JUST IN TIME!
Luke 2:22-32
S: Promise kept
Th: We have a reason to rejoice!
Pr: WE REJOICE IN A GOD WHO KEEPS HIS WORD.
?: How is it observed?
KW: Aspects
TS: As we consider the story of Simeon, we will observe three aspects that show us why we have reason to rejoice.
Inductive
The _____ aspect is…
I. A REMARKABLE ANTICIPATION (25-26)
II. A WONDERFUL ADORATION (27-28)
III. A MAGNIFICENT ACCLAMATION (29-32)
Version: ESV
RMBC 24 Dec 02 Christmas Eve
INTRODUCTION:
ILL Notebook: Expect (thief)
A man was sleeping when his wife shook him and said, "Wake up, someone is breaking in!"
The man had gone through this almost every night for 20 years, and he knew that the only way he would get any rest was to go and check it out.
This time, however, there was a man with a gun who had entered to rob the house.
As the thief was about to flee the man said, "Wait, you have to come with me and meet my wife."
The thief said, "Why would you want me to meet your wife?"
The man replied, "Well, she’s been expecting you for 20 years."
As we come to our biblical text this evening, we find someone that was characterized by expectation.
His name was Simeon.
And as we consider Simeon there are three aspects to the story that will give us reason to rejoice.
The set up for the story goes like this…
And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
There are two reasons that Joseph and Mary come to Jerusalem.
The first reason was for purification.
A woman who became pregnant and gave birth to a son was ceremonially unclean.
As a rule, a woman had to be purified from her bleeding.
By offering a sacrifice, she was permitted once again to enter into the sanctuary.
The second reason was to redeem the firstborn which according to the law belonged to God.
Joseph and Mary came to do this which would have been five shekels.
In today’s terms this would be about $7.50.
This brings us to…
OUR STUDY:
I. The first aspect is A REMARKABLE ANTICIPATION (25-26).
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
Simeon was a good man.
He was devout.
He was devoted to praying to God, reading God’s Word and meditating on it.
The text also emphasizes that this is a man of the Spirit.
And it is described in different ways.
The Spirit was on him.
The Spirit was in him.
The Spirit moved him.
And the Spirit revealed to Him that he would see the Messiah.
He was not going to die until the Messiah had come.
We don’t know when he found out, or how long he had been waiting.
It could have been months.
It could have been years.
It could have been decades.
Nevertheless, we are left with the impression that this is a patient man.
He has been living in expectation.
He has had a longing and a focus that has not given up.
He has been anticipating the coming of the Lord’s Messiah.
This now brings us to…
II. The second aspect is A WONDERFUL ADORATION (27-28).
And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God…
We don’t know what Simeon was looking for in his own mind.
Perhaps he was expecting a king to come out of the sky.
Or perhaps he was expecting a warrior to release them from Rome.
Though we don’t know what he was expecting, we do know that when Joseph and Mary showed up with Jesus, he knew!
All that he has longed for has finally come.
His great desire has returned.
The wait is over.
Can you imagine what it must have been like for him?
I can see him knowing and then moving quickly toward Mary and Joseph.
I can see his eyes filled with tears.
I see him with quivering hands and a trembling body.
I see him taking the child from Mary and gazing at Him, blessing and worshipping God, and then giving this most magnificent acclamation.
III. The third aspect is A MAGNIFICENT ACCLAMATION (29-32).
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
As he holds Jesus, he knows salvation has come.
This is the One!
Yes, it may be strange to see it in a baby.
How can one know the future of one so new and small?
But Simeon knows.
This baby is the One.
This baby is the One through whom God would save His people.
And here Simeon stands holding Jesus, standing in the gap between the covenant and the new.
All the promises that have been made by God…everyone of them…are now being held in his arms.
He is holding the promise.
He is the salvation for all mankind…men, women and children.
No one has to live in darkness anymore.
Everyone can know the truth.
APPLICATION:
I want to encourage you tonight to be like Simeon.
Live in anticipation of Jesus.
Do you long for Jesus?
Is tomorrow going to be that kind of day for you?
Amidst all the fun and food with family and friends, will you be looking for Jesus?
I also want to encourage you to adore Him.
Let us adore Him.
For when Simeon took hold of that baby, he knew that all that he needed and all that the world needed had been satisfied.
Again, amidst all the fun and food with family and friends, recognize tomorrow that Jesus is all that we need.
I think this song written by Michael Card will bring this home for us tonight.
Let’s listen to him sing, “Now that I Have Held Him in My Arms”
ILL Song: “Now that I Have Held Him in My Arms”
An old man in the temple,
Waiting in the court,
Waiting for the answer to a promise,
And all at once he sees them
In the morning sunshine
A couple coming carrying a baby.
“Now that I’ve held Him in my arms
My life can come to an end.
Let Your servant now depart in peace.
I’ve seen Your salvation.
He’s the Light of the Gentiles,
And the glory of His people Israel.”
Mary and the baby come.
And in her hand five shekels,
The price to redeem her baby boy.
The baby softly cooing,
Nestled in her arms.
Simeon takes the boy and starts to sing.
“Now that I’ve held Him in my arms
My life can come to an end.
Let Your servant now depart in peace.
I’ve seen Your salvation.
He’s the Light of the Gentiles,
And the glory of His people Israel.”
And now’s the time to take Him in your arms.
Your life will never come to an end.
He’s the only way that you’ll find peace.
He’ll give you salvation.
We have reason to rejoice!
WE HAVE A GOD WHO KEEPS HIS PROMISES.
And as you come humbly to Him tonight, He will keep them to you as well.
Because, just like Simeon, God does not want any of us to die before we have seen the Savior of the world.
And just like Simeon, God wants us to receive Him and hold Him—so that our lives will never come to an end.
