(Luke 2: 22-40)
Mary’s story continues. As you may recall from last week, tradition held that Luke, who was not one of the original twelve disciples, probably spoke with Mary regarding Jesus’ birth as, in all likelihood, he did not personally know Jesus and probably never heard him preach or teach. Luke, a Greek Gentile, was writing to a different audience than the other gospel writers. As a convert to Christianity, he was writing primarily to other Gentile converts in an effort to connect Jesus’ Jewish roots to what his ministry meant to non-Jews. I think we can safely assume that Luke knew little, if anything, about the Old Testament prophesies regarding the Messiah. Mary, I believe, felt this was important and wanted to make sure Luke understood the significance of these prophesies for future reference. Mary was helping to connect the dots for future generations of believers and skeptics.
In our scripture reading for this morning, we learn that on the eighth day after Jesus’ birth the family made the five-mile trip from Bethlehem to Jerusalem to the temple for Jesus’ circumcision and Mary’s purification which was all done according to the law of Moses. The ritual of circumcision symbolized the Jews’ separation from the Gentiles and their unique relationship with God. And, as a first-born son, it was required that Jesus be dedicated to the Lord as it was written that every firstborn male be consecrated to the Lord, 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. This redemption ceremony was one that included a buying back, a redeeming, of the child from God through the offering of a sacrifice. This way, the parents acknowledged that the child belonged to God through an offering. By highlighting this, Luke draws attention to the fact that every aspect of Jesus’ upbringing is in keeping with the law of Moses.
When they entered the temple, they encountered a man named Simeon. Simeon, we are told, was a righteous and devout man who was looking forward to the consolation of Israel and that the Holy Spirit rested on him. We are also told that it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Lord’s Messiah. Now, it appears that on this particular day, Simeon was guided by the Spirit to go to the temple courts. While he was there, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus in for his circumcision and redeeming ceremony. Moved by the Spirit, Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God saying, Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. This statement from Simeon, I believe, was very important not only to Mary but to Luke also. For Mary, it was a confirmation of what the angel Gabriel had told her before she became pregnant, that she would bear a son who would be great and would be called the Son of the Host High, and that the Lord would give him the throne of his ancestor David. It’s like she’s saying to Luke; see, I told you so, a perfect stranger walks up to me and proclaims that my son is the salvation of God. For Luke it’s important for his audience of Gentiles that he points out what Simeon says about Jesus being “a light for revelation to the Gentiles.” Proof to anyone who thinks this story is just a “Jewish thing” that Jesus, the Messiah, is Lord of all, all who believe, Gentile and Jew alike. Luke tells us that the child’s mother and father marveled at what was said about him. A perfect stranger coming up to them in the crowded temple court and saying what he said. Who could have seen that coming? Simeon then blessed them and said to Mary; This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed, and a sword will pierce your own soul too. This is a kind of foreshadowing device as Simeon is giving Mary a heads-up regarding the future of this child and what to expect. As we will see, great turmoil will surround Jesus as he will be drawn into a power struggle between the governing Roman authorities and the Jewish religious leaders. The opposition to his claims of being the Messiah will be great among those who should know better, those who should recognize all the signs pointing to Jesus as their long-expected Messiah. And to Mary, who will have a front row seat to this drama, it will be like a sword piercing her soul. That obviously resonated with her as she felt Luke needed to know what Simeon was forecasting, which was to come true in unimaginable ways.
As if this wasn’t amazing enough, Mary and Joseph are next approached by a prophet named Anna. We are told that she had lived to a great age and had been a widow for quite some time, and that she never leaves the temple and worships there with fasting and prayer night and day. When she saw them, she began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. Unlike Simeon, she made quite a big deal about Jesus calling out others to come and see the child, the one who would bring redemption. Again, I think Mary thought this was significant and something Luke should know. Anna was called a prophetess, indicating that she was unusually close to God. Now prophets did not necessarily predict the future, but their main role was to speak for God, proclaiming his truth. Again, someone expecting the coming of the Messiah who picks Jesus out of a crowd in the temple courts. It had to have been a God thing.
Luke closes out the first week of Jesus’ life by telling us that after Mary and Joseph had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth and that Jesus grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
Many thought that Christ had come to save only his own people, but Luke made sure his Greek audience understood that Christ had come to save all who believe, Gentiles as well as Jews. Simeon emphasized that Jesus would bring salvation for all peoples, both Jews and Gentiles, and Anna praised God for bringing redemption for all. The emphasis on men and women, Jews and Greeks, poor and rich, young and old in this passage highlights the inclusive nature of the gospel message as conveyed by Luke. Our own Wesleyan tradition of the United Methodist Church emphasizes the inclusiveness of the gospel and in its most faithful moments seems to model inclusiveness as a sign of the kingdom of God present and yet to be revealed among us.
And that’s the message Luke is trying to convey to his readers of the day and to us in the here and now. The message of inclusiveness through a relationship with Jesus Christ. If the year 2020 has shown us anything, it’s how divided we are and I’m not speaking just about the divide between Democrats and Republicans. The divide is much greater. The divide is between the races, the rich and the poor, the haves and the have-nots, between countries and nations, and between churches. And that’s the message of the cross. Jesus came to unite a divided people, to give direction to a people who were lost in plain sight. Jesus Christ is the great unifier sent by God to restore and establish His kingdom here on earth and forever after. We must remember that Jesus came not only for us, for your and me. He came as Lord of All.
Please pray with me.
Gracious and loving God, how grateful we are for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, who came to save, heal and unite us as one people, a people bound together in service to you and your kingdom yet to come. Help us to remember it’s not about us. It’s about all of us regardless of race, nationality, gender, political persuasion, social status or position in society. Keep us mindful that what we do for others we are doing for you and that if it’s good for them, it’s good for us. Move us to be a church that is a model of inclusiveness in all that we do as we work to carry the lamp of your light into the world. We praise your mighty works, Lord of All. Amen.