective voices for the gospel. But we do need to be dedicated. If we let him into our lives, there will be change. We don’t always know what it will be, but with Jesus it is all worth it.

Jim please close us in prayer.

Philippians 4:13 ESV

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.