Luke 2:22-35

            {Prayer}

            What child is this? Despite popular opinion of some around here, my favorite Christmas hymn is not Go Tell It on the Mountain but instead is What Child is This. Not only is this my favorite Christmas hymn, but it can easily be one of those questions pondered by expecting parents. There are all of those general curiosity questions of who will the baby look like, will they be a thumb sucker, will they be a Cubs fan, will they be outgoing or shy? But let’s take a deeper look at this question. Who will this little baby become? What will they accomplish?

As we look at the Gospel reading this morning, these deeper kinds of questions are the ones Mary pondered in her heart. Who will this miraculously conceived child of God become? What will He accomplish? From the manger to the cross, this child’s purpose is going to be unlike any other.

What child is this? As we celebrated the birth of Jesus this past week, we heard that Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in heart (Luke 2:19). But what is it exactly that Mary treasured and pondered in her heart?

The angels had said to the shepherds, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:11-12). This that was told to the shepherds was then told by them to Mary and Joseph. What child is this? According to the angels, this child is who the shepherds came to worship is Christ the Lord, a Savior.

This point that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the people is something which is re-iterated to Mary and Joseph 40 days later when they bring Jesus to the temple. They come to the temple to do what the Law of Moses says they needed to do for Mary and for Jesus. And while there in the temple courts, a righteous and devout man by the name of Simeon was also there. Now who is this Simeon guy and why is this a big deal?

Besides being a righteous and devout man, we don’t know anything about him. Traditions assumes him to be old, but no one really knows. Why is this a big deal because Simeon was promised by God that he would see the Savior before he died. Simeon is moved by the Spirit to go the temple courts. With the help of the Spirit, he sees Mary and Joseph with Jesus. Going over to them, he takes Jesus from their arms, and praises God saying, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:29-32). Mary and Joseph marveled at, were amazed by what Simeon had said. Was this the purpose, was this what their son was going to accomplish?

But then Simeon said something that any parent would find rather disturbing if said about their child. Simeon said, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:34-35).

Simeon’s prophecy, while joyful, wasn’t without its challenges. Mary and Joseph first marveled at his words, but now they have to wrestle with the reality of their child’s life would mean. And not just for them, and not what it means for Israel, but for the whole world. Simeon’s words about the “falling and rising of many” and the “sword piercing Mary’s soul” point us forward to the life Jesus will live as well as the death He will suffer on the cross.

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, there will be many who will follow Him. Some will follow Him faithfully and truly believe that He is the Christ, the Savior of the world. But then there will be those who think His teachings are strange, that what He asks of them to be followers is too much, and they will reject Him, they will turn their backs on Him. There will be those who are threatened by Him and will go so far as to kill him.

This was the mission foretold. This child would bear the weight of sin, even to the point of rejection and death. Jesus’ purpose went beyond bringing joy and light to the world. He did not come to make everything perfect or easy, as though life were meant to be ‘cupcakes and rainbows.’ Instead, Jesus came to reveal what it means to truly follow God, to confront sin, endure rejection, and ultimately offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. For Mary, this mission would mean deep sorrow and profound faith. And for us, it calls us to reflect: What does this child, and His purpose, mean for our lives today?

Imagine for a moment being Mary and hearing these words from Simeon. No parent wants to hear what she heard. No parent wants to hear that their child is going to suffer and be rejected. And yet, this is the purpose of Jesus.

On Good Friday, this suffering and rejection comes to a head. Betrayed and rejected by those who said they would follow Him to death, Jesus is handed over to the religious authorities and the Roman officials to be beaten and crucified. Simeon’s comment of “a sword piercing Mary’s soul” comes painfully true as she stands at the foot of cross, looking up at her first born, the child she had once cradled in her arms, whose body is now shredded from the whips, bleeding from the open wombs, and suspended by three nails.

This moment, so vividly captured in the hymn’s words, “Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, the cross be borne for me, for you,” shows us the depths of Jesus’ mission. But it also reflects the tension that Mary and Joseph experienced when they first heard Simeon’s prophecy. Their child’s life would bring salvation for all people, yet it would also cause pain, suffering, and division.

This tension, the joy of salvation and the cost of discipleship, is the same tension we must live with today. Yes, we rejoice and celebrate the birth of Jesus. We celebrate that this is God’s Son in the flesh! We celebrate that this baby born in a messy manger will live a life that perfectly fulfills God’s Law! We celebrate that Jesus came to pay the price for our sins and rise from the grave so that we can have the hope and promise of eternal life.

But what does this mean for you and me? Who is this child? What child is this to you? Simeon’s words challenge us just as much as they challenged Mary and Joseph. Jesus causes the rise and fall of many not just in Israel, but in every generation … even ours. When we hear His teachings, when we face His call to take up our cross and follow Him … we’re forced to wrestle with the same questions. Is Jesus simply a comforting story, or is He the Savior who transforms our lives? Will we trust in Him, even when it means surrendering our fears, our failures, and our sin at the foot on His cross? Will we rise with Him through faith, or will we stumble over Him because His ways confront our own desires?

This child who is born to us, who is born in humility … He doesn’t just call us to believe in Him. He calls us to live as His disciples. This means trusting in His promises … even in the midst of our own struggles, pain, and doubt. Mary and Joseph had to trust God’s plan. They had to trust it before Jesus was born and even when Simeon’s words about suffering were hard to hear.

We too are called to trust. To trust that this child, this Jesus, emptied Himself of all His glory to come down to this broken world for us. We are called to trust that Jesus’ suffering on the cross was for the forgiveness of sins. To trust that His resurrection gives us the promise of a new life to come

So, as we sing the familiar words of What Child is This, let’s not just enjoy the tune, let’s not just marvel at the mystery of God becoming flesh, and let’s not just reflect on Mary’s pondering. Let’s also ask the question … “Who is this Savior to me?” Let’s celebrate this child is Christ the Lord, the Savior who came to bring salvation for all people, even for you and me. May we live as His redeemed people, trusting in His promises and reflecting His light in the world. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, guard you hearts and minds in the Christ child, Jesus our Lord, now and forever. Amen.