Pr. DFD : 2020

Thursday, December 31, 2020

Friday prior to Christmas 2

Luke 2:40–52—The Jewish rabbis were astounded by the teaching of this young Boy. How could such a One expound the Scriptures as He did? The antiphon from the Introit proclaims it well: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The Word made flesh expounded the written Word to these great teachers. We have not only the written Word (Old Testament) that they had, but we also have the benefit of the Holy Gospels, the record of the words and the deeds of the Incarnate Word. Let us never take God’s Word for granted, but diligently ‘read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest’ it, so that ‘by patience and comfort of [God’s] holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life.

Jesus makes a return trip. To Jerusalem. To the temple. To listen to the scribes and the Elders. And to ask questions. This is His habit. This is His method of operation. That is His MO, His Modus operandi. His profile. There is nothing strange or odd in Jesus’ behavior. We should not be surprised.

There are 41 events in the Gospels where the words amazed and astonished are used to describe people’s reaction to Jesus; where the people were either amazed or astonished in meetings Jesus. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

This is the only boyhood story about Jesus. In this snapshot of Jesus’ life we hear how the scribes, the teachers and other the people present were AMAZED at his understanding of scripture. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

According to Luke, the boy Jesus ends up in the temple instead of heading home with his family after the Passover. When do parents start seriously thinking about getting their child a cell phone? At around the age of twelve. Because at the age of twelve, thirteen and fourteen kids begin hanging out together. Anyone who has lived with a twelve- year- old can related to this story. It could have happened today just as it did two thousand years ago.

Mary and Joseph assumed Jesus was with his friends. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. (Vv.44-45)What they found was a pattern of growth that is necessary for us today.

Today marks the beginning of a New Year. Many make New Year’s resolutions. Today’s reading makes a perfect resolution for us as a Friedheim family. Make this resolve…

1. That we might be regular in our worship attendance. “They found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teacher both listening to them and asking them questions.” – Luke 2:46

2. That we might grow.

Collect for the Feast of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus (1 January): Lord God, You made Your beloved Son, our Savior, subject to the Law and caused Him to shed His blood on our behalf. Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit that our hearts may be made pure from all sins; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and rules with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[1]

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Thursday prior to Christmas 2

Ephesians 1:3–14—Even if we seem to be lacking in worldly wealth or wisdom, we are assured that we, the elect of God, have a treasure far greater than anything on earth. We have the salvation planned by in eternity by God and won in time by Jesus Christ, who has redeemed us with His blood and forgiven us of our trespasses. Furthermore, He has bestowed upon us His Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our inheritance until the Last Day, when all His promises will be fulfilled.

Today is the final day of 2020. In His own perfect timing, all will be made right at the end of days. Rejoice. Your Savior remains timeless. The old year is gone. A new one dawns. The past year is over. Another takes its place. Jesus remains the same, yesterday, today, and yes, forever. Your times are in His hands. Fare Thee well child of God. Fare thee well. From this year unto the next. Jesus remains the same, yesterday, today, and forevermore.

Collect for the New Year: Eternal God, we commit to Your mercy and forgiveness the year now ending and commend to Your blessing and love the times yet to come. In the new year, abide among us with Your Holy Spirit that we may always trust in the saving name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[1]

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Wednesday prior to Christmas 2

1 Kings 3:4–15—In the tale of Aladdin’s lamp, Aladdin desires and receives great riches from the genie in the lamp. If you could have anything your heart desired, what would it be? Power? Wealth? Long life? Solomon humbly asked the LORD for wisdom to rule God’s people well. His request was granted, and Solomon became the wisest man ever to have lived. Because of his altruistically wise request, the LORD also gave Solomon what he did not ask for: great riches and honor, far beyond any other king.

The Old year as vast and strange and challenging as it has been is quickly coming to a close. What will befall us in the New Year of 2021? Only the Lord knows for sure. But this we can be assured the Lord will continue to order our days and direct our path. All the LORD requires of us is to trust him. As Solomon asked for wisdom, patience and strength so the LORD will direct each step we take.

The events of this past year remind us we are living outside of Eden. Yet we do not lose heart. St. Paul would remind us, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.” - 2 Corinthians 4:8-11

We do not lose heart because we really don’t belong here. 0ur eternal Home! In this coming year there will be baptisms and there will be funerals. Infants will be welcomed into the family called the Church. Dear saints will hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” We pray in the Te Deum “May we numbered with Thy saints, in glory everlasting.” The old song sings, “Soon and very soon, we shall see the King.” And yes! We will.

We can benefit from Solomon’s wisdom in the books of Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. We can benefit from the wisdom of God in all 66 books of the Holy Bible.

Heavenly Father, You have called us to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown... give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us.[1]

[1] Collect for Divine Guidance, Lutheran Service Book © 2996 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Monday, December 28, 2020

Tuesday prior to Christmas 2

Psalm 119:97–104—Psalm 119 is an example of Hebrew poetry, which is different than English poetry. First, the psalm is an acrostic: that is, every line of each section starts with the same Hebrew letter, in this case ‘mem’ (מ). Another characteristic of Hebrew poetry is parallelism, where the two halves of each line complement each other in some way. Here, we see that the second half of each line serves to amplify the thought in the first half.

Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.

I have more understanding than all my teachers for your testimonies are my meditation.

I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.

I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word.

I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

The psalmist proclaims that the Word of God is the source of wisdom; it rewards the one who meditates on it by making him wiser than my enemies and having more understanding than all my teachers. So, too, let us not fail to immerse ourselves in the study of God’s Word, for it is sweeter than honey to my mouth.

Collect for Psalm 119: Lord, you are just and your commandments are eternal. Teach us to love you with all our hearts, and to love our neighbor as ourselves, for the sake of Jesus our Lord.

Sunday, December 27, 2020

Monday prior to Christmas 2

Psalm 147:1, 5, 11–12; Antiphon, John 1:14—The antiphon proclaims the mystery of the Incarnation: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. In the original Greek, the word ‘dwelt’ is derived from word for ‘tabernacle’. That is, the God who dwelt with His people in the tabernacle in the wilderness, who delivered them from bondage in Egypt and brought them into the Promised Land—He is the same God that assumed flesh and dwelt with us as the God-man Jesus Christ, the same one who delivered us from our bondage to sin, and will, at the Last Day, take us into our Promised Land, eternal life with Him in heaven.

John states, "The Word became flesh." Notice the link with verse one: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." -John 1:1 The Word that always "was" v. 1 now became a temporal event at a point in history. Furthermore, the Word that "was God" v. 1c now came into being as flesh, that is, he exists as a human being. We often say that Jesus is God. That is true. But here's an incredible statement: God became Jesus of Nazareth!

When he stepped out, Jesus Christ became the visible expression of the invisible God. He became a visual aid, as it were, to reveal the nature of the Father. He was God in a suit of flesh. He was God expressing himself in a language that we could understand. He was God announcing to the world: "I have come!"

Collect for Psalm 147: God our Father, great builder of the heavenly Jerusalem. You know the number of the starts and call each of them by name. Heal hearts that are broken, gather those who have been scattered, and enrich all from the plenitude of your eternal wisdom, Jesus Christ our Lord.[1]

Christmas 2 Series B

Christmas 2

1 Kings 3:4–15

Ephesians 1:3–14

Luke 2:40–52

The Lord Jesus Is Found in the Temple of His Church

Almighty God, You have poured into our hearts the true Light of Your incarnate Word. Grant that this Light may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

The Lord Jesus “grew and became strong” (Luke 2:40); He “increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). As His body grew and developed, His mind also increased in knowledge and understanding. For as our brother in the flesh, that we might “have redemption through his blood” (Ephesians 1:7), He lived by faith in the Word of His Father. Thus, He was catechized by His parents, who took Him up “to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover” (Luke 2:41); and when He was of age, He gave attention to the Holy Scriptures in His Father’s house (Luke 2:46, 49). Christ Jesus is still found in His Church, in “the word of truth, the gospel,” by which we are adopted by His Father and sealed with His Spirit (Ephesians 1:5, 13). Thus do we gain “an understanding mind” to go about our vocations, discerning “between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9). And so do we also go up to Jerusalem to stand “before the ark of the covenant of the Lord” (1 Kings 3:15), that is, in the Holy Communion of His body and blood.

Luke 2:40

Τὸ δὲ παιδίον ηὔξανεν καὶ ἐκραταιοῦτο [a]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.

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

Luke 2:41

Καὶ ἐπορεύοντο οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ κατ’ ἔτος εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ τῇ ἑορτῇ τοῦ πάσχα.

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.

Luke 2:42

καὶ ὅτε ἐγένετο ἐτῶν δώδεκα, [b]ἀναβαινόντων [c]αὐτῶν κατὰ τὸ ἔθος τῆς ἑορτῆς

And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.

Luke 2:43

καὶ τελειωσάντων τὰς ἡμέρας, ἐν τῷ ὑποστρέφειν αὐτοὺς ὑπέμεινεν Ἰησοῦς ὁ παῖς ἐν Ἰερουσαλήμ, καὶ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ.

And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,

Luke 2:44

νομίσαντες δὲ αὐτὸν εἶναι ἐν τῇ συνοδίᾳ ἦλθον ἡμέρας ὁδὸν καὶ ἀνεζήτουν αὐτὸν ἐν τοῖς συγγενεῦσιν καὶ τοῖς γνωστοῖς,

but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,

Luke 2:45

καὶ μὴ εὑρόντες ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ ἀναζητοῦντες αὐτόν.

and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.

Luke 2:46

καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ ἡμέρας τρεῖς εὗρον αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ καθεζόμενον ἐν μέσῳ τῶν διδασκάλων καὶ ἀκούοντα αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπερωτῶντα αὐτούς•

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

Luke 2:47

ἐξίσταντο δὲ πάντες οἱ ἀκούοντες αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῇ συνέσει καὶ ταῖς ἀποκρίσεσιν αὐτοῦ.

And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

Luke 2:48

καὶ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν ἐξεπλάγησαν, καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ• Τέκνον, τί ἐποίησας ἡμῖν οὕτως; ἰδοὺ ὁ πατήρ σου καὶ ἐγὼ ὀδυνώμενοι ἐζητοῦμέν σε.

And when his parents[a] saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”

Luke 2:49

καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς• Τί ὅτι ἐζητεῖτέ με; οὐκ ᾔδειτε ὅτι ἐν τοῖς τοῦ πατρός μου δεῖ εἶναί με;

And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”[b]

Luke 2:50

καὶ αὐτοὶ οὐ συνῆκαν τὸ ῥῆμα ὃ ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς.

And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.

Luke 2:51

καὶ κατέβη μετ’ αὐτῶν καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς Ναζαρὲθ, καὶ ἦν ὑποτασσόμενος αὐτοῖς. καὶ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ διετήρει πάντα τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς.

And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

Luke 2:52

Καὶ Ἰησοῦς προέκοπτεν σοφίᾳ καὶ ἡλικίᾳ καὶ χάριτι παρὰ θεῷ καὶ ἀνθρώποις.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature[c] and in favor with God and man.

Image Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts “The Visit of the Magi” © WELS For personal or congregational use

Time in the Word - Christmas 2

Time in the Word:

Preparation for next week, Christmas 2

The Lord Jesus Is Found in the Temple of His Church

Christ Jesus is still found in His Church, in “the Word of truth, the Gospel,” by which we are adopted by His Father and sealed with His Spirit (Ephesians 1:5, 13). Thus do we gain “an understanding mind” to go about our vocations, discerning “between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9). And so do we also go up to Jerusalem, to stand “before the ark of the covenant of the Lord” (1 Kings 3:15), that is, in the Holy Communion of His body and blood.

Collect for the Second Sunday after Christmas: Almighty God, You have poured into our hearts the true Light of Your incarnate Word. Grant that this Light may shine forth in our lives; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Collect for the Feast of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus (1 January): Lord God, You made Your beloved Son, our Savior, subject to the Law and caused Him to shed His blood on our behalf. Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit that our hearts may be made pure from all sins; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and rules with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Collect for the New Year: Eternal God, we commit to Your mercy and forgiveness the year now ending and commend to Your blessing and love the times yet to come. In the new year, abide among us with Your Holy Spirit that we may always trust in the saving name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Prayer for grace to receive the Word: Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that, by patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with Your and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Monday, 28 December 2020—Psalm 147:1, 5, 11–12; Antiphon, John 1:14—

The antiphon proclaims the mystery of the Incarnation: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. In the original Greek, the word ‘dwelt’ is derived from word for ‘tabernacle’. That is, the God who dwelt with His people in the tabernacle in the wilderness, who delivered them from bondage in Egypt and brought them into the Promised Land—He is the same God that assumed flesh and dwelt with us as the God-man Jesus Christ, the same one who delivered us from our bondage to sin, and will, at the Last Day, take us into our Promised Land, eternal life with Him in heaven.

Tuesday, 29 December 2020— Psalm 119:97–104—Psalm 119 -

Here is an example of Hebrew poetry, which is different than English poetry. First, the psalm is an acrostic: that is, every line of each section starts with the same Hebrew letter, in this case ‘mem’ (מ).

Another characteristic of Hebrew poetry is parallelism, where the two halves of each line complement each other in some way. Here, we see that the second half of each line serves to amplify the thought in the first half. The psalmist proclaims that the Word of God is the source of wisdom; it rewards the one who meditates on it by making him wiser than my enemies and having more understanding than all my teachers. So, too, let us not fail to immerse ourselves in the study of God’s Word, for it is sweeter than honey to my mouth.

Wednesday, 30 December 2020 —1 Kings 3:4–15—

In the tale of Aladdin’s lamp, Aladdin desires and receives great riches from the genie in the lamp. If you could have anything your heart desired, what would it be? Power? Wealth? Long life? Solomon humbly asked the LORD for wisdom to rule God’s people well. His request was granted, and Solomon became the wisest man ever to have lived. Because of his altruistically wise request, the LORD also gave Solomon what he did not ask for: great riches and honor, far beyond any other king.

We can benefit from Solomon’s wisdom in the books of Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. We can benefit from the wisdom of God in all 66 books of the Holy Bible.

Thursday, 31 December 2020— Ephesians 1:3–14—

Even if we seem to be lacking in worldly wealth or wisdom, we are assured that we, the elect of God, have a treasure far greater than anything on earth. We have the salvation planned by in eternity by God and won in time by Jesus Christ, who has redeemed us with His blood and forgiven us of our trespasses. Furthermore, He has bestowed upon us His Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our inheritance until the Last Day, when all His promises will be fulfilled.

Friday, 01 January 2021 –Luke 2:40–52—

The Jewish rabbis were astounded by the teaching of this young Boy. How could such a One expound the Scriptures as He did? The antiphon from the Introit proclaims it well: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The Word made flesh expounded the written Word to these great teachers. We have not only the written Word (Old Testament) that they had, but we also have the benefit of the Holy Gospels, the record of the words and the deeds of the Incarnate Word. Let us never take God’s Word for granted, but diligently ‘read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest’ it, so that ‘by patience and comfort of [God’s] holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life.’

Saturday, 02 January 2021 –Luke 2:41-52 -

The Hymn of the Day is Within the Father’s House (Lutheran Service Book #410)It recounts the Gospel reading of the Boy Jesus in the temple, and then offers up a prayer in stanzas 5 and 6 that we, by grace, might grasp and hold to the mysteries of the Incarnation and the Holy Trinity till they are at last made fully known to us on that great day when our Lord returns in majesty and glory.

Sources:

Collect for Pentecost 24 from Lutheran Worship © Concordia Publishing House

Christmas 1 Series B

FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS - Series B

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

Luke 2:22–40

The Firstborn Son of God Is Our Redemption from Sin and Death

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; see also 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. This is Jesus active obedience. He is under the Law fulfilling it perfectly.

Luke 2:24-

καὶ τοῦ δοῦναι θυσίαν κατὰ τὸ εἰρημένον ἐν 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.

Luke 2:25-

Καὶ ἰδοὺ 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 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 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 ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἡ 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 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 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 ἕως ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων,) ἣ οὐκ 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 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 πάντα τὰ κατὰ τὸν νόμον κυρίου, ἐπέστρεψαν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν 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.

Saturday, December 26, 2020

Christmas 1

Luke 2:25-40

Would You Recognize Christ If You Saw Him?

Would you recognize Christ if you saw Him? Now that is an interesting question, isn’t it? After all, what is one baby among so many? Don’t they all look alike? If nobody told you who the baby was or who the parents were, would you know this child? Here is the marvel and miracle of Simeon. The baby Jesus, according to our text for this morning, is only forty days old. Simeon had never met the baby’s parents. Yet, in this baby Simeon recognized the Messiah. How many see Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, and the Savior? What does one have to have to recognize the Christ in this child Jesus? That my friends, is the question we will consider this morning,

To recognize the Christ in Jesus there are three things that are necessary.

1. To recognize the Christ we must first look for Him in hope. “Now there was in Jerusalem a man called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him…"

Simeon had looked for the Savior’s coming for many a year. We have witnessed His coming and we anticipate His Second Coming on the last great day. Like Simeon we need to look for Him in a hope that He will come at just the right time. As He came the first time at just the right time he will also come again in glory at just the right time. There is still a time for us to wait for Jesus. It is not in the anticipation of the celebration at Christmas but rather it is in living in anxious expectation for Him to return at just the right time to take us to be with Him in glory. Like Simeon Live in that hope.

2. To recognize the Christ we must live close to God. Luke tells us something about Simeon’s character. He was "…righteous and devout…" (v.25)

Isaiah (45:22-25) tells us to "turn" (v.22) This is a common word in the Old Testament. Often it is used as "return". It means to repent, to change one’s mind, and make an about face from serving Self to serving God. To turn indicates that a person has gone away from God, by being faithless in serving false gods and rebelling against the true God.

To turn means grace. God asks us to come back to Him and if we do, there is forgiveness and acceptance. Simeon remains for us an excellent role model of what it means to remain faithful. It does not mean that one remains perfect in every respect but rather that we see in Christ the reason for our salvation and then in repentance and faith we turn to Him for life. That’s what it means to be devout. That’s what it means to live close to God. To have our focus on Christ is what is needed today.

3. To recognize the Christ we must be led of the Spirit. Luke tells us "Moved by the Spirit, he went to the temple courts…and took the child in his arms…"

Simeon was a Spirit possessed man. He did not have to wait until Pentecost to get the Spirit. This reminds us that the Spirit is as old as God is, for the Spirit is God Himself. When and how Simeon received the Spirit, we do not know. It is enough that we see that the spirit possessed Simeon, for the Holy Spirit gave him the revelation that the baby Jesus was the Christ. It was the Holy Spirit that inspired him to enter the temple at just the right time to see and behold Jesus. Likewise the same Spirit has directed you to behold this baby and for you to recognize Him as the Christ.

Having seen the Christ Simeon was now ready to depart from this world in peace. Simeon was now ready and content to die. He was willing to depart this life because he had received his wish to see the promised Messiah.

In every person’s death, there is the time when the dying person accepts the reality and necessity of death, and then is ready to go. For Simeon, death had no terror because he, having seen Christ, was sure of his salvation.

You and I have seen the Lord’s salvation as well. For us the future has no terror because we have seen the Lord’s Christ and thus we too are assured of our salvation. May the prayer of Simeon be our prayer too as we say farewell to 2020 and hello to 2021. Having witnessed Christ we are now free to face the future with the same assurance as Simeon. We can be at peace for God is at peace.

Friday, December 25, 2020

Saturday prior to Christmas 1

Luke 2:1-20 – Sunday’s hymn of the Day is “Let All Together Praise Our God” Now that Christmas has come we can seriously think about the meaning of Christ’s coming into our world and our time. Even in troubled times God is with us.

Let all together praise our God upon the lofty throne,
for God unlocks the heavens today and gives to us a Son.
and gives to us a Son.

Christ lays aside his majesty and seems as nothing worth,

and takes on him a servant's form, who made the heaven and earth.
who made the heaven and earth.

Behold the wonderful exchange our Lord with us doth make!
Lo, he assumes our flesh and blood, and we of heaven partake.
and we of heaven partake.

The glorious gates of paradise the angel guards no more.
This day again those gates unfold; with praise our God adore!
with praise our God adore!

O God, You make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that, as we joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold Him when He comes to be our Judge; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[1]

Friday prior to Christmas 1

Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 –The flight to Egypt and the return to Nazareth. The Lord suffers in all the afflictions of His people. Because of His love, He feels what we feel, He hurts when we hurt. He suffers when we suffer. When the Lord called Moses, He said that He heard the cries of His enslaved people. No one suffers alone. No one walks alone. No one dies alone. “In all their afflictions He was afflicted.

Joseph proved to be a friend and protector of Jesus. What would have happened to the baby if Joseph had not been a willing worker? Here we see a great truth: God’s concern, compassion and aid comes through the help of others. In today’s world of cruelty to the exploitation of children, God is still concerned about the threatened and oppressed little ones. He looks to his own to be the friends of afflicted children. Aware of the world’s threats Joseph acted immediately as He was open to the Father’s guidance – Vv. 13, 19, 22

Almighty God, You have poured into our hearts the true Light of Your incarnate Word. Grant that this Light may shine forth in our lives; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives, and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.[1]

2. Woodcut, by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, The Book of Books in Pictures copyright © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use.

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Christmas Day

Christmas thoughts...

All other living things on earth were created at God’s command. Adam and Eve are formed by God’s hand. Humanity arises not simply from Divine Command, but from Divine conversation. “Let us make man in our image, and after our likeness.” Man was to be the pinnacle of creation. All that God made was placed under the dominion of Adam and Eve. And God saw all that he had created, and it was very good.

But it did not stay very good. Sin wreaked havoc on the perfect creation. Death and decay now reigned. And Satan, the prince of this world, tries to destroy and corrupt everything God has made. His goal is to stop the plan of God entirely. Of course, that’s not possible. So he settles instead for keeping as many as he can from God, from the salvation he offers.

In the garden, when Adam and Eve committed quiet violence against God’s command, when they ate from the tree, when they tried to be like God by their own efforts, they became enemies of God instead. And so, God promised a Savior. From the seed of the woman. But, it was not to be her firstborn son as she expected. There would be generation after generation. Waiting for the promise, abandoning the promise, working even against the promise. A cleansing flood would not stop the sinful world from continuing on the path of death.

And so, finally, when the world was still, and it was midnight, God descended from his royal throne, he was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man. Today, we celebrate the singular honor – God is one of us. We hear the prophecy. The history that fulfills it seems at first to be a non-starter. An unmarried girl, in a small town, almost getting divorced before she is married. It is the angel that speaks to Joseph, and tells him that Mary has not been unfaithful.

But in the account in Luke, the first name we hear is Caesar Augustus. He is the one who, thinking he is just being clever with taxes, sets in motion events that will lead Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. Quirinius plays a minor role as well, carrying out the command of the emperor, thinking that he is being a faithful governor for Rome, without ever knowing what role he is really playing. And so, Joseph and Mary leave Nazareth, and begin the journey. Seventy miles. Nine months pregnant, walking from Decatur to Muncie. If as some early legends tell us, they had a donkey, then it’s still nine months pregnant, and riding a donkey from Decatur to Muncie. Maybe that’s a better situation, maybe it isn’t. But either way, it’s not exactly a glorious beginning for the Son of God.

And so, when all is said and done, a baby boy. Mary, pondering all that has happened. Luther says that this is Luke’s way of saying Mary heard and learned God’s word. She was thinking about the promise of the angel. To her cousin Elizabeth, to her. Of the long journey. The strange birth. And of course, the shepherds. Keeping watch over their flocks by night.

Luther holds them up as examples – they were doing their jobs when God visited them. The priests, Levites, scribes, rulers of the people didn’t get so much as a postcard. The shepherds in the field – on maternity duty for their sheep – they are the ones who see the glorious vision. Who hear the song, “Gloria in Excelsis Deo.” Glory be to God on high.

And so, Mary, simply and humbly hearing and learning the word is blessed, and is a blessing. Those shepherds, simply and humbly doing their jobs are blessed, and are a blessing. How would we know of the angel choirs, unless the shepherds saw it, and unless the shepherds told Mary, and then Mary told the Evangelist.

What God did not become, he could not save. And so, he comes into the world as one of us to save us. He is counted with the sinners, to save sinners. Luke records the events of Jesus’ nativity, but he seems to do so from the perspective of heaven.

Zechariah, Mary, the Angels, and eventually old Simeon in the temple – they are all singing songs of praise to God. It’s great and glorious. The words are still used in our hymns and songs today, and likely will be even after our Lord returns when we join with angels and archangels around the throne of the lamb who was slain

And yet, it’s the simple and humble, not the glorious and exalted. Luther says that if God picked up a piece of straw, it would be a glorious act because he is so much greater than we. And so it is. God chooses humble things. But those humble things become glorious when used by our heavenly Father, for He is glorious.

In the account from Luke, we have a poor virgin, devout Joseph, a long journey, humble lodgings, some ragged shepherds. But we have the incarnate God come to save you from your sins. Christ did not come to destroy creation. He came to transform it. He came to redeem. To serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. And so it is that He comes humbly. To show that He came not to save kings and princes. But He came to save all. Especially the poor and the needy.

And on this day, as we, with Mary, ponder these things in our heart, we consider Mary, who was given the honor of being the mother of God. And we consider all those who hear and believe, who are now children of God. We consider the shepherds, who saw those angels sing. We consider the church, where the song continues to be sung. And we consider the callings to which God has called us.

Father mother, son daughter, student, employer, employee, it doesn’t matter. God gives us work in this creation. And as we fulfill that work, we are, like those shepherds blessed by God. We do not work to merit anything from God. But in fulfilling our vocation, in faith, we live out the forgiveness won by Jesus” death on the cross.

Words-1,075
Passive Sentences –9%
Readability – 78.7%
Reading Level –5.2
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en_US

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Thursday prior to Christmas 1

Galatians 4:4-7 – At the right time God sent His Son that we might become sons and daughters of God.

What is the real significance of Christmas? How is your life affected by the birth of Christ? Your whole status with God depends on the one who has entered our world. Paul explains, “But when the fullness of the time came.“(v. 4a). The word Paul describes as “fullness” suggests a basket that is full. But here it has the sense of completeness or the right time. The Lord’s timing is always right.

This son was God’s Son from the beginning. He “was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made…. (And) the Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth…. From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace” (John 1:2-3, 14, 16).

Paul’s most explicit picture of God’s sending his Son is found in his letter to the Philippians. “Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11).

Christ’s full humanity was manifested in his birth. He was “born of a woman”—not a princess or a queen, but an ordinary young woman. He was born, not in a palace, but in stable. His crib was a manger—a feeding trough for animals. He was raised, not in Jerusalem, the home of the temple, but in a small town in Galilee. The man who was to be known as his father was not a ruler, but a carpenter. Jesus could not have done more to identify with us in our humanity.

Luke had been Paul’s traveling companion, so Paul surely knew of the virgin birth. However, he doesn’t mention the virgin birth explicitly in any of his letters. We should not imagine that he rejected the idea of the virgin birth. More likely, that concept was so widely accepted that he felt no need to emphasize it.

Almighty God, grant that the birth of Your only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free from the bondage of sin; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[1]