Sermon - Christmas I, 2023 - Luke 2:22-40

Simeon and Anna in the Temple, Rembrandt, 1627

The Child who divides the world.

1. Some reject this child and fall

2. Others by faith receive His redemption and are lifted up

Merry Christmas! I know the secular world around us has already put away their Christmas decorations and is celebrating New Years’ Eve today, but in the church we’re still celebrating Christmas. We get twelve days of rejoicing in our Savior’s birth and taking comfort in the incarnation. We Christians are delighting in the new birth given to us through Christ’s birth. 

Yet today much of the world is engaged in nothing but hedonistic drunkenness and debauchery. The secular New Year has been a time of sinful living since at least the beginning of the use of the Roman calendar. In antiquity it was a time of pagan celebrations and certain gods and goddesses were worshiped. The old year was put to rest and the new year was ushered in. This pagan worship wasn’t reverent, but it was very similar to what is done today at new year’s eve: people eat and drink too much and commit adultery.

For this reason the first Sunday after Christmas has always been difficult for us Christians since the allurements of the world draw many Christians into sinful living right after we celebrated the incarnation of Christ. In some ways this is a melancholy day in the church year. We feel kind of like the shepherds, perhaps. One moment the angels are singing and the night has turned to day, and the next moment the angels are gone and it’s dark again.

So the question presented before us today is reflective of that reality we see around us: In this new year, am I going to follow Christ and the narrow and difficult way which leads to life? Or, am I going to follow the broad and easy road of this world which leads to death? There is a division among mankind, and Jesus is the Child who divides the world. “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.” Some reject this child and fall. Others by faith receive this child and are lifted up.

Isaiah said that “He will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling… a trap and a snare.” St. Paul said: “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called… Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” St. Peter said: “They stumble because they disobey the word.” Jesus even said of Himself: “the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” Or He also said: “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”

Indeed, Jesus has not come to bring peace but a sword. Jesus is the enfleshment of the Word, the embodiment of God, and Jesus does all according to the divine will of God. Afterall, Jesus was brought to the temple according to the Law, and His entire life was lived according to God’s law, because God’s law is objectively perfect. Because Jesus is objectively perfect, He also must also therefore cause much offense in those who do not live in the light of God’s law. Jesus is in fact offensive.

Simeon is given to prophecy this for Joseph and Mary’s sake, but also for our own sake, so that we don’t have a false idea of the Christian life. Shortly after Jesus was born the holy family had to flee to Egypt in order to escape Herod who wanted to kill the Christ-child. Mary herself would have a broadsword pierce her own soul when she had to watch her son crucified and die, along with all of the persecution leading up to His death and which followed His ascension.

Our Lord Jesus and the Christian faith is not embraced by everyone today either. Most people don’t mind Christmas so long as Jesus is a silent baby, but once Jesus opens His mouth and speaks, He offends. Most people are not offended by the nativity story, in fact many people, even non-Christians, appreciate the quaint story. But Jesus’ teachings about sin, repentance, self-righteousness, judgment, eternity, death, forgiveness, and resurrection are all offensive. Even His miracles offend people because they’re supernatural! This Child is appointed for the fall of many. 

We’re told this not in order to depress us, but in order to prepare us. The Christian life is similar to being a soldier or an athlete. Being a Christian requires training, and particularly training for hardship. I’ve heard it said that in times of crisis that we revert to our lowest level of training. So if you’re a soldier what do you do when an enemy appears? Do you drop your weapon and curl up into the fetal position, or do you take up your weapon and fight? In other words, what do you do when adversity strikes? What do you do when things don’t go as expected? As a Christian, what do you do when the world rejects Jesus and rejects your faith? What do you do when the world complains about your church, or your pastor, or your beliefs? Are you just going to roll-over and acquiesce, are you going to agree with them and join in their rejection and complaining? If you aren’t prepared to have your faith challenged, you might panic and start agreeing with them.

But if you are prepared for rejection, then you won’t lie down and give up whenever they complain about your faith. Instead, Christ will lift you up with Him so that you might endure. Of course, being lifted up with Christ means that you must also take up your own cross and follow Him. It means that you will be rejected with Jesus.

Just FYI, being rejected with Jesus doesn’t usually mean that people are going to say they don’t like Jesus or God, sometimes they might say that but not usually. Typically they’re going to say things more like: “You belong to that strict church, that hates people and isn’t loving, because you don’t want people to love whoever they want. You belong to that outdated church that refuses to get with the times and see that things have changed. You practice closed communion. You hate gay people. You hate women. Your pastor is mean and too strict. He’s not friendly. He won’t give everyone communion.” These are the types of rejections you face. They won’t complain about you or Jesus first, instead they’ll complain about your church or your pastor, they'll malign your faith. But realize that they’re not just rejecting your church and your pastor, rather they’re rejecting Jesus’ teachings, and if they’re rejecting Jesus’ teachings then they’re rejecting Jesus. And if they’re rejecting Christ, and you're a Christ-ian, then you’re also being rejected. But don’t panic or take it personally, Jesus already told you this would happen.

For you who love the Lord, who receive Him in faith, who are God’s children, who are heirs of God’s kingdom, Jesus is not a stone of stumbling that will make you fall, but He is the cornerstone of your faith upon which you are built and shall stand forever in paradise. He is your Redeemer! “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” This child in Simeon’s arms gives you peace. He is your salvation. He is the light for revelation and the glory of God. He is the redemption of His people.

Though you may feel low and despised, though you may be discouraged and frustrated, He promises to lift you up from this despair and raise you far above the crosses and trials in your life unto the highest heaven. The joy of Christmas is more than the family reunions, food, and gifts. Because the joy of Christmas is our deliverance from sin and death, from sorrow and satan! He has redeemed us to be God’s own eternal children!

So as this year comes to an end, and we begin anew tomorrow, don’t let this world’s rejection of Christ drag you down with it when it falls. Instead, retain the joy of Christmas in your heart all year long! Continue to follow Anna’s example and speak of Jesus to anyone you come across, even if they reject Jesus and you. They’re people for whom Christ died, and right now they’re living in darkness, they need Jesus just as much as we do. So keep this thought afresh in your mind throughout this new year: Jesus is born for me, crucified for me, and risen for me. One day He will raise me from this world to the next. May this Christmas joy ever live in your hearts. Merry Christmas!