The Sunday after Christmas, 2017
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
The Hymn # 85:1-8 From Heaven Above The Confession of SinsThe AbsolutionThe Introit p. 16The Gloria PatriThe Kyrie p. 17The Gloria in ExcelsisThe Salutation and Collect p. 19The Epistle and Gradual The Gospel Glory be to Thee, O Lord!Praise be to Thee, O Christ!The Nicene Creed p. 22The Sermon Hymn #85:9-15 From Heaven Above
God's Blessings in the Temple and the Word
The Hymn #657 Beautiful Savior The Preface p. 24The Sanctus p. 26The Lord's Prayer p. 27The Words of InstitutionThe Agnus Dei p. 28The Nunc Dimittis p. 29The Benediction p. 31The Hymn #83 Hark! What Mean Those Holy Voices KJV Galatians 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.KJV Luke 2:33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. 39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. 40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.Sunday After ChristmasO almighty and everlasting God, mercifully direct our ways, that we may walk in Thy law, and be made to abound in good works: through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
God's Blessings in the Temple and the Word
KJV Luke 2:33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
Simeon is mentioned just before this passage, as Lenski wrote:
Luke introduces the remarkable story of Simeon with the interjection "lo." He is introduced as being just "a man." There is nothing great and wonderful about him; he has no high office, standing, or power. It is fancy to make him the president of the Sanhedrin in the year 13 and a son of Hillel and the father of Gamaliel. He lived "in Jerusalem," whither Joseph and Mary had gone (v. 21), and thus away from
Bethlehem where the shepherds had spread the story of what they had heard and seen (v. 18). Even here in Jerusalem, the center of Jewish religious corruption, there lived some of God's true people. His name "Simeon," which was quite common, is introduced as were the name Nazareth and the name Joseph in 1:26, 27, unlike that of Zacharias and of Elisabeth in 1:5. He is described as being "righteous" in the same forensic sense as were Zacharias and Elisabeth in 1:5—seethe full explanation...
These are the words -
Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
We can that there is no lack of support or proclamation about Jesus being born. There are several reasons for this. On one hand, the birth of the Savior was hidden from the great, mighty, and wise. However, God saw to it that the Savior would be brought before the religious leaders and the future of Jesus proclaimed.
This was repeated when Jesus stayed in the Temple and talked with the leading scholars and priests, revealing His nature to them.
Beyond that, these blessings and revelations strengthened Joseph and Mary, who had to endure many hardships. God's Word revealed to them what would be happening and prepared them for those events. Clearly Joseph did not live to see everything happen, but Mary remained faithful the entire time.
As Luther commented in his sermon notes for this text, the reason for the marveling of the parents can be found in Simeon's proclamation. He was ready to die because he saw in Jesus the Promises all fulfilled. They were ancient Promises going back to the Garden of Eden and including every era of the Old Testament. To live to see that great day was his hope, and he was ready to die.
In the Bible, a man's last words before death are considered and emphasized as especially important. So Simeon's words are doubly emphatic since they belong to his departure from this life. God's Promise is fulfilled in Simeon being able to see Jesus, the Savior, and die.
29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
We use "die in peace" so feebly, which seems to mean "in contentment." But in the Bible, it means to die with sins forgiveness. Simeon believed in the Savior and in Him he received the peace of sins forgiveness, the righteousness of faith. To let this servant die in peace means with all sins forgiven through faith in Jesus.
This is an important part of Justification by Faith, because that means all the Old Testament figures who trusted in the Savior were counted as righteous, as Abraham was. Adam and Eve were given the Promise. Moses and Noah were preachers of righteousness through faith.
The confused and ignorant based their false gospel on two events. They contradict each other and yet claim to thave the truth. Some of them claim the entire world was forgiven when Jesus died on the cross. But others used 1 Timothy 3:16 to say the world was forgiven when He rose from the dead. In both cases, there is a mysterious claim about God declaring the world forgiven, without faith - they agree there. But they have no anchor for their claim, except for people who rest their teaching on the era of Pietism and rationalism.
In contrast, as the Bible clearly shows, God declares those people righteous (justified) or forgiven if they believe in the Savior. Therefore, Justification by Faith does not depend on an event but upon the Savior Himself. That is because God is not limited by time as we are.
We can see Simeon's Gospel in his message. Christian churches, like the Jerusalem Temple, are the House of God. When Jesus was brought into the Temple, this was especially so. Doubly so. This place, where the people were prepared for the Savior and His sacrifice, received the Son of God and proclaimed His mission.
Those who thing God should do more for his original people and for pagans - How many times was Jesus brought before religious leaders of great consequence? And secular leaders as well, Jews and Gentiles alike. In each case they were faced with the true Word of God, which is always effect, in saving those with sincere faith, in condemning obstinate non-believers.
Where is all this contained? Jesus is in the Word, which is conveyed several ways here. The Temple is the House of God. Jesus is God Himself. And the proclamation of the Gospel conveys Christ to us, revealed in Scriptures and preached by word of mouth.
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
People think, "How lucky for Simeon and the shepherds. They were able to see Jesus." But we not only see and hear Christ in the Scriptures, liturgy, hymns, and sermons, but we also have all this history to reflect upon its meaning.
Thousands heard Him and saw Him. They witnesses His miracles and went on with their business as usual, without faith, doubtless afraid of being associated with Him.
But we can imagine how wonderful these words were to the parents. As Luther wrote, mother and father are used in the common sense. We do not always put "step" in when there is another parent, a birth parent. Besides that, the Virgin Birth was an important part of the entire proclamation, not the center of it. As we can see from history, after the Theotokos debate, which really centered on the humanity of Jesus, Mary was afterwards elevated to divinity status, even being assumed into heaven and serving as a minister to the souls in Purgatory.
The modern rationalists have said to my face, "The Virgin Birth and the Resurrection are not important doctrines anyway." And of course they are, so they are whistling past the graveyard to say what is essential is not important. They are like staff in NCIS who are aware that the boss may be behind them and listening at the moment they make fun of something.
The Gospel is centered on what Jesus accomplished for us and the Virgin Birth, so clearly taught, does not focus on Mary so much as her faith in God's Promises about the Savior.
When Mary is elevated too much, so that she never committed an actual sin, then we lose the special nature of this blessing, in strengthening her for the trials to come. "Did I just dream this?" The confirming episodes are many, such as the angelic messages, the meeting with and staying with John the Baptist's mother, the shepherds, the wise men, and here Simeon and Anna.
It used to be, before Photoshop, that a diploma was proof of a degree. Now a business or school will ask for a transcript direct from the place where the degree was earned. They do not want to get it from the recipient, because fraud is so easy with paper and printing. I still have a recurring dream where the Notre Dame faculty patiently explains I never graduated at all. I wake up thinking, "Wait a minute. I distinctly remember receiving it from Father Hesburgh himself." And there was a party, and Aunty Em, and Toto... No I am not awake yet.
God, knowing our weaknesses, gives us signs and Promises, concrete tokens of His grace and blessings. So Mary and Joseph endured hardships because of the cross, but they were also confirmed in their faith in many remarkable ways.
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
This addresses both kinds of doubts. We do not have a claim to be children of Abraham by blood - but we do by faith. And those who might feel condemned for being Jews - it is constantly emphasized that Jesus was for the Jews first and then the Gentiles.
Luke 2:33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
They could hear and observe that everything they experienced before was becoming true, although they were an insignificant couple with a tiny baby. That is not what the world pays attention to, unless the family is well connected in the outward sense of the word.
Simeon spoke in faith and they heard his proclamation in faith. This is also how congregations support one another's faith. In faith people ask for prayer, and prayers are offered in faith. Over time we see how God answers prayers above and beyond anything we could imagine.
Those repeated experiences make us more trusting when the next crisis, emergency, or anxiety appears. God has fulfilled his Promises before and will again, glorifying His Name.
In contrast, those who pray as a last-minute solution may not stick around to see how God works. Or they may rationalize God's miraculous work, thus falling from faith while enjoying God's promise that He cares for everyone, especially those who are faithful.
I see that among the clergy who have to claim a measurable success, or a string of them. In fact, some can construct a resume that looks quite remarkable. However, God only looks at faithfulness as stewards of His mysteries - doctrines revealed only through the Spirit in the Word. Only God can measure that, as Paul taught.
We see this in the entire message of Simeon. '
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
Jesus will be the cause of salvation or damnation of many in Israel, so there is no universal forgiveness and salvation, as the ignorant claim.
He will a a sign - that is a miraculous event from God - but one that is spoke against. I have noticed this year, even more than before, people use anything related to Christmas or to Jesus Himself to mock Him and to make fun of faith in Him.
Luther commented, "What kind of a thing is this to say to a new mother?" But that is reality of Christ and the cross - taking it up daily. Some want to teach glory only and only glory in Mary or something else in the narrative. But the true narrative always includes the cross, the cross revealed in many ways, in the midst of the story of salvation. Mary witnessed the crucifixion, so this Word was fulfilled. And the cross reveals the faith or lack of faith of many.
I received a Christmas email from a seminary president, who informed her followers that the shepherds turned the world upside down. And we are to have the same role. The shepherds only known in the Gospel of Luke, and - in memory serves - Christ changed the world, not the shepherds. There are other hip messages I could share from various apostate leaders, but the key message is so far from faith in Jesus that no one can doubt their doubt.
Faith Eroded And Built
Once the erosion of faith begins, it is difficult to stop, because so many apostates have stopped to record their doubts as well. The libraries are filled with books about their doubts and speculations, but relatively short on good books.
Man's wisdom slowly replaces God's revelation, but there is an easy solution. The Bible judges all books. I noticed that a long time ago when I was reading a fairly interesting book about the Bible, a popular book. The author began dismissing the quality of Biblical poetry. First I thought of the subjective nature of that statement. But more importantly, I thought, "Are you trying to learn and teach from the Word or just give us a book review based on your superior attitude?"
When we know the quality and meaning of God's Word, man's wisdom does not hold up well. When asked if I have watched a religious documentary on the History Channel I say, "Whenever they have a show on Christianity, I change the channel." Their expert in ancient aliens had a college degree in sports management!
There is only one book which is God's Word, and there are few faithful translations today. The King James family sticks to precison translations for the most part, far superior to the rest, which claim to be the best.
