Final Wish

Final Wish

Luke 2:22-39

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567

What is that one “BIG” gift that you hope to receive this Christmas? You know the over-the-top expensive item that consumes your thoughts and web browsing history! Maybe for you that is a new car, diamond ring, expensive vacation, jacuzzi or cottage by the river. And if this item happens to be on your “bucket list” then waiting for the “big day” to arrive for you has become excruciatingly painful! In the Christmas story we learn about a man named Simeon whom the Holy Spirit told would not die before having seen Jesus. God who last spoke through the prophet Malachi some 400 years ago was not only going to send the Messiah in his lifetime, but Simeon was going to hold Him in his arms! What if God sent you a text message that stated you would see Jesus on His birthday this Christmas? Would you be like Simeon and view this as best gift ever and place Jesus on your bucket list? The following sermon is going to review the song Simeon sung while holding Jesus in the hope that you might see His gifts of peace and salvation as so valuable that you will share His Good News with the world!

Honoring the Old Testament (22-24, 39)

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took Him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” 39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

In these five verses Luke presents Jesus’ family as those who were obedient to the Old Testament Law of Moses. When it came time for purification rites Mary and Joseph travelled to Jerusalem so that purification, presentation and dedication ceremonies might be performed at the temple. According to Leviticus 12:1-8 upon giving birth the mother is ceremonially unclean and must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary. When her 40 the days of purification finished her “ritual cleanness was restored by making a burnt or a sin offering.” Mary did not offer a lamb but a pair of doves or young pigeons which was an acceptable and atypical offering made by the poor or middle class for such a ceremony. In accordance with Exodus 13:2 and 1 Samuel 1-2, Mary and Joseph presented and consecrated Jesus, their firstborn, to God into the Lord’s service. Luke presents the observance of these three ceremonies to demonstrate that Jesus did not grow up as a rebel against the Mosaic Law but had strong roots in pious faith and observance to its precepts!

Like beliefs of the heretic Marcion of the 2nd century there are a growing number of modern-day theologians suggesting that Jesus’ ushering in the new kingdom meant the abolishment of OT teachings. Later in Luke and other New Testament writings one learns that Jesus came not only to obey but fulfill the law of Moses. Believing that the OT was dismissed upon Christ’s arrival to this earth goes against His declaration in Matthew 5:17 that “fulfillment” of the law did not meant abolishment but transcendence. While Messianic laws are the end of the ceremonial and civil laws, its intent, to “bring out by word and deed” holy living, is the foundation of Jesus’ teachings. Righteousness for Christ went way beyond external, legalism to an internal thirst to obey the intended purpose of the law. For example, not hating someone created in the image of God was the intent of the OT law to not kill and not lusting after someone was the intent of the OT law to not commit adultery (Matthew 5:21-30). Even though identifying the intent of a law might seem like “the promulgation of a new law,” Luke wanted the reader to know this transcendence of the teachings of the Messiah did not mean conflict with but fulfilled the law and the prophets of the OT!

The Anticipation of Two Devout Witnesses (25-26, 36-38)

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. u She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.