SLOW AS CHRISTMAS
Lk. 2:25-35
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. Valerie Hughes and her husband were on the way to the hospital with their 15-year-old daughter who was scheduled to undergo a tonsillectomy.
2. During the ride, they talked with her about how the procedure would be performed. “Dad,” the girl asked, “how are they going to keep my mouth open during the surgery?”
3. He replied with a wry smile, “Easy. They’re going to strap a phone beside your face!”
B. TEXT
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” 33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Lk. 2:25-35
C. THESIS
1. Some things are known to be very slow. There are expressions such as “slow as a turtle/snail.” “Slow as molasses in January.” “Slow as the 7-year itch.” “Slower than a octogenarian with ankle weights.” And a real one, that might surprise you, “As slow as Christmas.”
2. Today we’re looking at a man who waited a long time for Christmas – he actually waited all his life! But it finally arrived. So if you think you’ve waited a long time, think about Simeon!
3. Message title? “Slow as Christmas.”
I. SIMEON EXPECTED THE MESSIAH TO COME
A. MANY HAVE EXPECTED THE MESSIAH
1. EVE looked for the Christ - Gen. 3:15; He would be the woman's seed that would bruise the serpent's head.
2. ABRAHAM looked for Christ on Mt. Moriah - Gen. 22:8; God Himself would provide a lamb.
3. JACOB looked for Christ - Gen. 49:10; he prophesied "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet."
4. MOSES looked for Christ - Deut. 18:18; God told him He would raise up a prophet like Moses.
5. DAVID saw His suffering on the Cross of Calvary, Psalm 22.
6. OTHERS of the prophets saw Christ’s glory and spoke of Him -- Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc. They looked for the Messiah, straining their eyes through the mists of time, into the future.
B. SIMEON’S ANTICIPATION. He believed the Messiah would come in his day. WHY?
1. Isaiah 7:14 predicted Messiah would be born and Micah 5:2 said he would be born in Bethlehem, 6 miles away.
2. Daniel 9:25-26a said Messiah’s coming would be 483 years after the rebuilding of the streets of Jerusalem (457 B.C.).
3. Malachi said the Lord would suddenly come to His Temple – Mal. 3:1B.
4. David said the Messiah would suffer crucifixion, the preferred method of execution by the Romans – Ps. 22:16
5. Isaiah said Messiah would be rejected by the Jews and suffer for sins (53:3-10). Place right, Time right, Gov’t right!
C. DON’T WE HAVE EVEN MORE REASON TO ANTICIPATE THE LORD’S SECOND COMING? YES!
1. Israel is back in her own country and Jerusalem is again in Jewish hands -- Luke 21:24.
2. Rise of Russia, China, and hostile Arab neighbors.
3. Rise of the European Union -- the Revived Roman Empire -- Daniel 2.
4. The Great Missions Movement that has taken the Gospel to every nation the last 150 years -- a fulfillment of Mt. 24:14.
5. The Lord Jesus told us, “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your
redemption is drawing near” Lk. 21:28.
6. The Jews are prepared NOW to Rebuild the Jewish Temple.
WE NEED TO BE READY!
II. SIMEON: READY TO MEET JESUS
A. WHY WAS SIMEON CHOSEN?
1. Wouldn't it be wonderful if YOU knew that you wouldn't have to die, but would live until the Rapture? You'd see it!
2. That's what God told SIMEON -- you'll live to see the coming of Messiah! Why?
B. 3 REASONS SIMEON WAS READY TO MEET HIM!
1. HE WAS LOOKING! Waiting for the Consolation/Messiah.
a. Hebrews 9:28, "Unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
b. John 14:3, "I will come again."
2. HE HAD GODLY CHARACTER – he was “RIGHTEOUS AND DEVOUT,” Luke 2:25. “Righteous” (dikaios) means “living a morally upright life; keeping God’s Law.” “Devout” (eulabes) means ‘very deeply religious.’ His convictions were deeply held and sincerely applied to every area of his life.
3. FULL OF THE SPIRIT. The Bible says, “The Holy Spirit was on him,” vs. 25. God’s presence abides where His will is preformed (Acts 5:32).
C. NOTICE WHO GOD REVEALED 1st COMING TO
1. Shepherds -- who immediately searched out the baby.
2. Simeon and Anna -- both devout and waiting for the Messiah.
3. The Magi/Wise Man -- who sought Christ from faraway lands. ALL WERE SEEKERS!
D. NOTICE WHO WAS IGNORANT OF HIS COMING:
1. The Powerful (Herod) were only threatened by Jesus.
2. The merely Religious showed no concern if the Messiah was born, because they didn't believe the Word.
3. There were many others God didn’t alert because they weren’t sincere or had quit looking.
4. HAS GOD BEEN SPEAKING TO YOU? Are you concerned? Are you looking? Are you ready for Jesus’ coming?
III. THE FULFILLMENT OF SIMEON’S EXPECTATIONS
A. THE DAY ARRIVED
1. Led by the Spirit -- into Temple. Simeon knew that the revelation was imminent; he was watching.
2. Two Unnoticed Worshipers entered. His eyes fixed on them. His heart began to beat faster.
3. The Holy Spirit must have said (as He did to Samuel when anointing David); "This is He -- that Child -- is the Lord's Christ!"
4. The Arabic "Gospel of the Infancy" speaks of Simeon seeing the Babe shining like a pillar of light in his mother's arms.
5. God gave him MORE than He’d promised. God promised that Simeon would SEE Christ, but he got to take him up in his arms!
6. Simeon experienced the Mountain-Height of prophetic vision and uttered a prophecy about the Child.
7. Vss. 29-30, He said, "I'm Ready to Depart!" With a…
a. Song on his lips;
b. Christ in his arms;
c. Heaven in his View! (That should be us too!)
B. WHAT IF TODAY WAS THE DAY OF THE RAPTURE:
1. WOULD YOU BE READY?
2. The Bible tells us that many…
a. Good people will be left behind;
b. Religious people will be left behind;
c. Moral people will be left behind.
3. Only those a. Washed in the blood, b. Right with God, and c. Looking for Christ --- will be going up in the Rapture!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUS.: JUDGMENT DAY SOONER THAN YOU THINK
1. A Scottish lawyer was a wicked man. Once he rented a horse and, either through accident or ill-usage, killed the animal. Naturally, the owner insisted on being paid its value, along with some compensation for its loss.
2. The lawyer agreed and said he was perfectly willing to pay, but at the moment he was short of cash. Would the creditor accept a promissory note? "Certainly," he said. “Would you allow me to set the date it’s to be paid?" the lawyer asked. And the generous creditor said, “Yes, whatever date is convenient for you.”
3. The crooked lawyer drew up the note, making it payable at the “Day of Judgment.” Eventually the creditor took him to court, and the lawyer pointed out to the Judge that it was a good promissory note they’d both signed and that the terrible Day of Judgment hadn’t arrived yet!
4. The Judge said, "You’re right. It’s a valid note. But I decree that TODAY is Day of Judgment, so I demand that you pay it off by tomorrow!”
5. JUDGMENT DAY MAY BE SOONER THAN YOU THINK!
B. ILLUSTRATION: NO ONE KNOWS WHEN THEIR LAST MOMENT WILL BE
1. Missionary Robert Porteous and his wife were taken prisoners by Chinese communist bandits in 1931. They were led to a lonely spot on top of a hill where they were to be executed. The Chinese leader said, “This is the place.”
2. The executioner took out his long machete from its sheath and raised it above the necks of the courageous couple. Certain death seemed imminent. What would you do in such a situation? This couple sang a hymn!
3. Instead of crying and begging for mercy, the couple began to sing a song of praise. The communist bandits stared open-mouthed as they heard the 2 missionaries sing: “Face to face with Christ, my Savior, Face to face-what will it be? When with rapture I behold him, Jesus Christ who died for me.”
4. Instead of fearing the bandits, they focused on Jesus and praised Him in spite of their situation.
5. Instead of dying, their boldness conquered their enemies. When they stopped singing, they found the bandits wiping tears from their eyes. The missionary couple was released to freedom. Thank God for Jesus!
C. THE CALL
1. Are you ready if today were to be your last day?
2. Are you living your life as righteous & devout?
3. Is the Holy Spirit upon you, like Simeon?
4. Are you looking for the soon coming of Christ? If your answer to any of these questions is NO, come and find a place at the altars.
