Luke 2:22-39
Simeon’s Praise
Woodlawn Baptist Church
December 11, 2005
Introduction
Children’s Choir Cantata
This morning we have been invited to listen: to listen to the story of a holy child sent to us down from heaven’s glory many years ago. He truly is Immanuel, the Son of God, the Messiah who came to redeem His people from their sins, and it has been such a great joy to hear these kids sing of that wonderful night long ago when the Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among us.
The birth of the Messiah was an event that had been anticipated for hundreds of years as it was foretold through the prophets and in the Scriptures. God had promised a Savior, and as we have heard He gave that Savior in a most magnificent way, but so many people missed it. The reason they missed it was because they were not listening and they were not looking.
The Scriptures tell us though that after the days of Mary’s purification, when Jesus was about 40 days old his parents took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord and to offer a sacrifice to God as was prescribed in the Law. When they arrived at the temple, they met a man who was awaiting their arrival; a man who had been listening.
The man’s name was Simeon, and verse 25 says that this man was a just and devout man who waited for the consolation of Israel. We are told that the Holy Spirit was upon him as well. To say that he was just and devout is to say that he was holy: a morally upright man who was fully consecrated to God. He was a religious man, and it was his hope to see the Savior, the comfort of Israel.
In fact, verse 26 tells us that this was a sure hope because the Holy Spirit had made a promise to him that before he died he would lay eyes on the Messiah. He wasn’t some old kook who spent all his days wandering around the temple hoping to meet the Savior. He was a man who had studied the Scriptures that told when the Savior would be born, the same Scriptures that the wise men used to know when He would be born, and then, led by the Spirit of God according to verse 27 he waited at the temple for what he knew would occur: the Savior’s parents would bring Him there to offer Him to the Lord.
He wasn’t there because he had special revelation that no one else had – he was there to see the Savior because he had paid attention to what so many others had not taken the time to see. He was there because he listened to the voice that so many others had allowed to be drowned out by the hustle and bustle of life.
That day had finally come, and now in verse 28 Simeon stands in the temple of God, holding the only begotten Son of God, and as he does with great joy he blesses and praises God with these words,
“Lord, now lettest thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”
Verse 33 says that when Joseph and Mary observed this and heard what he said they marveled, they were amazed at what was happening. But it didn’t end there. Simeon then blessed them and gave this message to Mary,
“Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
After this we don’t know what happened to the old man. We can assume that he faded back into obscurity and died. It is not important really. What is important is for you to hear what he said and for you to know what he knew. There are three things Simeon knew that I want you to consider:
Jesus is God’s Salvation
Without God’s salvation man is in darkness, bound by his sin and condemned to die and spend eternity in a devil’s hell. Jesus said that “he that believeth not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God…he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
The bad news is that you and I were born in spiritual darkness. We were born sinners, condemned to die. “The wages of sin is death,” the Bible says, but the good news, the “gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” He truly is “the light of the world.”
Jesus Christ is God’s one and only plan of salvation. “No man comes to the Father but by me” Jesus would say. In other words, people in every generation have tried their own way to gain eternal life or to go to heaven. Some think they will go to heaven because they’ve been good or because they loved people, but the only sure way to eternal life is to know that because of your sin Jesus Christ was sent to this earth, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay for your sin, and three days later rose from the dead as the victor over sin, death, hell and the grave!
The only way to go to heaven is to be saved, and the only way to be saved is to repent of your sin and call on Jesus to save you. When you do that you are admitting to yourself and to Him that you have no ability of your own to save yourself and that there is nothing in you that will merit God’s good favor on you.
Jesus Would Not Be an Easy Choice
Simeon spoke of the fall and rising again of many. Jesus was a sign which would be spoken against. He told Mary that her own heart, her own soul would be broken before this was over, and indeed it was as she stood at the foot of the cross and watched as her son Jesus was crucified. What mother could stand to watch? Why did it have to be?
It was so because most people cannot stand the thought of having to face the facts about Jesus. The proud are put to shame before Him and the humble are lifted up. Jesus is no respecter of persons. He does not care how rich you are or how broke you are. He does not care what your position in life is or how much influence you have. Before Him you are no better than the scum of the earth.
It is not easy to admit this to yourself. In fact, in my opinion this is the hardest part of salvation: admitting to yourself that there is nothing good in you. Admitting to yourself that you are rotten to the core no matter how much we try to convince people otherwise. The easiest thing to do is to put off a decision, to dismiss what preachers have to say, to push back what the Spirit is speaking to your heart.
Did you ever stop to think that all of life itself is nothing but a picture of what we really are? We spend our lives trying to mask the decay, trying to cover up the rotten smell of death. It was recently pointed out to me that the human body does not emit one good smell. Perfumes, colognes, mouth washes, deodorants, and more serve no other purpose than to cover up the stinking smell of death and rotting flesh! Why can we not simply come to terms with this? Jesus is certainly not an easy choice.
Jesus Is the Great Divide
You know this to be true don’t you? There is no greater divide on this earth than Jesus. Our nation is divided today over Jesus. If we could just get Jesus out of the way there would be no debate over the moral issues of our day. If we could get Jesus out of the way there would be no religious division in the world today. All religions can get along until it comes to what we do with Jesus. This year we are seeing this to be particularly true in America as we celebrate Christmas. Just to say the name of Jesus sparks great debate and controversy.
Jesus divides nations, He divides families, and He separates heaven and hell. I have a simple question for you this morning: on which side of the line do you stand? Jesus said there are two ways: one is very narrow and unpopular. In fact, your own heart will rebel against it, but it is the only right way. I have told you that way. It is the way of repentance and faith. The other way is very wide and it is popular. It is the way where everyone gets along, the way of compromise, the way of peace and comfort, the way of pluralism, but it is the way that leads to destruction.
Simeon had chosen the narrow way, and now, having seen the salvation of the Lord, his faith having been made sight, he was ready to die. He had seen what others had overlooked; had heard what others did not want to hear.
I cannot tell you what lies in store for you on this earth, but I can tell you that one day, like Simeon, you too will stand and behold the Son of God, but it will not be in the old temple in Jerusalem, and He will not be a little baby held in His mother’s arms. When you and I stand and behold the Son of God we will behold Him in His glory as the King of kings and Lord of lords. We will stand before Him as the Righteous One who purchased our salvation, and all you will have to stand on before Him is the decision you made for Him on this earth.
