Strathalbyn Church of Christ

Lk 2:21-40: The Baby who Divides. Sermon by Pastor David Williams.

Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 25 Dec 2022

Death or an accident. A wedding or a baby. There are moments in our lives that change everything. Life is never the same again. Such a moment took place 2000 years ago. But hardly anyone noticed. Yet the effects of this birth have resounded ever since. I’ve called this talk, The baby who divides. History itself is divided by this birth: BC – before Christ, and AD - after the year of the Lord. 31% of the world now follow Jesus Christ. Why is that? What do one in three people see in him? We need to go back to his beginning – indeed before his beginning. With his birth all changed. We’ll look at the old order – before he came - and then the new order.

The Old Order

Mary and Joseph, his parents, were Jews. History often shapes the way we see ourselves. Britons take pride in how their little Island resisted the Nazis against all odds. Ukrainians will look back on how they stood against Putin. And in a few years, Argentinian schools will be full of Lionels after their world cup win.

For the Jews, the big event in their history was their rescue from slavery. God rescued them from death on a night called the Passover. Every year, sincere Jews celebrate the Passover to remember this rescue. There is nothing more important for a Jew than to remember that God rescued them.

God rescued the Jews – but not because they were better than their enemies. They were not. All of us, Jews included, have turned our backs on our creator and gone our own way, we keep on doing wrong. God rescued them not because they were better but because he had pity on them. He chose to love them and made them his special people, his rescued ones. But were they grateful? No, they continued to do wrong. This created a problem – how could the Jews keep coming to God when they kept doing wrong? How can people in the wrong come to a God who is true and right and good?

God gave them three things which helped – a bit – sort of. I’ll call this the old order. God gave them a Law, a Temple and sacrifices. The Law showed them how they should live under God’s rule. The Temple was a special place where they could meet God. And animal sacrifices were a way to say sorry to God whenever they did wrong.

Mary and Joseph were sincere Jews. They tried hard to obey God’s Law. So they brought their first baby to the temple. God’s Law said they should do that and make a sacrifice there.

22 Then it was time for the purification ceremony, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23 The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.” 24 So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

God had given the Jews the Law, the Temple and sacrifices. I said they helped - a bit – sort of. But even with these three things, the Jews kept failing God. Even the most sincere - those who tried their hardest - kept failing. So God promised a fourth thing. Actually not a thing but a person, a child. God promised to send a rescuer. Do you remember what was most important to a Jew? Remembering that God had rescued them from slavery. Now God promised another rescuer.

The Jews had lots of practice at being slaves. First, they were slaves to the Egyptians – and God rescued them. Then, because they kept breaking his law, he sent as prisoners to Babylon. But God had pity on them so rescued them again. Now the Romans had invaded their land. For all this time, the Jews expected God to keep his promise – his promise to send a rescuer. They had a name for the promised rescuer. He was called the Messiah, or Christ.

Long ago, God sent prophets. God gave these prophets his words through his Spirit. Words of warning, but also words of comfort as people suffered. But no prophets had been heard of for 400 years. All this time, the Jews had been waiting and watching. When would the Christ, the rescuer come? The Jews thought God would send a powerful general to smash the mighty Roman armies.

The New Order

The Christ did come – but his coming was so quiet and his parents were so poor that hardly anyone noticed (Lev 12:6-8). God didn’t send a mighty general but a baby. But his coming changed everything. The changes that came with this baby were so huge that even his parents, Mary and Joseph, were astounded.

33 Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him.

Let’s unpack why it was so amazing. When Mary and Joseph came into the temple, two others came at just that moment. Two prophets, Simeon and Anna. After 400 years, God now spoke again.

25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was just and sincere and was eagerly waiting for the Lord to rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God

From Simeon and Anna, we learn three things about this baby:

1. Who he was

The Jews were those who had been rescued by God. That is how they saw themselves. Now here was God himself, come as a baby, come to rescue again. His name, Jesus, means God Rescues.

he was called Jesus

He was called the Lord’s Christ – that is, God’s rescuer.

he would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ

2. Old order hangs together in him

The old order was about Israel. We are now told that this baby was Israel’s glory or splendour

he is the glory of your people Israel!

How so? Israel were God’s special people – but they were never meant to keep God all to themselves. God wanted them to shine as a light to the nations (Isa 49:6). In this they failed miserably. But this baby was to do just that.

For I have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all people.
He is a light to reveal God to the nations,

This baby was Israel’s glory and a light showing God to the nations. The old order was mainly about Israel. The new order reaches out to the whole world!

The old order had its Law, temple and sacrifice. The old order which only - sort of - worked was about to change. This baby made it all hang together and work. It was fulfilled by the child. The Jews met God in the Temple. But in the temple, Simeon met God as a 6-week-old baby. Jesus is the true Temple, as Jesus himself said (Jn 2:13-22). Jesus is the true Temple – where we meet God himself – the God who rescues.

With this baby, the old order changed. Jesus on the cross fulfilled the Law and made the perfect sacrifice. Jesus was Israel’s glory and light to the nations. The Law, the Temple and the sacrifices – all hang together in him. In him they were fulfilled.

3. His rescue

God’s rescue plan went way beyond rescuing the Jews from their Roman rulers.

a. His rescue would bring peace.

Not just a peace between nations, but one much deeper. A peace in hearts and minds. Simeon said

29 “Lord, you can let your servant depart in peace

b. He rescued by dying

Christ rescued not by wiping out the Romans but by dying himself at their hands. That sounds strange, don’t you reckon? The Jews sacrificed a lamb at Passover – their great celebration of God’s rescue.

Christ is called our Passover lamb (1 Cor 5:7). 700 years earlier, the prophet Isaiah predicted Christ’s sufferings in this way:

He was oppressed and treated harshly,
yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth, Is 53:7

Christ, our Passover lamb, rescued by dying.

c. His death rescued us from death

Jesus died a shameful, painful death. It looked like he was a complete failure. His mission a total defeat. But in this defeat came victory. Because three days later, he rose from death – we celebrate this on Easter Sunday. By rising from death, he showed that he had defeated death and offers life to all who trust in him. In Jesus death, we were rescued. Again, Isaiah said,

But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole
and with his wounds we are healed, Is 53:5

With his wounds we are healed. By his death, we have life.

A true report

It is easy to miss the impact of Luke’s report in all the fizz and glitter of Christmas. But the report of Jesus is a true story. I say that for two reasons.

1. it was revealed by God.

26 the Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.

God’s Spirit revealed the truth of who this baby was and what he would do. It wasn’t Simeon’s idea. Jesus brought about the most extraordinary rescue in history. It is so incredible that no one would invent such a story –

- God sending his son

- as a human baby

- to die on a cross

- to rescue his enemies – we who have turned our backs on our maker.

Luke’s report is true because it came from God himself. But that is not all.

2. it was based on historic facts.

Luke was a careful historian (cf., Lk 1:1-4). For example, look at the detailed description of Anna. We know her age, marital status, family background and role.

36 Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. 37 Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four.

So often in his report, Luke gives very precise details. So anyone reading his report at the time could easily have it fact checked. Luke’s report is from God and is historically accurate.

The Baby who divides humanity

As a true report Luke’s report is very confronting. For we will rise or fall by how we respond to this baby. By him, we are either rescued or defeated.

“This child is chosen to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise

For those who welcome him, Jesus brings rescue from our failures and even from death. He is a signpost to God.

He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him.

But many opposed this baby and his God. Together the Jewish and Roman leaders crucified him on a cross. Simeon warned Mary of the sword that would divide her own soul as she watched her son dying in agony 30 years later.

and a sword will pierce your own soul as well!

Today, many still reject him. But it is not some long dead person they are rejecting. Yes, you may reject Buddha or Caesar or even Elvis! But if the story of Jesus is true – and billions are convinced that it is – then to reject him is to reject a living resurrected man. And not just a man, but the son of God himself. The divine Jesus who knows our secret thoughts.

By him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed

One day, we will all stand before him – either as our rescuer or our judge. What will you say to him when he asks, why did you reject my rescue? Why did you not accept my free forgiveness?

Or will you now say with Simeon,

Lord, you can let your servant depart in peace …
For I have seen your salvation

We will rise from death or fail to do so by our response to Jesus Christ. Will you accept his offer of forgiveness? Will you do that today? Can you make this carol into your own prayer?

O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to me I pray;
Cast out my sin, and enter in,
Be born in me to-day.
I hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
Oh, come to me, abide with me,
My Lord Emmanuel!

Sources:

· David Jackman, https://www.djpreaching.com/talk/?id=775

· Evans C. A. (1995). Luke. Hendrickson Publishers; Paternoster Press.

· Taylor W. (2016). Read Mark Learn : Luke: A small group bible study.

Series: Luke

Topics: #Luke , #Christmas , #Fulfilment , #Truth