Second Presbyterian Church

"Temple Talk:
Preaching From the Gospel of Luke"
January 18, 2004

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Sermons Homepage » Sermons for 2004 » Sermons for January 2004 » Sermons from the Series on Luke

#6 in the Series on Luke
The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.

• Exodus 13: 11-16
• Luke 2: 22-40

INTRODUCTION

This sermon and the next sermon are entitled Temple Talk and Temple Talk, The Sequel (12 Years Later) because the events described in these passages of Luke take place in the Jerusalem Temple.

Our passage for today can be divided up into four major parts: 1. Jesus' family came to the Temple, 2. Simeon Blessed Jesus and Mary, 3. Anna Praised God, 4. and The Conclusion.

I
JESUS' FAMILY CAME TO THE TEMPLE

Jesus was not quite 6 weeks old. Joseph and Mary brought him to the temple for two purposes. One purpose was to complete the purification of Mary and the other was to Present Jesus to the Lord, because he was the firstborn. Both of these rituals were common in the Hebrew religion of that day.

When a woman bore a child she was considered ritually unclean. If the child was a son she was unclean for 7 days and then she went through 33 days of purification. If the child was a girl the mother was unclean for 14 days and then she went through 66 days of purification. The total number of days was 40 for a boy and 80 for a girl.

The firstborn were dedicated to the Lord. This was true of both man and domesticated beast. The firstborn animals; such as cattle, goats, and sheep; were to be sacrificed. Other animals, such as donkeys, were redeemed by sacrificing a lamb. Firstborn sons were also redeemed by sacrificing a lamb. The reasoning behind this ritual was to remember the power that the LORD used to deliver the Children of Israel from Egypt. It remembers the tenth plague that brought death to all the firstborn of Egypt, including their livestock It was the plague that finally convinced Pharaoh to let the Israelites go.

So Mary and Joseph, being the pious people that they were, came to the temple to dedicate Jesus to the Lord and to complete the rite of purification. They did this by sacrificing two pigeons or turtledoves.

From this data we can deduce some facts. Joseph and Mary were not particularly rich. They could not afford the yearling lamb for the burnt offering, so they used a turtledove, which was the acceptable sacrifice from a poor person. We can also assume, according to Luke, that Jesus was 40 days old, since that is the time that the rite of purification was to be completed for Mary.

There is some irony here also. Jesus, the Lamb of God is redeemed in accordance with the dedication of the firstborn, by a pigeon, because the earthly family of the King of the Universe could not afford to sacrifice an actual lamb! Why this irony? I do not believe that it is coincidence; it expressed Luke's theology. Again, Luke demonstrated how the Almighty God, the Ruler of the Universe and His Messiah identified (still do) with those who are poor, with those who struggle.

II
SIMEON

The next part of our lesson featured Simeon whom Luke described as "righteous, devout, and waiting for the consolation of Israel." In fact Simeon had been told, through the Holy Spirit that he would see the Messiah before he died.

Joseph and Mary, with Jesus, entered the Temple, Simeon saw them and said a blessing and prophecy. Through the Holy Spirit he knew that Jesus was the Messiah and he proclaimed, "Lord, you are now letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word." Simeon saw Jesus; he had seen the Messiah, as promised. His short proclamation went on to say as much and included the following:

For my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.

Again, we witness Luke's universalism. Luke notes how the Messiah is for all people, Jews and Gentiles.

Simeon continued with a prophecy for by Jesus and Mary. He noted that, as the Messiah Jesus would stir up opposition, painful opposition. It would crucify Jesus and it would break Mary's heart. Yet the result revealed truth. Men's hearts would be truly known, their secret motives revealed. Again, we have here another early allusion as to where this developing theology of Jesus as the Messiah would lead - the cross.

So, Simeon plays an important role in helping us to begin to understand just how Jesus was Messiah. It would be one who reached(es) out to everyone. It would be one of sacrifice. It would mean death and pain. But for the Messiah death and pain would not be the final answer. The Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth meant that God's final answer to the problem of humanity was life, eternal life, life in the fellowship and presence of our Savior-forever!

The Doctrine of the Resurrection invites us to examine our lives. How do you and I live? Are we living our lives as if the resurrection is true? Are we living this life as a mere beginning to life with God forever? Or do we believe that this life is the final answer, that this doctrine is some "pie in the sky" fantasy of Christians? It makes a difference. Where we stand on this doctrine of the resurrection influences how we live now and how we manage the problems we currently face, both individually and socially.

Andrew Sandlin has written a new book, The Resurrection and Culture. One of his points is this. The doctrine of the Resurrection is an affirmation of God's creation. We believe in a God that created the universe and pronounced it good. We are not dualists who believe that the Spirit is good, but the material, the body is bad. God created us mind, spirit and body. The doctrine of the resurrection affirms the goodness of God's creation, because it expresses the belief that God Raised Jesus of Nazareth from the dead. It expresses the belief that God shall raise us all from the dead. It expresses our belief that that which God creation shall one day be perfected! This perfection comes not through our efforts, but through the redemption of God by Jesus Christ!

But the cross, in Luke's account is still before us. The pain that Jesus had to endure is for later in the Gospel. Back to the Temple.

III
ANNA

After Simeon's greeting of Jesus and his family Luke mentions Anna. Now Anna was a very old prophetess. Luke described her as married for 7 years and widowed. What is not clear is if she were widowed for 84 years, which would put her in the neighborhood of a hundred years old or whether she actually was 84 years old. The point is that she was no spring chicken. Anna was a very pious woman. She prayed, fasted and worshiped in the Temple daily.

Anna saw the baby Jesus and began praising and giving thanks to God. Luke noted that Anna spoke of Jesus to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. In other words, this was another affirmation that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah who had come into the world in order to redeem humankind.

IV
TO NAZARETH

The final section is like a short epilogue or conclusion. When all this was completed, the rituals for purification and the dedication of Jesus to God they all returned back to Nazareth. Jesus grew strong in wisdom and in God's favor. So, even as Luke wraps up this section of Temple Talk he is preparing us for the Sequel, when Jesus returns at the age of 12 years old.

The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.