Sermon Tone Analysis

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*].