The Glory Revealed
Listen.December 28th, 2008
Rev. Dr. Craig A. Wagner
Introduction
There’s an old story about Benjamin Franklin, from the days when he served our country as ambassador to France. Because of his interest in science, he jumped at the opportunity to view the launching of a recent invention: the hot-air balloon.
He travelled with others to a field where the ascent was to take place. A great fire was lit on the ground, and a pump and bellows were set up beside it to fill the bag with hot air. After a great deal of difficulty, the great bag puffed out, and the whole apparatus ascended high into the air, only to deflate again a few minutes later.
Franklin was entranced. But then he heard a cynical voice by his side: “That’s well and good, “the voice growled, “but what’s it good for?” Ben turned to the man and asked him, “Tell me, my friend, what a baby is good for?”
Being a scientist, Franklin knew the technology he witnessed that day was in its infancy but had great potential.
This morning we read about Simeon and Anna both elderly individuals, both people of faith and both were people who recognized the great potential and the fulfillment of the promise that God would send the Messiah. They recognized it in Jesus. The glory was revealed. From this text we consider the question of the glory that is revealed in our life; do we recognize it; do we live in it?
The glory revealed
Today we read about the holy family arriving in Jerusalem. This family had traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus and now they adhered to the law by traveling to Jerusalem and arriving at the temple in order for their rite of purification; this according to Hebrew law. An interesting note is that Luke relates they were traveling to Jerusalem and the temple for their purification. Does this mean Mary and Joseph, or Mary and Jesus? If Mary and Jesus, as is commonly assumed, the baby would not need purification, only Mary would need to follow the ritual cleansing that was traditionally done following childbirth. Jesus, as firstborn, would have had to be presented to the Lord. The offerings were also according the law as found in Leviticus.
Next enters Simeon, a righteous and devout man, who was looking for the consolation of Israel. According to what the text doesn’t say; Simeon was not a priest or even a religious authority. This is evident in that he had to travel to the temple and did not live there. Yet, Simeon had received a revelation that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. We’re not sure how old Simeon really was at this time – had he waited a long time, or was the revelation a recent phenomenon in his life? We don’t know the answer to that question, only that he was a faithful person and the impression is that he was elderly.
This man sees Jesus, holds him and begins praising God with the words of this great song we refer to by the opening words, Nunc Dimittis. This is the fourth song, or hymn, that we find in the birth narrative in the gospel of Luke: Mary’s song, The Magnificat, Zechariah’s song, The Benedictus, the Heavenly hosts’ song, which we heard on Christmas, and today, the fourth song by Simeon. All the songs glorify God and his loving action in the world in the sending of the Savior.
Now Simeon can die in peace after seeing and holding the Messiah. After he finished the song, the father and mother were amazed at what he had said about Jesus. Simeon blessed them and then turned his comments to Mary. The comments were startling about Jesus being destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel and how he would be a double-edged sword. The prediction by this man would come true as people followed Jesus, or didn’t. As people listened to him and his word or else rejected him and his word.
This is also a reference to the sorrow that Mary would have in experiencing the agonizing death of her son. Simeon glorified God and knew beyond a doubt that this child was set to be the savior of the world; both as a revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.
Jesus is glorified
Perhaps you picked up on that little verse that suggested that Simeon was looking forward to the consolation of Israel. This little fragment of the verse suggests the kind of person Simeon was; Simeon was NOT a self-centered person, he was God- centered. This is evident that he was not looking forward to his own consolation or his own private revelation of the Messiah. He was concerned for his people Israel. We take that example for our lives and use Simeon to reflect on our response to the birth of Jesus the Messiah.
Between the time of celebrating Christmas and the celebration of New Year’s Eve, I think we have a great opportunity to consider what the birth of Jesus really means to us and then to consider the opportunities and possibilities we will have in the new year to live out our lives glorifying God.
Now is the time to begin to take a long, deep look into our hearts and souls and to consider whether we have simply celebrated a birthday of an infant, or as with Simeon are able to celebrate and glorify God for the salvation of the world – not just my salvation – of the world has come in Jesus.
I’ll confess that often I get so wrapped up in celebrating Christmas with the dinner, the tree, the gifts, that after it is over I actually breathe a sigh of relief. That’s why today is so important in my worship life. I can truly focus on Christ and glorify him as Lord and savior without all the trappings and traditions of Christmas celebrations.
Just as Ben Franklin knew there would be great possibilities with that hot-air balloon, so we know of the great possibilities that surrounded that infant Simeon held in the Jerusalem temple.
We are poised to move into another year. The hopes and dreams are before us and as we look to the infant Jesus so we know that in him the future is bright and glorious and filled with God’s overflowing love.
As we recognize the Messiah in Jesus, that revelation encompasses our lives and everything we do is done to give God glory. Does our life measure up to that standard? May the Lord touch our hearts so that the glory that came down at Christ shine in us and through us!
Anna’s praise and witness
Next on the stage of history we find Anna the prophet. She was the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. We know a little more about Anna than we do about Simeon. Anna was elderly. She was a widow who had been married only seven years when her husband died. When we find her in the temple, where she probably lived, she is 84 years of age. The text reminds us that she never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. She, too, was a devout and righteous person. When she saw Jesus she knew who he was and began to praise God. But she did one more thing that Simeon did not; she began to tell others about Jesus and who this child was.
Anna never spoke to the family of Jesus, but she did speak about Jesus to others. The joy echoed through her life and her speech to others. The good news of Jesus Christ can not be silenced. We have come from the stable, from the manger, we know Jesus. Have we shared him with others? Others need to hear the good news that came down at Christmas – not about the trappings of Christmas, but about the true meaning and the true joy associated with the Christ.
Do our lives reflect the glory of God that has been revealed to us? Are we concerned about others enough to share the joy with them? Or are we beyond selfish in wanting the news for ourselves? This, too, is for our reflection as we head into the new year with all the promise that Jesus offers.
Conclusion
Although a real story, I will use John and Martha for the names. In seemed as thought John was have a difficult time putting up the Christmas tree and hanging all the decorations around the house. He complained bitterly and said that this was the last time he would do this. After all, the couple had accumulated a life time of ornaments and decorations. Their children had given them some over the years, the grandchildren had made some and of course, all had to be hung! Each ornament on the tree held special meaning for both John and Martha.
In the spring of the year, John became seriously ill and died at the end of the summer. He was right. That last Christmas was the last time he would put up the decorations and hang the ornaments. When the time came for Martha to decorate the tree, it seemed like every bulb and ornament she touched reminded her of her late husband. She would pause, a tear would run down her face and she would try to continue. She would come across handwritten notes in her husband’s handwriting. She did not know how she got through that time.
One morning near Christmas the light from the window shined on a particular ornament. It was the manger scene that their granddaughter had made in Sunday school when she was in first or second grade. Martha looked closely at it: Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus. It was at that moment she felt peace. She was reminded of God’s plan of salvation in the birth of Jesus. That ornament reminded her of an eternal truth and the real meaning of why we celebrate Christmas. Jesus our Messiah came as an infant at Christmas and his glory is revealed to us now and forever. Amen.