Taxing to Come

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

Luke 2:1, 4-5, 25

Here we come to what is quite possibly one of the most startling passages seen in the text. How many of you know what a taxing thing is all a little too well. Now it seems as at last we’ find that they had it in that day as well. There came forth a taxing from Ceasar Augustus, the ruler at that time, with which to trouble the world. In a world full of changing times, it was one condemned by mercy that sacrifice lacked. Taxing can mean many thingss to all men, my friends. But to the Lord it meant only one thing, the pathos of the human condition. It was to such a place and time that our Lord had shown up. My, it sounds much as it does in our day, does it not. Today we pay many tributes to famous people and things. They are seen in the songs sung and the speeches written. Yet here was no such tribute to be found, save only to being alive though in human conditions. Imagine to such a world as this our Lord had come. Is it not for nothing that Isaiah speaks of him as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Knowing this though, did little for the people. See, their attitude was one of having their faces barred from the Lord. Could it be that man’s sins had separated them from the Father at last. But perhaps it spoke of something just a little bit more. Herein is seen the danger in separating what God really said from the text. Just as in the Garden of Eden so long before, man has a bad habit of overstepping the Lord. He did it all on his own too whether fallen or not. For from the beginning is his power and Godhead clearly visible leaving all without an excuse. It is done so the whole world, like Ceasar once did, might be found guilty or wanton, wasted and falling down before God. He alone truly satifsfies, does he not, my friends. So too is he the source of all power. I can hear some of you muttering under your breath ‘what has power got to do with any of it.’ As it so happens, it has a lot meaning that which is yet to be found. For as the serpent questioned so long ago, did God really say the gospel of 2 Corinthians 4:3 be hid, veiled from our eyes. As I recall, it was hid to the lost, those lacking some spiritual sight. The question is not then about whether some people have eyes. Rather the question Remains what have you done with the riches of God. See, all men are without excuse having been brought to stand before God. So then follow me back to the original text for a moment if you will. It is not then for nothing that Isaiah 53:3 uses the terms “man of sorrow” to refer to our Lord. Now that does not meant he walked around saying ‘sorry’ wherever he went. Rather, it was that part of him that allowed him to feel and know our human condition. So too is it a different knowledge than that as the Psalmist had said of one who knows our frame having made it quite well and remembers the part about us being “but dust.” Rather, here at the last does the passion of Christ end up in the text. It is a keen awareness of the human condition having carried our sins and our sorrows and so having suffered as well. But thank God that resurrection is coming. There remains a turning around of all things sto be seen in the text. You might be down and out today but just wait. Resurrection is coming. You might be weary and heavy laden in need of some rest but just you hold on for a bit. Resurrection is coming. You might be laid down as the ground and as the street to them that went over but just you wait for the Lord. Resurrection is coming. So then is there new life for the people of God to be found in the text. See now how it was into this mess that our Lord had shown up. Nor did he come as a king, of one bringing forth his kingdom, though it was certainly planned. He came not as a bridegroom raising his voice in the streets in search of his bride. Rather, he came in just as you and I do in the smallest form he could find. My, I cannot think of anyone better to wear Heaven’s crown. See how he has taken the ages and fashioned them into a gown. Perhaps you do not see of any quite yet. But I want you to see that he came in form and in fashion just like you and me. For this cause had he humbled himself to death even the death of the cross. Yet how often would he “have gathered them all as a mother hen gathers her chickens under her wings but you would not.” See, it is not that the people are sinful and far from the Lord, though that is certainly true but only in part. How many know the seeing in part of the Lord. It is a view as through a glass darkly but then face to face. It is a knowing even as we are known so to speak. I wish you would see this thing here. God in his grace would not suffer any to perish nor yet would leave us alone. Go back with me to Isaiah 53:3 for just a moment if you will. A new perspective has finally shown up. It is one as of the people hiding their face from the Lord. How often have we hid our faces from him, instead, only to be like the thief on the cross and claim he has hidden his own one himself. Then too perhaps you well know the faces of fear, shame, doubt, defeat, and sin that keep creeping in again and again. Consider at what time our Lord has come in. Is it not one very much like that of our day when they were eating and drinking and knew not till the flood came to take them away. So too does … state that such a time will be very like that of our Lord. Notice too who has done the taxing. Here is old Ceasar seen in the text. It is he who has commanded all be brought for his gain. At his bidding, Mary and Joseph went up as well though newly married and heavy with child. Some monster this Ceasar Augustus must seem. Until the day of the census that the taxing took place, the same story was repeated over and over hundreds of millions of times. In the doing so though, these taxes themselves. It was more than a census you see, but an offering up of their time, effort, and whatever else the good Lord had given. So often in life we tend to blame it on God whenever there is anything wrong. Job if you remember had lost all but his life. Only one thing remained to him though, that of the Lord. It is not that we follow the Lord for gain, status, influence, authority, position, power, or the things we can get. All that is all fine, well, and wonderful of course. Sure, there at the end, is not God seen restoring the years. The locust has eaten them alright and they have come in the form of a king. Then too with Job did not God give back double for what the test and the trial had wrought. So often some hear that and think it comes with serving the Lord. Then again, do you not remember the condition our Heavenly King kept as one standing without the heart’s door knocking and yet always perfectly fed. Come on now into the house of our Lord. It is very well kept with only the best, that of himself. Could it be in the silence that followed as each one went into his or her towns that this taxing was especially severe. For Mary and Joseph, it cost their comfort along with all that they had just to bring forth this child. Following God is seldom easy but he is worth all we have to offer or ever could bring, is he not my friends. In the silence that followed then of the old familiar story told long ago, that familiatity breeds contempt as some have once said. So then the story is not all about the fancy lights, the presents, and noise. Rather, is not our salvation still yet to be seen. Here Simeon sat patiently in the house of God awaiting this child. For if he would save his people from his sins as he once said, it was a gift well worth waiting for indeed. My, it seems the people were in need of his consolation indeed. Nor does this consolation speak of, as a famous evangelist’s wife once found, the cat. Sure, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah is quite fearsome indeed, stronger, and fiercer still than any might find. He almost had to be to bring the whole world on back to his Son. Then again Genesis 50:20 once found, he makes even his enemies to work for himself. Small wonder that it is unto this scene that our God has shown up. Then it must be that our God has some remedy found for the problem. Indeed, has he not already provided, in a form none other than himself. It is after this manner that their consolation is so being called. See, that word speaks of far more than just comfort. It is who he is, a solution to any issue faced and a very present help in time of trouble. How some of us should rather trust him just that much more should we not, my friends.