Presentation of Jesus
The Days of our Lives
St. Luke 2:33-35
2 February 2014 – Redeemer
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It was the second best day of Simeon’s life. He had been waiting for this day. The prophets had been silent for 450 years, but the Holy Spirit had spoken to him. “Simeon your Savior is near. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Before you die you will see with your own eyes the salvation God has prepared for you, for Israel and for the Gentiles.”
On that day the Holy Spirit directed Simeon to Jesus. “Simeon, Simeon. Over there. That poor young couple with the two doves and that little baby boy. That’s your Savior Simeon. That’s the One I sent. He will save His people, He will save you from your sins.” Simeon walked over to Mary. “What a beautiful little boy? Can I hold him?” Taking Jesus in his arms, Simeon blessed God, “Lord, now I can depart in peace. Now I can die according to your Word. You kept Your promise. My own eyes have seen your salvation which you prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory of your people Israel.” Then Simeon gave the child back to Mary, and blessed the holy family. On his way out of the temple he called his wife Martha on the cell phone and said, “Honey, I’m coming home. I’ve seen my Savior. Call Benson Funeral home it won’t be long now.” Shortly thereafter Simeon had the best day of his life, his last day in this fallen world, the day he fell asleep in Jesus.
Mary didn’t have such a great day, not that day, not the days before, not the days after. In fact Mary didn’t have many (any) great days. Consider Mary’s days since Gabriel appeared to her and told her she had chosen her to be the mother of God, that she would give birth to God in the flesh. Now we call her the “Virgin Mary” as a title of honor and grace, but if anyone called her Virgin Mary in Nazareth you can bet it was a sarcastic slap in the face. Mary had to endure the insults and snickers directed at Joseph – either he was duped by Mary’s virgin story or too weak to remain chaste and pure until the wedding night.
Mary’s pregnancy ended with a 75 mile walk (or ride on a donkey) I’m not sure which would be worse. No one in Bethlehem would give up a room for her so she gave birth in a barn with it’s not so soothing scents and sounds. Barely had she endured the humbling and wonderful experience of birth when a bunch of smelly shepherds burst into the barn to gawk at her and her child. Being a practical man he decided there was no sense going home to Nazareth when 40 days after the birth they would need to be at the temple for Mary’s purification ceremony and to present Jesus as a first born to the Lord. What’s the number one thing a new mother wants to do? Go home. Sleep in her own bed. Receive some help from her own mom and sisters. Have the privacy of home to learn her newborn’s needs and love him accordingly.
Contrast the days of Mary with the days of the others who encountered Jesus. The Shepherds were overjoyed while Mary shared the birthing room with animals. The Magi saw the Savior of the Gentiles while Mary fled to Egypt and mourned the death of the little boys in Bethlehem. Then there is the text – Simeon has the second best day of his life and Mary receives this prophecy, “A sword will pierce through your own soul.” The blind are given their sight. The lepers are cleansed. The lame walk. The dead are raised. But Jesus doesn’t even come out of the house to greet his mother and brothers when they come to visit.
What do we learn from Mary and the words of Simeon spoken at the temple? Mary’s faith did not spare her the trouble and pain of this fallen world. That is what Simeon prophesies in his word – not only for Mary, but for all of us. “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.”” (34–35) Many, many people received great joy and incredible gifts from Jesus Christ when He walked around in the flesh on earth – those 10 lepers were healed, the adulterous woman was saved from death, the wedding couple at Cana filled their wine cellar, Lazarus was raised from the dead, 5000 people got free lunch and there were leftovers, but none of that stands alone or apart from Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross and His resurrection on the third day. There is no life apart from His death. There is no healing apart from His suffering. There is no resurrection, no miracles, no abundance of food and wine, no feasting without His crucifixion.
Jesus Himself falls in death and is raised to life by His Father. His work of salvation, His death for sinners, becomes a touchstone for all humanity. What you think of Jesus will determine life or death – either you will be divided from your sin or you will be divided by your sin. Either you believe that Jesus died under your curse or you believe in some imaginary big guy in the sky who likes you because you’re not a bad person. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners – either you believe you qualify for His forgiveness because you are a sinner or you will manufacture a god who is easier on your conscience and life.
Let’s face it – we learn from Mary the mother of our Lord that following Jesus isn’t that easy or very appealing. If I asked you this morning what is your heart’s greatest desire I’m quite sure it wouldn’t be forgiveness. Even if I asked you your greatest need you probably wouldn’t answer “life.” Why do we stumble over and after Jesus? Because we don’t like to hear about the depth of our sin. We don’t want to acknowledge we are dying and we don’t want to relinquish our will to God’s will. We want to be cured of our sickness, relieved of our pain, and pleasured by the desires of our hearts, but not when the cure is tied to confession, and the relief is the resurrection, and the pleasure is ultimately peace with God. We don’t like to confess our own sin and we don’t think the real answer to our problems is the death of God on a dead tree a couple thousand years ago.
Mary may well have lived her whole life with that pierced heart. She saw her Son mocked, rejected, arrested, convicted, and killed. She knew He was innocent. She knew He was the perfect Son of God. He had never talked back. He always cleaned His room. He took the garbage out before He was asked. He loved her perfectly, even and especially from the cross. What did Mary have besides a pierced heart and sorrow? She had Jesus die for her sins and rise again. She had His forgiveness and everlasting life. She had the promise and hope of the resurrection. In the midst of her sorrow and recognition that life in this world would never be right, she knew that all things were right between her and her Father in heaven. As she was often far from home and fearful for her life, she had the certainty that her Son had prepared a room for her in the heavenly mansion. She had the certain hope that since God had given His only Son for her He certainly would give her all things. She knew that even though her Son had ascended into heaven He was with her in His Word, in the communion of Saints, in the water, bread and wine. She was confident that she would once again look upon His face in the land of the living.
You think the days of her life should have been better for Mary. Sometimes you might think your days should be better. Mary teaches us of Jesus. She teaches us how to suffer, how to believe, and how to live in the unseen, but certain joy and peace of the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. No matter your days you have these treasures and God your Father has you. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Pr. Bruce Timm
1 February 2014 anno Domini