The LCA provides this sermon edited for lay-reading, with thanks to the original author.
Christmas 1B
Luke 2:22-40
Dear Heavenly Father, even in our busy lives, continue to send your Holy Spirit on us so that we
may recognise Jesus as our salvation. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Only a few days ago we heard of Jesus being born in a place where animals where kept and that he
slept in a trough where animals feed from, but today we hear of him in a different setting. Today
the Lord of creation comes to his Temple, the place where he’s been worshipped by the Jews for
quite some time.
It may help you to understand the Temple in Jerusalem wasn’t a quiet, peaceful and serene place.
Instead, it was a busy, bustling and very rowdy place.
Although the Jews had many synagogues, there was only one Temple. It was only at the Temple
where you could be cleansed from any sin or impurity. It was only at the Temple where you could
offer the right sacrifice to receive peace and cleanliness from God.
One example of becoming clean was that, according to the law of Moses, all women after having a
baby boy, were unclean for a period of 7 days (just like after each monthly cycle), but then had to
wait another 33 days until they were purified and could enter the Temple gates again. This isn’t
because child-birth made women sinful, but because the bleeding had made them unclean. The
blood had defiled them because there is both life and death in the blood.
So then after birth, there seems a simple progression: after birth, the woman was defiled. She
waits 7 days before being announced clean and able to be touched by others. Once clean, she had
to wait the extra 33 days before she could offer a guilt offering before the Lord, who would then
announce her as purified, and made holy. In other words, after birth the mother moved from
unclean to clean to holy.
The offering set aside for this purification sacrifice was a lamb and a dove, or if you were too poor,
just two doves. Obviously Mary and Joseph were poor for they only had two doves.
So anyway, every woman who had a child had to go to the Temple at the set time. Every boy had
to be circumcised on the eighth day at the Temple by the priests. Every first-born had to be
presented at the Temple to be set aside for service to God. Every person who had committed a sin,
either intentionally or unintentionally had to go to the Temple to offer a sacrifice. Every person
who wanted to celebrate with family and friends in the presence of the Lord who had blessed
them, went to the Temple to offer a sacrifice and eat from that sacrifice.
In other words, the Temple was a very, very busy place. There were young people, old people,
children laughing and playing, people caught up in conversations, sheep bleating, cattle mooing,
and doves cooing. There was a constant splashing of blood against the sides of the altar, with a
river of blood oozing out of the Temple courtyard. There was a constant smell of barbeque as the
offerings were placed on the fire with thick smoke billowing up from the meat. The priests were
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constantly moving back and forth while the temple choir continually offered up praises and songs
to the Lord.
So in this bustling, crowded, noisy place, five people meet: a man named Joseph carrying two
doves required for the purification sacrifice for his wife, Mary; Mary carrying baby Jesus, who was
now forty days old, having been circumcised 32 days ago; a man named Simeon, known for
patiently waiting for the time when the Lord’s promised comfort would come; and an old widow of
84 years old who constantly fasted and prayed at the Temple, never leaving it.
Was their meeting a coincidence? No! Without even knowing it, these people were led by the Holy
Spirit to meet at this time and place. When the Holy Spirit’s involved, there are no coincidences!
But when they meet, something else even more startling happens; when all the focus was
supposed to be on the purification of the woman, the focus strangely shifts to the child. Even
though Jesus was the first-born and was now being consecrated to the Lord, what happened went
far beyond normal events. You see, this was no general ‘oohing’ or ‘aahing’ over a cute little baby,
but something much more astonishing.
Simeon, who had been promised by the Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Lord’s
Messiah, recognised in Jesus - this 40 day old baby - what was promised. Here in this child was not
just the Saviour, but Salvation himself. Eagerly taking Jesus in his arms, Simeon sung his famous
song. Now that he has seen, touched and even held Salvation in his arms, he could now gladly die
in peace. For here, in this child, was the Light of the world, here was the Glory of Israel, here was
God’s Word and promise in human flesh.
Anna, the old widow, also recognised in Jesus the redemption of Israel and gave thanks and praise
to God. She told those who were patiently waiting for the promised Messiah that the Christ is now
here. The waiting was over. Salvation and redemption has now come to God’s people!
Well, so much for understanding what’s happening in our text, but that’s only half the picture. In
your case, what’s happening in your life right now? What’s your story and how does this text
impact on your life right now?
In your case, you’re probably in the post-Christmas mood. You might be getting over the
festivities, trying to finish the left-overs in imaginative ways. Some of you may already be back at
work, or about to start work again, while others may still be on holidays. Some of you might be
adding up the bills or nursing bruises from going to the post-Christmas sales. Some of you may still
be feeling the absence of family members or friends.
Yet you also sit at the edge of a New Year, and each New Year brings mixed feelings. For some of
you it will be good to start afresh. For others, it means leaving behind important events or
milestones. For all of you, it means getting another year older.
So how does your story and Jesus’ story at the Temple fit together?
Well, I suspect that in the hustle and bustle of your lives, as you frantically go about your daily
tasks, and as you sit and watch the world getting faster and faster, busier and busier, Jesus also
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comes and reveals himself to you. This is no coincidence – the Holy Spirit has guided you to Jesus.
You didn’t come here by chance or out of habit, but the Holy Spirit led you to be in this place at
this time.
So this morning, after Christmas, this so-called joyful time, you may feel a little depressed, yet
you’re led to the joy of Jesus as your salvation.
You might not have got what you wanted for Christmas, but the Spirit guides you to Jesus, your
greatest gift.
You may have worked so hard to make Christmas seem special, and now that it’s over you might
feel a little flat, yet the work of Jesus continues in and amongst you.
The shiny Christmas wrappers are already in the bin and work beckons you again, yet Jesus comes
wrapped in his Word to be constantly unwrapped so that he shows you how he works for you.
Your loved ones may have gone home leaving an empty space in your hearts, yet Jesus fills your
hearts with his presence.
You might be a little unsure what the New Year holds for you and those you love, but Jesus assures
you he will continue to be with you.
Jesus – the child, the man, the Saviour – continues to come to you through his Word. This Spiritfilled Word continues to unblock stubborn ears, soften hardened hearts and open blinded eyes to
see that Jesus is your salvation.
God’s Word reminds you of his sacrifice, his suffering, his death, but also his work, his life, and his
salvation for you. He reminds you how he was presented at the Temple as a sign of God’s
deliverance for his people. He tells you how his sacrificial death has replaced the need for
sacrifices. He tells you that he was presented for you and has freed you from slavery to sin, death
and the devil.
Jesus also comes to you in his most holy meal and in turn you all become like Simeon.
Just like Simeon held Jesus - who is his salvation - in his hands, you also get to hold him in your
hands. Since the bread and wine truly becomes Jesus’ body and blood, you take him in your hands
and hold Christ himself who is your salvation and redemption. As you hold Jesus’ body and blood
in your hands, you see your salvation.
Then, after holding Jesus in your hands, you can leave in peace. By eating and drinking in faith,
trusting his words of promise and forgiveness, you leave in peace. Through faith you believe your
sins are forgiven. Through faith you believe he is working peace in your hearts, peace in your
family relationships, and peace in your work environments.
Sure, he won’t pay the credit card bills, but he’s paid for your guilt. He may not undo the mistakes
you have made in the last year, but he forgives you for it. You may not look forward to some things
that might come your way this year, but you can go forward in peace.
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This is why we sing this same song of Simeon after receiving the Lord’s Supper. We all become
little Simeons: that is, we all get to hold Jesus in our hands and see our salvation, and since we
receive the forgiveness of sins, we all get to depart in peace.
As you reflect on Christmas, mull over recent events, weigh up the past year, and ponder what
awaits you in the year ahead, remember that just as Jesus went to the crowded Temple and was
revealed for who he truly is, Jesus reveals himself to you and travels with you. He breaks into your
daily lives and lives with you in your troubles, your depression, and in your future. And where
Jesus is, there is also your salvation.
In this way, you can sing with Simeon: ‘Lord, now let your servant depart in peace according to
your Word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the presence of all people.’
The peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ
Jesus. Amen.
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