Presentation of Our Lord Luke 2:22-44

The Lord is in His Holy Temple

Exodus 13:1-3a & 11-15 Colossians 3:12-17 Luke 2:22-44

Christmas is the season of light where the sun “dies” at the winter solstice and rises again.  At Christmas, the church celebrates the birth of the new world.  With Christ’s birth, the world moves from darkness to light, from death to life.  Earlier in the book of Colossians, Paul says, “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:13–14). The light of Christ that shines this Christmas season is seen in the saints of light who, are clothed in Christ, who celebrate the presence of His light in worship.

The Sunday after Christmas is about the holy family, and as our Gospel Lesson suggests, the light of Christ starts to shine. Mary and Joseph, in obedience to the Mosaic Law, take Jesus to the temple.  The Lord who gave our children to us still desires that we present them before Him, asking Him to redeem them from sins and death.

As Mary and Joseph brought Jesus into the temple, two servants, two saints awaiting their Savior, Simeon and Anna, see in the Christ child God’s redemption. Here God’s Holy hidden presence is made visible. The Word made flesh is revealed as the Son is brought into the most holy place.  Here the Old and New Testaments are united in Christ, as promise gives way to fulfillment.  God made that promise through the prophet Joel (2:28-29): “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”

 Today’s  lesson shows how the people that comprise the  true church continue to worship as the holy family did, faithfully coming into God’s presence to celebrate redemption in Christ. Mary and Joseph, Simeon and Anna’s faithful worship sets forth a model for all Christian families today. But why are there so few at the temple to greet the Son?

Last week, we celebrated the birth of Jesus.  We heard the classic story of how he was born in a stable and laid in a manger.  We sang about a baby asleep on the hay and about peace on earth and goodwill to men. And our church was overflowing with people sharing in the joy of His birth and speaking blessings of merry Christmas.  But reality has once again set in this week.  Most people believe in the baby Jesus as just an infant asleep in the hay and they have gone back to their lives as if Jesus never grew up.

In this age of individualism and self–reliance, human solutions to human problems dominate our culture. Even among Churches, a theology of self glory is often promoted instead of a theology of the cross. Remember our Gospel lesson last week? “The light shines in the darkness but the darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:5) God speaking through John points out how the darkness of the world attempts to ignore the light of Christ and sees Jesus as weak and powerless.

Still, the Holy Spirit was poured out in those days and as Jesus was brought into His Father’s house; His spirit of hope was upon Simeon. The Spirit that provided for the support of Simeon’s hope, provided for his joy. Those who would see Christ go to His temple. Listen again to our Scripture lesson, “Simeon took Him in His arms and praised God Saying,” “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

Here is a confession of his faith, that this Child in his arms was the Savior, the fulfillment of the hope of all who were awaiting the Messiah.  Simeon did not see just a little baby; rather he saw the salvation of all who believe and He praised God.

The word used for praise is translated “confess” and “profess,” (1 Tim. 6:12-13; 2 John 1:7; Rom. 10:10). It means to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ, and our dependence on Him for salvation, and our attachment to Him, in every proper manner. This profession is to be made in worship, at communion, in conversation, and in your everyday conduct. Praising God means not only confessing your faith but also means professing it through your actions in every circumstance of life and before all people.

In our epistle lesson Paul tells you to “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” But that is not what I see. Even here in Church, where the Lord is in His Holy Temple, I see, hear and experience indifference, callousness, arrogance, coarseness and impatience. Paul says, “Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.”

 But I see un-forgiveness and hatred.  I do not see the peace of Christ ruling in your hearts and I still do not see a congregation working in unity or having a spirit of cooperation.” This church will not grow as long as we do not profess by our outward actions what we confess with our lips.

And do not look at your neighbor with accusing eyes; look at your own hearts.

Saint Paul tells you, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)  Remember that Jesus Christ died on the cross to forgive you of your sins.  When you were baptized into His life you were also baptized into His death. Yet you persist in denying His terrible death and His hard won salvation by your outward actions.

 When you act in such a manner, you deny Jesus Christ before God and men.  When you are unwilling to express your attachment to Him in every way possible, then it is right that our Lord should “deny you before God.”  Jesus said, “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33)

To put that into a positive light, “whosoever shall acknowledge Me to be the Messiah, and have his heart and life regulated by My Spirit and doctrine shall inherit eternal life.”  I know you have the Holy Spirit within you.  It was placed upon you at your baptism. Rather than suppressing His Spirit with your contentiousness, why don’t you let His Spirit dwell richly within you and the light of His love shine out for the entire world to see?

That is what Simeon did.

 He bids farewell to the darkness of this world. He sees how poor and wretched this world looks as he holds Christ in his arms. He sees and holds Salvation close. He no longer desires the world and its darkness.  He does not even fear pain, suffering or the slings and arrows of his enemies. To the contrary, he departs in peace with God, peace with his own conscience and in peace with death.

Joseph and Mary marveled at the things which were spoken of this Child. Simeon shows them what reason they had to rejoice with trembling and awesome wonder.   Making people marvel and glory at our Lord and Savior for Salvation is what confessing and professing your faith is all about.

Today, Jesus, His doctrine, and people, are still spoken against; His truth and holiness are still denied and blasphemed; His preached word is still the sword that reveals what is truly in people’s hearts by revealing their outward character. The secrets of the minds of many, is revealed by their embracing Christ; the secret corruptions of others will be revealed by their antagonism to Christ. Men will be judged by the thoughts of their hearts concerning Christ.

Simeon prophesied that long ago and it continues today. The infant shall be a suffering Savior; his mother the Church shall suffer with Him, because of the nearness of her relation and affection.

She shall wear His garment however, the same garment Jesus Christ wore even in His suffering; compassion, kindness, humility, patience, and gentleness. She shall help people through times of difficulty and forgive them—all traits that God has first shown us. The word that summarizes the Church is “love” and His love leads us to eternal life.

Once again Saint Paul tells you, (Gal 2:20) “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” You have been called, loved, and chosen by God. In his great love Christ changes your life so that you become more like Him. When you strive to change yourself and rely on your own strength and resources to please God, you will fail. Those who know Christ, those who hold Him fast, see their nakedness; feel the guilt of their sin, their lack of trust, and their self-righteousness.

Yet you like Simeon can also depart in peace because you know you live in forgiveness. The Lord Jesus gave Himself for you. His death and resurrection are your life and your salvation. You are baptized into His name, into His forgiveness and He daily forgives you whenever you receive His body and blood, and by the Holy Spirit He lives in you. He calls us through faith to set aside your filthy robes and put on His active garment; namely His robe of righteousness. He then works in your life to reflect and to share the fruit of his Spirit with other people. When you are surrounded by God’s love you have all the virtues mentioned before--even though you fail to reflect His love perfectly.

It doesn’t matter how many human examples we can point out—there is none greater than the example shown by Jesus Christ on the cross. He showed those virtues—compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience, humility—all while suffering and dying in your place. He carried your burden of sin and won forgiveness for you. In all of that, He is both the power behind and the model for everything you do as a Christian. As Christians we are to wear His radiant clothes at all times and in all places.

The darkness of our world has been overcome by the light of the Christ child, who now shines forth in the world through us, the baptized, for we are the light (Matt 5:14). We gather around His presence in Word and Sacrament, proclaiming to the world through our faithful worship and throughout our daily lives that the light of Christ continues to shine in the darkness.

In Jesus Name, Amen.