MPC 6th May 2007.May 6 - Luke 2 - "Last Things First"
Phil Campbell MPC 6th May 2007.
There have, through the years, been plenty of stories of great reversals. Like for example Steve Bradbury. Australia's surprise Olympic ice skating gold medalist.
You probably remember it. The 2002 Winter Olympics. Steve Bradbury coming last in the 1000 metre final when the four skaters in front of him came crashing down. One after the other. In fact, it's really only because Steve Bradbury was so far back in the field that he didn't come down in the pileup.
And all he had to do was skate through the debris to claim Australia's first every Winter Olympic Gold.
Sometimes, it's not the front runners who win the race. Sometimes it's not the strong and the outwardly impressive that take home the ultimate prize.
Which is certainly the case when we come to Luke Chapter 2. Which through and through is the story of a great reversal. That's just around the corner. A story where the first will soon be coming last. And the last will be coming first. In a most unexpected way.
The chapter opens with Caesar Augustus.
The ruler of the most imposing empire known to man. Caesar Augustus is the nephew and heir of the famous Julius Caesar. His adopted Son.
Interesting these days every now and then when a well known politician dies they name a monument after him. A football field. Or a dam maybe. In fact, in Queensland you don't even have to be dead to have something named after you. Just influential. But back in the Roman empire Caesar Augustus didn't just name a stadium in honour of his predecessor. He made a formal legal declaration that Julius Caesar was a god. Whose name was to be worshipped. And he gave himself the title... son of God.
And here he is in full flight. Exercising his dominion over the entire empire. By calling a census. And issuing a decree that everybody in the empire had to go to their home town and be registered. I don't know if you can imagine that. I mean, I know most long weekends everybody disappears to somewhere different. But imagine absolutely everybody - heading off to their ancestral towns. Just because the Emperor Augustus has decided it's a good idea. He says go. You go.
Even if like Joseph and Mary there's the imminent expectation of childbirth. For which there's no exemption from climbing on the back of the donkey in the back blocks of Galilee and riding all the way down to Bethlehem; the town king David was born. Because Joseph, and Mary as well, are from king David's family line.
Now will you notice then, we've got two extremes. You've got Caesar Augustus, who calls himself son of God because he's adopted son of Julius. Giving the orders from his palace. And yet we're expecting already because of the angel announcement in chapter 1 the birth of another son of God. To rule over the house of David. The people of Israel. You've got Caesar in Rome telling the house of David where to go and what to do. But this hanging expectation of another king.
And yet you read from verse 4 and it's kind of hard to see it. Joseph, from the house and line of David, verse 4, heading to Bethlehem to register with Mary. Who's pledged to be married to him and expecting a child. And while they're there, verse 6, the time comes for the baby to be born; and verse 7, "she gives birth to her firstborn, a son. And she wraps him in cloths... and puts him in a manger, because there's no room for them in the inn."
Now here's the way it looks. And you might like to think of Steve Bradbury in the race for Olympic gold. Because at this point, it's kind of unimaginable, isn't it, that this baby in a cowshed, this child in rags, this baby boy in a feed trough... can even be mentioned in the same breath as the great Caesar Augustus, king of the known world.
But here's the picture of two contending kings. One reclining on a lounge in his palace in Rome. The other, lying on the straw in the barn... because there's no room for them in the Inn.
There is, however, going to be a reversal. And it's announced literally with great fanfare to an unlikely group of people. Shepherds. In the fields. But a spectacular lightshow. And an announcement from an angel that actually contains at the heart of it exactly the essence of the contrast that we're looking at. Pick up in verse 10. Don't be afraid. I've got great news. Verse 11:
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
He's the one God has anointed to rule over Israel again. He's the one God has provided to reclaim his kingdom. And this will be a sign to you, verse 12. Now what sort of sign is this? I mean, you could ask for, this will be a sign for you, he'll be born with a sword in his hand. Or, this will be a sign for you, he'll be born into a high ranking family with political connections.
But, this will be a sign for you. Look for a baby lying in rags. In a cowshed. That's what they say. This will be a sign for you, verse 12,
You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
And it's that humility. And it's that baby in a cowshed among the manure and the straw that the angels sing about in verse 13 and 14. "Glory to God in the highest. And on earth peace to men... on whom his favour rests."
And so the angels go and see. And they see Mary and Joseph and the baby who was indeed lying in the manger in verse 16, just like the angels had said; and then they spread the word. About all the things they've seen and heard. Because at this point, this is so surprising. Words of glory from the sky. And every indication of the opposite of glory on the ground.
Except you know, just beneath the surface of the story there's a detail. That the prophets of Israel have always said that the new king was going to arise from this little town called Bethlehem. That this new king whose origins are from old would come from this minor town in this minor tribe. Famous only in history as the place where king David roamed the hills as a shepherd boy. It's Micah 5 verse 2.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
Out of insignificant Bethlehem... will come a ruler over Israel.
And if you want to get a hint of who's really in control of things, it's kind of ironic isn't it that great Caesar Augustus gave the order that sent Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem... for Jesus to be born. In exactly the right place for the ruler of Israel. Whose origins are from old. Caesar is giving the orders. But God is pulling the strings.
Makes you think. And Mary, we're told in verse 19, does exactly that. Treasures up all these things and ponders them in her heart. I mean, I wonder how it can possibly play out that a baby in a stable... can make even the smallest mark on a kingdom like Rome. And a ruler like Caesar.
And the point is emphasized just a few verses below as the baby Jesus is dedicated at the temple. As the first born child. There's a reminder in verse 23 that every step of the way, every detail is playing out exactly according to the law of the Lord.
Except we're meant to notice this is a family in tight economic circumstances. Here's what it says in the law of the Lord. The Old Testament book of Leviticus, chapter 12 verse 8. See, the regular offering at a time like this was meant to be a lamb. But there's a provision in the law for people in hard times. Leviticus 12 v 7-8:
These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. If she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.
If she can't afford a lamb. A pair of doves or two young pigeons.
So Luke 2 verse 22 to 24, you'll notice... that's what Mary and Joseph bring. Because they can't afford a lamb for the sacrifice.
Here's a picture of the sort of kid from the sort of family who used to come to school with no lunch. In the threadbare clothes. Here's a picture of the sort of family that's only just making it. Here's a picture of the sort of family that would love it to make it into Mr Rudd's category the other day of the Aussie battlers earning $200,000 a year. Because here's a family that takes the economy option every time they can.
And yet somehow profoundly impressive. At least with those with the eyes to see.
So in this story of great reversals, meet Simeon. And Anna. Two ancient Israelites. Who can see things as they really are. Two old age pensioners who spend all their time in the temple. With just one ambition before they die.
I read the sad story yesterday about an old man in India, who when his wife died ten years or so back, dug himself a grave beside hers. And lay in it. Waiting to die. He's still there. Aged over 100. Spending the daytime pulling weeds around the grave plot. And every night, lying in his hole in the ground. Waiting to die.
Well, Simeon is kind of similar. Although he's waiting for something slightly more significant. Verse 25 says, there's a man in Jerusalem called Simeon who's righteous and devout. And he's waiting, Luke says, "for the consolation of Israel", and the Holy Spirit is upon him. And it's been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit, verse 26, "that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ."
And that's what he's waiting for. Day after day. That's what he's waiting for. Year after year. And in spite of appearances, that day... has finally come.
Here's Jerusalem. At the mercy of the Roman Empire. Here's the Kingdom of God, groaning under hundreds of years of God's judgement. And the time for God's comfort has finally come. And as soon as Simeon sees the baby Jesus, he knows it.
Simeon takes him in his arms and praises God; he says, you can dismiss me in peace. I can die satisfied. Because at last, my eyes have seen your salvation, verse 30, which you've prepared in the sight of all people. Light for revelation to the gentiles. And for glory for your people Israel.
In spite of appearances. Simeon knows. That here's the one who's going to bring a great reversal. An absolute overturning of Israel's status quo. When the ones who look so impressive will crash down. And the humble will be lifted up. That's what Simeon says to them in verse 34. "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel"; but that's not all. It's going to be a painful journey. Because he'll be a sign that will be spoken against; which Simeon says in verse 35 is going to be the way that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And he says to Mary, "a sword will pierce your own soul too." In human terms, for a mother's heart, there's a road of tragedy that lies ahead. That will cut Mary right to the core.
So that even at the end, this king and his kingdom may well look like an absolute failure.
And yet on that somber note, there's the old prophetess Anna. Lives in the temple, fasting and praying night and day. And now she comes up to them, and starts talking to the crowd there about Jesus. To all who are looking forward, verse 38, to the redemption of Jerusalem.
It's kind of an ongoing puzzle, isn't it? A savior; a cowshed. Glory for Israel and redemption of Jerusalem. And yet a reversal of the order of things. And a sword in the heart of Mary.
But that's a great picture of the kingdom that's coming.
That you'll know if you've read the story before leads to a coronation on a cross. With his weeping mother Mary looking on. As King Jesus who was born in a stable and wrapped in rags overturns the values of the Empire, and overturns the values of the Israeli aristocracy and really does show what it means to rule in the kingdom of God. Which is a kingdom of humble service. Rather than power and prestige.
So what it means to be a winner is turned completely on its head. Which by the time you get to the end of Luke's gospel is shown unmistakeably by the resurrection. I mean, Steve Bradbury in the Winter Olympics looked like a loser until the last minute. And actually won a gold medal by coming last in the race. Jesus might have looked like a loser on a cross. But it's his resurrection 3 days later that declares the rules have changed. And everything's overturned.
But we're jumping ahead. Because today we're only at the very beginning of the story. And being given hints of what's to come.
Of which there are plenty, aren't there? In a time when we want nothing but the best for ourselves and for our families. A time when propserity rules, and really the only thing we ever make a voting decision on or a life decision on is how it affects the bottom line. As a society, we're aspirational and we're upwardly mobile. And we Christians are by and large no different.
And we pick the right suburb to live in and we book the kids into the right kind of school, because we want to be part of the right social network and join the right clubs to mix with the right kind of people. And we make sure we wear the right designer clothes... when the king who we serve was wrapped in rags in a shed. Born to parents who always look for the red light specials when they're shopping - because that's all they can afford.
This is a Kingdom for servants. An overturning of the order of things. A kingdom where the orders even of Caesar are woven in to the fabric of God's plans. So that this new king of Israel is born at exactly the right humble time. In exactly the right humble place.
And in verse 39 when Joseph and Mary have done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they go back to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And Jesus, we're told in verse 40, grows and becomes strong; he's filled with wisdom, and the grace of God is upon him. A refrain that's repeated in verse 52. "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."
In a humility and a righteousness that's setting the scene for a life that's going to change the world.
And yet it hasn't really changed the world, if it hasn't changed us.
Angels sing the glory of the baby wrapped in rags. And there's no doubt, is there, with the way God's got his hand in things, there's no doubt that it's intentional that it's this way. I mean it could just as easily be that there's no room in the inn, so they offer Mary and Joseph an upgrade to the presidential suite. God could have done it that way. But he opts for the downgrade instead. For the one who's intent on humbling himself. And making himself a servant. All the way to the cross.
And if we don't think that's winning, then I wonder if we're in the Kingdom at all?
We're going to see Jesus as Luke's gospel unfolds calling out a team. Looking for Israelites who want to be what the people of God were meant to be. And we get a taste of that from people like Anna and Simeon. Outwardly unimpressive. Unpretentious. Faithful and prayerful. Shepherds in the fields. Who in the scale of things are nothing compared to the power of Caesar in Rome, and the sort of people we'll meet in the following pages who will do nothing but speak against Jesus. Exactly as Simeon said. And yet you know what's happening? Back in verse 35. Simeon said, in the way they react to Jesus... that's the way the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. The way who they really are comes out. In the great reversal.
I wonder what your reaction to Jesus is revealing about you? Maybe you're just too busy getting ahead? Maybe you just want to be served instead of serve? See, this birth is no mistake. It's a fitting birth... for the King of the kingdom where the last will be first. What's your reaction saying about the state of your heart?