Speaking of Life 3005 | The Twist Ending
This week we’re sharing a Speaking of Life message from our archive as a supplemental resource. We encourage you to use this for reflection and preparation, or small group discussion. For your worship gathering, consider how a call to worship from a local voice or contextualized introduction to the theme might serve your congregation well.
Watch video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxI3y-89YWQ
Program Transcript
Speaking of Life 3005 | The Twist Ending
Greg Williams
There are almost 7000 movies on Netflix. And that’s only one of the dozen or so streaming services available. Right now, we are awash in stories, narratives, and characters. As human beings, we’ve always loved stories, and technology transforms our living rooms into home theaters.
Personally, I enjoy movies that make me think, and allow me to be the ride along detective. The twist ending is a favorite device these days. That last act/scene where the bad guy turns out to be the good guy or the poor character turns out to be royalty. The move included an avalanche of scenes that gave clues you simply didn’t see.
The whole story, through all it’s twists and turns, comes together in a new light suddenly. You may not have seen it coming, but when the twist comes it makes sense of everything else.
Much of Paul’s writing explains the twist ending of the gospel—which is Jesus. Paul connects the story of Jesus with the story of Israel and the rest of the world, showing how the gospel ties everything else together.
Look at Galatians 4:
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.
Galatians 4:4-5 (NRSV)
The fullness of time. The long story of Israel — God setting one nation apart, then one family line, then one family, then one person who represents all of humanity.
Jesus didn’t come because the law failed. He didn’t scrap all that had gone before to start a new story, he completed the story begun in Adam and Eve. In fact, the real beginning isn’t Genesis, it’s John 1, where we see that Jesus, the Father and Spirit have always existed in perfect relationship. John tells us that Jesus became flesh to enter the story at the appointed time. He is the twist ending that makes history—his story—make sense.
Do we recognize Jesus as the twist ending for us? Is that part of the story that was missing in your life and mine that makes everything come together? Think of those places where Jesus is described as the capstone or cornerstone—not the stone that everything stands on, but the piece that makes all the others come together, makes everything neatly fit into place.
He completes not only your story, and mine, but the grand narrative of all of humanity—all the wars and dynasties and joy and pain in all of history. Jesus is not the ghost in the machine who comes from nowhere, but the twist ending the story was building to all along. And it is good news.
I am Greg Williams, Speaking of the good news of Life.
Program Transcript
Speaking of Life 3005 | The Twist Ending
Greg Williams
There are almost 7000 movies on Netflix. And that’s only one of the dozen or so streaming services available. Right now, we are awash in stories, narratives, and characters. As human beings, we’ve always loved stories, and technology transforms our living rooms into home theaters.
Personally, I enjoy movies that make me think, and allow me to be the ride along detective. The twist ending is a favorite device these days. That last act/scene where the bad guy turns out to be the good guy or the poor character turns out to be royalty. The move included an avalanche of scenes that gave clues you simply didn’t see.
The whole story, through all it’s twists and turns, comes together in a new light suddenly. You may not have seen it coming, but when the twist comes it makes sense of everything else.
Much of Paul’s writing explains the twist ending of the gospel—which is Jesus. Paul connects the story of Jesus with the story of Israel and the rest of the world, showing how the gospel ties everything else together.
Look at Galatians 4:
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.
Galatians 4:4-5 (NRSV)
The fullness of time. The long story of Israel — God setting one nation apart, then one family line, then one family, then one person who represents all of humanity.
Jesus didn’t come because the law failed. He didn’t scrap all that had gone before to start a new story, he completed the story begun in Adam and Eve. In fact, the real beginning isn’t Genesis, it’s John 1, where we see that Jesus, the Father and Spirit have always existed in perfect relationship. John tells us that Jesus became flesh to enter the story at the appointed time. He is the twist ending that makes history—his story—make sense.
Do we recognize Jesus as the twist ending for us? Is that part of the story that was missing in your life and mine that makes everything come together? Think of those places where Jesus is described as the capstone or cornerstone—not the stone that everything stands on, but the piece that makes all the others come together, makes everything neatly fit into place.
He completes not only your story, and mine, but the grand narrative of all of humanity—all the wars and dynasties and joy and pain in all of history. Jesus is not the ghost in the machine who comes from nowhere, but the twist ending the story was building to all along. And it is good news.
I am Greg Williams, Speaking of the good news of Life.
Psalm 148:1–14 • Isaiah 61:10–62:3 • Galatians 4:4–7 • Luke 2:22–40
This Sunday’s theme is Jesus is Our Redeemer. In Psalm 148, all creation is called to praise the God who made all things and who holds all things in place. Only God’s name is to be exalted, for his glory is above all. He shares his praise with his people, whom he loves. The prophet Isaiah declares that the Lord God will bring forth praise and righteousness. The Lord will give his people a new name and clothe them with “garments of salvation” and a “robe of righteousness.” In God’s hand, his people will be a “crown of beauty” and a “royal diadem” (Is. 61:10; 62:1–3 NASB). In Luke’s Gospel, we read about a man named Simeon, who had waited with longing for the Christ child. When he sees Jesus, he holds him and blesses him. He prophetically tells the crowd that one day the child will bring salvation to all and be a “light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Lk. 2:32, 34 ESV). The apostle Paul tells the Galatians how God, when it was the right time, sent his Son to redeem us. Jesus made us his Father’s adopted children. Because we are his children and heirs, God sends his Spirit into our hearts. In this way, he enables us to hear Jesus’ “Abba! Father!” in our own hearts.
Reminder: This introductory paragraph is intended to show how the four RCL selections for this week are connected and to assist the preacher prepare the sermon. It is not intended to be included in the sermon.
How to use this sermon resource.
Jesus is Our Redeemer
Luke 2:22–40 ESV
Merry Christmas! Yes, we can still say that. Christmas Day may have passed, the presents may have been opened, and some of us may already be thinking about taking down the decorations. But in the Christian worship calendar, Christmas is not just one day; it’s a season.
For centuries, Christians have celebrated twelve days of Christmas, beginning on December 25 and continuing through January 5, before the celebration of Epiphany on January 6. That is where the familiar phrase “the twelve days of Christmas” comes from. Long before it became associated with a song about partridges, golden rings, and drummers drumming, the Church took time to dwell in the good news of the Incarnation — the astonishing truth that the eternal Son of God became truly human and made his home among us.
And perhaps twelve days still are not enough. Christmas announces something too wonderful to hurry past: God has come to us. The Son of God has entered our humanity. He has become one of us, taking our human life as his own in order to heal, restore, and redeem it.
That is why, on this first Sunday after Christmas, we are still with the Christ child. Luke takes us from Bethlehem to the temple in Jerusalem, where Mary and Joseph carry the infant Jesus into a crowd of ordinary worshipers. Most people there probably see only another young family carrying another baby. But Jesus is not just another baby!
Christmas is not only the announcement that Jesus has been born. It is the announcement of who this child is and what he has come to do.
Jesus is our Redeemer.
On this first Sunday after Christmas, we read a little more about the Christ child from Luke’s Gospel:
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. Luke 2:22–40 ESV
Mary and Joseph have come to the temple with an offering. But before this story is finished, we discover that God has given the greater offering — THE greatest offering! The Father has given us his Son. And this is what we celebrate at Christmas: Jesus has come into the world.
Jesus came, born a newborn infant, as a child under the Law of Moses. His parents were from the ancient tribe of Judah, known then as Jews. And his parents do what they believe they need to do in order to properly obey God. Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple because they are part of Israel, God’s ancient people, and this is what God’s law called families to do. But look more closely at the child they are carrying.
The striking thing isn’t simply that Mary and Joseph obeyed these ancient requirements. The striking thing is who they are carrying into the temple.
The One who gave the Law placed himself under the Law. Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to participate in Israel’s life under the Law, but this child is the eternal Son of the Father who has entered our humanity to redeem it. He does not stand outside our human condition and tell us how to make ourselves right with God. He enters it. He takes our life as his own. He fulfills for us what we cannot fulfill for ourselves.
Jesus has entered fully into our human story.
This is how deeply God has entered our life: Jesus does not redeem humanity from a safe distance. The eternal Son of the Father becomes one of us. He takes our humanity as his own — from infancy and childhood all the way to suffering and death. He lives faithfully within our broken human story, and through his death and resurrection he carries that story into new life.
Jesus is our Redeemer.
Jesus is the firstborn son of Mary. The child Mary carried is the eternal Son who has always shared the Father’s life and love. The Father, Son, and Spirit are one God in three Persons. God has always lived as three equal, unique Persons in one Being, perfect in love and unity.
The Father sends Jesus to redeem humanity. This is something only Jesus can do, as God’s one unique Son (John 3:16–17). The Father sent his eternally begotten Son, and he was born of the virgin Mary. Jesus, as God in human flesh, is God’s firstborn Son.
Jesus is our Redeemer, and this is who Mary carried into the temple.
Verse 25–30:
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and … he took [Jesus] up in his arms and blessed God and said, … for my eyes have seen your salvation
What did this old man see when he looked at an ordinary baby that caused him to say, “I have seen God’s salvation”?
God’s salvation has arrived, and Simeon is holding him in his arms. This is why Simeon can hold this little child and say, “My eyes have seen your salvation.” Salvation is not something Simeon must accomplish. Salvation is a Person. Salvation is Jesus.
Now the Spirit inspires Simeon to say several things about Jesus: Jesus is God’s salvation; God has prepared Jesus in view of all nations; Jesus is to be a “light for revelation to the Gentiles” (non-Jews) and for ancient Israel’s glory. Simeon is pointing to Jesus as being the Messiah or Savior of his people.
Luke continues:
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:33–35 ESV
Simeon’s words must have sounded strange to Jesus’ parents. But we have the advantage of interpreting them through the Gospel records.
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- “appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel” — Jesus overturns expectations. Some who seem secure and powerful will be brought low, while others who seem forgotten or without hope will be lifted up. Jesus’ coming brings a great reversal.
- “a sign that is opposed” — Jesus will reveal God to the world, but not everyone will welcome him. He will be rejected and opposed, ultimately leading to the cross.
- “a sword will pierce through your own soul also” — Simeon turns directly to Mary. Loving this child will eventually bring her profound grief. She will see her son rejected, suffer, and die.
And through it all, Jesus will reveal what is hidden in human hearts. People will have to reckon with who he is and with the God he reveals. Even here, while Jesus is still an infant, Luke is pointing us toward the cross. The Redeemer has entered our world, and he will go all the way into our rejection, suffering, and death in order to bring us into his life.
Jesus is our Redeemer.
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:36–38 ESV
When the prophetess Anna sees Jesus, she begins thanking God. And she begins telling all those around her about Jesus. By the Spirit, she sees that this little child will redeem his people. Jesus is our Redeemer and they need to give thanks with her for God’s gift of redemption.
God’s salvation was never meant to stay inside the temple. In Jesus, God’s light is already moving outward toward the nations. The Father is restoring his creation through the Son, and the Spirit is still opening eyes to see Jesus and drawing people into his life. The Church gets to participate in a mission God has already begun.
After Mary and Joseph have heard Simeon and Anna speak these wonderful words over Jesus, they return home. Jesus grows up like any young boy, developing into a healthy, and wise young man. We read:
39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. Luke 2:22–40 ESV
When Jesus was a child, his parents did what they could to keep the Law of Moses. This meant making a trip to the temple, giving an appropriate sacrifice, and doing what they believed God wanted them to do according to the Law. It was their best effort to serve God.
Jesus takes our best efforts to serve God and redeems them. Jesus doesn’t merely forgive our failed response to God; Jesus gives humanity the faithful human response to God that we could never perfectly give ourselves.
Jesus redeems the difficulties, challenges, failures, and sorrows of our lives. He takes what is ours that has fallen into ruin and redeems it, exchanging it through his death and resurrection, for new life. In Jesus, humanity is not only redeemed by God; humanity is faithfully offered to God.
Jesus is our Redeemer.
The incarnation means the Son of God hasn’t redeemed humanity from a distance. He entered human life. Infancy. Family. Growth. Relationships. Vulnerability. Sorrow. Death. There is no part of human existence Jesus has regarded as beneath him. God doesn’t rescue humanity by shouting instructions from heaven. The Son becomes one of us.
Maybe there is something about your family or your childhood that has never been healed or restored. Maybe you missed out on experiences other children enjoyed. Maybe your childhood was stolen from you through abuse or suffering. Jesus takes our broken human stories into himself and creates a redeemed people who learn to share one another’s burdens, hope, grief, and healing.
Jesus is our Redeemer. Jesus has taken even our deepest wounds into the human life he came to redeem. Our pain is not beyond Jesus’ healing, our failures are not beyond his grace, and our stories are not beyond his renewing love.
Nothing is beyond Jesus’ ability to transform, heal, and renew. Jesus is our Redeemer. He is our elder brother, the firstborn of God’s family, and he is ever working to redeem, restore, and renew. Redemption is not merely available; it is accomplished. Christ redemption. He redeemed us — past tense, finished. And the ongoing part is the Spirit bringing the fruit of that accomplished redemption into our lives and ultimately all creation.
We can find great comfort and encouragement in this good news, trusting in his love and grace as he makes all things new. The Father has sent the Son into our humanity. The Son has taken our life as his own in order to redeem it. And the Spirit opens our eyes to recognize in Jesus the salvation the Father has given.
So, what does Luke 2 show us about the kind of Redeemer Jesus is?
This is the astonishing good news: the eternal Son has entered our ordinary human life, taken our humanity as his own, fulfilled for us what we could not fulfill ourselves, and through his death and resurrection redeemed us. The Father sent him for the world, and the Spirit opens our eyes and draws us into his redeemed life.
Merry Christmas! God’s salvation has arrived, and Simeon is holding him in his arms and Anna praises God. Jesus is our Redeemer.
Go Deeper: In Leviticus 12:1–8, we learn a little more about what Joseph and Mary were doing in the temple. We learn that Moses’ Law says a woman was to make an offering after she gave birth. She was considered ceremonially unclean for a certain number of days after giving birth depending on whether she gave birth to a boy or a girl. This meant she could not participate in worship services and could not be around other people. When the time of separation was over, she was to give a lamb as an offering. Or if she couldn’t afford a lamb, she was to offer two turtledoves or two pigeons. Then she would be considered clean.
In Exodus 13:2, 12, we learn that God had asked the ancient Israelites to set all the firstborn males aside for service to God. Each firstborn son was to be redeemed with five shekels for the sanctuary. This money went to the high priest to be used in the service of the sanctuary, which at that time was the tabernacle.
This week’s Gospel Reverb is coming soon. We apologize for the delay.
Check back Friday, December 6.
Small Group Discussion Questions
- What stands out to you about Jesus being brought to the temple as an ordinary child, yet being revealed as God’s salvation?
- Simeon says, “My eyes have seen your salvation.” How does it shape our faith to remember that salvation is not just something Jesus gives, but who Jesus is?
- The sermon says Jesus does not redeem humanity from a distance but enters fully into our human life. What part of that truth feels especially comforting or meaningful to you?
- Luke 2 shows Jesus redeeming ordinary human life — family, growth, weakness, obedience, sorrow, and hope. Where do you most need to trust Jesus as Redeemer right now?
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