The Rev. Dr. David M. Wendel
Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Lessons: Malachi 3:1-4; Hebrews 2:14-18; St. Luke 2:22-40
As with so many festivals in the church year, based on so many great texts from Holy Scripture, this day when we hear about the presentation of our Lord, is actually about several presentations. The first, and the one we heard about the Sunday after Christmas, is the faithful presentation of Jesus, by Mary and Joseph, seeking to fulfill, completely the Jewish law—requiring that a first-born male child be offered up, sacrificed, really, to the Lord, and then bought back from the Lord by another offering, in their case, two birds—the offering of the poor, working-class folk. This is the presentation we most often think about, because it presents the Holy Family fulfilling all righteousness, being obedient parents—but also because in this season of Epiphany, it is a crucial event in the revealing of just who this Jesus is, who was born at Bethelehem, and what it means that He has come. The season of Epiphany is a season of revelation, and we see in the presentation, that Jesus is to be a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to God’s people, Israel. This is the first presentation of our Lord.
The second, is really, God’s presentation of Jesus, through his parents, to Simeon. We don’t know much about Simeon, other than what we hear in this passage, but what we learn here is significant. Simeon was a righteous and devout man—some think he may have been a priest, serving in the temple. When parents brought their first-born son to the temple, they were offering their child to the Lord God, but it was the priest who took the child, on God’s behalf, then accepted the substitutionary sacrifice, and returned the child to his earthly parents. Whether Simeon was the priest in the temple at that time, or whether Simeon was in the temple, waiting and watching for the coming of the Messiah-- Simeon surely waited and watched anxiously…because there were two things working against each other. On the one hand, the Lord had promised, promised that Simeon would not see death, he would not die, until he saw the Messiah. On the other, Simeon was getting older. We aren’t told how old this Simeon was, but after seeing the child, he offers his great hymn of praise, what we call the Nunc Dimittis, saying, “Now, Lord, you are dismissing your servant in peace—Now Lord, I can die in peace, because as you promised, I have seen your Messiah, your chosen one, sent to bring your salvation!” We hear in Simeon’s words, the relieved words of a man, finally, at peace, ready for death, because his long years of waiting were over, as the Lord, finally, had presented to him, as promised, the Christ. And so, this is the second presentation—the Lord presented Jesus, through his parents, to Simeon, as promised…and now, truly, Simeon could depart in peace.
The third presentation, is Jesus, being presented to the world. In one sense, this is just the beginning of this presentation—or rather, the continuation of the presentation of Jesus to the world that was begun in his birth at Bethlehem. The revealing of the Lord’s Messiah, to the world, is in fact the entire story of Jesus, from start to finish. But in this season of Epiphany, we’re hearing those early events in Jesus’ life that point to the fact that he is Messiah—Christ—God’s anointed one. And this event is a powerful epiphaneia—as Simeon makes clear that this child, Jesus, is not just for Israel, but a light for revelation to the Gentiles, as well. Simeon proclaims what Israel had largely forgotten, that the Messiah was not for them, only. That the Messiah was not to be savior of Israel, only, but the Lord’s salvation, for all peoples—Jews and Gentiles. And Jesus is presented as such, in the presentation, as Simeon proclaims Jesus to be light, and glory, for all. But that’s not all that Simeon reveals—for in Simeon’s next words, he reveals, he presents to Mary and Joseph, and the world, the truth about this Messiah, Jesus. And that is, the truth that this Messiah, though given for the salvation of the world, is destined for the rising and falling of many in Israel, and will be a sign that will be opposed, because the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and, Simeon says to Mary, a sword will pierce your own soul too.
Martin Luther says about this revelation, “these words are written so that we should not despair when we see great crowds falling away from Christ. If it had not been foreseen, it would have been unbearable. Simeon spoke of the fall and the sword as if he were saying, “Dear Mary, you have borne a Son. The world, the flesh, and the devil will be against him. The little child, Jesus, announces, ‘My Father will be gracious to you and will free you from death, sin, and hell.’ And then men tread him underfoot and hang him on a cross as one accursed.” This, truth, Simeon presents in response to the presentation of Jesus to the world. And it is a truth that’s hard for us to bear. It’s a truth that pierces our own soul, too, as we see this wonderful gift from God, this Jesus, Son of God and Son of man, the Word made flesh, love incarnate—nailed to a cross, dying for the sins of the very people who rejected him—who reject him still. And yet, Simeon proclaims, this is the truth, about Jesus. He will be light for the Gentiles, but this light will reveal the darkness in human hearts and lives. And some will repent, and turn toward the light. While others will do their darned-est to extinguish the light. But—the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can not overcome it. Jesus is, the Light of the world, and we must remember that, as surely, Mary remembered, and was able to carry on, in spite of the truth that was presented to her, by Simeon. And, is that the final presentation, in this text? There’s one more…and that, is the presentation symbolized by the words and deeds, of Anna, daughter of Phanuel.
Without a doubt, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and Simeon get most of the attention on this festival of the presentation. But Anna is important too—because she, too, presents herself, to God, to be a witness to this Messiah. And what’s important about Anna, is that at that moment, she happened to come, and see Jesus, being presented; she saw Jesus, being offered to God, and for the salvation of the world, and she began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem—in other words, she spoke to all who would listen! And Anna’s presentation, is really a two-fold presentation—because in her act of praise and witness—we see ourselves, and the fact that we too, like Anna, are to present ourselves, to God, for the sake of the world. You never thought, did you, that part of the festival of the presentation, would involve you and me—presenting ourselves, not as saviors of the world, but as witnesses to Jesus, the Christ? And so, the question is, did you come, today, prepared to present yourself to God? And even more importantly, having been here, in the temple—with Simeon and Anna, having seen Jesus presented, offered, sacrificed for our sake, and the sake of the world, are you prepared to leave here, praising God, and speaking about the child to all who will listen? There are people, in our world, but even more importantly, in our lives, who live in darkness and fear. There are people in our world, but more importantly, in our lives, who have no light in their lives, because they live with guilt, and shame, and uncertainty, and without, hope and forgiveness and resurrection. They need us, you and me, to present to them, the Light of the World. They need us, you and me, to speak to them, about the child—so that they might be, enlightened, and praise God, with us. At the end of each service, the assistant bids us, “Go in peace, serve the Lord”. Our service is, presenting Christ to the world. When you come back, next Sunday, let me know how you did, this week—praising God, and speaking about the child to all who are willing to listen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen