Thursday 5th February

Passages

Hebrews 2:14–18 “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Luke 2:22–40 “When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.”

Introduction

The two passages that we have this morning are about Jesus being our great high priest, and about Jesus being consecrated to the Lord in the temple.

In Hebrews we have some really big themes about atonement and priesthood. And then in Luke we have this story of how Simeon and Anna both prophesy over Jesus about who he is going to be and what he is going to do.

I always think of the story in the temple as a really beautiful story, but I think it’s fair to say that the message of Hebrews 2 is also beautiful - it is good news for us.

The way that we choose our readings on a Thursday is by looking at the Church of England lectionary and they are chosen for us, and I often wonder what is the reason why they have paired these two readings together.

And I wonder today, the reason is because in the temple you have Simeon and Anna, and they prophesy over Jesus, and what they are prophesying is about what Jesus is going to do. And Hebrews also tells about Jesus but from the future looking back, so it is a record of what he has done.

So let’s look at each passage in turn, if we start chronologically, let’s begin with Jesus being presented in the temple.

Background

Jesus is brought to the temple as per the purification rites required by the Law of Moses. This is about the time after Mary gave birth. So, she was ceremonially unclean after giving birth and then had to go through purification rites after the birth. That would be 7 plus 33 days for a boy.

This amazing scene that comes … that is full of colour …

Simeon

Simeon … the Holy Spirit brings him to the temple … he’s not a priest … he’s filled with the Holy Spirit … not temporarily but constantly it seems, which is rare for the time before Pentecost

Simeon holds the child in his arms … who was he? A strange person picks up your child … must have been something about him / it was clearly a God-moment

And there is this joyous hope

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

But there is also this sense of hardship and pain

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Both Simeon and Anna seem to be so close to the Lord and they hear from him and know what he is saying and doing

It does not say that Simeon is a prophet, but

“Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.”

Anna

She is described as a prophet

She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke

spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Hope of God’s fulfillment of his promises

Hebrews

Hebrews 2:14–18 “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Conclusion

2 Things this morning:

Holding in mind who Jesus is and what he has done for us …

Thinking of Simeon and Anna … holding on to that over the years