Destination Bethlehem - a Boy
Luke 2:21-40
Destination Bethlehem–a Boy
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to 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.”
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 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.”
The child’s father and mother marvelled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
Grace was wrapped in swaddling clothes on the first Christmas. The Christmas story is so much more than the birth of a mere child. If the One whose birth we celebrate was only a great teacher, why should God celebrate through sending angels to announce the birth? If the child was but a prophet, regardless of how great His prophesies, could we really expect that God would set a star in His heavens to announce that birth? This birth was so much more than the birth of another human child, for God sent His Son. And yet, He was born as a child, sharing with us our condition.
When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons [Galatians 4:4, 5] is the apostolic statement concerning the coming of the Son of God. This coming, this incarnation, merits more careful study if we will fully appreciate what God has done.
Grace was Made Obedient —On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to 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” [Luke 2:21-24].
As I struggled with the message, I questioned whether I should emphasise that grace was made obedient or whether I should stress that grace was made submissive. You do understand that an obedient spirit is a submissive spirit. The Son of God submitted Himself to the will of the Father, becoming obedient to that same will.
I am humbled by the words Paul wrote the Philippians.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
[Philippians 2:5-8]
Consider the impact of these words. Though Jesus our Lord was very God, yet He refused to cling tenaciously to His prerogative to reign as Lord God. Rather, He emptied Himself of all divine rights and made Himself a nobody. He voluntarily took upon Himself the nature of the most humble of all men. He was born a Jew, born under the Law and under Roman dominion. Though He had enjoyed the worship of angels and though He had the right to be called very God, He embraced death on the cross, presenting Himself as a sacrifice in the place of sinful man.
This is the marvel of Christmas, not so much that it is a celebration of family, nor a celebration of the triumph of good over evil, nor even a celebration of materialism. Christmas is a celebration of the love of God revealed through the incarnation. There is in the Hebrews letter a startling insight into the nature of Christ the Lord.
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him [Hebrews 5:7-9].
Isn’t that the most astonishing thing you ever heard? Jesus learned obedience through His submission. Now, having been perfected He calls to salvation all who will obey Him. This is the basis for my continued call to obedience for all who will be saved. We are called to faith in Jesus, a faith which leads us to obey His command to openly embrace Him and to identify with Him and to learn of Him.
When Mary accepted her assigned role to bring the Son of God into the world, Joseph was given the difficult task of accepting that which God had arranged without first consulting Him. Men have a difficult time not being in control. This is an expression of our nature, though not necessarily a godly expression. Nevertheless, few of us men ever enjoy control in every situation. Of course, our first responsibility is to take control of our own spirits. Men, we are to be godly examples for our wives, controlling our own nature and sacrificing ourselves for our wives. Joseph was an excellent example of a godly man who, when the Lord had revealed what His will was, humbled himself and accepted the will of God. He was to name the child that Mary was carrying, Jesus [Matthew 1:21].
Whenever a child was born under the Law, the mother was considered ceremonially unclean for a period of days. In part, this appears to have been a means to ensure that a woman had time to bond with the child without other demands being placed on her. There was, however, resident within the command a reminder that children were a gift from God. The family was being called to reflect upon the source of children. Though we know biology, we know little of life. The evidence for this is that we think of children as merely foetal tissue in the womb, but human at birth. Even this arbitrary distinction is now being blurred so that we are uncertain what is human and what is not.
Let no hearer mistake the teaching of God, that which Mary carried was considered to be the Son of God from conception. Therefore, that infant which is carried in each womb is a child given by the Lord God. The Word of God is still accurate, that Word which instructs us that:
Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
[Psalm 127:3-5]
When Mary’s days of uncleanness were complete, the child was to be taken to the Temple where He would be presented before the Lord and formally named. Since this first child was a male, He belonged to God. Thus, each firstborn male was required to be redeemed. The LORD said to Moses, “Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether man or animal.”
After the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he promised on oath to you and your forefathers, you are to give over to the LORD the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons [Exodus 13:1, 2, 11-13].
Jesus said. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished [Matthew 5:17, 18], anticipating Paul’s statement in Galatians 4:4. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law…
Grace was Made Vulnerable —Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 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.”
The child’s father and mother marvelled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too” [Luke 2:25-35].
In Christ, grace was revealed to be obedient (or submissive), but grace was also made vulnerable. Perhaps someone will argue that grace is always vulnerable, and in a manner of speaking, that is true. Grace, because it is grace, can be rejected. Grace can be misrepresented and distorted to the wicked ends of those unwilling to receive that grace. All this depends upon what is meant by this term grace.
Perhaps it will be helpful if I pause to focus our attention on grace. Though most of us have a basic grasp of what is meant by the term grace, we struggle with the practical implications. An old definition of grace which stuck in my memory is still quite good. Grace may be said to be God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.
We read that God is love [1 John 4:8]. Of course, this is true and the evidence of God’s love is revealed in His actions for us when we were yet in our sin. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins [1 John 4:9, 10].
Identical instruction is found in His letter to the Roman saints. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us [Romans 5:6-8].
Just as God loves His fallen creation, we must know that God is also holy and therefore, He cannot permit sinful people into His presence. God judges all sin as exceedingly sinful and condemns sin in sinful man. Since we know that each of us is sinners, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God [Romans 3:23], then we must have a way to approach God. Sinful man cannot come into the presence of holy God, however. Should God reach out to sinful man, He would then be sullied by our sin and no longer holy. It is precisely at this point that grace comes into play.
God cannot permit sinful people into His presence. Neither can we make ourselves acceptable to God. Were we able to do so, we would have neither need of grace nor even need of God. If we could make ourselves acceptable, we would be equivalent to God and able to purify ourselves.
Paul, writing the Corinthian church, speaks of this grace which is found in Christ. Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God [2 Corinthians 5:14-21].
Let me put this truth in perspective by focusing our attention on Ephesians 2:1-10. As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Thus, though I do not deserve to be saved, I am saved by grace in Christ the Lord. Though I have no right to serve God as a pastor, I have been appointed by God to serve His people, and this is because of God’s goodness to me. Though I have no right to share in the inheritance of the saints of God, neither do I have any right to enjoy access to God’s throne, yet He showers me with His grace and gives me what I do not deserve. All this is grace. What is true in my own life is also true for each of you as you receive the Christ as Master of your life. No one can do anything to make God accept him or her, but in grace, God now extends His mercy to us in the Person of Christ the Lord.
This was the startling message old Simeon presented when the child was brought into the Temple. This child was born to die. He was destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel. It was the last statement of the old man’s prophecy which must have stunned both Mary and Joseph, for he turned to Mary and spoke of the child’s purpose in presenting Himself as a sacrifice: a sword will pierce your own soul too [Luke 2:35].
Few people in Israel understood that Messiah would give His life as atonement for sin. Of course, Isaiah’s prophecy spoke of Him as stricken, smitten and afflicted. It prophesied that He would be pieced for our transgressions, and also crushed for our iniquities [Isaiah 53:4, 5]. But the Second Psalm, among others, seemed to contradict this prophesy!
The concept of a suffering Messiah was foreign to the Jewish mindset. Nevertheless, such suffering would be necessitated before man could be freed from sin. Messiah would taste death for every man. With the advantage of divine hindsight, the Hebrews letter presents this humbling concept. In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone [Hebrews 2:8, 9].
It is at this point that I am compelled to ask whether you have yet received this truth. Have you accepted God’s provision for your own sinful nature? Have you confessed that you are incapable to pleasing God through your own efforts, and thus cast yourself on His mercies? At the point we seek His mercies, God extends His grace to us. It is not so much that He is withholding His grace from us as that we are seeking another means by which we can make ourselves acceptable to Him. The great need for each of us is that we cease from trying to make ourselves acceptable to God and accept His love in the Person of His Son. In Him, the grace of God is revealed.
Grace was Made Real —There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him [Luke 2:36-40].
Earlier, I cited Paul’s Philippian letter. Turn again to that exceptional passage and read the words once more with me.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
[Philippians 2:5-8]
Within the Faith of Christ the Lord are concepts utterly foreign to every other major religion. Among those concepts which are so foreign to the great religions of this world are such concepts as forgiveness, humility, and sacrifice on behalf of another. Such ideals lie at the heart of the Christian Faith and dictate our faith and practise, but they are not only foreign among other religions—they are utterly rejected.
In recent years, the present Pope extended an apology to the Muslims of the world for the injuries inflicted by professing Christians during the Crusades. Whether or not the Pope can even speak on behalf of all Christendom is not the issue, (he cannot), but the fact that he spoke as he did is consistent with the highest of Christian ideals.
Islam preaches, not a Saviour who emptied Himself and gave Himself as a sacrifice for sin, but rather it preaches external obedience to Allah so that one need never say, “sorry.” What I would have you remember is that not once in the whole of Islamic history has a caliph or mullah apologised for the actions of Muslim armies as they killed and raped in Venice or in Spain! The reason for this disparity in actions is that Islam makes no provision for acceptance of guilt or for the offering of an apology.
The Christian Faith assumes that those coming into the Faith are sinful and will often need to humble themselves to seek forgiveness. The Christian Faith changes bad men into good men through changing their hearts, whereas every other religion in the world endeavours to make good men better through external changes, whilst ignoring the need for changed hearts.
When Christ came into the world, He not only made Himself vulnerable by placing Himself in danger from wicked men, but He did so deliberately. Not only is this true, but He calls to Himself wicked men that He might make them good through His transforming grace. Paul marvelled at this thought, as we also should marvel.
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen [1 Timothy 1:12-17].
On this basis, the Apostle was able to encourage the young theologue, Timothy. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day [2 Timothy 1:8-12].
The aged prophetess, Anna, foresaw the need for One who would be a Redeemer. She recognised the need of such a Redeemer because she realised that man is incapable of providing a means whereby he can set himself free from sin. Man is incapable of pleasing God through his own efforts. John warns. Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever [1 John 2:15-17].
Let me return for a moment to the contrast between Islam and the Faith of Christ the Lord. The Muslim faith demands constant scrutiny of its adherents lest those same adherents fall into sin. Since their faith is essentially external, all temptation must be removed. Music is sinful, since the words may induce desire in those hearing the words. Flying kites is frivolous and may lead to other activities which are even more wasteful of time. The feminine form is attractive to men, so women must be disguised in a portable tent to keep men from thinking about them. It would be unthinkable that someone would preach freedom among the Arab nations. Consequently, Christians are sold into slavery in the Sudan. They are attacked and slaughtered in Indonesia, Nigeria and Somalia. Christians are imprisoned in Saudi Arabia or beheaded if they are Arab Christians.
Contrast this situation with that of nations enjoying a Christian heritage. Christians also believe in slavery, but it is slavery to sin which terrifies the Christian. If you think sin does not enslave, speak to the alcoholic, to the pornography addict or to the drug addict. The Christian Faith, in contrast to Islam, however, holds each individual responsible for his or her own faith and conduct before God. The Faith of Christ does present freedom for those willing to receive the gift of life in Christ the Lord.
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
…
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” [John 8:31, 32, 34-36].
In the real world, sin exists. God does not command us to attempt to eradicate sin through the political process, but instead He teaches that we are responsible to resist sin through the power of His Spirit as we receive His grace.
In the days and nights before they immolated themselves in commandeered airliners, the Islamic terrorists spent large sums of money on drinking and hiring young women to perform lap-dances on them. In this, they were not unlike a majority of young Islamic students who come to the United States and Canada to study in the humanities and the sciences. Islam forbids such activity and Islamic nations keep all such activities underground so that their youth will not be contaminated.
The terrorists felt they could let themselves go since their action of killing “infidels” would absolve them of all their hasty sins at the last of life. Nevertheless, they were icily precise in shaving their bodies of all hair and bathing themselves meticulously so that they would be pure and prepared to carry out their murderous deeds in the name of Allah. This is the reason that few Muslim clerics have condemned their actions, and those who do condemn their actions do so with muted voices for the most part.
The Christian Faith condemns sin, but it begins with condemning sin in the individual and then calling each individual to repentance. In order to ensure that each individual can please God, God has provided a Redeemer. This is the Christmas message. Christ the Lord has come that man may have a Redeemer. This is grace. This is grace which is revealed to be obedient to God, grace which is seen as vulnerable so that man may have opportunity to accept or reject, grace which is made real so that each of us can be set free. No longer does any person need to live under condemnation, for the Son of God has come to take our sin, and Christmas is the celebration of that divine provision.
With the Apostle to the Gentiles, each of us can now rejoice and exult in God. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfilment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory [Ephesians 1:3-14].
The joy of Christmas begins for each of us as we receive the life which God provides in the Son. This is the means by which we can receive that glorious life. If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” [Romans 10:9-13].
Amen.