Doing Everything Required
Notes
Transcript
I don’t know about you but when Christmas Eve arrived and all the presents had be placed under the tree, I stopped. I stopped partly from exhaustion because it was a very busy day at work. Darlene finished up the shopping. I finished up wrapping and putting things under the tree.
It was in those few quiet moments that I realized that I was done doing everything that was required for our Christmas celebration.
In all our doing, we often forget about doing all that is required.
Jude Fisher in his book Be Always Little: Christian Fables for Young and Old told the story of a bowl.
Once upon a time a bowl was born. It was not much of a birth — no long months of planning and no great anticipation, no patient shaping under loving hands. Scarcely a thought went into the creation of this little bowl. The quick impersonal movement of a few machines and a trip through a hot oven was all it took for him to be created. There was really nothing to look at, no warmth and no beauty. He was shipped off to a store to be sold.
One day this bowl was purchased, not because he was beautiful, but simply because he was cheap and would serve a purpose. And he did that very well. Meal after meal and day after day he faithfully served, for this was his calling in life — namely to be a simple bowl. Sometimes after meals, he sat around a long time waiting to be cleaned. By the time it came for him to be washed, the water was rather dirty and cold; it was a very unpleasant experience. The girl who washed him mumbled and grumbled at her unpleasant chore. Yet, through it all the bowl was basically happy, as he was able to serve, day after day, year and year.
Then one day the bowl's mistress walked in with a shiny new bowl. It had a lovely floral design. She said, "You will serve us well and be pleasant to look at, as well." So the first bowl was packed up, along with a few other discarded items and sent away. It was a long journey and rather boring so the bowl slept through most of the trip. When he awoke, he found himself in unfamiliar but loving hands. He was plunged into some nice sudsy warm water and given a good bath. For the first time in his life he enjoyed it; it was very refreshing. The boy who was washing him did not seem to mind as he was humming a merry tune the entire time. Then he was taken to a nice log building, a gift shop, and placed on one of the shelves, waiting to be sold. Everything in this shop was donated and all the money in sales went to assist the poor. When he learned this, the bowl became quite excited. He really wanted to help someone and thus he waited his chance. But nobody was willing to buy him.
Yes, no one seemed to look twice in his direction. He was so plain and ordinary, lacking the most elementary charm, while many other items in the shop were so beautiful. The vase next to him was truly exquisite. It was clear that much time and energy had been put into her creation. Certainly loving hands had created this beautiful vase. It was not long at all before the vase was sold. A little dancing figurine was on the bowl's other side. This, too, sold in quick fashion. But the ordinary and plain bowl was repeatedly overlooked and, thus, he gave up hope of being sold quickly. He settled into the life of the shop. He was cared for, regularly dusted, and even given a warm bath periodically. He was content with this life for a while.
After a few years, however, this forced retirement began to wear on the bowl. He was born to serve and knew in his heart it was time to get to his vocation. Still he waited. Then one day he heard the owners of the shop speaking about a boy who needed a wheelchair but his family had no money to purchase one. Thus, all the monies from sales this day would go to the family. The bowl was very excited for it hoped that now was his chance to again serve. But what could he do; no one ever noticed him. Then he heard a woman walking toward him. She looked right at him, smiled and said, "This is precisely what I want. You are lovely and will do a fine job of serving my family." The bowl was overjoyed. He had never been called lovely before — servant, yes, but not lovely.
The woman picked him up and took him to the counter to pay and as she did the bowl passed by a mirror. He was amazed for he truly was lovely. He was much the same, yet different. It was the same plain design but he sparkled; indeed he was radiant. He had never looked that way before. The bowl began to realize what had happened. All the love of those in the shop over the years, who had dusted and washed him had clung to him and he had been subtly transformed. Not only now could he serve and realize his dream, but he would give delight by his presence as well. (1)
All the little bowl wanted in life was to serve others, a basic tenet of the Christian life of discipleship. Yet, the bowl learned that being a servant created many ups and down, highs and lows in one's life. In other words, service brings both beauty and the cross.
In this passage this morning we encounter several people who were doing everything that they were required to do.
We first encounter Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus. They were on a journey to Jerusalem to
Do what the Law from Moses required.
Do what the Law from Moses required.
Common English Bible Chapter 2
22 When the time came for their ritual cleansing, in accordance with the Law from Moses, they brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. (23 It’s written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord.”) 24 They offered a sacrifice in keeping with what’s stated in the Law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.b
When a Jewish woman gave birth to a male child she would stay at home during a period of 40 days as she was considered unclean. When those 40 days were coming to a close she along with the baby would be brought to the temple and a sacrifice would be offered.
This act of obedience is a reminder of one of the doctrines or teachings of the Church. It is a reminder that we are born into sin, that doctrine of original sin. The first sin by Adam and Eve has infected every one of us.
This passage also reminds us that Joseph and Mary were poor.
Common English Bible Chapter 2
24 They offered a sacrifice in keeping with what’s stated in the Law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.b
The law actually prescribed that a spotless lamb be offered. If they could not afford a lamb, the a pair of turtledoves or two pigeons could be offered. If the family was extremely poor then some flour could be offered.
Joseph and Mary brought what they could for a sacrifice, two birds.
What are we seeing here? We're seeing acts of obedience to God by Joseph and Mary. They've already been through a lot with the gossip about their hurried-up wedding with Mary already pregnant. Nazareth was a lot like Boswell and Jerome and many of the small towns around. It didn't take long for stories to get around. We want life to be easy and trouble free but often it's not that way and it certainly wasn't for Joseph and Mary.
Obedience to God doesn't always come easy but the great thing is that we are not alone in it. God the Holy Spirit is here with us, enabling and empowering us to live a life of obedience to God.
One thing I like about this as I reflected on it is was the use of rituals along the way. These rituals were commands and acts of obedience. Even today we have rituals that we use in the church that are acts of obedience to commands by Jesus. The sacraments, Baptism and the Lord's Supper we participate in and celebrate as acts of obedience.
The church I grew up in didn't practice Infant Baptism, it was seen as a Catholic thing and anything that even had a hint of the Catholic church was suspect and was cast aside as being somehow wrong. As I've gotten older and read more of our own Nazarene history the more that I've grown to adopt and appreciate infant baptism over a dedication. Looking back through our church record book there have been more infant baptisms than dedications, at least according to what was written in the book.
The problem with rituals is that they can just become that, rituals, something that we do with no real meaning attached to it.
In the liturgy of Infant Baptism the parents are stating for all to hear that they are Christians and that they intend to raise the child as a Christian. We use the word duty during the liturgy which harkens back to the verse of scripture that says to "train up a child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it." or as Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus "fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." There is even a part in the liturgy where we as the church commit to helping the parents when we say:
With God's help, we will so order our lives after the example of Christ, that both children and parents are surrounded by steadfast love, that they may be established in the faith and strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal.
Baptism, whether an infant or an adult is not so much about what we do or say but rather about what God is doing and has done in our lives. With Joseph and Mary it was much the same. They were being obedient just as we are when we are baptized. Then they lived a life of obedience just as we are called to.
I urge you to pledge with the Holy Spirit's guidance and help that you are going to be obedient to God in this upcoming year. If you do that all those things that you might put down on a list will all fall into place because as you walk in obedience you'll begin to naturally do the things that please God.
Led by the Spirit, he went
Led by the Spirit, he went
What a tremendous statement to be recorded about Simeon.
27 Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple area. Meanwhile, Jesus’ parents brought the child to the temple so that they could do what was customary under the Law.
Simeon, presumable from what we read was an old man. He loved God, was devout to his faith and obedient to God. He was like so many others waiting on the Messiah to come to redeem Israel. He walked so close to God that the Holy Spirit revealed somehow to him that he wouldn't die until he had seen the Messiah.
Even with all the distractions of life he walked close to God so that the distractions could be tuned out and he could hear from God. We so often think that prayer is a one way conversation, us talking to God, telling Him what we want. Sometimes I think we have it down to a science. But do you realize that God wants to talk to us? In the earlier days of the Church of the Nazarene we were known as the Holy Rollers. Services were known by the outbreak of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the people gathered in worship. Now we want God to make an appointment with us so that we can control Him.
Can we make the commitment to allow God to speak to us and through us? Let's let the Holy Spirit work in and through us. The old chorus speaks volumes, it says: "Come, Holy Spirit, I need you; Come, sweet Spirit, I pray. Come in Your strength and Your power; Come in Your own gentle way.
We like the coming in His "own gentle way" but we really need Him to come in His strength and His power. That is where Simeon lived, he lived so close to God, walking in obedience to Him that the Holy Spirit was able to speak to him.
Simeon had waited his entire life for the coming of the Messiah. He had eagerly expected the Messiah to come in his lifetime and here at the Temple he sees this young couple holding a baby coming into the courts of the temple. Simeon goes up to this young couple and takes the baby Jesus and then he lifts his voice and praise to God for sending the Messiah. Can you just imagine what was going through Joseph and Mary’s mind as this old man takes their newborn from their arms? If that were to happen today there would be a lot of screaming and hollering for the police. But Simeon takes the young child into his arms and he offers praise to God.
What an awesome scene that must have been. If you’ve ever had to wait for something for a very long time and then it finally happens. There’s a sense of disbelief, there is a sense of relief, and there is a sense in the need to praise God for what he has done.
Simeon is saying that God has kept his promises and now he can die in peace knowing that salvation has come. That's finishing well, knowing that God is a keeper of promises. Salvation has come through Jesus!
Anna is introduced to us beginning there in verse 36
36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, who belonged to the tribe of Asher. She was very old. After she married, she lived with her husband for seven years. 37 She was now an 84-year-old widow. She never left the temple area but worshipped God with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 She approached at that very moment and began to praise God and to speak about Jesus to everyone who was looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
She
Worshiped God with fasting and prayer
Worshiped God with fasting and prayer
Here was a woman who was very dedicated to God. He tells us that she was very old, 84, his words not mine. She was a widow and had been widowed a very long time and she dedicated her life to worshipping God as Luke says night and day, fasting and praying. She was a prophetess. A prophet is a "forth-teller" someone who speaks the truth about and for God. A prophet is not someone who predicts the future but is someone who speaks the truth.
Anna like Simeon lived in hope of the coming of the Messiah. When Simeon saw the baby Jesus he knew who he really was. When Anna saw the baby she knew who he was. How did they know? It was because they lived their lives in close obedience to God that when the Holy Spirit spoke they were able to hear Him.
Luke says: "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."
Joseph and Mary are also examples to us of obedience to God. As we enter into a new year let's commit ourselves to being obedient to the Father. Let's listen for the Holy Spirit to speak to us. Let's be open to the Holy Spirit coming not only in a gentle way but also with strength and power into our lives.
Some of these people that we're praying for in our Treasure Chest need the Holy Spirit to come in that gentle way, others need him to come and demonstrate His strength and power to set them free from addictions and sin.
Remember the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said:
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
As we approach this New Year let’s live out those words of Jesus. Let’s be salty people. Growing up I learned that if someone had a salty tongue it meant that their language wasn’t meant for polite company. But as Christians our lives should bring flavor and preservation to those around us. The light that is in us is Jesus. Let’s live in such a way that people see the light of Christ shining through us.
Let’s say yes to living like a child of God who has been transformed by the Holy Spirit of God. Let’s say no to trying harder ourselves and say yes to the Holy Spirit working through us. After all we are children of God, through the Holy Spirit we have all the resources of heaven at our disposal.
Paul said “when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” That is the message that we have been entrusted with. There are hundreds even thousands within the reach of this church that need to hear that great news, the good news that Jesus has come. Advent reminded us that Jesus came, we celebrated that on Christmas morning. Advent also reminded us that Jesus is coming again.
Let’s live out the fact that we are children of God. That we’ve been entrusted with this message. Let’s recommit ourselves to taking this message out into the sin darkened world.
1.Paraphrased from "Born to Serve," in Jude Fischer, Be Always Little: Christian Fables for Young and Old (Combermere, Ontario, Canada: Madonna House, 1996), pp. 23-27.