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St. Luke 2:32-35 – December 31, 2006
Rev. George F. Borghardt III – St. Mark Lutheran Church, Conroe, TX
In the Name of Jesus. Amen. The Sunday after Christmas takes us away from the Shepherds, away from the angels, and out of the manger. We are even taken out of Bethlehem.
Today, we are taken to Jerusalem to the Temple, where sacrifices are made - “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” To where Simeon and Anna await their Savior.
To the Temple, according to the Law – as is fitting for every son of Abraham. Forty days after birth, He was to be presented to God in the Temple.
Just like every other kid, yet He isn't every other kid. He is the Son of God, very God of very God. He comes to the Temple, His Temple, to fulfill the Law for you.
That's what Christmas Season teaches us – Jesus fulfilling the Law for us. St. Luke takes the time to mention the law five times in chapter 2 – He even gets it in there between the angels and shepherds, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem!
St. Paul, today, joins in and says it this way, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
Born under the Law, in the Law, to fulfill the Law for you so that you might be a child of God. To set you free from the Law's demands by redeeming you from the Law.
The whole of the Old Testament is fulfilled in Him. All of the Old Testament sacrifices. All of the requirements of the Law. All of the requirements of God.
And that fulfillment redeems us – buys us back from sin, death, and the power of the devil.
Often times we talk about Jesus suffering and dying for our sins. That's true, but that's not all that He did. Jesus also fulfill the Law in our place. That's what makes us children of God – both Christ's keeping of the Law and His dying in our place.
It takes both to save us – both Christ's keeping of the Law perfectly in our place and His dying for all the times which we don't keep God's Law.
And it all goes down in the Temple. Where else would it happen? That's where God is with His people – in the Temple. That's where Christ is – in His temple.
There in the Temple we meet Pious Simeon, who had been waiting for Christmas – waiting for the Christ – waiting in the temple to die.
The Lord had told him that He would not fall asleep until He had seen the Lord's Christ. And so He waited, and waited, and waited...
Then, He came. And Simeon scoops up this little one and sings – the song we sing every week after the Lord's Supper. The Christ had come... Simeon could depart in peace!
But, before He did, Simeon gives us a second sign concerning this child. The first was to shepherds – you'll find Him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.. This second sign tells us that the Baby would be a “sign opposed by many in Israel.”
Opposed – by Herod who will try to kill the baby after the wise men show up. Opposed – by all who would rather go about God, and life and salvation on their own. Opposed – by the chief priests and teachers of the Law. Opposed to the point they drive nails into this babies' hands and feet.
That's the sword – which pierces his mother heart too. A sword which pierces – that's the Cross – where our redemption was won. What pain, what suffering, for Him.
Falling and rising – that's what He brings. Falling, Dying, to sin, dying to our way of thinking about God and heaven, and rising again to new life. New life – which begins right now.
Die to what you know about God. Die to what you think about God. Turn from all the thoughts and feelings that say, “Didn't God say this? Didn't the Bible say that?”
Don't trust what you think. Don't trust what you feel. The thoughts of men will be revealed. And when our thoughts are revealed, that can't be a good thing.
Turn from them. Let all your expectations about God and Christ be found in the Babe, Born of Mary. Turn aside from all the ideas and thoughts you got figured out about God to Jesus alone.
Falling is a painful thing – like a sword that pierces your spirit. But,after the sword has pierced you and you know you know nothing about God but what He has revealed in His Word, listen to Anna speak comfort to you.
Anna had been in the temple for a long time – some 84 years since her husband died. That makes her... old. And she thank God for this little Baby and spoke comfort to those who waited for redemption.
She speaks as if that redemption has already happened – for Jesus is here. There isn't a wait any more – your redemption is right here. God has come to His temple.
God is now in the Flesh, His presence is no longer in walls of brick, or in a tabernacle, or a tent, but in flesh and blood, born of Mary. He is the Temple.
Flesh and blood of a child whose body and blood will be given and shed for you on the Cross. Flesh and Blood, which can be delivered this evening into your mouth at this altar.
An altar where sacrifices go on no longer, but where a sacrifice – His Sacrifice is delivered to you.
Dear children of God, I'm asking you to be children of God. To have what you know about God, what you believe about God, come from Him alone. Otherwise, there is no comfort, no peace.
How is God? What's He like? He's a person. He has things He likes, things He doesn't. How do you know? Listen to His Word. Listen to Jesus.
Spend the New Year, watching Him go back to Jerusalem, headed for the Cross to die for all our sins. Which means – fill your new year with His Words – come to Bible Class, come to Sunday School, come hear and come sing. Learn about Him, where He is for you.
He's in Jerusalem today fulfilling the Law for you. He'll leave Pious Simeon and Anna, but He'll come back to Jerusalem again, to His Temple. He will suffer and die for the times which we have failed to keep His law. He'll suffer and die in your place. Keeping the Law and Dying – Baby Jesus will do both to save you.
“They all were looking for a king to slay their foes and lift them high. Thou cam’st a little baby thing that made a woman cry.” (little Baby Thing – George MacDonald).
That's how God is. That's what Christmas is about. A blessed and a Merry Christmas be with you all. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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