Preached December 25, 2011
from
Luke 2:30-32
Theme: Simeon, in his prayer of thanks, declares who the Christ-child is.
(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version; copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
This morning, on Christmas Sunday, I ask that we turn to the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke. It’s there that we find a story that declares to us who this Child is whose birth we celebrate today.
But it’s not a story about his birth. It’s a story of what happened a little over a month after He was born.
* * * * * * * * * *
Joseph and Mary were a Jewish couple. As godly Jews, they sought to faithfully obey the law that God gave to their people through Moses. And in that law—way back in the Book of Leviticus—it was commanded that every woman who had a brand new male child was to be set apart for thirty-three days. In the case of a ‘first-born male child’, at the end of that thirty-three day period, she and her husband were to come with their child to the temple and present him to the Lord. They were to bring to the priest a lamb of the first year as a burnt offering. And if they were poor, and could not afford to bring a lamb, they were permitted to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons instead.
That’s why we’re told, in Luke 2:22-24—thirty-three days after Mary had given birth to Jesus,
Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who 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” (Luke 2:22-24).
I don’t know if you noticed it in that passage; but we’re told that our Savior was born to a poor couple. They could not afford to offer a lamb as a burn offering, so they had to offer a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons instead. But nevertheless, what a special day that must have been for this little family. There had been a great sense of wonder and anticipation about this Child already. The angel had announced to both Mary and Joseph that He was the Son of God—having been conceived in the womb of the young virgin Mary. And how could they ever forget the things that the shepherds told them that they themselves had heard about Him? What a day it must have been when it came time to make their offering at the temple and present Him before the Lord!
But it’s then that yet another remarkable thing happened that further affirmed to them the identity of this holy Child. We’re told, in verse 25-26;
And behold, 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. 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 (vv. 25-26).
We’re told very little of the details concerning this man Simeon. But what little we’re told informs us much about him. He doesn’t appear to be a priest; but simply a godly man. And yet, we’re told that the Holy Spirit was upon him. And we’re also told that he lived his life with anticipation for the coming of the promised Messiah—”waiting”, as Luke tells us, “for the Consolation of Israel”. We’re not told if he was old or young; but it does appear that he was not far from death. And we’re told that the Holy Spirit had assured him that he would not die before he had the privilege that his godly heart longed for—that he would set his eyes upon the Messiah; “the Lord’s Christ”.
Just when it was that he was told this is something we don’t know. But what a thrill that must have been to him! It meant that he was privileged to be living in the time when the long-awaited Messiah would come to his people! And perhaps because he knew that he was not far from death, he also knew that it would not be long before he would lay his eyes upon the Messiah.
One day, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Simeon; I want you to go to the temple.” And Simeon obeyed the Lord. Luke tells us,
So he came by 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 (v. 27) . . .
and here, I wonder if the Holy Spirit gently whispered into Simeon’s ear, “Simeon; look over there. Do you see that couple walking across the temple court? Do you see the Infant that they are carrying? That Child is Him! That is your Savior! That is the Christ.”
In my mind’s eye, I see Simeon making his way to Mary and Joseph—timidly perhaps; but with a look of awe on his face. Perhaps he came up to them and cautiously asked , “Excuse me; but may I look at your Child?”; and they smiled and proudly held Him him up. After all, it’s always a complement when someone wants to see your new baby. And perhaps with a trembling voice, Simeon asked, “What is His name?”; and they then heard him gasped when they told him that His name is Jesus—because that name means ‘Yahweh Saves’. Perhaps he began to weep when he asked, “May I hold Him?”; and perhaps they even grew a little concerned about this strange man, but they graciously placed Jesus into his arms.
We’re told that
he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation
Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel” (vv. 28-32).
We’re not too surprised that Luke would tell us, “And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him” (v. 33). But Simeon—probably after gently placing the precious Savior back into her arms—blessed them, and said these prophetic words to Mary His mother,
“Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (vv. 34-35).
And how true those words would prove to be! That Child—Jesus Christ—is even today the most controversial Figure in human history. The nation of Israel, unto whom He came, would either rise or fall as a result of how they received Him. And even the cross on which they nailed Him has become a symbol in this world that provokes either intense love or hatred. What is truly in someone’s heart toward God would be revealed by what they do with Him; because, as the apostle John would later write, “He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son” (1 John 5:10). Even Mary herself would, as it were, have a sword pierced through her own soul; for she would be at the foot of the cross on which He was put to death—watching as the Roman soldiers pierced Him in His side; and beholding as He died for the sins of humanity. But she would also see Him alive afterwards; and would believe on Him for salvation and become one of His devoted followers.
* * * * * * * * * *
But what I ask that we pay special attention to this morning is what it is that Simeon—under the enabling power of the Holy Spirit—said about this Child. If we were to ask him today, “Simeon; we saw you pick up that Child with a sense of reverent awe and wonder. What can you tell us about Him? What Child is this?”, I believe that there are three things that Simeon would tell us about Him.
First of all, Simeon would tell us that He is . . .
1. THE SALVATION FROM GOD.
Look at verses 30-31. As he held Jesus, Simeon blessed God and said that he felt free to depart from life on this earth; “For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples.” And that’s who, I’m quite sure, Simeon would tell us today that Jesus is.
First, notice what Simeon called Him: “Salvation”. And notice that it’s not just salvation; but salvation from God!—God’s salvation to mankind! The name ‘Jesus’, after all, means “Yahweh Saves”. That’s the name that God had told both Mary and Joseph to give to Him; because that’s what He is. What a wonder that is! Salvation from God has come! And that Salvation from God is a Person named Jesus!
Second, notice that this Person Jesus is a salvation from God that has been “prepared”. As Simeon said, “. . . my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared . . .” To “prepare” something speaks of intentionality and purpose.
How was it that God “prepared” salvation for us in the Person of this Child Jesus? For one thing, He was “prepared” with respect to God Himself, in the sense that it was God’s set purpose to provide atonement for our sins through Him. The Bible tells us that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). When sin happens before a holy God, something must die. And God had it in His plan from long ago that His Son Jesus would be His provision for us—the sacrificial Lamb that atones for our sins. It says in Revelation 13:8 that Jesus was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” That’s one way that God “prepared” this salvation for us.
What’s more, God “prepared” this salvation for us with respect to Jesus Himself. As the eternally pre-existent Son of God, He could not be the sacrifice for the sins of humanity unless He was Himself fully human. And so, we read in Hebrews 10:5-7 of how the writer of Hebrews attributes the words of Psalm 40 to Jesus and says,
“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God” (Hebrews 10:5-7).
Through the agency of the Holy Spirit, the eternal Son of God—without ever ceasing to be fully God—was conceived in the womb of a human being named Mary. Thus Jesus—the fully human Son of God—was able to atone for the sins of the human family. As the writer of Hebrews puts it;
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage (Hebrews 2:14-15).
Thus, Jesus is God’s salvation which He “prepared” in that He provided His Son a body in which to become our atoning sacrifice!
Finally, God “prepared” this salvation with respect to fallen humanity itself. When the times themselves were right, God sent His Son. As the apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 4:4-5;
. . . when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons (Galatians 4:4-5).
What a wonderful Salvation Jesus is! He is, first, our salvation from God; and second, a salvation which God fully prepared! And thirdly, note that He is God’s salvation, fully prepared “before the face of all peoples”. He was in no way hidden from sight, but was made plain to all who seek salvation. And He was not made plain to the Jewish people alone, but to all peoples.
Think back to the wonderful promise that God made to Abraham concerning his promised offspring Jesus Christ—that in Abraham, “all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). And think back to Luke 2:10, and at what the angels told the shepherds of the field—that Jesus’ birth is “good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” Think of what it says back in Psalm 98:2-3;
The LORD has made known His salvation;
His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God
(Psalm 98:2-3).
And think of what it says in Isaiah 52:10;
The LORD has made bare His holy arm
In the eyes of all the nations;
And all the ends of the earth shall see
The salvation of our God (Isaiah 52:10).
Have you ever considered, dear brothers and sisters, where it is that we live today? We live in a very remarkable place. If you were to take a globe, place your finger on Jerusalem, place another finger on Portland, Oregon, and look at how they are on opposite sides of the globe, you’d see that we—living here in Portland—are sitting on what is, quite literally, “the ends of the earth” from Jerusalem. And here we are on this Christmas morning—gathered together on the opposite side of the globe—declaring God’s salvation through Jesus Christ! We are living in the fulfillment of God’s word today! Jesus is, as Simeon said, God’s salvation, which He prepared before the face of all peoples; and we—living as we do in the ends of the earth—have the most reason of all to say “Amen!”
* * * * * * * * * *
Now; not only did Simeon declare that the Child was the Salvation from God; but he also declared that He is . . .
2. THE LIGHT OF REVELATION.
Simeon called Him “a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles”. The Child that Simeon beheld was “a light”; and just think of what a light does. It illuminates that which is dark and that would not otherwise be seen. And Jesus is God’s “light” that illuminates what would otherwise not be seen in this dark world of fallen humanity.
Do you remember how the apostle John began his Gospel? In John 1:4-5, he wrote this to us about Jesus Christ: “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (that is, “did not overcome it”). In verse 9, he tells us that Jesus is “the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.”
And then, notice that He is called “a light to bring revelation”. I remember a time not long ago when I was at the beach. I went for a walk very late at night and tried to follow a path that led to the beach so that I could look at the stars that were spread across the sky above the ocean. But I forgot to bring a flashlight. It was very, very dark; and as I got into the tall bushes in the hills above the beach, I couldn’t see where I was going. I was a little afraid that I might step through a bush off the path, and end up falling down a hill. It wasn’t until I cautiously felt my way out of the bushes and got out into the open again—where a distant light from a nearby house shined—that I could see where to safely put my feet. Because of that light, the path was revealed! And that’s what Jesus does for us in this dark world. Because He came, what would not otherwise be seen can now be known. As it says in Luke 1:78-70,
. . . the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:78-79).
And finally, notice to whom Simeon says it is that Jesus is a revealing light—to the “nations”, or to the “Gentiles”! What a marvel that must have been to the Jewish people—that their Messiah would be a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles! But this is what God promised back in Isaiah 9:1-2;
Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed,
As when at first He lightly esteemed
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
And afterward more heavily oppressed her,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
In Galilee of the Gentiles.
The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined (Isaiah 9:1-2).
* * * * * * * * * *
So; Simeon declares that the Child he beheld is “the Salvation from God”, and “the Light of revelation”. And finally, notice that he declares that He is . . .
3. THE GLORY OF ISRAEL.
He gives praise to God and calls Jesus, “the glory of Your people Israel.” “Glory”, in this case, refers to a gracious adornment from God that brings honor and dignity and nobility and praise upon the one who bears it. And here, Jesus is described as the “glory” of Israel—the One who brings honor and dignity and nobility and praise to His people.
That seems like a remarkable thing, doesn’t it?—especially in the light of the fact that the Jewish people rejected Jesus as their Messiah, and largely reject Him still even today? He is typically thought of by the Jewish people as the religious Figure for the Gentiles. But nevertheless, Jesus is here declared by Simeon—speaking before God under the power of the Holy Spirit—to be Israel’s “glory”.
The Apostle Peter was once ordered by the leaders of the Jewish people to stop preaching in the name of Jesus. But he told them;
This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:11-12).
The ‘cornerstone’ was the most important stone in a building. It was the one from which the whole rest of the building was built. And here, even though He had been a stone ‘rejected’, Jesus has become the ‘cornerstone’.
And the Bible tells us that this same Jesus—rejected by the Jewish people at His first coming—will be received by them, one day, at His second coming. And then, they will hold Him to be what He truly is—the Glory of Israel. The Lord Jesus Himself spoke prophetically in the Old Testament about that time, through His prophet Zechariah, and said,
And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn (Zechariah 12:10).
If I may say it; the people of Israel—at Jesus’ return—will be so sorrowful over their rejection of Him, and so welcoming of His coming again to rule over them, that Israel will become a Christian nation! It will not become a Christian nation because Gentile nations seek to conquer it and make it into one. Rather, it will become one because God will have worked in the heart of the Jewish people—and will have removed, as Paul has it in 2 Corinthians 3:15, the “veil”that “lies on their heart”—and they will welcome Jesus for what Simeon says that He is: their Glory! What a great day it will be for the whole world when Israel finally welcomes Jesus as her King, and enjoys the glory of His reign!
* * * * * * * * * *
That’s what Simeon blessed God and said that the Baby in his arms was—”Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel”. How Mary and Joseph must have marveled at these words!
And do you notice how this testimony was further verified to them? Luke goes on to tell us;
Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem (Luke 2:36-38).
She gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption. Knowing ‘what Child is this’, may we do the same!