This sermon was preached at St Peter’s Evangelical-Lutheran Church, Public Schools Club, Adelaide, 9am
Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.
A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.
Prayer: Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
Today we are celebrating a church festival which is not well-known in Lutheran churches today, but in older times was very significant. It marks an occasion which happened 40 days after the birth of Jesus, and so this occasion is traditionally celebrated 40 days after Christmas on the February 2, which falls in a few days’ time.
So what exactly happened on this day? What is the Presentation all about? So first of all, we read: And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought [Jesus] up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
So, this festival has a few different names. Sometimes, it has been called “The Presentation of our Lord”, but also sometimes it has been called, “The Purification of the Virgin Mary”. Now both these things are mentioned in this verse, the fact that the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, and also that they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. So, it was part of the Law of Moses, that 40 days after a baby was born, that there was a special offering that had to be made after childbirth, so that she could enter the temple again. We realise that after childbirth, it takes a while for a woman’s body to go back to its normal condition again, and during this time she wasn’t allowed to enter the temple, until this time when she was required to make an offering.
The offering she was also required to make was a lamb a year old, and a pigeon or turtledove. However, in our reading, we read that they presented a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. In Leviticus 12, it says: If she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons.
So we learn here a couple of things. In the book of Leviticus, there are many instructions about various things to do with sacrifices and offerings and the priests, and all that kind of thing. Sometimes, the people were required to bring an offering of a particular animal to the temple. But in a few specific cases, there are some provisions for people who are poor, who can’t afford the normal offering, and are allowed to bring an alternative offering, which is also specified.
So we learn here that Mary and Joseph did what was required of them according to the law, but it is also one of the few places in the bible, which shows to us that the Holy Family was actually poor, and not wealthy. Of course, we know that Joseph was a carpenter, we know that Jesus was born in humble, poor conditions. But the fact that Jesus was born in a stable was because there was no room in the inn. They missed out on a proper room. I suppose, anyone whether they were rich or poor, could have missed out. But here in the reading, because they brought the alternative offering of two turtledoves or two pigeons, we are told specifically that this was a poor family and not a wealthy family.
So the first thing that happens is that it was time for Mary to come to temple to bring this offering for her purification after childbirth. Secondly, we read that Jesus was presented to the Lord in the temple. Now, this goes back to the Book of Exodus, where we read that the final plague that was unleashed upon the Egyptians was that every firstborn child was killed, unless they had followed God’s instructions of painting the blood of a lamb on the doorposts and lintel of their house, the beam across the top of the door. In memory of this event, we read in Exodus 13: The Lord said to Moses, “Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.” And also, it says: Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.
So, Mary and Joseph came to do these two things at the same time. However, it’s very strange. In Luke’s Gospel it says, that they were bringing him to present him to the Lord. But it doesn’t actually say too much about the fact that they did this. The text is silent about the details of them “redeeming Jesus”, as it says: Every firstborn man among your sons you shall redeem. But what we realise here, is that Jesus, being the Son of God, and true God in human flesh, is actually holy to the Lord in a way that completely separates him from every other firstborn son. And also, it is not so much his parents who redeem him, but Jesus will redeem them, and the whole world, from sin.
So, first of all in our reading, we have these two things from the Law of Moses. First, that Mary needed to bring an offering for her purification after childbirth, and secondly, that Jesus was presented to God, in memory of the fact that the firstborn sons of the people of Israel were saved at the time of Moses in Egypt, at the time of the Passover, before they all left Egypt and crossed the Red Sea.
Now, while Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus were visiting the temple, they also met two people. The first was man called Simeon, and the second was a woman called Anna. Now, about Simeon, we read: There was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. We read, that he was one of the people of God, a righteous and devout person, a person who studied the Scripture, lived a life of prayer, and of good works. We also read that the Holy Spirit was upon him.
Now, we also read here: And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Here the Holy Spirit is mentioned here again, and this time, that the Holy Spirit had given him a particular prophesy, that a certain thing would happen in his life, that before he died, he would see the Messiah, or the Christ.
But in the next verse, the Holy Spirit is mentioned again. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God. We read that the Holy Spirit was upon Simeon, we read that he had revealed to him a special prophecy, but also the Holy Spirit guided Simeon to be at this particular place at this particular time. Also, the Holy Spirit guided him in such a way that when he saw this particular child, he knew without being told that this was Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the anointed one of the Lord that the people of Israel were waiting for.
Now, after this, Simeon speaks a special blessing, or a prophetic poem, or song. We call this the Song of Simeon, which begins with the words: Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word. Now, this song is also known by the Latin name, “Nunc Dimittis”: “Nunc” means “now”, and “Dimittis” means “you are letting”. Now, in the Gospel of Luke, in the first two chapters, there are two other songs that are spoken. It’s quite an amazing thing that around the time of Jesus’ birth and the pregnancy before the birth and his early childhood, there are so many prophetic songs. It’s like reading the book of Psalms, with all those wonderful poems and songs there. Every Sunday, we sing parts of these psalms all throughout the church service. And there’s something wonderful about a prophetic song like this, or a psalm. First of all, because it is written in the Scripture, we believe these songs are the Word of God. But also, they are addressed to God. And so, they are given to us from God, in such a way that we sing them back to him, and are filled with the Holy Spirit too. In Ephesians it says: Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. And also in Colossians it says: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
So in the first two chapters of Luke, we read about four occasions where holy people spoke these kinds of spiritual songs, songs that were filled with the Holy Spirit, and that fill people with the Holy Spirit. Actually, that is one of the reasons why in church we sing and chant so many different things: because when we are in the presence of the living Lord Jesus, we sing. So we read about when pregnant Mary goes to visit pregnant Elizabeth, Mary sings the song: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. This song has often been called the “Magnificat”, which means “magnifies”: My soul magnifies the Lord.
But then also at the birth of John the Baptist, John’s father, Zechariah, had been made silent during the time of the pregnancy, and wasn’t able to speak. This was because he had doubted the words of the angel, and had asked for an additional sign that the word would come about. When his mouth was opened, when he gave his son the name John, we read: And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, “Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people.”
So, during the time of when both Jesus and John were in their mother’s womb, we have a song. When John the Baptist was born, we have a song. The first one was from Jesus’ mother, the second one from John’s father. But then when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, we read about a song that was sung by the angels: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased! Actually, we normally sing this song every Sunday, which we have already done today. It is a song which comes straight out of heaven, full of the Holy Spirit, and which fills us with the Holy Spirit!
And then, today, we read in our reading, that when both children had been born, John and Jesus, when Jesus was brought to the temple, Simeon sings this song. Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace. Now, there are a number of different occasions when Christians have often used this prayer, or this song. In the Lutheran Church, we have always sung it after the Lord’s Supper. Because like Simeon holding Jesus in his arm, we have also taken the body and blood of Jesus into our mouths and bodies and hearts, and now we can depart in peace. But also, Christians have often prayed it late at night before they go to bed. Also, it is a prayer we pray at a deathbed, when we think someone is about to die. But also, it is a prayer that we often pray at funerals, even when we carry the coffin out of the church. It’s a wonderful prayer, it’s a wonderful song, and it has many applications to our Christian life.
After this, we then read about a further prophesy that Simeon gives. We read: And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “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 piece through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” These are amazing words, which Simeon speaks from the Holy Spirit. It speaks about who the baby Jesus is, and what they should expect him to be as he grows up. What Simeon says here is particularly how Jesus will be a rock of offense, a stumbling block, if you like. Many people will trust in him and be his disciples and followers, but also many will hate him and try to silence him and kill him.
And in the next part of our reading, we also read about a prophetess, whose name was Anna. We read: There was a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. So, we read, here was another person that was also brought to this place at this particular time. It wasn’t just Simeon, but also this woman Anna came at the same time. We have no reason at all to assume that Simeon and Anna knew each other before this event. At the birth of Jesus, we see all kinds of people gathered together by the Holy Spirit from all kinds of places, from all kinds of backgrounds. We see the wise men led to worship Jesus from following a star. We see the shepherds coming to Bethlehem because of what the angels had told them. And so, here we have these prophetic people, this man and this woman, this man Simeon who speaks blessings and prophesies, this old woman Anna who lives a life of constant prayer and fasting.
The same goes for the church even today: we might look around and think where each of us was born, how each of us came to be here, how each of us ended up here even today. Just like at the time of Jesus’ birth and infancy, we realise that the Holy Spirit orchestrates all of this, and brings the church together around the Word of God and around the Sacraments, sometimes through the most extraordinary means: angels, dreams, stars, or whatever. And sometimes, some people show up, who are guided and led by the Holy Spirit, almost seemingly at random, like Simeon and Anna.
In the last part of our reading, we read about how the Holy Family, Mary and Joseph and Jesus, went back home to their hometown of Nazareth. And we read: And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favour of God was upon him.
So, here, in summary, we see all the different parts of our reading: Mary’s purification after childbirth, Jesus’ presentation as the firstborn Son, the man Simeon, his song, his prophecy, the prophetess Anna and her thanksgiving, and then the family’s return to Nazareth, and the fact that Jesus grew up into a wonderful child.
Also, this festival, the 2 February, when we commemorate this event, is also known as Candlemas. And this name comes from the fact that Christians would often have a special procession with candles, because of the words in the Song of Simeon, which calls Jesus, a light for revelation to the Gentiles.
So let’s consider a few things about these events, and apply them to ourselves for our spiritual comfort.
First of all: we read that Mary was coming to the temple for her purifying. However, as Christians, Jesus is actually our new temple. He is the person we worship, but he also unites us together into a spiritual house. And like Mary coming to be purified after childbirth, we all actually need a purification from Jesus. We are all completely filled from head to toe with all kinds of evil, all kinds of sin, impurity, unrighteousness, godlessness. Even if we are a Christian, it doesn’t mean that we are free from sin, but there is always a constant all-out war going on in our hearts between good and evil. And so, Jesus draws us to himself, like Simeon and Anna, and he cleanses us and makes us pure from all sin, he frees us from the condemnation of sin, and from the power of the devil. We have no need to fear death and hell anymore because Jesus is our life!
So, also, from this occasion spoken about in our reading, we see that we have reason for great peace and great joy and great comfort. We see the family Jesus coming to fulfil their requirement of the law of Moses, but strangely enough, everything was overshadowed by the praise of Jesus by these people who were there. When Jesus died on the cross, the law of God was completely fulfilled in him, the wrath of God was satisfied and stilled, the justice and righteousness that was required for our sin was completely paid in full. The law of God, its requirements and its condemnation and its judgment, is completely overshadowed and outshone by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and there is no greater joy in the whole world!
Jesus’ offering has done it. His sacrifice has done it. His merit, as we say, his achievement, his work, his atonement, has done it. And so, when we trust in Jesus and his sacrifice and his atonement, we are free from all the fear of death and hell, from its pains, its torments. And we take comfort in his holiness, in his purity, his guiltlessness, his salvation, which he gives to us as our treasure and our life. This salvation of Jesus is like a pearl of great price, a hidden treasure in a field. Jesus applies these wonderful things to us personally too even today in the church through baptising us with water and the Word, through the water and the Spirit, into his kingdom. And he continually sustains us also today in the church through his heavenly food, the manna from heaven, with his own body and blood in the Lord’s Supper.
And so, because of all this, we can die in peace and in joy. We can depart in peace! This word, “depart” is a shipping word. We can cast off our little boat from the seashore of this rotten and evil world, and put down our anchor in the arms and in the heart of Jesus. Our eyes, our hearts, our minds, have seen and experienced and tasted the free and full salvation which is in Jesus Christ, and so we can close our eyes and take our rest and die in peace, in the fullness of heavenly joy.
And so, even now, we can take such great joy and comfort and happiness in renouncing the world with all its pretentiousness, with all its lies and its murders, with all of its slime and its filth, with all its rotten hypocrisy. We have Jesus, and with him we have everything we need, both for this life and for the life to come. Jesus is the light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of His people Israel.
And so, we thank Jesus for his wonderful salvation for us, and we ask him to bring us finally into heavenly glory, to eternal salvation, through his sacrifice and offering before God the Father: through his blood, through his death, through his resurrection. And we look forward to that day when we will see him face to face not in these earthly temples made with human hands, but in the presence of God in heaven.
Amen.
The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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