Rising and Falling Over Jesus
St. Luke 2:33-40
December 30, 2018 – Redeemer
Have you ever received a Christmas gift that offended you? Your husband gave you a gift card for a diet plan. Your wife gave you a breathalyzer. Your children gave a self-help book on managing your anger.
Jesus is such a gift. That’s what we learn from the odd blessing which Simeon pronounces on Mary, “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 pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” How is it that we fall and rise over Jesus? How does the saving gift of Jesus offend many but only comfort a few?
Consider an Old Testament story. When the Israelites were set free from Egypt they threw everything they could in the back of their minivans and raced for the promised land. They were barely out of town when Pharaoh changed his mind and pursued them with his chariots and horses. It appeared that Moses wasn’t a very good leader because he Israelites found themselves at a dead end against the Red Sea. Death by the spear on one side and death by drowning on another, but then the Lord descended to save His people. All through the night a fiery cloud kept Pharaoh’s army away as the Lord provided a saving path through the sea. What a gift! The Israelites rejoiced in the fiery cloud of the Lord’s presence and His salvation. Pharaoh and his men hated it. They were mighty and powerful and now this cloud was keeping them from their vengeance and their slaves. As soon as the cloud abated Pharaoh and his men dashed into the sea and to their death.
Now consider Jesus’ own day. Who fell over Jesus’ birth and the gift of a Savior? The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him because He preached God’s grace and did not preach the good works they practiced. Their hearts, filled with self-love were revealed. They tried to trick Jesus with their questions. They sought to arrest Him. They were so full of themselves that they killed their God. Who was raised up by Jesus? Sinners who knew they were sinners – tax collectors, prostitutes, a woman caught in adultery, mothers and fathers of demon possessed children, the chronically ill and crippled and dying.
So what does the gift of Christ do for you? Do you fall over it or are you raised up by it?
Dr. Martin Luther said that he wished he could preach Christ so that everyone was pleased with Christ — that no one would fall but that everyone would be raised. He realized it was impossible. If you try to preach Christ in a way pleasing to everyone you will preach nothing of Christ.
Jesus Christ came into the world to die for sinners. Many will stumble over that Biblical confession. Are you calling me a sinner? Are you saying I need to repent? Some will be raised up – those whose consciences are seared with guilt, those who don’t love who they are, and who don’t think the world or God loves and values them.
Christ Jesus is the only way to salvation. Many will fall by that truth. Are you saying all Muslims are going to hell? Is heaven only going to have Lutheran Church – Missouri members in it? Some will be raised by that. They want a way out of sin and death. They need God’s way of salvation and desire to have confidence that their sins are forgiven and that in the face of death they can know, for sure, that through the Red Sea of baptism God will finally deliver them from Pharaoh Devil and his demon soldiers.
For Christ’s sake, your sins are forgiven. Many stumble on forgiveness. We love forgiveness for ourselves, but not so much for others. After what he did to me he doesn’t deserve forgiveness. How can that child molester or drunk driver or rapist or mass shooter be forgiven? Christ did not die for sinners like that! That is wrong. That’s cheap grace. They need to pay in hell for what they have done. But forgiveness will also raise some – those whom the Spirit has crushed, who have felt the weight of their sins or perhaps suffered the confines of jail or the loss of loved ones by their own sin.
Yesterday I had the funeral for Bunny Noble. What is the basic confession of the faith at a funeral? Your loved one died because she was a sinner, but the good news is that Christ died for sinners and rose again on the third day. He alone is the hope and certainty of eternal life for all who believe. Many people are offended they heard their dear loved one called a sinner. Some rejoice that God’s Word preaches a real Christ, who really was born, died, and rose again for our salvation.
Are you rising or falling on Christ? Are you indifferent toward Him or amazed at Him? As you examine your life this 6th day of Christmas how have you received the gift of Jesus? Do you look on church as a duty to endure or a delight to desire? Do you treat communion like a normal dinner at your house? “Well, it’s 6 pm I guess we should eat. Well, we’re at church I guess we’d better commune.” Or do you see with the eyes of faith that this is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet and you prepare and partake accordingly? Here Jesus comes to you in His body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins. This is heaven on earth.
Sometimes we rise, but more often we fall. That is why we need to marvel with Mary and Joseph and join Simeon and Anna. Simeon’s name means hear and that is what Simeon did – all life-long he heard the promises of God and God’s Word worked faith in his heart. He believed God that he would not die until he saw God’s savior. When he saw Jesus he sang out, “Lord, I’m ready to die. Let your servant go in peace. Your Word has been fulfilled.” Anna means grace. By the grace of God she worked and prayed and served in the temple and she too rejoiced to receive Jesus.
We need more of the gift, not less, more hearing of God’s Word, more of His grace, for then we will not fall, but rise and the faith in our hearts will be revealed and strengthened in the name of Jesus. Amen.