YOU ASKED FOR IT:
A NEW SONG

The concept of time must have been a total puzzle to the first generation of people in this world, however it came to them from the stars or the earth’s revolutions or other, somewhere near the early beginnings of humankind, “near” the time of the Creation. We must have started out just comprehending the visible, the tangible, in limited ways, but whenever time was figured out as something that was even related to this world, I would expect it continued to puzzle people… and possibly puzzles us even more, to this day!

Alan Lightman, in Einstein’s Dreams, back in 1992 made the statement: "Time paces forward with exquisite regularity, at precisely the same velocity in every corner of space." But I shared my belief with some of you, not long ago, that that statement of Einstein’s is no longer true! We have such things as “black holes” and huge empty spaces, in our universe, the latest I’ve heard is that the universe began from something smaller than an atom--and no one knows for sure what the situation is or what characteristics these attributes might have.

It had to be that same period of time—when they were figuring out “time”--that people first searched for, and began to know, a higher power or God. The scriptures shed light on this, of course. We know the Jewish people handed down their faith from generation to generation, a faith based on traditions, rituals, the natural world and all the other experiences they had, things they’d worked out from reflecting on this world in which they were placed, from simply observing and from just talking to each other, while listening and talking to the God that was revealed to them, and then passing their stories of faith down through their ancestral lines. So many of those stories are in our scriptures, although we can wonder how many, many more there must have been…

At the same time as the Jewish faith was developing in its relatively small corner of the world, we are aware that many other civilizations and cultures were also developing, in their unique ways, in other places of the world, cultures that were, at the same time, constructing their own ways of viewing and understanding their god or gods. As the world formed and a variety of religions sprung up throughout it, it was in the special setting of Nazareth that Jesus was born, more than 2,000 years ago. It was time. While the scriptures describe it pretty closely, Jesus’ birth was likely little noted beyond that small corner where he was--oh except for a few shepherds and angels, and of course the Wise Men, the kings and rulers from the Far East of which we are aware.

We all know that we make a big celebration of that birth every year at Christmas time--and we did that this past year, once again. So why would we bring it up now, and why would we examine the time shortly after Jesus’ birth, such as that which we read in today’s scriptures? Isn’t this a rather untimely thing to do?

Well, one obvious reason we’re talking about all this is because one of you—somebody out there—requested this topic! When Nancy and George passed the list of recommended topics on to me, this one conspicuously jumped out at me and my first thought was why would we preach on this at this time of year—and then I thought, why not? Perhaps it’s time, once again, to look closely at what happened in that period after Jesus’ birth… and its life-changing impact on all of us. I really believe we can always do that at any time in the year—and we probably never do it enough.

Jesus’ birthday is an event that affected us and this world, now and forever. We can say that at any time—and I expect we always will, for simply speaking, we have never been the same. And, I hope we will not ever be the same. How can we, in knowing and believing what has happened? It was “time.”

Now Simeon was a wonderful and wise, elderly Jewish man who knew the scripture stories of the Old “Hebrew” Testament well and whose story is told in our scripture in Luke. With his advancing age, Simeon had studied throughout his life and learned a lot. Simeon knew well the prophecies of old, and he believed, so much so that he was anticipating the arrival of the Messiah that would be the salvation of the world. The prophecies of Isaiah, Micah and all the others remained fresh in his mind. Devout and righteous Simeon had been waiting for the time of the Savior’s birth, waiting for all of his life. We’re further led to believe that he is ready to die, except for this one event.

Well, the Lord works in mysterious ways. Simeon arrived at the temple, the center of all the Jewish religious activity at that time, at precisely the same time that Joseph, Mary and the 6 week old infant Jesus arrived to observe the Jewish laws that were so important to them as the devout Jewish family they were. Jesus’ family came for two reasons, 2 requirements of the Jewish law:

1. Mary’s “purification”, which could only happen 40 days after the birth, through a ritual in which she would sacrifice either a lamb and pigeon, or two pigeons or two doves. Mary gave two doves, reflecting the very meager means of her existence.
2. The dedication of Jesus to the Lord. Jesus was the firstborn son, and this, too, was a necessary part of any faithful Jewish family’s response to their faith.

It is because of this temple trip and this act that we know that Jesus’ family is deeply dedicated to their Jewish faith. (Learn more about Judaism in our new class coming up) We’re told that they did all that was required of them and strictly adhered to all the Jewish law, the law of Moses set so long ago. Jesus’ parents were faithful, practicing, obedient Jews.

A simply astounding thing happens next. Simeon, who has waited with great anticipation for the Messiah for years, pays no attention to any of the other people or babies in this huge Jewish temple complex, but, when he sees Jesus in the arms of Mary, he immediately goes to them and asks Mary if he can hold Jesus. Now they must have been still in the outer part of the temple because Mary, as a woman, was not allowed inside. Mary, amazingly, hands her baby over to Simeon. We don’t know if he knew her or why she would trust him, but she did; there is some speculation he could have been a frequent visitor there, a familiar face. As she hands her baby over to Simeon, Simeon is filled with the Holy Spirit and suddenly bursts out into song and declares that “this is the Consolation of Israel, the Messiah, the Saviour of the World, for Jews and Gentiles alike!” He is praising God! It’s an inspired speech that Simeon gives as he emphasizes that Jesus is for everyone throughout the world. It says “foreign nations” in our one translation. All who are not Jews are Gentiles. Jesus’ saving power is for all the other nationalities then, and it certainly includes us now—as well as every other corner of the world. Simeon’s song is a simply beautiful message of a divine encounter, a vision that Simeon has that is clearly from beyond the bounds of this earthly world. It’s a vision of the real Jesus, the significance of all he will be, a prophecy of Salvation. The universality of the purpose of God—a light for revelation--had been expressed before in the scriptures, but never so well-defined as this! It really leaves no question that Christ is offered for everyone! Simeon further declares that now he can go in peace, as God has promised, since he has seen the Messiah—and most likely, fulfilled his purpose in revealing this critical message. He goes on to speak of the child’s wonderful future and blesses them all, as he says farewell. God now dwells in Jesus Christ, beyond any temple walls.

There is a dark thread woven into this picture. Simeon concludes by telling Mary that this Salvation will not all happen without great cost. There will be a price to pay and a sword will pierce Mary’s side… This is the continuing prophecy of the extremely difficult future that Mary and Jesus will face, the future that we now know as the “rest of the story,” the Easter story. In this vision that is totally from the Holy Spirit, Simeon has seen so much. We’re talking about a baby, friends, a 6 week old baby! It’s a miracle in its timing, isn’t it? This is such an important event for all of us, as Christians, that some churches have remembered it with a special day, the Presentation of the Child, around Feb. 2. Because this vision has revealed so many facets of Christ to those around the world through the years that have gone by, you are looking at varied images of his life flashing by on the big screen…

Friends, when a light is turned on, shadows are formed. When this great message of truth for all the world is released, in an expression that makes a difference, perhaps a radical difference, the impact of the change can be difficult. I submit that the best way we can handle such change is to take it to the Lord in prayer. As we commit ourselves to Christ, collectively and personally, we have choices. Prayer helps us determine that we make the best choices we can. Look closely at your Reminder for “Ways You Can Pray,” and for the special insert on prayer. Study these and pray about them… and remember that Christ is available for comfort and consolation as well!

We have choices to do or not do, to tell or not tell, to listen or not listen, to pray or not pray, to study or not study, to act or not act, to sin or not sin, to follow or not follow… Or… do we really have the choices we think we do? Difficult as it may be, our intentional choice to become a Christian does limit the choices we make in how we live our lives. We have all of the scriptures to reveal to us what those choices are and our lifetime to figure it out. What if Simeon had not prayed and taken action at the temple that day? Where would we be? Who would bring that critically important message to us?

Yet there is no time like the present to make that important decision to follow Jesus, as Simeon did when Christ was an infant. It’s a life-giving, life-changing decision of the mind and the heart and when we choose to go that way, we are never the same. God’s persuasive, powerful, life-changing love is calling each of us to do that right now. Simply say “yes, Lord Jesus,” and the Song of Simeon will become a new song for you. This is the song of all who wait for the Lord… May his kingdom come.

As Simeon found Christ in the temple, we are reminded that we, too, can find Christ in the church. Just look around you and you will see… We had that on our church newsletter each week a while back—“Come and you will see…” But while you’re looking around for Christ in the church, as Simeon did, think, too, about bringing Him, as Mary and Joseph did—and in your heart—and choose to take him to the whole world.

Let us pray:
Come into our hearts, Lord Jesus; come in today, come in to stay. As Simeon and the words of your holy scriptures have revealed to us, may the light of the Christ Child so enter our lives that we be transformed to more fully serve you in love. May we then carry that light of faith into the world, to serve you with a new song wherever we may be. Amen.

And now, remembering Simeon’s Song and our new song, remembering that great and wonderful birth that has made such a difference in this world as God took the form of a small, poor child, let’s sing a song that celebrates that, that opens up the hope and reveals the joy of our blessed Saviour. Let’s sing “Joy to the World!”

Benediction:
May the God of all the world bless you and keep you and guide you in the faith, that, with Christ in your heart, you will be a light to this world that needs Him so very much! Amen.

Sermon delived by Rev. Carol Mumford on September 9, 2007.