Word Count: 2579
This sermon was delivered to the congregation in St Oswald’s in Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 2nd February 2014: by Gordon McCulloch (A Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries).
Summary: "Candle-mas", the story of Simeon is a simple story, but if you look closely, there is a lot about the way we should be living our lives … as either Jesus will appear one day on earth, or we will die and meet him in heaven; either way, we want to be ready.
Malachi 3:1-4 Hebrews 2:14-18 Luke 2:22-40 Psalm 84 Psalm 24:7-10
“Please join me in my prayer.” Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength, and our redeemer. Amen. (Psalm. 19:14)
Introduction:
Today is Sunday the 2nd of February, and we celebrate the festival of the Presentation of Christ at the Temple. This is a celebration, sometimes a feast, of an early episode in the life of Jesus.
We Episcopalians or Anglicans are more familiar with the term Candle-mas, where candles were traditionally blessed at this festival; a festival to mark the end of the Epiphany season. It is also known as the “Feast of the Purification of the Virgin” or “the Meeting of the Lord”, as well as many other eastern orthodox names.
What is the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple?
So what is this festival, well it is an important event described in Luke’s Gospel where Mary and Joseph took the baby Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, forty days after his birth to complete Mary's ritual purification after childbirth … and to perform the redemption of the firstborn, as written in Leviticus 12, and Exodus 13.
Now upon bringing Jesus into the temple, they encountered an Old man called Simeon who has been promised by the Holy Spirit that "he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ" in person, who then prophesied to Mary. There was also an elderly prophetess called Anna, who also offered prayers and praise to God, and spoke to everybody about Jesus, and the redemption of Israel.
And that is about it really … but … in these verses, if you look closely, they also say a lot about the way we should be living our lives … as we are told that either Jesus will appear one day, or we will die and meet him in heaven; either way, we want to be ready.
Simeon gives us a good template to follow, as he lived his life devoted to God, knowing that he was going to meet his saviour, as he wanted to be ready; … and I know you are going to say, what for? … Jesus was only a baby like any other baby … but you are missing the point … Simeon was really preparing himself for death and the life there after.
So by presenting this baby, Simeon (and us), are preparing ourselves for death. … What a cheery set of readings, Eh!
But it is a good story, because Simeon was true blessed, and he was guided by the Holy Spirit long before Jesus ever went to the cross, and that truly is a blessing on an Old Testament person. So it is really worth looking at this great man, and maybe some of him, may wash off on us.
Devotion
The first great strength of Simeon was his devotion. Verse 25, “and, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout … and the Holy Ghost was upon him”.
Simeon was “just”, meaning that he was honest … he possessed a moral character. Today we call that integrity; a fantastic attribute to behold, as it gains respect and trust as we all know.
Simeon was also called “devout”, meaning that he was known for "seeking out things that were from God, and doing his best to live up to God’s standards”, and I must say … in case you do not realise it, none of these things are alien to us. We all here do our best, we do not always get it right and it hurts us when we don’t … but that is the influence of the Holy Spirit, refining us all the time. If God did not love us, he would not correct us … and how many times has that been used as a weapon?
The Desire
Verse 25 goes on to say that, “(Simeon) … looking forward to the consolation of Israel … and it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ”. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple looking forward to the consolation of Israel; consolation in this sense meaning the peace and solace of Israel to come.
Now Israel to some purely means the Jews to others it is the country, I don’t know, but Simeon was waiting for the Messiah to come, and rescue Israel from its oppressors.
Simeon therefore had a burning desire to see the Lord! Do we have that desire? Well … yes we do … is that not why we are here this morning, to worship him … in expectation of meeting him … and of having communion with Him. That is what we are here for … and so far we are not doing too badly here.
We can worship Jesus today, why because he lives; … and we don’t have wait until we die to meet him either because he already abides within us, as we have the same Holy Ghost in us; and yes we may not feel it … but we do, and that is because of what Jesus achieved on the cross all those years ago.
Being led by the Holy Spirit
Now Simeon was led by the Holy Spirit to the temple, that exact same day, at that exact time where he just so happened to bump into Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus.
How many times have we read of God leading his people to the right place, at the right time: and that truly is a blessing, and the bible is so full these stories as you know? … Look at Abraham in Genesis 22:13, “Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son” Isaac.
Is that not powerful! It was so fortunate for Abraham that the ram was caught up; although it wasn’t so fortunate for the ram, but God here demanded a blood sacrifice, and God supplied that sacrifice himself in terms of the goat … and later in terms of his son Jesus. I love how this all ties in.
Look at Noah, he followed God’s direction and was protected from the flood, mind you, that took 100 years of guts and determination. Elijah went to the brook and was fed by ravens, and although that was disgusting, he survived, and went on to do more great things for the Lord … here are so many more stories like these in the bible.
What if anyone of them had not followed or obeyed? What if they had only half obeyed? What would have happened if Simeon had not entered the temple, he would have missed out on the biggest promise of his life! So I think it is safe to conclude that we too must be sensitive God’s voice, and learn to be led by the Holy Spirit.
I really hope you know what I am talking about here, you know, the quiet word in you ear that says, “go this way”, or “try this”, or “don’t get involved”, or “avoid him … or her”. And if you are not sensitive to that advice, you will certainly understand your own voice later saying, “I could have kicked myself” or, “I knew I shouldn’t have done that” or “I knew I shouldn’t have gone there” or “I knew I shouldn’t have said that” and later on I may say “I knew I should not have put that in this sermon”. …
Listen, I am not an expert on this but as Christine will tell you, sometimes we have gotten it right, and I conclude that the closer you walk with the Lord, the mistakes decrease and the opportunities or blessings increase. Are you with me?
You may ask, and then what frame of mind do you have to get into to listen to the Lord? Well … DL Moody, the founder of the Moody church said once … and you will like this: “I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and (personal) ambition … and everything that is contrary to God’s will … the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of your heart. But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition, and the world, then there is no room for the Spirit of God” there is only room for us, and the things of the flesh.
We must therefore empty ourselves, of ourselves, to make room for God, and the more we can do this, the more room we make for him. I know this is easier said than done, but that is the principle that we must follow before we can be filled with God’s power; and ... we all now this to be true. We certainly know the opposite … because one bad day, or one bad encounter or exchange … and the first thing that is kicked out the window is God himself.
We all do it, but that is why it is so important that when we do, we return to him as quickly as we can as only he can restore our strength or situation and our peace. We need to remain sensitive and obedient to the direction of the Holy Spirit in our lives, to keep us on track. Ok, are you with me?
Sacrifice.
To move on, we ask ourselves the significance as to why Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, verse 22 onwards tells us that they did so according to the law of Moses: to present the male child to the Lord, and to offer a sacrifice, either a lamb or turtledoves or two young pigeons.
This was necessary as Mary would have been considered ceremonially impure, following childbirth … and did you notice two offerings were required, a lamb as a burnt offering and a pigeon or turtledove as a sin offering, but if the family was poor, God would accept two birds.
And Luke explicitly tells us that Mary and Joseph were to take the poorer option, reminding us that Jesus was born into poverty.
Interestingly, two offering were required, one was a burnt-offering in acknowledgment of the sovereignty of God and in thanksgiving for Mary’s own happy delivery. The other was a sin offering, cleansing the woman’s legal impurity, and reinstating her former privileges, (whatever they were). This was the purpose for the journey to the temple, but it brought about an encounter that changed Simeon’s life as he lifted his voice in praise at the sight of the baby Jesus, as he sees him as the redeemer of Israel.
The Delight and discernment
Simeon was so thrilled that he had to shout about it, and not only Simeon, as there was another, an elderly woman called Anna who was also filled with delight at the sight of Jesus … and who began to praise God when she saw him … and started to speak about the child and the saviour of Israel.
I have noticed that when anybody who has had an encounter with the Lord, they just cannot keep it to themselves; … although … as they mature, they are more discerning of whom they witness this to. But when Anna and Simeon met with Jesus that day, there was great joy and excitement that could not be contained.
Mary or Joseph didn’t tell Simeon anything, Simeon knew, and so did Anna; they both declared the baby Jesus as their Lord. Simeon took Jesus up in his arms and said verse; “this is my salvation and my desire".
Think on this, how many people have been told that Jesus is the messiah? How many people do you know, that have been told this or even had it explained to them? Then think of how they refuse to listen, or if they do listen, they fall at the first hurdle.
And how many people do you know, who go to great lengths to avoid the Lord, and they even deny that he exists; believing Christianity to be a puny and feeble and weak religion that does not work in today’s society, and takes all joy out of life … that makes you go to church and sing songs and pray and things like that.
How many of them do not see their salvation through Jesus, but through selfish ambition, or politics or the lottery or even, God forbid, football. What a waste?
Many do not see Jesus for who he really is, and what he achieved on the cross. Many do not see, nor understand his power; … but Simeon did!
Conclusion.
And Simeon became content, Simeon had met his saviour in the flesh, and Simeon could now die in peace and look forward to being with the Lord. And so Simeon prayed the prayer that would become known as the Nunc Dimittis, which prophesied the redemption of the world by Jesus: “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace; … for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation … and to be the glory of Thy people Israel”.
Simeon saw the baby Jesus as the “light to lighten the Gentiles”, and it saddens me that more people are not like him, but who refuse to listen or understand, but whose lives could be so much changed for the better … and not only that, they could change and bless the lives of others as well, if they could only take their eyes off themselves and place them on the Lord.
What a waste, but I am going to end this sermon here as I am actually winding up, rather than closing done, but you can see, there is so much to say on this subject, so let us end with a short prayer. Let us pray,
We thank you for Jesus and what he achieved on the cross all those years ago.
Thank for Simeon and Anna … for their righteousness and devotion to you, and we ask that some of their goodness washes off onto us.
Father we bring before you those who do not know you … those who refuse to believe in you … those who want to know you, but are afraid … those who have turned their backs on you … and all those for other reasons who find it hard to approach you.
Father, be with them now … let them know that you are their waiting for them, calling on them at this very minute, particularly those we know, as name to you in our hearts … … … … … …
Father we remember them, and we ask your blessings on each and every one of them, in the name of Jesus,
Amen.
