The First Sunday after Christmas 
Sir, we would see JESUS!
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Asheville 

Luke 2: 22-40 

In the Name of Jesus!

Grace, mercy, and peace grow and increase among you through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

The holy, inspired Word of God on which I base my message to you on this 1st Sunday after Christmas is the Gospel according to St. Luke 2: 22-40.

Beloved, please pray with me: O eternal God and Father, as You fulfilled Your gracious promise to Simeon long ago when he took the Baby Jesus in his arms, fill our hearts with Your Holy Spirit, so that we, too, abide confidently in Your peace. Amen.


In the name or our newborn King and only Savior, Jesus Christ, dearly beloved:


It is so hard for most of us
To wait and wait and wait
For things that oft we think we need
That come not soon, but late.

But when that day comes with its joys
That we have waited for,
Then we with wishes granted us
Rejoice with one accord.

For waiting??s done! We then have seen
Desires e??en fulfilled!
And with our cup of joy so full
We??re happy and so thrilled.

Imagine then the joy that rose
In Simeon??s aged chest
As he beheld the Son of God
Laid in his arms to rest.

For Jesus Christ, the Lord of life,
Unto His earth had come
To rescue sinners from their doom
To make e??en heav?´n their home.

He came deliverance to bring
To each and ev??ry one
Who look to Him as Savior Lord;
He came for sin t??atone.


And yet He came in lowliness
As wee and helpless Babe
To draw His people unto Him ?±
Eternally to save.

But Simeon saw as He beheld
Lord Jesus Christ, that Child,
With eyes of faith he knew much more
?´bout Babe so meek and mild.

He knew our Holy God had come
Deliv??rer, strong indeed!
He would the devil??s pow??r destroy
As God??s own Word decreed.

He??d conquered death and hell itself,
All evil in our world!
He??s set His people free fore??er,
His banner He??s unfurled

Before the eyes of faithful folk
Who look to Him to save.
So peace Christ brought to Simeon,
Who sang God??s pow??r to save.

Oh, we who gather here today
God??s saving love do need.
?¨Deliver us from evil, Lord!?Æ
We in our pray??rs do plead.

For we do sin and do much harm
To God and those around
Hurt by our deeds, our ugly words.
We do in sin abound,

Till Jesus, strong Deliverer
Forgives in saving love.
He pardons us and sets us free
With mercy from above.

We??re folks who??ve also seen our Lord,
With eyes of faith, our King;
And we believe His promise sure:
Christ does salvation bring!

Like Simeon in days long gone
We for Christ??s coming long ?±
E??en now we yearn for His return;
For we to Him belong

By virtue of what Jesus did
For us in life and death,
And then arose on Easter Day,
As His own Word had said.

We wait each day with longing hope
For Christ??s return to earth.
For then deliv??rance will be o??er!
We??ll sing with joyous mirth

With angels, saints round sapphire throne
Of God, the Lord of grace.
Christ??s peace we??ll own; death??ll be no more!
We??ll see our Savior??s face.

But we??re still in this fallen world
With evil all around.
There??s much for which God??s help we need
That in Christ??s love is found.

There??re tasks that seem beyond our pow??r.
There??re sickness and great trials,
Our tears, our hurts, our wretchedness,
And we face Satan??s wiles

As he seeks out to lead astray
From all that??s good and right,
While death lurks like an enemy
Though not within our sight.

But Jesus takes what seems so bad
And turns it right around
To serve our good, while reaching out
To us by God??s love found.

With gifts of His deliverance
That brings Christ??s grace so near,
We are surrounded by God??s pow??r
That pushes out dread fear.

To lift your hearts in faith and love
To Jesus Christ, our King,
And sing His praise with Simeon,
Who thanks to God did bring.

Turn unto Christ in trusting faith.
Lift unto Him your plea:
?¨Deliver us from evil, Lord;?Æ
Then His salvation see,

Until in heav??n we need no more
That pray??r to God to raise.
For Christ will save us by His grace .
So, sing forth Jesus?? praise. Amen.

To GOD be all glory!

¬© The Reverend Frederick A. Stiemke, DD 
Vacancy Pastor