The Deeper Meaning of Christmas: Joy and Sacrifice

The story of Simeon in Luke chapter 2. So our Advent series was kind of focused on Isaiah, but we're going to Luke chapter 2 and this story of Simeon, it provides us with this glimpse into this other side of Christmas. Simeon's encounter with the infant Jesus, with the Christ child that was born in the manger. So Simeon encounters this Jesus later. And this encounter is filled with joy and prophecy, but it also reveals the reality of the mission of Jesus that will bring salvation, yet not without cost. [00:26:15] (44 seconds)


And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, that you are prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. [00:29:02] (27 seconds)


And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 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 and a sword will pierce through your own soul also, so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. [00:29:29] (24 seconds)


Really, as Christians, Christmas Day, which we celebrated a few days ago, is really just the beginning, right? It's not the end. It's the beginning of something that continues on. But in a sense, it's back to the real world. It's back to the real world for us. You know, think about when all of you parents, think about having kids. Specifically, think about the first child that you had. When you have a baby, it's not the end of a journey, is it? It's the start of something that lasts a long time. [00:32:01] (45 seconds)


It was a world that all infants, in a region, could be put to death on the word of some astrologers. It was a world in which men could be hung on crosses for minor offenses. You see, that was the world that Jesus was born into. That was the world that the Christ child came into. There was a man named Simeon who prophesied about what lie ahead. He had these words. In our lesson from Luke's Gospel, it skips ahead a few days from the Christmas story to the day when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus up to Jerusalem for the rite of passage and this purification ritual that happened in accordance with the Mosaic Law. [00:34:06] (58 seconds)


Simeon runs over and he takes the child up into his arms. And then he looks up towards the heavens and now I can't see because I just looked at the lights up there. He runs over. He takes this child into his arms. He looks up to the heavens and he says, He says, Lord, now let your servant depart in peace. For my eyes, my eyes have seen my salvation. Then Simeon turns to Mary. He turns to Mary and he says, Behold, this child is set for the rising and the fall of many in Israel. [00:36:23] (45 seconds)


A sword will pierce through your own soul also. Behold, this child is set for the rising and fall of many in Israel. And a sword will pierce through your soul also. Then he goes on and he says that the hearts of many, that the thoughts and hearts of many will be revealed. And I can't help but wonder if there was a little ugh from Mary when he said those words. A sword will pierce your soul also that the thoughts of many hearts, may be revealed. What in the world could he mean? [00:37:34] (44 seconds)


The overall drama of salvation. They have little meaning. The baby and the manger, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, the angels, all of that. Has little meaning without the last act. The cross and the empty tomb. You see, this is the tension that is on the other side of Christmas. Joy intertwined with sacrifice. Hope that's mingled with pain. But it's in this tension that we find the fullness of the Gospel. [00:46:28] (39 seconds)