Nunc Dimittis
Luke 2: 21 -40
Introduction
A week has gone by since that first Christmas; angels had filled the night sky over Bethlehem announcing to some shepherds the birth of the Christ and they running to see their new born King.
Mary has hardly recovered from giving birth and the miraculous occurrences of events saved to her memory banks set in constant replay: the forced journey to Bethlehem, the desperate search for a place to stay and give birth, her labor under the stars, Joseph standing nervously beside her that night.
Irish poet William Yeats captures the scene in, “Mother of God”:
‘What is this flesh I purchased with my pain,
This fallen star my milk sustains
This love that makes my heart’s blood stop
Or strikes a sudden chill into my bones
And bids my hair stand up?
Unlike the billions of us in the world who just nod briefly to the memory of Christmas once a year, this young couple would live their entire lives in the unfolding mystery of the incarnation -
The events Luke records in verses 21 - 40 deepen & confirm significance of the incarnation in the minds of Joseph & Mary & ultimately in the thoughts of the faithful throughout the centuries.
Specifically the events associated with the baby’s circumcision which brought them deep meditation as they pondered the meaning of the birth of their son.
These same events can help make the wonder of the incarnation as year-long experience for all of us.
The Circumcision (v.21)
In one short concise sentence Luke describes Christ’s circumcision -
The important thing about Christ being circumcised is that it was a command. In Genesis 17: 11-14; All males, inclusive the servants & foreign born servants brought into Abraham’s household were to be circumcised.
Jesus could not have identified with His people without being circumcised even though He was of pure Hebrew blood. More significant & of greater importance was that He would officially be named Jesus — Jehovah is salvation -
I’m not sure if the average person in the secularized world knows what Jesus means. But for those who do, it is both a claim & a promise. That is why from their lips should come, “Jesus, how sweet the name.”
Jesus, our pronunciation of the Greek Iesus which is from the Hebrew Joshua, the man who succeeded Moses & lead the Israelites into the Promise land.
In numbers 13:16 Moses gives Hoshea (meaning salvation) the name of Joshua because of his faith & leadership & also suggesting deliverance. The name carries the idea of our being delivered from the bondage of sin by a Mighty God, Isaiah 9:6.
Let’s consider this: Here’s Mary & Joseph who were each old separately by an angel to name their child Jesus.
Maybe they discussed this before their son’s birth & the week since, but at the circumcision when Joseph spoke the divinely given name, they had to have had a sense of being overwhelmed.-
This child shall be called, ‘Jehovah is salvation.’ That’s some kind of a birth memory!
Jesus - ‘Jehovah is salvation’ - He is my deliverance - This should be part of everyone’s mind set, those who claim Christianity, if not then they really haven’t come to know Him.
The Christmas name was followed by the knife & the sharp cry of the Son of God & the blood of His circumcision as He fully identified with God’s covenant people.
The post-Christmas events were the rites of purification & the couples presentation of their baby in the temple a month later.
This reveals the kind of people to whom Christ comes.
The Purification
The poverty of Jesus’ parents was obvious - consider the humble offering made for Mary.
“And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord), “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” (Vv 22-24).
From Leviticus 12: 6-8 it is clear that the Purification offering must be a yearling lamb, and for the sin offering a pigeon or dove; but if she can’t afford a lamb then two turtle doves or two pigeons - “‘When the days of her purification are completed, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the doorway of the tent of meeting a one year old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. Then he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her, and she shall be cleansed from the [a]flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, whether a male or a female. But if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, the one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”
This humble offering by Mary & Joseph was a public display & declaration of their poverty.
What we are seeing again, clearly, is that Christianity began & always begins with a spiritual need!
This was a constant refrain of Christ’s life - The angels revelation song to the outcast shepherds instead of the high & mighty of Israel
God did not come to the self-sufficient. We need to remind ourselves of this time & time again.
Understanding Christianity wrongly gives an allusive sense of personal spiritual adequacy -
Even one born-again can turn spiritual advances into prideful self-sufficiency - a sense that one has arrived, has reached Nirvana.
Each and everyone must guard continually this in ourselves. Our only adequacy is Christ Jesus! (2 Corinthians 3: 1-5) .
The Presentation (Vv 25-38)
While Mary & Joseph are in the temple they meet two other israelite; these two exemplify godliness & faith.
Here enter Simeon & Anna: Simeon is righteous & devout who was waiting for the consolation of Israel.
Anna is a prophetess, she is advanced in years & some have estimated her age to be probably 103 to 105 - She was a widow for 84 years, depending on her age when she married.
Both were devoted to God; both were prophets & Simeon’s song is itself a prophecy.
Both of them filled with expectancy - Simeon is described as a man “waiting the consolation of Israel”. The word found in the Greek Old Testament verses that refer to the Messiah in Isaiah 40:1 Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God and 66:13, As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; And you will be comforted in Jerusalem.
Simeon & Anna were both impacted by the expectation of the Messiah, they shared the electric joy.
They believed when very few others believed in the coming of the Christ.
They never gave up but kept trusting & looking. They make great examples for us today. They represent all who saw and see today that the only hope is in the mercy & grace of God.
They are the personification of the paradox of being profoundly empty & at the same time profoundly full. “Blessed are those who hunger & thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied, (Matt.5:6).
These kinds of lives, longing as they do, is not in fashion in the modern world today – The ideal, and you see it a lot even in “Christian” circles, is the one fulfilling Hemingway’s line in his story “Snows of Kilimanjaro, “You’re the completest man I’ve known.”
But all need to know that without God all are incomplete & need to ask God to show us our insufficiency. Imagine the grace that would come to all if all prayed for a greater sense of spiritual need?
Psalm 37: 3-5 tells us to trust in the Lord, to delight in Him & He will then give to us those desires; when we commit ourselves to Him, trust in Him –
There was more to Simeon’s soul, v. 26 -
How long had he been waiting; A few days, a few months, maybe a few or more years? How long are we willing to wait for the Lord to answer us?
He went to the temple each looking at the young couples with their first born and wondering if this is the one. That pair looks like a likely couple. ---- Then one day, he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law ,then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, -- and:
The man of God was as the early church called him, Theodoches – “God receiver” –
Nunc Dimittis, Simeon’s Song
Simeon holds the baby close, he praises God in song and it lays down for all mankind the purpose of the Christ Child. - Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, … v 29. – he experience a profound peace of soul – he held the Prince of Peace, Isa. 9:6, the one of whom the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.
God’s favor rested with Simeon & now he was ready to depart, ready to die & go home to be with his God forever.
His reason was clearly stated, “my eyes have seen your salvation”, not ‘part’ of it, but, Your salvation, Christ, who is totally sufficient. – He is all that we need – Simeon said what Jesus will say some years down the line, “. . . No one comes to the Father but through me,” (John 14:6).
True peace comes when one understands like Simeon that salvation is Jesus Christ plus nothing.
It is a universal offer, “. . . You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” This is very significant for the Gentiles, who are the majority of the world’s population.
Listen, we were sung about in the Jewish Temple by a prophet as he held the Messiah in his arms.
He is the light to revelation to us in this dark world while at the same time He is the glory of Israel. Christ, a light to the Gentiles, the full realization of Israel’s glory.
Holding that baby tightly, think of the joy & ecstasy he felt. – Just think of the joy you feel when holding your baby, your grandchild, your great grandchild –
His heart was overflowing with joy at the coming of the Redeemer & the fulfillment of God’s personal promise to him. –
For you, you, for anyone to receive salvation, all you have to do is take Jesus in to your arms as Lord.
His mother & father marveled at what was said about Him; could we share their profound amazement & hold every word close to our hearts?
The Revelation
The encounter with Simeon ends with him addressing Mary & Joseph directly – especially Mary. “Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.
These words are meant for all of us, though the mention of the sword piercing Mary’s soul was meant for her alone. A great sword would go right through this mother’s soul! The most honored woman of all would know great pain!
The rest of his prophetic words apply to all of us. V. 34a, “This child is appointed for the fall & rising of many.” This reveals the necessary experience of everyone who comes to Christ; all of us have to bow down in humiliation & poverty of spirit before we can rise to new life in Christ. When we see our inadequacy, we then are ready for God’s Grace.
Jesus truly has been a “sign that is opposed . . . so that many hearts may be revealed, (vv 34b-35a). When people truly encounter Christ, their inner thoughts, that is, their evil thoughts are seen for what they are. Apart from God’s merciful intervention, people naturally oppose Him. Christ reveals what our inner lives are really like. Human goodness is seen as filthy rags - all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. (Isaiah 64:6).
But when we fall before Him in humiliation, we receive grace & a new life. Jesus knocks us down so He can pick us up.
Closing Thoughts, Reflections
Think of what was going through Mary & Joseph’s minds. Their baby, whose name is “Jehovah is Salvation”, was and is a mighty deliverer. He delivers us through the heroics of the incarnation & the cross. This has to give us Christmas joy year round.
Jehovah is Salvation, also known as Jesus, is the ultimate hero of heroes.
the ultimate hero of heroes.; from Mary’s Magnificat v.53.
Jesus Christ is the whole of salvation; not one of the ways to it. It is Jesus Christ alone; this realization brings peace to all who hold to Him.
We come to new life as He brings us to the end of ourselves & then raises us to new life.
We can say with Paul, (Gal. 2:20).
Reflecting on that, the spiritual life we have in Christ will help experience Christ day by day.
