Sermon HMP Stafford 28th January 2018
The Feast of the Presentation Luke
2.22-40
Consider this; over two
thousand years ago in the Middle East, Israel and in fact in the ancient city
of Jerusalem a couple are taking their 40 day old child to the Temple to
present him to the Lord and redeem him.
This was an ancient custom
and practice based on the Mosaic Law which the people of Israel practiced.
We can read about the
origins of this custom in the Book of Exodus chapter 13.
And in Numbers 13.3 we learn about its link with the Hebrews coming out of bondage in Egypt and the death of all the firstborn of Egypt as Moses demanded that Pharaoh let the Hebrews go into the desert to worship God.
And in Numbers 13.3 we learn about its link with the Hebrews coming out of bondage in Egypt and the death of all the firstborn of Egypt as Moses demanded that Pharaoh let the Hebrews go into the desert to worship God.
Further details are given
in Leviticus 12 where we learn that this custom is also linked in with
purification rites of the mother. And
interestingly it is here that we notice that Mary and Joseph are bringing the
offering of poor people for whom an allowance was made.
Leviticus 12.8 ‘If she cannot afford a lamb, she
can offer two doves or two pigeons, one as a sacrifice to please me and the
other as a sacrifice for sin.’
Over the years since this
practice first began there will have been millions upon millions of people who
have followed through with the custom and practice.
And yet, strangely enough,
here we are today, two thousand years later, hearing a story about just one of those
couples.
And what is the image you
have of this event?
Forget about the Sunday
afternoon baptism in a village church. Or even a large church or even a
cathedral.
The Temple Mound on which
the Temple sat was the size of six football pitches and could accommodate a
million people. It was gleaming white and in bright sunshine it was difficult
to look at because of its shining brilliance. Some of the foundations stones
weighed a massive 100 tons.
There were flying
walk-ways so that the Priest could move about without having to go through the
crowd.
There was also a
flourishing market bazaar – and we know something about what this infant we are
thinking about did there some year’s later.
And don’t forget that it was also a place of animal sacrifice. It was the centre of government and the living, breathing heartbeat of Israel.
Overlooking all of this
was the Antonia Fortress where the Roman Soldiers were garrisoned.
Into all of this commotion
with singers and dancers, with animals being slaughtered, with all the heat,
noise and hustle and bustle of the market place, with Temple Guards keeping a
watchful eye out and the Temple Officials guiding and ushering in the thousands
of pilgrims, into all of this step Mary and Joseph with the infant Jesus.
And they are greeted first
by Simeon. It has been conjectured that
Simeon was an old man, but the text say nothing about his age. Simeon takes the
infant Jesus in his arms and praises God in a Prophetic Canticle. The words of
which continue to echo around countless Churches and Cathedrals, known as the
Song of Simeon or in some cases by the Latin title, Nunc Dimmitus.
Old or young what we do
have is a man who had a clear call of God and now having fulfilled his duty is
ready to depart, either from this life or into the rest of his life.
And if as to confirm that
this child would indeed be the one destined to be the rising and falling of
many, they are met by Anna, whose great age we are told about. She also gave
thanks to God and spoke about this child who would deliver Jerusalem.
This little story, found
alone in Luke’s Gospel, sets the scene for the story that is going to unfold.
This infant child is the
longed for promised one. Many will fall and stumble and others will be lifted
up and find strength, purpose and vocation in their life. This will be brought
about through suffering and anguish, with a dark warning for Mary. This 40 day old infant is to the long for
promised One who will bring salvation to both Jew and Gentile.
Let us ponder two other things as we consider this story of this particular couple coming to the
Temple all those years ago in fulfillment of the custom and practices of that
time and their people.
Found by God and Found in God.
Found by God and Found in God.
How on earth did Simeon know that it was this particular couple and this particular infant?
We are told he was guided
by the Holy Spirit.
I could recall countless
tales I have heard and some I have witnessed and personally experienced about the Spirit of God prompting
people to be in certain places and to do certain things or to say certain
words.
There may be times when
you feel you are just a number, part of a faceless machine grinding on day in
and day out. How could God possible care about me or even know me or where I
am.
Nothing could be further
from the truth. God knows and cares for
each and every one of us. It is not easy
to understand and it is something we have to learn and to trust in.
Using wonderful Jewish
hyperbole Jesus was to say on one occasion, ‘And
the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more
valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.’
That does not mean there
are myriads of angels crunching numbers every time we take a shower, shampoo or
comb our hair.
Jesus was emphasizing how
much God loves and cares for us and every detail of our life.
Then coming back to Simeon
and the fulfilling of his God given vocation - a man most certainly in God and choosing to be obedient to that call.
Taking the words said over
the infant Jesus – did this mean that Jesus’ path was laid out for him.
That Jesus had a destiny to
fulfill and had to walk the path he did.
Or could he have chosen to
walk away and along another path altogether?
Consider the story of
Jesus being tempted in the desert and his choosing to remain faithful to the
call of God as he perceived it.
Think about the Garden of
Gethsemane and the prayer and cry of anguish as the pain and suffering foretold
by Simeon came rushing to a climax - "Father, if you are willing, take this
cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
I am more than glad he made that choice.
When our youngest lad was
at school he had all sorts of problems and difficulties.
The other students knew
that they could push his buttons and make him kick off by lashing out,
shouting out or sometimes going under a table and refusing to come out. We
would often be called to go into school to try and resolve the issue. Afterwards we would also why he had acted in
such a way. His reply was often ‘because they made me do it.’ We pressed upon him that he always had a
choice.
We all have that same
freedom, albeit to a lesser or greater degree. In that fabulous film Gandhi
with Ben Kingsley he is in South Africa and burning his pass. He is told he
will be beaten, imprisoned and possibly killed. ‘If they do that,’ was his
reply, ‘then they will have my dead body but not my obedience.’
Many people even as we are
here this morning are choosing not to bow down and go along with things they
perceive are wrong or against God. Some will pay the ultimate price for
adhering to their freedom to make their own choice.
I know a little of that. I
was married to Sue when I became a Christian at the age of 24 on the 1st
January 1975.
Initially she was okay
about my becoming a Christian, albeit she was not that sure it was for her.
However, all of that was to change in less than twelve months. She faced me
with a choice – I could continue as a Christian and she would file for divorce,
or I could give up the Christian faith and we could begin to work save our
marriage.
In May 1976 I left our
marital home, our two year old daughter and went to live in a bed sit down the
road and watch as another man moved in to take my place.
However, I have to tell
you that in 1982 I married Jane and we have been together now for over 35 years
and have three wonderful grown up children.
One of the wedding presents we received was a wall plaque with a quote from Joshua 24.15 “But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." With the full verse saying…
But
if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this
day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the
Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as
for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
If Simeon was an old man
and his Prophetic Canticle his swan song so this is Joshua’s swan song shortly
before he dies.
In November last year our
lovely daughter Tabitha was married to Peter here in Stafford. One of things she said she wanted is a
plaque with the quote from Joshua 24.15 “But
as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
We bought them
one as a house warming present and it is now in a prominent place in their home
in Rugby.
Your freedom of choice is
currently limited and yet even with those limited choices you can choose to
echo Joshua’s words...
But
if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this
day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates,
or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my
household, we will serve the LORD."
One day will be your Release Day – can I encourage to have the full quote from Joshua to hand.
You will be faced with a
choice much as the people of Israel faced – do we want to go back to serving
those old gods or shall we choose to serve the Living God who has brought us
out of slavery and into the Promised Land.
Do I want to return to my
old ways or do I now want to spend my days serving the Lord.
My hope and prayer is that
you choose to serve the Lord. For in God
alone lies our true self, in God alone lies our one true destiny and in God
alone can we know and experience life and life in all its fullness – to quote
John 10.10.
May it be that when like
Joshua you draw close to end of your earthy journey you may echo the words of
Simeon…
Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
Out of the millions of
infants brought into the Temple to be redeemed we remember but one…
As we journey with Mary,
Joseph and the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to do what was right
according to the law, let us reflect on the child they are carrying who will
one day carry the sin of the world on his shoulders wrapped up and contained in
the cross beam of crucifixion so that you and I can know forgiveness and have
an opportunity to choose to walk a different path – in love and service to God
and to all of creation.
As we listen to this
track, 'Mary did you know', here is the question I want you to wrestle with…
Choose
for yourselves this day whom you will serve…
Because the story of the rest of your life has yet to be written!
