December 29, 2024 Text: Luke 2:22-40
Dear Friends in Christ,
Today I invite you to live and die with peace. Like St. Simeon. And St. Albert. You’ve met St. Simeon in our text. I will introduce later to St. Albert.
“PEACE FOR LIFE AND DEATH”
When I preach it is always good to be a little uneasy. It helps me to concentrate. Johnny Carson said he was always a little nervous when he performed because it kept his mind on the task at hand. I feel the same way.
Do you think Mary felt a little uneasy as she approached the temple with forty-day-old Jesus? She had never before offered a sacrifice for purification after childbirth. What if she did something wrong? In God’s House. With priests watching.
Mary was not only at the temple for her purification. She arrived with Joseph so that Jesus could be brought back. Ever since God spared every firstborn Israelite male at the Passover, all firstborn Israelite males belonged to God. They had to be brought back. Joseph and Mary intended to buy back the One who would buy them back. They were at the temple to redeem the Redeemer. Wouldn’t that make you nervous?
Now something happens that gives the parents pause. A stranger wants to hold the child. Maybe Simeon was frail or had tremors. We don’t know the conversation, but Simeon ends up with Jesus in his arms. Simeon acts like he is taking one step into heaven. He exclaims, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation.” He was holding in his hands God’s salvation.
I read the other day about a 30-year-old who died in the sleeper cab of his truck just resting at a truck stop. You and I do not know when we will die. Simeon didn’t know if he would live more days, weeks, years. It did not matter. He had seen his salvation. He did not need to worry about what his sin would do to him or his status with Almighty God. He didn’t need to worry about his status on Judgment Day. He could depart that temple in peace. Simeon could have peace for life and death.
Wouldn’t you like the privilege of holding Jesus in your hands so you could live and die with peace? You have a greater privilege. You get Jesus in your body in the Lord’s Supper. Simeon knew Jesus was his salvation, but he didn’t know how. You do. You know the cross of Jesus. You know He died for you and me. You have peace because He bore your grief and sorrow. Trusting Him you do not need to worry about your status with the Almighty. Trusting him you do not need to worry about Judgment Day. That baby grew and redeemed you years later. Whether living until tomorrow or into many more decades you can live in peace and die in peace. Like St. Simeon.
And St. Albert. Who is St. Albert? He is a combination of the Christian men who have been a part of my life in three churches I have served in 33 years. From 1991 until now I have been blessed the Lord has put them in my life. What did they all have in common? They all lived and died with peace. What did that look like?
They were faithful in worship and Bible Class. Most of the time in a suit and tie. They knew Sunday was the Lord’s Day. They did no work. They loved their wife. They loved their family and brought them to worship. They didn’t use bad language, because they understood the Lord gives us so many other words to use. They didn’t imbibe excessively. I can still see in my mind seeing them for the last time at the Lord’s altar. By the next Sunday they were with the angels, and archangels and all the company of heaven. They departed in peace because they knew life was more than this brief time on earth. They all knew their Savior was not dead in a tomb. They knew they wouldn’t be abandoned to the grave. Their souls are with the Lord, and they await the resurrection of all flesh. I miss their encouragement and wisdom. But I will see them again. I will see them again. You have the same promise. You, too, can die with peace.
So, today if communing remember the Christ child held by Simeon became the Christ adult who redeemed you at the cross. In the Supper, He comes down to you. He grants you forgiveness and peace.
When we say the Nunc Dimittis we repeat the words of Simeon. Departing in peace. Word fulfilled. Eyes have seen salvation. You can live with peace. And when it is time, you can die with peace. Like St. Simeon. And St. Albert.
Amen.
"But God demonstrated His love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
