Simeon’s Long-Awaited Christmas
Luke 2:25-35
Introduction
Christmas time is the most wonderful time of the year to most people…it is for me
You can see it all around as all of the decorations go up, the stores are packed, all the great Christmas TV shows come on
I know children look forward to it every year with great anticipation of what Christmas brings
There is a man in the bible from our text today that also was waiting for Christmas with great anticipation
The title of message today is “Simeon’s Long-Awaited Christmas”
I want us to look at this morning, how this man Simeon celebrates Christmas and what Christmas truly meant to him
Read Luke 2:25-25 (NLT)
Pray
Trans: The first thing that we should see, that is no different today, is that…
1. Simeon eagerly awaited Christmas to come
Vs 25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him
Every year, I know children all over the world, can’t wait for Christmas to come
The eagerly await what gifts that might be given to them…they dream of what they might get…fill out their wish list…and wait to see what that day brings
Simeon was no different…our text says that he “was eagerly awaiting for Christmas”
He was anxious to unwrap the gift that God had promised to send before Simeon departed this earth
Trans: Simeon not only was eagerly waiting for Christmas but…
2. He was seeking what Christmas would bring
Vs 26-27 The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple.
I don’t know about your house but there are times in my house we seek out what Christmas will bring (shaking presents, little inquiries, etc…)
Simeon had been told long ago about the prophecy of the coming Messiah
And He had a promise that He would see the Messiah before he died
He wasn’t for sure what to look for…but Simeon was seeking Him and He knew that when the Messiah came…it was Christmas
He was sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit that led Him to the temple that day
He was seeking the ultimate gift that would come to mankind and be celebrated by all
Trans: Simeon not only sought what Christmas would bring, but…
3. He Embraced Christmas and Praised God
Vs 27-28 So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God
Christmas is such a special time of year and yet many fail to embrace what the celebration truly is about
Simeon understood what Christmas meant…he had long-awaited for the day to come that He could Embrace the Messiah and Praise God
For that is truly what Christmas is all about…it’s not all the presents under the tree
It’s not the songs that we sing…the parties we attend…the decorations we enjoy
It is about embracing the Messiah…the long-awaited Christ-child and giving praise to God for His indescribable gift
Trans: Simeon embraces Christmas and praised God because He knows that…
4. Christmas brings Salvation and Peace for All
Vs 30 I have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared for all people.
When Simeon was promised to see the Messiah, he eagerly awaited because he knew that this was the one who would come to redeem mankind
He knew about the coming Messiah as prophesied by Micah in 5:2-5
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past. 3 The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies until the woman in labor gives birth. Then at last his fellow countrymen will return from exile to their own land. 4 And he will stand to lead his flock with the LORD’s strength, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored around the world. 5 And he will be the source of peace.
And He also heard from Isaiah the prophet about the one who would come
Isa 7:14 All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).
Isa 9:6-7 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!
He knew that this child was the promise of salvation from the descendant of David that would take away the sin of the world
He knew that His Kingdom would reign and bring peace forever
Trans: Simeon not only see’s that this child is the salvation but that he brings…
5. Christmas light to a dark world
Vs. 32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
It was a great light in the sky that led the Magi to where He was born
It was a great light in the sky that shone around the Shepherds as the angels announced that Jesus the Christ is born
It is no coincidence that we use “lights” to decorate our homes and trees as a symbol of the one who brought us the light
Christmas came that day and Simeon knew that He was the light that would reveal God to the nations
Simeon had heard about the coming of this light from His encounters with the OT
Psa 56:13 For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
Psa 139:12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
Isa 9:1-2 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan- 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
Isa 60:1-3 "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Simeon see’s that the light of the world has come to shine and to reveal the glory of God so that people can be delivered from the darkness of death
Trans: Lastly, Simeon sees that…
6. Christmas Brings Joy to the World
Vs 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others…”
Christmas is a time of year that brings much joy to everyone
Simeon too saw that when He held the light of the world in his arms that much joy would come to the world
We see that the angels rejoiced at His coming in Luke 2:13-14
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
The Shepherds also rejoiced at His coming in Luke 2:20
The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
And now Simeon too, is rejoicing at His coming…His long awaited coming.
CONCLUSION
Christmas finally came to Simeon…he had been waiting a long time for that blessed day
When Christmas came Simeon celebrated and had overwhelming joy for He had finally embraced the gift of all gifts
He was seeking Christmas and found Him…He embraced Him and Praised God
He now had peace to leave this earth…knowing that this Child would bring Joy to all who also would seek and embrace Him
I pray for us all this Christmas season that we too celebrate the coming Christmas just as Simeon did and not get caught up in the festivities of Christmas...
But get caught up in the real celebration…the long-awaited Christmas gift Who came to be the Savior of all mankind. (pray)
