God's Loving Promise - Luke 1:26-31 & 2:21-35

Introduction/Seeing the Need

Today’s Scripture from introduce us to Mary, whom God called to participate in fulfilling the promise of a savior, and to Simeon, who was standing on God’s promise “that he wouldn’t die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (). They invite us to consider what it means to our lives that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise - a topic appropriate for Christmas but with meaning for us all year long.

First-century Palestine consisted of three provinces: Galilee, Samaria, and Judea. Jesus ministered in all three areas, but began in Galilee. Luke locates the home of Mary in the Galilean village of Nazareth. The insignificance of tiny Nazareth, its distance from Jerusalem, and its location in a less-than-pure Jewish area make Nazareth an unlikely home for the woman chosen to be the mother of the promised Messiah of Israel.

The Jewish people understood the need for incorporation of babies into the people of God. Backdrops for today’s lesson are the things Jesus’ parents did in accordance with Jewish custom. They have him circumcised on the eighth day, officially marking him as a son of the covenant. This would have been a time of celebration for the little family, attended by friends and relatives as available. It was also at this time that the baby was formally named Jesus.

The Angel Announces -

Luke 1:26–31 NRSV

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.

The whole account of the angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary to tell her that God had selected her to bear God’s Son begins at and runs through verse 38. Keep in mind that the focus of this lesson is not on Mary’s response to Gabriel’s message that she was going to have a baby boy whom she would name Jesus, but on the fulfillment of a promise of God.

In terms of God promises, we make two connections. The first, that David’s descendants would be the only ones to occupy Israel’s throne, and the second, this Davidic dynasty and kingdom would have no end. This event is known in church tradition as the Annunciation, the announcement of God’s messenger to Mary of her status as the chosen mother of the Messiah.

The salutation is discomforting to Mary. The greeting sets her mind spinning in an effort to bring meaning to the angel’s work. Despite the inner turmoil, Mary waits for more information, and doesn’t challenge the angel on his purpose.

What will you do the next time you are “troubled” by something in God’s Word? Under what circumstances, if any, is it a good idea to keep your concerns to yourself?

In verse 30, Mary receives a full explanation of the angel’s message - she had favor with God: Mary will conceive and give birth to a son and call him Jesus. But no father is mentioned. Mary is as good as married to Joseph, and honorable villager. But they have not come together in an intimate way, for Luke has made it clear she is still a virgin. Joseph will not be the father.

Mary is told that the baby in her womb will come from an act of the Holy Spirit. Mary’s response to this troubling situation rings throughout history as an example of faith: “I am the Lord’s servant.....Mary your word to me be fulfilled”.

The announcement must have sparked an intense mix of emotions for Mary. Luke, the author, does not dwell on these at this point, merely summing them up with the phrase “Mary was greatly troubled.” We see here the implication of fear in the angel’s encouraging “do not be afraid.”

How can you make progress in learning not to fear those things you should not? Can the discoveries and principles of secular psychology help us in this, or should we stick to Scripture as our only guide? Why?

The Spirit Reveals - ,

Luke 2:22

Luke 2:22 NRSV

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

Luke

Luke 2:25–35 NRSV

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Today’s lesson does not include the well-known Christmas stories of the trip to Bethlehem, the birth in a stable , and the story of the shepherds. Our focus is on events following Jesus’ birth. The trip to the temple in Jerusalem serves for Mary’s ritual purification rites and for the presentation of the baby Jesus.

The purification process includes a waiting period in which the mother is considered unclean. This is likened to a woman’s period of “uncleanness” for a week each month due to her menstrual cycle. The blood involved is associated with ritual impurity. The fact that Joseph brings Jesus for presentation at the temple indicates he has embraced the role of father and considers Jesus to be his legitimate son.

What are ways the church can support men serving as fathers to children who are not their biological offspring?

Public venues often have regular visitors who are well-known to the community. Luke tells of such one: Simeon. Five things are disclosed about Simeon: First, he is a resident of Jerusalem. Our impression is not that he is necessarily a lifelong resident of the city, but that he has come there in his old age to await the Messiah. Second, he is righteous and devout. To be righteous means he cares about right living and justice in his community. To be devout implies he is a man of prayer and faith, and that he participates in the worship activities associated with the temple.

Third, he waits for the consolation of Israel. This refers to a new era, a promised time when the Lord will move to console or comfort the distressed Jewish people. Fourth, Simeon has the Holy Spirit resting on him. The Holy Spirit is a comforting and revealing presence in human lives, and we see both elements here. Fifth, the Holy Spirit has granted Simeon supernatural insight into God’s plan for comforting Israel: it centers on the coming of the Lord’s Messiah.

Simon understands his role in the unfolding of God’s plans, for he has been promised that the Messiah would be born before his death. Further, Simeon believes he will meet this individual personally. All of this comes together when Joseph, Mary and Jesus enter the temple courts. Simeon is there by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is there to fulfill the obligation of his parents as prescribed in the Law of Moses, the consecration of the firstborn son.

In verse 28 much is left unsaid, including why a new mother would allow a stranger to take her baby in his arms. Simeon either has a recognized role in the temple precincts or his demeanor suggests trustworthiness. He holds the baby for the blessing rather than simply placing a hand on his head, an intimate and beautiful act. Simeon’s praise of God springs from his heart spontaneously on this long-awaited occasion.

What more can your church do to surround infants with the love of the larger body of members of the congregation? What reasonable safeguards should be in place while doing so?

What Simeon said next should be considered an oracle, which means that while Simeon was the speaker, God was making a statement through him. And that statement was that Jesus was to be a glory for the people of Israel and a “revelation to the Gentiles”. In other words, the work and mission of Jesus would be for everyone. All of this amazed Joseph and Mary, but Simeon spoke a second oracle that likely troubled them. Simeon declared that their newborn son was “assigned to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that generates opposition.”

This meant that while Jesus would bring salvation to those who would receive it, his coming also meant judgment for those who rejected it. For some, Jesus, the fulfillment of God’s promise, was an obstacle over which they might possibly fall. But for those like Simeon who welcome Christ into their lives, that promise is firm ground on which to stand.

Simeon understands at some level that God’s Savior will benefit both Gentiles and God’s people Israel. That is a universal application because everyone falls into one of those categories. Jesus will bring light to the nations as prophesied. The prophesy of Simeon is offered in four parts on the new family.

First, the child will cause both the falling and rising of many of his people. Second, Jesus will be a sign that causes opposition. Through Jesus the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. Hypocrisy will be unmasked as part of Jesus’ ministry. Finally Mary will suffer great sorrow on account of her son, likened unto a sword piercing her soul. The sum of these four is that Jesus’ ministry will not bring joy to all. Many will feel threatened by him; his rejection will be particularly painful for his mother.

Conclusion

The sum of these four is that Jesus’ ministry will not bring joy to all. Many will feel threatened by him; his rejection will be particularly painful for his mother.

Simeon’s encounter with Jesus is remarkable when we consider the Messiah was still a baby. It is wrong to portray Jesus as we see him in some medieval art: sitting on his mother’s lap, back straight as a tent pole, hand in a teaching posture, and with a look of adult wisdom on his face. Simeon saw a baby. It was the Holy Spirit who revealed the significance of this infant to him, not his appearance or his words.

We encounter Jesus in different ways yet today. We may experience him in a powerful way by reading what the Bible says about him. We may understand him better when we hear other believers give a testimony. We may grow in our relationship through prayer and a quiet time with him. There is no greater thing than knowing Jesus.

Prayer

O God, thank you for sending Jesus, making it possible for us to be counted as righteous and receive eternal life. On Christ, the solid rock, we stand. Amen.