FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS - Series C
O God, our
Maker and Redeemer, You wonderfully created us and in the incarnation of Your
Son yet more wondrously restored our human nature. Grant that we may ever be
alive in Him who made Himself to be like us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.
Amen
Exodus 13:1–3a, 11–15
Colossians 3:12–17
Luke 2:22–40
The Firstborn Son of God Is Our Redemption from Sin and Death
When the Lord destroyed the firstborn sons of Egypt, He spared the
sons of Israel by providing a lamb in their stead. Hence, all the firstborn
sons belong to Him. Every firstborn male animal was sacrificed, and every
firstborn son of man was redeemed (Exodus 13:12–13). Therefore, the parents of
Jesus “brought Him up to Jerusalem to
present Him to the Lord” (Luke 2:22). However, He is not redeemed from
priestly service but is consecrated for “the
redemption of Jerusalem” and “the
consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25, 38). For God the Father did not spare
His only-begotten Son, but offered Him up as the true Passover Lamb, in order
to redeem His people from bondage. His Cross has caused many to stumble and
fall, but His blood atoned for the sins of the world and delivers us from death.
We now depart in the peace of Christ because we are also raised with Him. As we
receive His body and blood, we join Simeon and Anna in “giving thanks to God the Father through Him,” “singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,” including the Nunc
Dimittis, with thankfulness in our hearts (Luke 2:28–32, 38; Colossians
3:15–17).
Luke 2:22–40
Jesus
Presented at the Temple
Luke 2:22-
Καὶ ὅτε ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ καθαρισμοῦ αὐτῶν κατὰ τὸν νόμον Μωϋσέως, ἀνήγαγον αὐτὸν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα παραστῆσαι τῷ κυρίῳ,
And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
First time Jesus the new temple is brought to Jerusalem. Leviticus 12- 40 days. Would not go to Jerusalem for the circumcision. See Malachi the messenger comes to the temple.
Luke 2:23-
καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν νόμῳ κυρίου ὅτι Πᾶν ἄρσεν διανοῖγον μήτραν ἅγιον τῷ κυρίῳ κληθήσεται,
(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)
All males that open the womb are called holy to/for the Lord.
“Holy to the Lord” had to be redeemed...to remind the Jews of the Exodus and to remember the first born were redeemed and or ransomed... Ex. 13:15, First born of the Levites were not redeemed. They were already set apart for the Lord.
This is Jesus active obedience. He is under the Law fulfilling it perfectly.
Luke 2:24-
καὶ τοῦ δοῦναι θυσίαν κατὰ τὸ εἰρημένον ἐν [a]τῷ νόμῳ κυρίου, ζεῦγος τρυγόνων ἢ δύο νοσσοὺς περιστερῶν.
and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
and to offer a sacrifice according to the Law of the Lord ( see Lev. 12:8.)
Two pigeons turtle doves because they were poor. Burnt offering and sin offering. One for the mother one for the child. A lamb and a bird or two birds. Burnt sacrifice was a dedication sacrifice.
Mary and Joseph can not afford the lamb. (The Magi hadn't shown up yet with the gold.) Yet already, Mary is holding in her arms "the lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world."
Luke 2:25-
Καὶ ἰδοὺ [b]ἄνθρωπος ἦν ἐν Ἰερουσαλὴμ ᾧ ὄνομα Συμεών, καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος δίκαιος καὶ εὐλαβής, προσδεχόμενος παράκλησιν τοῦ Ἰσραήλ, καὶ πνεῦμα ἦν ἅγιον ἐπ’ αὐτόν·
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
Behold...(look here, at this is happening right in front of you)...Simeon who was in Jerusalem just and devout waiting for the comfort of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon Him.
Waiting for Jerusalem to be comforted by the redeemer. see Isaiah 40. He (Paraclete) is the one standing before God as a defense attorney.
Did Simeon get his information from Zachariah's prophecy? The Spirit Works through means.
Luke 2:26-
καὶ ἦν αὐτῷ κεχρηματισμένον ὑπὸ τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίου μὴ ἰδεῖν θάνατον πρὶν [c]ἢ ἂν ἴδῃ τὸν χριστὸν κυρίου.
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
It was to him divinely revealed that he would not see death until he saw the Lord's Christ.
The entire Old Testament is waiting for the Lord's Christ. It's happening now.
Luke 2:27-
καὶ ἦλθεν ἐν τῷ πνεύματι εἰς τὸ ἱερόν· καὶ ἐν τῷ εἰσαγαγεῖν τοὺς γονεῖς τὸ παιδίον Ἰησοῦν τοῦ ποιῆσαι αὐτοὺς κατὰ τὸ εἰθισμένον τοῦ νόμου περὶ αὐτοῦ
And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law
He came in connection of the spirit into the temple as the parents were bringing Jesus in.
Luke 2:28-
καὶ αὐτὸς ἐδέξατο αὐτὸ εἰς τὰς [d]ἀγκάλας καὶ εὐλόγησεν τὸν θεὸν καὶ εἶπεν·
he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
Luke 2:29-
Νῦν ἀπολύεις τὸν δοῦλόν σου, δέσποτα, κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου ἐν εἰρήνῃ·
Now you are letting your servant Lord depart in peace.
Master now let your slave depart in peace. Jesus came to set the captives free. Now free from the slavery of waiting.
Luke 2:30-32-
ὅτι εἶδον οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου τὸ σωτήριόν σου 31 ὃ ἡτοίμασας κατὰ πρόσωπον πάντων τῶν λαῶν, 32 φῶς εἰς ἀποκάλυψιν ἐθνῶν καὶ δόξαν λαοῦ σου Ἰσραήλ.
for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
The word here is used to describe the peace offering. There is peace already established. Often used by itself. You have given me the offering prepared to be offered in the face of all the people. And the peace offering was eaten by the people.
See Daniel Brege's "Eating the sacrifice." Literally, "my eyes have seen your peace offering, which we have eaten."
Simeon sees the cross as already done, a prophetic past prophecy.
See Deut. 12, every clean person eats the peace offering.
Luke 2:33 –
καὶ ἦν [e]ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἡ [f]μήτηρ θαυμάζοντες ἐπὶ τοῖς λαλουμένοις περὶ αὐτοῦ.
And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
Mary "marveled," a response to the Word, a response of faith. Further word search may prove helpful.
Luke 2:34-
καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτοὺς Συμεὼν καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς Μαριὰμ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ· Ἰδοὺ οὗτος κεῖται εἰς πτῶσιν καὶ ἀνάστασιν πολλῶν ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ καὶ εἰς σημεῖον ἀντιλεγόμενον,
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed
Pay close attention to this one...this child is set for the rising and fall of many in Israel.
The sign is the cross and the offense of the cross. The entire Christian message will be spoken against.
Luke 2:35-
αὶ σοῦ [g]δὲ αὐτῆς τὴν ψυχὴν διελεύσεται ῥομφαία, ὅπως ἂν ἀποκαλυφθῶσιν ἐκ πολλῶν καρδιῶν διαλογισμοί.
a sword will pierce you and the thoughts of many will be revealed.
Luke 2:36
Καὶ ἦν Ἅννα προφῆτις, θυγάτηρ Φανουήλ, ἐκ φυλῆς Ἀσήρ (αὕτη προβεβηκυῖα ἐν ἡμέραις πολλαῖς, ζήσασα [h]μετὰ ἀνδρὸς ἔτη ἑπτὰ ἀπὸ τῆς παρθενίας αὐτῆς,
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,
Luke 2:37
καὶ αὐτὴ χήρα [i]ἕως ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων,) ἣ οὐκ [j]ἀφίστατο τοῦ ἱεροῦ νηστείαις καὶ δεήσεσιν λατρεύουσα νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν.
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.[b] She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
Anna was 84 – (12 x 7 = 84) or “as a widow for eighty-four years”
Luke 2:38
καὶ αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ ἐπιστᾶσα ἀνθωμολογεῖτο τῷ [l]θεῷ καὶ ἐλάλει περὶ αὐτοῦ πᾶσιν τοῖς προσδεχομένοις [m]λύτρωσιν Ἰερουσαλήμ.
And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
Luke 2:39
Καὶ ὡς ἐτέλεσαν [n]πάντα τὰ κατὰ τὸν νόμον κυρίου, [o]ἐπέστρεψαν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν [p]εἰς πόλιν ἑαυτῶν Ναζαρέθ.
And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
Luke 2:40
Τὸ δὲ παιδίον ηὔξανεν καὶ ἐκραταιοῦτο πληρούμενον σοφίᾳ, καὶ χάρις θεοῦ ἦν ἐπ’ αὐτό.
And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
ESV® Text Edition: 2016.
Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News
Publishers.
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software
