Today’s Scripture

Psalm 111       Exodus 13:13a, 11-15             Colossians 3:12-17     Luke 2:22-40

 

            When a baby is born, what do parents want to do?  They cannot wait to hear that first cry, to see the baby, and to hold it in their arms.  Everyone else rejoices with the young parents wanting to see the first photos and to see and hold that baby too.  We enjoy when parents bring the babies in the carriers.  We peak in through the blankets and touch the cheeks. 

 

            How many babies, especially the first born, carry the name of another relative or close friend?  How anxious are we for the day of the baptism, the day that child is now adopted as God’s dear child?  An old Christian tradition is that the child’s real name is the one of his or her baptism.  Note how we ask in the baptism service, “How is this child to be named?”

 

            One verse prior to our Gospel text reads:  “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.”  Going back to Abraham, circumcision that marks one as a child of God is performed on the eighth day, the first day of the next week.  New life is given on that first day of the next week.  From a tomb outside of Jerusalem, new life appeared on the first day of the next week, the day of the resurrection.  We see in the Old Testament commands the message of Christ crucified and risen again.  We see in the Old Testament that these are signs pointing to the Christ.  We see in this account in Luke that Jesus comes and fulfills all of these commands.  He fulfills them perfectly in his perfect submission to God’s command and perfect servitude to do all for you. 

 

            Now it is the fortieth day after Jesus’ birth.  It is the day of a woman’s purification following the birth of a son.  It is the day to consecrate the firstborn to the Lord.  This day is established as the Israelites are leaving Egypt, even before Pharaoh changes his tune and begins to pursue them.  God had saved the firstborn in the first Passover.  Now God calls each family to consecrate their firstborn son, and the firstborn of all of their animals to God’s service.  Later God provides for a sacrifice made on behalf of the firstborn as he provides the tribe of Levy as priests, those who present prayers and sacrifices on behalf of the people.  In this God provided the firstborn for his people.  Again this points ahead to Christ, God’s own firstborn and only begotten son, who gives himself up as the complete sacrifice for all people and today intercedes for all at the right hand of God.  “Whatever you ask the father in my name, he will give it to you.”

 

            When Jesus is brought to the temple for this consecration and Mary for her purification, God places Simeon there to proclaim what is happening.  Lord, you have promised this. Now dismiss your servant in peace.  My eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all people.  A light to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel. 

 

            Jesus is our salvation.  He is the salvation of the world.  Up to this point the Gentiles have not known God’s plan of salvation.  Now it is proclaimed to them that they might be saved also.  It is to the glory of Israel, Jacob who wrestled with God, and God’s chosen people who have proclaimed this Messiah for generations. 

 

            We sing this verse following communion.  It has been placed in the communion service for a little over 100 years, beginning in the Lutheran church as we understand what Christ fulfilled in his life on earth, and how that fulfillment is presented to us in his presence in the bread and wine.  As we receive his body and blood in that bread and wine, we have seen, we have heard, and we now hold this precious baby as Simeon did, we hold the crucified Christ as Joseph of Arimathea did, knowing that salvation has been one and we are joined together in peace with God by his work through is son.

 

            As the Holy Spirit mysteriously and miraculously moved Simeon and Anna that day in the temple, he mysteriously and miraculously moves people today through hearing the word of Christ and through the sacraments given as they are. 

 

            We hear his voice as he speaks to us in Scripture.  We see him in the sacraments in the mysteries they hold and reveal to us.  We hold him in our hearts, in faith created by the Holy Spirit for our salvation, the forgiveness of sins and eternal life that Jesus brings.