At the end of eight days when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus,
the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
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's 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 turtle doves or two young pigeons.
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.
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 and said,
Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word.
For my eyes have seen your salvation.
You have prepared in the presence of all peoples a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.
And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
Behold, the child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel
for a sign that is opposed.
And a sword will pierce through your own soul also,
so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phineul, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,
and then as a widow until she was 84.
She did not depart from the temple,
worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
And coming up at that very hour,
she began to give thanks to God
and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Amen.
Well, it's that time of year when many of us, maybe all of us,
set aside our regularly scheduled programming
in order that we might indulge in our favorite Christmas movies.
Perhaps you've been doing that for a little while already.
From Bob Wallace to Kevin McAllister to Buddy the Elf,
we will re-watch our favorite Christmas classics
that we have seen countless times before.
And one of our family's favorites,
and one of the ones that we typically bring out every Christmas at some point,
we've already done it once this Christmas season,
is a Christmas story,
which recounts the tale of little Ralphie
and his pursuit of a Red Rider carbine action 200 shot range model air rifle
that he continuously is told will shoot his eye out.
Right?
You know the story.
It's the opening narrative of the movie
that really just so helpfully summarizes the theme.
The whole reason of the story really boils down to one thing.
Here's what it says, the narrator, at the very beginning.
Christmas was on its way.
Lovely, glorious, beautiful Christmas
around which the entire kid year revolved.
That's basically the theme of the story, if you've seen it.
Little Ralphie has waited all year.
He's had his eye on that air rifle all year.
And now it has come time.
Christmas is almost there.
And he hopes to receive what he's been looking for and asking for for so long.
When you're a kid, the entire year does somewhat feel like a waiting period, doesn't it?
The closer that December gets, the greater the anticipation builds.
And it all culminates in the excitement of opening presents on Christmas morning.
But long before Ralphie got his gun and Kevin was left home alone
and being dreamt of a white Christmas,
Christians were observing a season of waiting and anticipation known as Advent.
Of course, Advent has fallen on hard times recently,
but it's making a bit of a comeback in evangelical circles.
And that's a good thing.
Advent, of course, it means coming or arrival.
In the Advent season, it puts us in the shoes of faithful Old Testament saints
who patiently anticipated and awaited the coming of God's promised Messiah.
The one who would bring eternal salvation,
who would bring an eternal kingdom.
To his people.
This Savior King, Jesus, was born nearly 2,000 years ago now
in the little town of Bethlehem in Judah.
And Christians, New Testament saints,
look back in celebration on that Advent,
that coming, that arrival of Messiah,
as we patiently anticipate a second Advent,
the second coming of that same Savior King.
So then we look back in faith,
as we look forward in faith,
and we wait.
We wait.
That's what Advent's about.
Waiting.
Anticipating.
And perhaps no other biblical characters in the narratives of the Christmas story
exemplify this spirit of Advent
more than the two really obscure people
that Luke refers to here in Luke chapter 2.
Luke notes that both Simeon and Anna were waiting.
They were longing for, hopefully,
for the arrival of Messiah.
You see it for Simeon in verse 25,
if you just set your eye there.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon,
and this man was righteous and devout,
and he was waiting for the consolation of Israel.
Consolation there,
Luke is drawing on several passages in the prophet Isaiah,
Messianic passages that speak of the comforting,
the consolation,
the salvation of God's people
through this coming Savior King.
He's drawing on that there.
When we get to verse 38,
we find that this is alluded to as well for Anna.
After having waited and praying and fasting for many years,
in verse 38,
we're told that she came up at the very hour
that she met Jesus and began to give thanks to God
and to speak of him to all who were also waiting
for the redemption of Jerusalem.
So we get to these two characters.
We get to these two historic people,
and Luke notes them especially for their waiting,
their longing.
Simeon and Anna represent the last of the Old Testament saints
who really did trust in God's promises,
faithfully anticipating the coming of the Christ.
They represent Israel,
who long awaited the coming of the Son of David,
who would sit on David's throne,
not temporarily,
but for eternity.
They represent all of mankind in a sense,
cursed by sin,
that has longed for the restoration of God's people
since the seed of the woman was promised
to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Simeon and Anna then have a significant role
in Luke's record of the gospel.
They give witness to Jesus as the Messiah,
and they provide a wonderful example to us
of how as New Testament saints,
we should follow their pattern as we wait,
as we wait for Messiah to return.
And this morning,
maybe somewhat devotionally,
I want us to take some time
and meditate on their part in the Christmas story.
Of course, the scene is set for us in verses 22 to 24.
It's the 40th day since Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem,
and Joseph has taken her the six-mile journey
from Bethlehem to Jerusalem,
and they're there for a specific purpose.
God stipulated in the law
that certain practices had to be observed
following the birth of a child.
Now, if you want to read about those,
the references for that is Luke chapter,
or excuse me, Leviticus chapter 12,
the entire chapter,
or you can look at Exodus chapter 13,
and you'll find it there as well.
The first stipulation was circumcision
for a male child on the eighth day,
which was an important covenant sign
for the people of Israel.
The second requirement involved a period of purification
during which the mother was considered
ceremonially unclean.
And that period of uncleanness
lasted for 33 days
following the circumcision of the male child.
And at the end of those 40 combined days,
there was the culmination of going to the temple
and offering both a burnt offering
in worship to God
and a sin offering
as an atonement,
sign of atonement to God.
The third law necessitated
that the firstborn male
be presented or dedicated to the Lord
in reflection of Israel's exodus from Egypt.
Now, in your own study,
I'll trust you to do this,
you will be wonderfully helped
to go back and trace
why God gave these three stipulations
to his people.
It wasn't just to hang a burden on their necks.
There was important, significant,
salvific symbolism
in these three acts.
And you will find it most encouraging
to go back and research them.
But the encounters that take place
with Simeon and Anna
here in this chapter,
they occur as Joseph and Mary
go to the temple complex
in Jerusalem
to perform these acts of worship.
So before we actually get to Simeon and Anna,
it would be worth our time
to just take a moment
and examine and reflect
on Joseph and Mary's piety here.
For Jesus to truly be the Savior,
it was necessary
that he perfectly fulfill God's commands
as one, quote,
born under the law.
That's Galatians 4.
In the fullness of time,
God sent forth his Son,
born of woman,
born under the law,
in order that he might redeem
those who are under the law.
This is an important facet of the gospel.
It was necessary for Jesus
to be the Savior
that he truly fulfill
all of God's commands.
However, as a baby, an infant,
how could he?
His fulfillment of the law
as an infant was out of his control.
He couldn't circumcise himself.
He couldn't present himself.
Therefore, it was necessary
that Joseph and Mary
carefully fulfilled
the requirements of the law
related to the birth
of their firstborn son.
Had they not done so,
we would not have grounds
to say that Jesus truly is the Christ.
We would not have grounds
to affirm
that his atonement on the cross
was a sufficient atonement for us.
This is important.
It would be easy to pass over
in a cursory reading of the text,
but we ought not do that.
Here's the thing.
There is no indication
that this specific purpose
was in Joseph and Mary's minds
as they obeyed God in this.
Yes, the angel told them
who the child was
and what the child was to do.
He didn't give a manual
for how to raise the Son of God.
He didn't give instructions
beyond his birth.
He didn't lay out everything
that they were to do
as parents of the Messiah.
So you can imagine Mary
even looking at Joseph, perhaps,
in Bethlehem
after Jesus is born
and saying,
what do we do now?
What are we supposed to do?
And perhaps in that moment,
Joseph, who we know
was a just man,
according to Matthew,
a righteous man,
a faithful man,
actually knew exactly what to do.
They had all the instructions
that they needed
in the Word of God.
And it was to God's Word
that Joseph turned.
And he said,
we'll wait eight days
and we'll make sure
he's circumcised.
That's what God has said to do.
And then we'll go to Jerusalem
a little while after
and we'll do what God
has told us to do there.
Isn't that interesting?
Amazing.
Simple obedience.
Their faithfulness to God
was pivotal
to the testimony
of Jesus as Messiah.
We tend to overcomplicate things,
don't we?
We tend to overcomplicate
what it actually means
to be faithful.
When we can look at someone
like Joseph and Mary
and find that it's actually
quite simple,
at least theoretically it's simple.
God has told us
everything we need to know
for salvation
and for obedience to Him
in the Bible.
He's given us the instruction.
He has revealed to us
His desires.
And the faithfulness
that results in God's blessing
and usefulness
in God's purposes
as we see
in the life of Joseph
and Mary.
It really is as basic
as studying the Bible
and living according
to what God has said
therein.
Sometimes we're looking
for a custom-tailored plan
for what we are to do
with our lives
and the decisions
that we are to make
and you really ought not
look for that.
You just need to trust
the Lord
that He's in control
of your life.
You need to obey
what He's told you
because you know
what that is
and you have access to it.
And then exercise wisdom
as you walk in the Spirit.
Now this was so important
for Joseph and Mary.
It's so important
for you and I.
In addition to ensuring
that the baby Jesus
fulfilled the law's demands,
something that perhaps
they didn't even
weren't consciously aware of
and necessitating,
maybe they were,
we don't know.
But in addition to all of that,
their obedience resulted
in these encounters
with so many different people,
in these encounters
with Simeon and Anna,
which probably likely became
such an affirming moment
for them in the plan of God.
In fact,
we're told in the middle
of the text
that they marveled
at what was said.
We love when people
compliment our kids,
don't we?
Ashlyn played
an orchestra concert,
Christmas concert yesterday
in Statesville
and some of our family
was there
and some of you
were there
and showed up
and we love that.
We love when people
come up to our kids
and they say,
oh, you did such a good job
in the violin yesterday.
That makes us feel good,
doesn't it?
Makes them feel good,
makes us as parents feel good.
Here's Joseph and Mary.
They've got their baby boy
in the temple
and here comes
two righteous,
devout people
and they say
such wonderful things
about the child.
And what is it
that Mary and Joseph do?
They marvel at it.
Wow.
What an affirming moment
for them.
And what is it the fruit of?
It's the fruit of their obedience.
Just simple,
faithful obedience
to the Lord.
And we should expect
that upon sending
his son to us
that God would supply
witnesses
to testify
to Jesus' identity
and purpose.
Throughout the Christmas narratives,
whether you're looking
in Matthew's gospel
or in Luke's gospel,
you'll find it the same.
Throughout,
we find various witnesses
who have established
the true nature
of the Christ,
the true nature
of this child.
And we can think of them,
we think of Joseph and Mary,
of course,
but then what about
Zechariah and Elizabeth
and the baby John
leaping in the womb?
What are they doing?
What is that all about?
Why does Matthew bother
to tell us that
or Luke bother
to tell us about that?
Because they are witnesses
to the Christ.
Then we find the shepherds
near Bethlehem.
An amazing miracle
happens with them as well.
They see the angels.
They hear the proclamation.
What do they do?
They make haste.
They run to Bethlehem
and they find it
just as the angels
had told them.
And then they go
throughout the land
spreading the news.
Why?
Why does Luke bother
to tell us about that
in Luke chapter 2?
Because they're witnesses
of the Messiah.
Then there's the Magi
from the east,
stargazers.
They see the star.
They make their way
toward Israel.
They find the child
ultimately
and they bring him gifts.
Why do we need
to know that?
That's Matthew chapter 2.
They were witnesses
to the Messiah
of the Christ.
Now here's the thing
that all of these people
have in common.
From a human perspective,
they are among
the unlikeliest
of candidates
to be such witnesses.
The Magi
from the east,
they're Gentiles.
We don't even know
that they're really believers.
But God uses them
in that moment
as a testimony
to the person
of Jesus Christ.
what Jew
is going to hear
their testimony
and believe it.
But it wasn't very different
for the shepherds either.
They had such a reputation
at the time
that all of this
was unfolding
in the first century.
They had such a reputation
that you couldn't even
accept a shepherd's testimony
in a legal proceeding
as admissible.
They wouldn't even
receive it
simply because
the reputation
of the shepherds
was so poor.
And yet that's
who God uses
as a witness
of his Messiah.
Zechariah and Elizabeth
are a bit different,
aren't they?
They're faithful.
They're holy people.
And yet there's a miracle
that God does with them
as one of their
unlikely candidates.
Well, Simeon and Anna,
they fit the bill
for unexpected witnesses
to the advent
of the Christ.
There's nothing
especially noteworthy
about them.
There's no miracle
associated
with their introduction
to Jesus
as there was
the other witnesses.
Simeon and Anna
were ordinary people.
But in terms
of their faith,
there was nothing
ordinary about them.
They were extraordinary.
Like Zechariah
and Elizabeth,
they were part
of that final generation
of old covenant saints
justified by faith
in the promise
of God's Messiah.
And their lives
reflected
that saving faith.
Simeon was known
for his righteousness
and devotion
to God.
Because he believed God,
he lived in holiness,
faithfully worshipped
the Lord.
That's an example
for us.
We just looked at it
in 1 Peter 2
a few moments ago.
What does it mean
to live in righteousness?
Well, it's a reflection
on who you are
in Christ.
It is a result
of a faith
in God
and God's promised Messiah
that leads
to that kind
of conduct
and behavior.
And that's the example
that Simeon gives us.
Anna was the same.
Righteous and devout
may not be words
used to describe her
in the text,
but what is said
about her shows
that righteous devotion
was indeed her reality.
Because she believed God,
she spent the majority
of her life,
her very long life,
in worship,
fasting,
and prayer.
Over what?
The Messiah
that she trusted
would come
and bring salvation.
And why did she
trust that?
How could she trust that?
God's been silent
for at least 400 years.
Oh, she trusted
what God said before.
And because she believed God,
she worshipped,
she fasted,
she prayed,
she waited.
But all of Simeon
and Anna's faithful devotion
is revealed
in their waiting.
They longed for God
to send the Christ
in their lifetime
and because of that,
God gave them
the blessing
of being key witnesses
of the birth
of his Messiah.
Not because there was
something significant
about them,
but just like Joseph
and Mary,
they were just ordinary people
with an extraordinary faith
and God blessed it.
And they became witnesses
of the Christ.
And the witness
of Simeon and Anna,
it isn't simply
the acknowledgement
that a child was born.
The text refers
to both of them
as prophets of God,
those chosen by God
to declare his word
and reveal his truth.
We don't know
if they were regarded
as prophets
before this moment.
The fact is
that's probably
very unlikely.
Their status
as prophets
probably applies
specifically to this
this encounter.
Think about that.
In other words,
God chose them
as his witnesses
for this moment
in redemptive history
and their righteous devotion
gave credibility
to their prophecy.
How wonderful
to be mightily used
by God
if even just once
in your lifetime,
if even just once
in your life
to be a prophet
in the sense
of proclaiming
the gospel of God
so that it affects others
and God uses
your witness
in that way.
That's what's happening
with Simeon and Anna.
How wonderful of a thing.
Nothing is quoted
from Anna
in the text.
We only know
that God revealed
to her
the child's identity
because she
subsequently rejoiced
and shared the news
with others.
The fact that
her declaration
was prophetic
is seen simply
in the fact
that Luke calls her
a prophetess.
Makes it pretty easy
to figure out.
Now much more
is recorded for us
about Simeon.
That's where we'll spend
the rest of our time.
He was empowered
by the Holy Spirit
for this moment
we're told.
The Spirit prepared him
ahead of time
telling him
what would take place.
Revealing that he would
see the Christ
before his death.
We don't know
how long he was
aware of that.
Perhaps he was only
aware of it
that day.
We don't know.
But at some point
he had operated
with this understanding
eagerly anticipating
meeting the Lord's Christ.
And when that moment
finally arrived
God used Simeon
to prophesy
about Jesus'
purpose
the purpose of the child
to bring salvation.
Let's just look
what he said.
Look with me again
at verses 28 to 33
first.
Simeon took him
up in his arms
took Jesus up
in his arms
and blessed God
and said
Lord
now you're 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.
And his father
and his mother
marveled at what
was said about you.
Isn't it interesting
here that upon
seeing the child
Simeon says
that he's now
ready to die.
Is that what he says?
Lord now you're
letting your servant
depart in peace.
He doesn't say
anything about death
there.
We make that connection
because what has
just been told to us
that the spirit
came and said
hey you're not
going to die
until you see the Christ
and now he sees the Christ
and he says okay
I'm ready to die.
That's interesting isn't it?
Why would he say that?
Wouldn't it make more sense
for Simeon to want
to live longer
so that he might see
what would become
of the child?
Simeon's response
however it reflects
the depth of his faith
doesn't it?
These are not words
of a man
who simply wished
that the child
would be the one
to bring salvation.
This is someone
who was entirely
convinced of it.
In fact
he's so convinced
so assured
that his eternal salvation
would come through
this baby
that it gave him
complete peace
to go on to death.
Is that not the picture
of saving faith?
That we're so trusting
in the person
and the work
of Jesus Christ
that we know
how to face death
with peace.
Being assured
of the fact
that our eternal soul
rests in the grace
and mercy
of the Lord Jesus.
Isn't that what
Simeon is indicating here?
He doesn't have
to see the cross.
He doesn't have
to see anything
else.
He's so convinced
in his faith
this is Messiah.
Lord now bring me home.
You have fulfilled
your word
to me.
Oh what an example
for us
to trust Jesus
so much
that upon coming
to Christ
we can say
I can die
in peace now.
And we can say that
because it's the truth.
It's the reality
of our position
in Christ.
It is one of peace
with God.
Now according
to Simeon's
prophetic blessing
the salvation
Jesus would bring
was expansive.
It included more
than just those
who belong to Israel.
He says that
this salvation
has been prepared
before the eyes
of all peoples.
Jesus is the light
of revelation
to the Gentiles
who had not
received God's
revelation
as had the Jews.
Think about that.
They didn't have
the word.
They didn't have
the promises.
They didn't have
the covenant.
They didn't have
the worship
that all pointed
toward this Messiah.
They didn't have
that.
But they could
look to Christ
and they saw
the revelation
of God in Christ.
Oh it's wonderful.
Looking to Jesus
even non-Jews
would see the nature
and salvation
of Almighty God.
Through Jesus
all who repent
and believe
whether Jew
or Gentile
would be saved.
Jesus is also
the glory of Israel.
At least for those
who believe.
There was so much
for the Jews
to glory in
wasn't there.
They could glory
in the law.
They could glory
in the Exodus.
They could glory
in the prophets.
They could glory
in the temple.
They had so much.
And yet Simeon
reminds us here
that for those
who believe
the true glory
of Israel
is the Christ.
Supersedes
all of those things.
Isn't that what
the writer of Hebrews
is intent to tell us?
That Jesus
is better
than all of it.
All of it
is a shadow
that's pointing
forward to him.
Simeon realizes that.
He says,
oh, this child,
this child
is the glory
of Israel
more than anything
else we would
pride ourselves in.
Simeon's blessing,
it declares
the identity
of the child
and that he is
the Christ.
But it's his
prophetic words
to Mary
that actually
reveal the child's
purpose.
Look at verse
34 and 35.
after Simeon's
song as it's
known,
Simeon blessed
them and he said
especially to Mary,
behold,
this child is
appointed for the
fall and rising
of many in Israel
and for a sign
that is opposed.
A sword will
pierce through
your own soul
also so that
faults from many
hearts may be
revealed.
Appointed
is the key word
here.
It tells us
that what
follows is
Jesus' purpose,
what God has
chosen him to
be and to
do.
First,
we find in
Simeon's prophecy
Jesus is the
Lord who will
judge us all.
With his
judgment,
Jesus will
cause those
who persist
in prideful
unbelief
to fall
and those
who persist
in humble
faith
to be exalted.
But then he
says Jesus
is also a
sign,
a sign that
will be
opposed by
many.
And what
is the
sign?
Jesus himself
tells us.
In Matthew
chapter 12
verses 39
and 40,
the Jews
demanded of
Jesus a
sign and
here's how
he answered.
He answered
them,
an evil and
an adulterous
generation seeks
for a sign.
In other words,
an evil and
adulterous
generation looks
at the Messiah
and says,
prove it again.
But no sign
will be given
to it except
the sign of
the prophet
Jonah.
For just
as Jonah
was three
days and
three nights
in the belly
of the great
fish,
so will the
Son of Man
be three days
and three nights
in the heart
of the earth.
What's the
sign?
Death
is the
sign.
Not just
death.
The sign of
Jonah is not
just death.
It is a
temporary death,
isn't it?
Only three
days and
three nights
will he
remain in
the heart
of the
earth.
Oh,
it also
is a
sign of
resurrection,
neither of
which was
acceptable to
the Jews
who demanded
these signs.
Jesus says
it again in
John chapter
three,
uses a
different
illustration
here.
John
chapter
three in
verse
14,
as Moses
lifted up
the serpent
in the
wilderness,
so must
the Son of
Man be
lifted up,
that whoever
believes in
him may
have eternal
life.
That's a
reference to
an event in
Israel's history
as they
wandered in
the desert,
they disobeyed
God,
God sent
fiery serpents,
and then God
told Moses to
make a bronze
serpent,
to put it up
on a post,
and those who
were bitten by
the fiery
serpents,
if they just
looked up to
the provision
of God,
that's the
symbol,
look up to
the provision
of God,
what God
has given
them for
healing,
that they
would then
be healed.
Jesus reflects
on that in
his conversation
with Nicodemus,
and he says,
just like Moses
hung that
snake up on
the pole,
and people
looked to
that for
their healing
from God,
so must the
Son of Man
be lifted up,
so that those
who look to
him will find
true healing.
What's the
sign?
The sign
that is
opposed is
the cross
of Christ.
What Paul
said was a
stumbling block
to the Jews,
what he said
was foolishness
to the Gentiles,
and both Jews
and Gentiles
refused to
believe in a
Lord and
Savior who
would be
revealed in
such weakness,
dying a
criminal's
death.
But to
those who
have eyes
to see,
it is the
good news
of how God
has brought
salvation to
sinners through
Jesus Christ.
This child
in Simeon's
arms is the
sinless one.
He's the
sinless one who
died as a
criminal so
that trespassers
of the law
like you
and me
might be
forgiven
and counted
righteous before
God.
And how we
respond to
the sign of
the cross,
either in
faith or in
unbelief,
will be
exposed at the
final judgment
of the Lord
Jesus.
That's the end
of the prophecy,
isn't it?
This sign will
be opposed.
the process
of that sign
being carried
out would be
a sword
through the
soul of
Mary as
she watched
her own
son be
murdered.
But then in
the very end,
what does all
of this
accomplish?
That many
hearts will be
exposed,
many hearts
will be
revealed.
What does
that mean?
That it is on
the basis of
what we do
with the sign
that Christ,
the judge,
will judge
us.
Simeon and
Anna, by
God's grace,
had eyes to
see.
And they
rejoiced in
the advent of
God's salvation,
the baby Jesus.
They're witnesses
of the Messiah.
And each of us
will be held
accountable to
their testimony.
For Simeon and
Anna, the wait
was over.
As it regards
our salvation,
the wait can
be over for
you as well.
If you look
to the sign
and believe,
if you look
to the cross
and trust
in him
and what
he's done,
the wait
will be over
for you too.
Now I want
to finish
with one
other thing.
Just as
Simeon and
Anna faithfully
longed for the
advent of Christ,
so are we
as Christians
to faithfully
long for
his second
advent?
Jesus is
coming back.
The word
testifies to
that again
and again.
He will
return.
And we
await that
moment like
Ralphie
awaited Christmas
morning to get
his Red
Rider BB
gun.
with great
anticipation.
We long
that he would
come back.
Using a
parable,
Jesus said
that all
who faithfully
await his
return will be
blessed.
This is in
Luke chapter
12.
Jesus said,
blessed are
those servants
whom the
master finds
awake when
he comes.
Truly I say
to you,
he will dress
himself for
service and
he will have
them recline
at table and
he will come
and serve them.
That's all
indication of
blessing and
eternity in the
kingdom.
And if he
comes in the
second watch or
in the third
watch or whatever
watch and he
finds them awake,
blessed are those
servants, Jesus
says.
What's he saying?
He's saying that
we must await him
as Simeon and
Anna awaited him.
they show us
what it looks
like to
faithfully
wait so
that we
too might
be blessed
by God
in the way
that they
were blessed
by God.
And so let
me close by
just highlighting
some features
of their example
that we can
apply to our
own Christian
waiting for
the return of
Christ.
Our waiting
should be marked
by five things.
First,
it should be
marked by
faith.
Indeed,
faith is the
root of their
longing.
Without faith
and trust in
God and his
word,
there would be
no longing.
There would be
no waiting for
Simeon and
Anna.
They fully
trusted God's
word.
So should we
trust based on
the first
advent that the
second advent
is coming.
Trust it
wholeheartedly.
And it is in
that faith that
the Lord will
create the
longing.
So our
waiting should
be marked by
faith.
Number two,
our waiting
should be
marked by
righteousness.
It should be
marked by
righteousness.
How are we
to live as
we wait for
the Lord?
Righteously.
That was
Peter's testimony
in 1 Peter 2.
That we
abstain from
the deeds of
the flesh.
That we
pursue Christ
and his glory
and the glory
of God in
the world.
That we
live honorably
according to
what God
has told us
to do.
Our faith
must be
reflected in
our obedience.
Isn't that
what was true
of Joseph
and Mary?
They trusted
the word of
God so they
obeyed the
word of God
in the way
that they
handled their
baby.
It's true of
Simeon and
Anna.
They trusted
God and they
were both
acknowledged for
their righteousness
and that
righteousness was
the overflow
of their faith
not the cause
of it.
It was the
fruit of it.
Thirdly,
our waiting
should be
marked by
devotion.
Devotion.
Simeon and
Anna gave
their lives
to worship
and we
must not
forsake that
worship.
Whether it
be the
worship in
our private
devotion to
the Lord
day by day
or it
be in
obedience to
the gathered
church in
worship Sunday
by Sunday.
We must
live as we
wait devoted
to worship
not being
distracted by
the things of
this world
but devoting
ourselves
wholeheartedly
giving ourselves
wholeheartedly
to the worship
of God.
Fourth,
our waiting
should be
marked by
focus.
By focus.
Isn't that
an implication
of Simeon
and Anna's
example?
people,
they weren't
distracted by
the world.
They weren't
distracted by
this life to
the extent
that they
always had an
eye on what
was to come.
For them,
as old covenant
believers,
what was to
come for them
was that first
advent.
It's different
for us.
We have so
much more
opportunity than
they do.
We have so
much more
revelation than
they do,
don't we?
In the new
covenant.
it's so easy
for us to be
distracted by
the cares of
this life.
Let me just
ask you,
when's the
last time
that you
thought,
today,
I'm going to
live in light
of the coming
of Christ?
Today,
I'm going to
look for
Christ.
Today,
I'm going to
make sure that
my life is
focused on that
heavenly citizenship
that is to
come.
Most of us
probably don't
think that way
very often,
but that was
true of Simeon
and Anna's
life.
Anna lived
at the
temple.
She worshipped.
She fasted.
She prayed.
She always had
an eye on
what was to
come.
Simeon always
had an eye on
what was to
come.
And it's time
for us to get
our eyes off
of this life
and really
intentionally as
Christ people,
to have an
eye on what
is to come,
to live in
light of the
glory that
is to come
when Christ
returns.
Fifthly,
our waiting
should be
marked by
evangelism.
Evangelism.
They shared
the good news
of Christ
coming with
others.
It's plain
in the text.
Simeon
excitedly,
it doesn't
tell us how
old he is.
We gather
because of
the whole
scenario
with his
death and
the language
of his
death.
We gather
that maybe
he was
advanced in
age like
Anna was.
We don't
really know,
but perhaps
he was at
that age
where you
can just
kind of
get by
with taking
people's
babies up
in your
hand.
I don't
know what
age it is
that you
cross into
that,
but there
is an
age where
you get
to where
it's just
like you
just talk
to all
the babies
in the
restaurant
and parents
just kind
of let
you do
it,
right?
Maybe
Simeon's
kind of
like that.
We don't
know if
it was the
intention of
Joseph and
Mary to
receive a
blessing from
Simeon.
We don't
know if he
was a
priest.
We don't
know anything
about him
from that
perspective.
We just
know that
he saw
this baby
that the
Lord revealed
to him who
this baby
was and he
takes him up
in his arms
and what
does he do?
He publicly
declares the
truth of who
this child
is.
And what
is it that
Santa does?
Santa.
Christmas on the
brain.
Anna.
What is it
that Anna does?
She sees the
Christ.
We don't
know exactly
the interaction
that she had
but clearly
she understood
what Simeon
understood.
Maybe she
was with
him when
he made
this prophecy.
And what
is it that
she does?
She immediately
goes to
everybody else
around her.
Others who
were longing
for the coming
of the Messiah
and she said
he has come.
He's come.
What are we
to do as we
wait?
We're to go
to other people
around us and
say listen he's
come and he's
coming back.
Repent and
believe the good
news.
It's what
Jesus commanded
us to do.
Now Jesus
says in Luke
12 blessed
are those whom
the master
finds awake
when he
returns.
That's what
it looks like
to be awake.
Are you
waiting well?
Are you
waiting well?