Waiting For Christmas
Luke 2:21-38
Last week we looked at four major players in the birth of Jesus. Today I’d like to look at two more who, while they were not present at Jesus’ birth, waited with great anticipation and expectation for the day to arrive.
None of us are very good at waiting. We don’t like to wait. I remember when it took several minutes to turn on and load the very first IBM personal computer, and we thought that was fast. We marveled at the speed. Now if it takes more than 10 seconds we’re pounding the keyboard and complaining about waiting too long.
It's hard to wait, isn't it? And it's especially hard to wait for God
I’ve come to realize that while we’re always in a hurry, God isn’t. We want things to happen now if not sooner. God, however, seems to take His time. Some people say, “I've waited long enough for God, and I don't see anything good coming out of all this waiting!”
Some are waiting to see if chemotherapy or radiation will work. Some are waiting on news that will dramatically impact their future. Some are waiting on job applications. Some are waiting for prayers to be answered; at least in the way they think God should answer them.
And while all this waiting is difficult, what we need to realize is that God is working out His perfect will through the waiting process.
Take for instance the miracle of birth. There's nothing quite like waiting for the arrival of a baby. But even while the expectant mother waits, God is at work forming and shaping that baby’s life inside her womb.
Conception is the promise. Delivery and birth are the fulfillment of that promise. But between promise and fulfillment, there are months of waiting, expecting, along with months of discomfort, uncertainty, and even anxiety. Waiting is hard, and frankly most of us aren't very good at it.
We do a lot of waiting this time of year. Waiting at checkout lines. Waiting to find a closer parking spot. Waiting for Christmas bonuses. And the young ones can hardly wait for Christmas to come!
Before I go any further, let me ask some questions. What are you waiting for this Christmas? What are you expecting to receive? Are you looking forward to anything special this Christmas?
In Luke’s Gospel we come across two people who make their appearance in the final act of the Christmas drama. One is a man named Simeon; the other is a woman named Anna. They don’t appear in any nativity scenes or in many Christmas cards for that matter, but they’re significant players.
Both of these individuals were waiting with great anticipation and expectation that they would see the coming Messiah. But the promise and the fulfillment were far apart, and so they waited, looking forward to God’s promise redemption.
And while they were both waiting for the Messiah, they were both waiting for a different aspect of His coming.
Simeon: Waiting for Comfort
“There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” (Luke 2:25 NKJV)
Why was he waiting? Because the Holy Spirit promised that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. And so, Simeon was comforted waiting for the Comforter.
Now I know some of you may be questioning my use of this name, Comforter, because Jesus clearly called the Holy Spirit the Comforter. But, listen to what Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.” (John 14:6 NKJV)
The word, “another,” in the Greek language means another of the same kind. Jesus is describing Himself as the Comforter, and after He leaves He is asking the Father to send another Comforter who will comfort the same way He comforted. And that Comforter is the Holy Spirit.
At this time things weren’t going so well for the nation of Israel. They hadn’t heard from God for over 400 years, and were subjected to the rule and reign of the Roman Empire. Simeon, therefore, was waiting for the consolation of Israel, which we could translate as Israel’s comfort.
Simeon’s expectation focused on the comfort that Christ, the Messiah, would bring.
The desire to be comforted is a universal need. We all struggle with loneliness, emptiness, and insecurity. In fact, the Christmas season is one of the major crisis times of the year for depression and suicide. It is the leading contributor to stress and anxiety.
As Simeon was thus waiting, he was moved by the Holy Spirit to go into the temple courts at the time when Joseph and Mary were bringing Jesus to offer up the necessary sacrifice under the law for the birth of a firstborn male child, Leviticus 12:2-8.
When Simeon saw Jesus he knew that God’s promise had been kept. Here was Immanuel, “God With Us,” to make everything right, to bring comfort to those subjected to years of rejection, fear and loneliness.
Simeon then reached down and took Jesus out of Mary’s arms and began to praise God acknowledging that God not only fulfilled the individual promise to him, but also the promises of the prophets to send the Anointed One to comfort both Jews and Gentiles.
Anna: Waiting for Forgiveness
After her husband had died, she had dedicated herself to fasting and praying in the temple, waiting for the Messiah who would be Israel’s redemption.
“There was also a prophetess, Anna … she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” (Luke 2:36-37 NIV)
She was looking forward to the same person as Simeon, the Messiah, but for a different reason. Instead of looking for comfort, Anna was looking for forgiveness. Take a look at verse 38
“Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:38 NIV)
The word redemption is related to the idea of captivity. Passover, and the release of Israel from Egyptian slavery, stood as the ultimate redemption and was symbolic of God’s power to release captives. Ultimately, Passover pointed ahead to that day when God would provide deliverance from the slavery of sin.
When Anna saw Jesus, she gave thanks to God and spoke of Him to all who were waiting for their redemption. Here, at last, was the One who would save people from their sins.
When Jesus came He provided the very things that Simeon and Anna were waiting for: God’s comfort and forgiveness. So what are you waiting for this Christmas?
Some of you identify with Simeon? Some of you are really hurting. You feel lonely, empty, afraid, and maxed out, and you need some comforting, and a fresh sense of God’s presence. And you can find it in Jesus. He came to console and bring us comfort right where we are.
Or maybe you identify more with Anna? Are you plagued with guilt this Christmas because of something you’ve done or the way you’ve been living? Do you feel like you’re trapped in a pattern of sin that you can’t break out of? If you need forgiveness, Jesus can give it to you. And I can think of no better time than right now.
No matter what you are waiting for, there are three things I find it these two stories that will help you experience God’s comfort and forgiveness this Christmas.
1. Approach Christmas with Wonder
After Mary and Joseph’s encounter with Simeon look at what it says.
“The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him.” (Luke 2:33 NIV)
Joseph and Mary marveled at what was said about Jesus. To marvel means to evoke surprise and admiration. It is to become filled with wonder and astonishment.
Here are some questions to consider.
• Are we in wonder of God during this time of year, or are we caught up in all the busyness and stress of the season?
• Is Christmas just another holiday, or are we making it a “holy” day?
• Has Christmas become too familiar and no longer holds us in awe thinking about how the Lord God, the second person of the Godhead, Jesus Christ left the glory of heaven to become a human child born in a stable and laid in an animal’s feeding trough?
Actually, Christmas can be a dangerous time of year for Christians, because our annual celebration immunizes us to its reality. We see all these Christmas specials talking about the miracle of Christmas while leaving Jesus Christ out of the whole discussion.
To help put the wonder back into Christmas, take a moment and put yourself in the place of one of the characters in the Christmas story. How would you feel and what awe would it bring if you saw the heavenly host of angels, or held Jesus in your arms, or took that journey of faith the Wise Men did in search of truth?
I truly believe that if we do, then we’ll begin to approach Christmas with new wonder and awe.
2. Let the Spirit Move
“(Simeon) Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts … (Anna) Coming up to them at that very moment.” (Luke 2:27, 38 NIV)
Both Simeon and Anna were directed and moved by the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit said to go to the temple, neither of them sat still. They moved.
This is actually the story of every one of those in the Christmas story. When they were prompted they responded.
When God prompts us to do something, we need to do it. It may mean salvation for us individually, or for others. It may involve becoming a servant and serving others as we are serving the Lord. Whatever it is, don’t procrastinate, because you may miss out on God’s Christmas miracle for you and/or for others.
Now, not all promptings are going to be joy filled. For some it’s dealing with difficult situations. Consider what Simeon told Mary. He said, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:34-35).
That is not a joyful Christmas greeting. It’s no “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.” And it never will be as long as people avoid the reason for the season. Christmas splits people into two camps, hence the words, “falling and rising of many.”
You see Christmas forces us to make a decision about Jesus. Jesus is either the rock we build the foundation of our lives upon, or He’s the rock we stumble over. We can’t stay neutral when it comes to Jesus. He doesn’t let us. He said, “He who is not with me is against me.” (Matthew 12:30 NKJV)
So we’re either allowing the Holy Spirit to move us closer to Jesus this Christmas, or we’re allowing the world and critics move us further away.
3. Praise Christ this Christmas
“Coming up to them at that very moment, she (Anna) gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2:38 NIV)
When we approach Christmas with wonder, and allow the Holy Spirit to move us, then we can do nothing less than bring praise to Jesus, the Christ of Christmas, the reason for the season.
When I think of this, I think of the story of Mary and Martha. Martha was so busy doing the stuff she missed out on what was most important, and that was sitting at the feet of Jesus where we find her sister, Mary.
Let’s be careful not to let the busyness of Christmas replace what is the true reason for the celebration. Let’s take every moment we have and praise Jesus, our comforter and forgiver. For you see, it’s all wrapped up in the son.
Conclusion
Many years ago there was a wealthy man who shared a passion for art collecting with his son. They had priceless works by Picasso and Van Gogh adorning the walls of their estate.
As war engulfed the nation, the young man left to serve his country. Shortly afterwards his father received a telegram that his son had died.
Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season had vanished with the death of his son.
On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened him. As he opened the door he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hands saying, “I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in? I have something to show you.”
The soldier mentioned he was an artist and gave the old man the package; a portrait of the man’s son. Though the world would never consider it a masterpiece, the painting featured the young man’s face in striking detail. Overcome with emotion, the man hung the portrait over the fireplace, pushing aside millions of dollars worth of art.
The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, even more than those pieces of art that museums around the world clamored after.
The following spring, the father died. The art world waited with anticipation for the upcoming auction. According to the will, all the art would be auctioned on Christmas Day, the day he had received his greatest gift, the portrait of his son.
The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world’s most spectacular paintings. The auction began with the painting of the man’s son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid, but the room was silent. “Who will open the bidding with $100?” No one spoke. Finally someone said, “Who cares about that painting. It’s just a picture of his son. Let’s move on to the good stuff.”
The auctioneer responded, “No, we have to sell this one first. Now, who will take the son?” Finally, a neighbor offered $10 dollars. “That’s all I have. I knew the boy, so I’d like to have it.”
The auctioneer said, “Going once, going twice…gone.” The gavel fell.
The auctioneer looked at the room filled with people and announced that the auction was over. Everyone was stunned. Someone spoke up saying, “What do you mean, it’s over? We didn’t come here for a painting of someone’s son. There are millions of dollars worth of art here!”
The auctioneer replied, “It’s very simple. According to the will, whoever takes the son…gets it all.”
Puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? The message is the same this Christmas. Because of the Father’s love whoever takes His Son, Jesus Christ, gets it all. Will you take Him this Christmas? Will you take the Son?
