A Sword for Christmas

Joy to the World

WELCOME (Jason & Elizabeth Wells)

Scripture Reading (Luke 2:1-14)

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

O Come, All Ye Faithful

SERMON

“You’ll shoot your eye out!”

So says Ralphie Parker’s mother after he asked her for a BB gun for Christmas in the beloved film, A Christmas Story.

Ralphie called it “the classic mother BB gun block. That deadly phrase uttered many times before by hundreds of mothers was not surmountable by any means known to kid-dom.”

I think in some ways, many of us are a lot more like Ralphie’s mom than we’d like to admit.

Not because we say no to a BB gun for Christmas, although maybe you did.

But like Ralphie’s mom we prefer what’s mild and tame at Christmastime.

We’d rather talk about peace on earth than the presence of war.

We rather think about chestnuts roasting on an open fire, than those without enough to eat.

We’d rather sing “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” than think about those who won’t be.

But the truth is, hard things don’t take a day off on December 25.

We could take it a step further. The Christmas message, rightly understood, just might make some of those hard things even harder.

You may not be getting an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle this Christmas.

But maybe a sword instead.

Turn to Luke 2:34

The passage I want to reflect upon this evening is just as much a part of the Christmas story as the story of the shepherds and the wise men, but it’s far less popular.

This story actually occurred sometime in between those two famous visits.

A few weeks after the shepherds visited Jesus in Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph traveled about 6 miles north to the city of Jerusalem.

They were, after all, law-abiding Jews. And the law of God in Leviticus 12 provided clear instructions for a mother’s ritual purification after pregnancy.

So Joseph took his new bride and infant son to the temple in Jerusalem.

And while they were in the temple they ran into a stranger named Simeon.

Our nativity scenes are filled with shepherds and wise men, and sometimes even characters the Bible doesn’t even mention, like some little boy with a drum.

It’s a shame that Simeon is often forgotten. Especially since we know more about Simeon than all the shepherds and wise men put together.

He was righteous and devout

He was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and comfort God’s people

At some point in his life the Holy Spirit promised him he would not die until he saw the Messiah with his own eyes

And that same Holy Spirit led Simeon to the temple one day, which turned out to be the very same day that Joseph and Mary walked into the temple

Somehow Simeon knew this baby was the One. He was the promised Messiah!

We don’t know exactly what happened next, but somehow or another that baby ended up in Simeon’s arms.

Maybe Joseph and Mary were afraid—who’s this rando holding our baby!?!

Maybe Simeon’s words were enough to calm their fears...

Luke 2:28-31—[Simeon] took [Jesus] up in his arms and blessed God and said, “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.”

Now if we ended Simeon’s story hear it’s got a pretty sweet ending, doesn’t it?

A strange old man is promised he won’t die before he sees the Messiah.

Finally, he sees the Messiah. He’s ready to die in peace.

Imagine the smile on his face as he holds the little baby that he’s waited all his life to see.

He prophesies that this little baby will bring about salvation for all kinds of people.

He prophesies that this little baby will bring light, even to Gentiles.

He prophesies that in this little baby God’s covenant people will find their true glory.

That’s the kind of Christmas story that gives you all the feels. Peace on earth, good will towards men.

But that’s not how the story ends.

Before Simeon gives the baby back, he looks at Mary and says:

. . . “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34-35)

This Jesus, the whole reason we celebrate Christmas, brings more than salvation. He also brings a sword.

Not a phrase you’ll find on Christmas cards or in Christmas carols

But it’s just as important as the popular phrases like “peace on earth, good will towards men.”

It describes what reality often looks like for those who really believe the Christmas story

If you’re a follower of Jesus, you know that...

Jesus Causes Conflicts Among People

Simeon says that Jesus’ coming will lead to “the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed. . . so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

This little baby is going to be a polarizing figure. Some would love Him, others would hate Him.

Crowds of people on Palm Sunday shouting “Hosanna!” vs the crowds on Friday shouting “Crucify Him!”

That’s still true today

Saying “Merry Christmas” can cause conflicts

How much more to actually live in a way that follows Jesus and His Word

Tim Keller— “The manger at Christmas means that, if you live like Jesus, there won’t be room for you in a lot of inns.” [1]

Not a Christian: following Jesus leads to joy, hope, and peace, but it also may lead to some conflict in your life. Count the cost.

Christian: don’t be discouraged when this happens. God promised it would.

Jesus Causes Conflicts Within People

Simeon says to Mary, “a sword will pierce through your own soul also”

And it certainly would. A few decades later Mary would watch as her Son was crucified on a cross not far from where Simeon once held a baby and said these words.

Certainly in that moment it would feel like a sword was piercing her heart.

Mary would experience in that moment the conflict that every Christian experiences. The conflict between what we want and what God knows we need.

Certainly as a mother she wanted her Son to be rescued from that cross. But in order for Mary to be redeemed her son, the Son of God, had to die in her place.

Christian: you and I experience this sort of soul-piercing conflict within every day of our lives

We want to be bitter, God tells us to forgive

We want to lust, God tells us only the pure in heart will see God

We want to gossip, God tells us to only speak that which builds up

We want to return to that substance for comfort, God tells us to be controlled by the Holy Spirit

Not a Christian: you may experience more felt peace in this moment, because you’re at peace with your sin. But you’re at war with your God.

How does a surgeon bring peace to a body riddled by cancer? He cuts you open and harms you so he can heal you.

How does a counselor bring peace to a downcast, depressed person? She digs into the painful memories of your past so you can confront them and heal.

Both the surgeon and the counselor often make you feel worse before you can feel better.

So too with Jesus. He brings a sword. He causes conflict among people and within people.

But He only harms so He may heal.

Isaiah 53:5—“He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.”

You can avoid the surgeon and the counselor, and you might feel better in the short term. But it’ll cost you in the end. The same is true with Jesus.

If you’re a Christian, it might feel like Jesus is giving you a sword for Christmas. That’s okay. Because He’s coming again to make all things new.

Advent Wreath

Advent means arrival. We celebrate the first coming of Jesus, but we also look forward to the day that Jesus comes to forever heal His people

Tonight we light the Christ candle to remember that just as surely as Jesus has come to die in our place, He will return to make all things new.

“Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.” (Hosea 6:1)

“He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:1-5 )

Lighting the Candles

Silent Night

Benediction