Christmas 1 (2)

Luke 2:41–52 NIV

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” 49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them. 51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Luke 2:22–35 NIV

22 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 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 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.” 25 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. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 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, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” 33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 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, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Luke 2:21–35 NIV

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. 22 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 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 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.” 25 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. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 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, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” 33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 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, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Consider for a moment or two how much of our personal lives are affected by holidays and religious observances. This is easy to do at this of the year because we were all affected by the annual celebrations of Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Other religious holidays include the Lenten Season, Holy Week, Easter as well as the weekly worship services. We also observe many secular holidays in every month of the year except for August.

The impact that holidays and religious observances on the personal lives of the faithful is really nothing new. The Lord himself gave to his people a staggering array of religious practices and holidays that they were to be very careful to observe. The most familiar are the weekly Sabbath Day regulations and the major festival of Passover. But this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the observances they were to follow.

The reason for mentioning this today is that we the events of our text occur first of all 8 days after Jesus was born and then recorded right after that an event 40 days after he was born. We see here Jesus being under the law and being involved in two distinct religious observances which were deeply significant to God’s people but have since lost their importance. Nevertheless, a review of them should remind us of our own relationship with the Lord and how he sent Jesus to be our Savior from sin.

The first religious observance was circumcision. Although a minor medical procedure during which the foreskin is surgically removed, this practice had deep religious significance. Recall the command given in the Old Testament. The Lord shows the importance he places on it with the following examples; (cite).

( NIV ) 9Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 10This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. 12For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. 13Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. 14Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

Of course, circumcision no longer holds such importance. (See passage).

( NIV ) 12Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. 14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which£ the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.

Nevertheless, we still observe an important religious ceremony – more than that, a sacrament – after a child is born. Unfortunately, more and more Christians fail to see its significance and are more concerned about who can or cannot make it to the dinner afterwards than the blessings given in baptism.

Two things happened at circumcision. The first was already mentioned. The second was that it was at circumcision that a boy received his name. Here too we see a change in culture. In the recent movie, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, a list of girls revealed almost immediately their religion. Sarah, Magdalena, Rachel, etc. It was obvious that there were all Jewish. There was a time when Christians chose biblical names almost exclusively. That is not the case so much anymore.

The names of people and places in the Bible will often bear great significance – especially when there is a name change or when God chooses the name. Jacob (heel grabber) changed to Israel (struggles with God) Eve means mother of all living. Nowhere is this more significant than in the naming of our Savior. The name Jesus means “The Lord saves” or “Savior”. His name should remind us of how he saved us from our sins every time it is said, spoken, heard, or thought of instead of being used to curse or swear.

The gospel of Luke immediately moves ahead 32 days to the second religious observance that Jesus took part in. The lack of a transition has led many (even pastors) to place Simeon at Jesus’ circumcision and naming when that was really not the case. Nevertheless, it is OK to address both in the same text.

This second observation was the rite of Purification (cite passages) and the Consecration of the Firstborn.

( NIV ) 1The LORD said to Moses, 2“Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. 3On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. 4Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. 5If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding. 6“‘When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. 7He shall offer them before the LORD to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood. “‘These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. 8If she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”

See Old Testament lesson for instructions on consecration of the Firstborn.

Application: This shows a commitment to follow the Lord. Even though we don’t have such a formal rite, we need to be aware that our entire lives are to be committed to the Lord whether we are the firstborn or not.

It was at this time that we are introduced to a very faithful man named Simeon. The response he makes is so powerful that it has become a part of our worship liturgy. Formally known by its Latin name (The Nunc Dimittis) it is now simply called the Song of Simeon. In this short poem he give a tremendous statement of faith. It refers to his willingness to die because his dream has been realized. We use it to demonstrate our commitment to serving Jesus who forgave us in the Lord’s Supper.

In this song he spoke of the past but he also spoke of the future. He predicted the life of Jesus which looking back we can see was dramatically fulfilled.

As we begin a new year, we may also fancy ourselves as predictors of the future. One young man boldly announces to me almost every Sunday, “The Packers are going to win today!” I remind him that this is not ESPN but he refuses to stop predicting. (Its sad that it seems that more and more our lives are affected by the sports schedules than religious observances and festivals.) Our predictions may be more meaningful than who will win or lose. What are some other predictions or resolutions we have for a new year (compile list).

It isn’t wrong to look ahead and to consider what may happen. If we didn’t do that, little progress would ever be made. We just realize that we can’t be accurate all the time.

But Simeon (as a prophet of the Lord on this day) was right. He predicted what Jesus would do (which was in keeping with previous prophecies). As Jesus continued to live under the law, he would fulfill God’s prophecies and carry out the work of salvation.

Conclusion: In the account of Simeon, we have a report that the Lord has made a very specific promise to him – he would not die until he had seen Jesus – and that promise was kept. That same Lord makes some very important promises to us as well.

He forgives our sins.

He treats us as his dear children.

He answers our prayers.

He delivers us in times of troubles.

He will never leave nor forsake us.

If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

He delivers us safely into his heavenly kingdom.

As we move forward into the new year, use those religious observances and holidays to focus on those promises and to trust that the Lord is faithful in keeping them. Amen.