WEBVTT

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 At the end of eight days when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus,

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 the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

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 And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses,

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 they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

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 As it's written in the law of the Lord,

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 every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.

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 And to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord,

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 a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.

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 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon,

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 and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel.

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 And the Holy Spirit was upon him.

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 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death

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 before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

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 And he came in the Spirit into the temple,

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 and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law,

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 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

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 Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word.

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 For my eyes have seen your salvation.

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 You have prepared in the presence of all peoples a light for revelation to the Gentiles

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 and for glory to your people Israel.

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 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.

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 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,

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 Behold, the child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel

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 for a sign that is opposed.

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 And a sword will pierce through your own soul also,

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 so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.

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 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phineul, of the tribe of Asher.

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 She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,

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 and then as a widow until she was 84.

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 She did not depart from the temple,

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 worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

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 And coming up at that very hour,

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 she began to give thanks to God

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 and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

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 Amen.

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 Well, it's that time of year when many of us, maybe all of us,

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 set aside our regularly scheduled programming

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 in order that we might indulge in our favorite Christmas movies.

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 Perhaps you've been doing that for a little while already.

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 From Bob Wallace to Kevin McAllister to Buddy the Elf,

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 we will re-watch our favorite Christmas classics

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 that we have seen countless times before.

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 And one of our family's favorites,

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 and one of the ones that we typically bring out every Christmas at some point,

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 we've already done it once this Christmas season,

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 is a Christmas story,

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 which recounts the tale of little Ralphie

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 and his pursuit of a Red Rider carbine action 200 shot range model air rifle

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 that he continuously is told will shoot his eye out.

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 Right?

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 You know the story.

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 It's the opening narrative of the movie

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 that really just so helpfully summarizes the theme.

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 The whole reason of the story really boils down to one thing.

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 Here's what it says, the narrator, at the very beginning.

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 Christmas was on its way.

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 Lovely, glorious, beautiful Christmas

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 around which the entire kid year revolved.

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 That's basically the theme of the story, if you've seen it.

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 Little Ralphie has waited all year.

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 He's had his eye on that air rifle all year.

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 And now it has come time.

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 Christmas is almost there.

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 And he hopes to receive what he's been looking for and asking for for so long.

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 When you're a kid, the entire year does somewhat feel like a waiting period, doesn't it?

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 The closer that December gets, the greater the anticipation builds.

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 And it all culminates in the excitement of opening presents on Christmas morning.

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 But long before Ralphie got his gun and Kevin was left home alone

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 and being dreamt of a white Christmas,

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 Christians were observing a season of waiting and anticipation known as Advent.

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 Of course, Advent has fallen on hard times recently,

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 but it's making a bit of a comeback in evangelical circles.

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 And that's a good thing.

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 Advent, of course, it means coming or arrival.

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 In the Advent season, it puts us in the shoes of faithful Old Testament saints

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 who patiently anticipated and awaited the coming of God's promised Messiah.

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 The one who would bring eternal salvation,

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 who would bring an eternal kingdom.

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 To his people.

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 This Savior King, Jesus, was born nearly 2,000 years ago now

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 in the little town of Bethlehem in Judah.

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 And Christians, New Testament saints,

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 look back in celebration on that Advent,

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 that coming, that arrival of Messiah,

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 as we patiently anticipate a second Advent,

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 the second coming of that same Savior King.

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 So then we look back in faith,

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 as we look forward in faith,

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 and we wait.

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 We wait.

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 That's what Advent's about.

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 Waiting.

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 Anticipating.

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 And perhaps no other biblical characters in the narratives of the Christmas story

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 exemplify this spirit of Advent

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 more than the two really obscure people

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 that Luke refers to here in Luke chapter 2.

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 Luke notes that both Simeon and Anna were waiting.

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 They were longing for, hopefully,

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 for the arrival of Messiah.

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 You see it for Simeon in verse 25,

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 if you just set your eye there.

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 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon,

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 and this man was righteous and devout,

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 and he was waiting for the consolation of Israel.

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 Consolation there,

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 Luke is drawing on several passages in the prophet Isaiah,

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 Messianic passages that speak of the comforting,

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 the consolation,

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 the salvation of God's people

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 through this coming Savior King.

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 He's drawing on that there.

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 When we get to verse 38,

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 we find that this is alluded to as well for Anna.

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 After having waited and praying and fasting for many years,

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 in verse 38,

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 we're told that she came up at the very hour

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 that she met Jesus and began to give thanks to God

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 and to speak of him to all who were also waiting

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 for the redemption of Jerusalem.

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 So we get to these two characters.

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 We get to these two historic people,

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 and Luke notes them especially for their waiting,

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 their longing.

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 Simeon and Anna represent the last of the Old Testament saints

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 who really did trust in God's promises,

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 faithfully anticipating the coming of the Christ.

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 They represent Israel,

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 who long awaited the coming of the Son of David,

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 who would sit on David's throne,

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 not temporarily,

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 but for eternity.

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 They represent all of mankind in a sense,

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 cursed by sin,

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 that has longed for the restoration of God's people

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 since the seed of the woman was promised

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 to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

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 Simeon and Anna then have a significant role

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 in Luke's record of the gospel.

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 They give witness to Jesus as the Messiah,

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 and they provide a wonderful example to us

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 of how as New Testament saints,

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 we should follow their pattern as we wait,

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 as we wait for Messiah to return.

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 And this morning,

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 maybe somewhat devotionally,

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 I want us to take some time

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 and meditate on their part in the Christmas story.

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 Of course, the scene is set for us in verses 22 to 24.

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 It's the 40th day since Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem,

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 and Joseph has taken her the six-mile journey

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 from Bethlehem to Jerusalem,

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 and they're there for a specific purpose.

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 God stipulated in the law

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 that certain practices had to be observed

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 following the birth of a child.

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 Now, if you want to read about those,

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 the references for that is Luke chapter,

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 or excuse me, Leviticus chapter 12,

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 the entire chapter,

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 or you can look at Exodus chapter 13,

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 and you'll find it there as well.

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 The first stipulation was circumcision

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 for a male child on the eighth day,

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 which was an important covenant sign

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 for the people of Israel.

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 The second requirement involved a period of purification

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 during which the mother was considered

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 ceremonially unclean.

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 And that period of uncleanness

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 lasted for 33 days

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 following the circumcision of the male child.

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 And at the end of those 40 combined days,

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 there was the culmination of going to the temple

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 and offering both a burnt offering

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 in worship to God

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 and a sin offering

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 as an atonement,

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 sign of atonement to God.

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 The third law necessitated

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 that the firstborn male

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 be presented or dedicated to the Lord

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 in reflection of Israel's exodus from Egypt.

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 Now, in your own study,

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 I'll trust you to do this,

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 you will be wonderfully helped

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 to go back and trace

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 why God gave these three stipulations

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 to his people.

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 It wasn't just to hang a burden on their necks.

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 There was important, significant,

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 salvific symbolism

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 in these three acts.

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 And you will find it most encouraging

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 to go back and research them.

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 But the encounters that take place

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 with Simeon and Anna

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 here in this chapter,

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 they occur as Joseph and Mary

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 go to the temple complex

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 in Jerusalem

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 to perform these acts of worship.

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 So before we actually get to Simeon and Anna,

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 it would be worth our time

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 to just take a moment

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 and examine and reflect

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 on Joseph and Mary's piety here.

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 For Jesus to truly be the Savior,

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 it was necessary

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 that he perfectly fulfill God's commands

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 as one, quote,

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 born under the law.

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 That's Galatians 4.

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 In the fullness of time,

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 God sent forth his Son,

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 born of woman,

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 born under the law,

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 in order that he might redeem

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 those who are under the law.

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 This is an important facet of the gospel.

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 It was necessary for Jesus

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 to be the Savior

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 that he truly fulfill

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 all of God's commands.

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 However, as a baby, an infant,

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 how could he?

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 His fulfillment of the law

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 as an infant was out of his control.

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 He couldn't circumcise himself.

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 He couldn't present himself.

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 Therefore, it was necessary

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 that Joseph and Mary

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 carefully fulfilled

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 the requirements of the law

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 related to the birth

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 of their firstborn son.

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 Had they not done so,

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 we would not have grounds

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 to say that Jesus truly is the Christ.

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 We would not have grounds

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 to affirm

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 that his atonement on the cross

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 was a sufficient atonement for us.

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 This is important.

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 It would be easy to pass over

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 in a cursory reading of the text,

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 but we ought not do that.

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 Here's the thing.

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 There is no indication

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 that this specific purpose

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 was in Joseph and Mary's minds

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 as they obeyed God in this.

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 Yes, the angel told them

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 who the child was

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 and what the child was to do.

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 He didn't give a manual

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 for how to raise the Son of God.

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 He didn't give instructions

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 beyond his birth.

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 He didn't lay out everything

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 that they were to do

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 as parents of the Messiah.

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 So you can imagine Mary

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 even looking at Joseph, perhaps,

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 in Bethlehem

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 after Jesus is born

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 and saying,

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 what do we do now?

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 What are we supposed to do?

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 And perhaps in that moment,

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 Joseph, who we know

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 was a just man,

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 according to Matthew,

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 a righteous man,

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 a faithful man,

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 actually knew exactly what to do.

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 They had all the instructions

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 that they needed

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 in the Word of God.

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 And it was to God's Word

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 that Joseph turned.

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 And he said,

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 we'll wait eight days

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 and we'll make sure

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 he's circumcised.

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 That's what God has said to do.

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 And then we'll go to Jerusalem

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 a little while after

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 and we'll do what God

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 has told us to do there.

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 Isn't that interesting?

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 Amazing.

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 Simple obedience.

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 Their faithfulness to God

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 was pivotal

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 to the testimony

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 of Jesus as Messiah.

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 We tend to overcomplicate things,

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 don't we?

00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:06.919
 We tend to overcomplicate

00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:07.779
 what it actually means

00:14:07.779 --> 00:14:08.479
 to be faithful.

00:14:09.319 --> 00:14:10.479
 When we can look at someone

00:14:10.479 --> 00:14:11.319
 like Joseph and Mary

00:14:11.319 --> 00:14:12.159
 and find that it's actually

00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:12.919
 quite simple,

00:14:13.019 --> 00:14:14.359
 at least theoretically it's simple.

00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:16.859
 God has told us

00:14:16.859 --> 00:14:18.059
 everything we need to know

00:14:18.059 --> 00:14:18.879
 for salvation

00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:20.739
 and for obedience to Him

00:14:20.739 --> 00:14:21.919
 in the Bible.

00:14:22.899 --> 00:14:24.319
 He's given us the instruction.

00:14:25.359 --> 00:14:26.359
 He has revealed to us

00:14:26.359 --> 00:14:26.979
 His desires.

00:14:28.500 --> 00:14:29.500
 And the faithfulness

00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:32.159
 that results in God's blessing

00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:33.799
 and usefulness

00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:35.359
 in God's purposes

00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:36.600
 as we see

00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:37.639
 in the life of Joseph

00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:38.060
 and Mary.

00:14:38.220 --> 00:14:39.560
 It really is as basic

00:14:39.560 --> 00:14:41.800
 as studying the Bible

00:14:41.800 --> 00:14:43.919
 and living according

00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:45.259
 to what God has said

00:14:45.259 --> 00:14:46.320
 therein.

00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:49.019
 Sometimes we're looking

00:14:49.019 --> 00:14:50.740
 for a custom-tailored plan

00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:52.180
 for what we are to do

00:14:52.180 --> 00:14:52.860
 with our lives

00:14:52.860 --> 00:14:53.840
 and the decisions

00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:54.759
 that we are to make

00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:55.840
 and you really ought not

00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:56.460
 look for that.

00:14:57.620 --> 00:14:58.779
 You just need to trust

00:14:58.779 --> 00:14:59.240
 the Lord

00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:00.720
 that He's in control

00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:01.320
 of your life.

00:15:01.320 --> 00:15:03.860
 You need to obey

00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:04.720
 what He's told you

00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:05.500
 because you know

00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:06.200
 what that is

00:15:06.200 --> 00:15:07.220
 and you have access to it.

00:15:08.420 --> 00:15:09.879
 And then exercise wisdom

00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:10.860
 as you walk in the Spirit.

00:15:11.940 --> 00:15:12.800
 Now this was so important

00:15:12.800 --> 00:15:13.680
 for Joseph and Mary.

00:15:13.940 --> 00:15:14.560
 It's so important

00:15:14.560 --> 00:15:15.180
 for you and I.

00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:19.400
 In addition to ensuring

00:15:19.400 --> 00:15:20.600
 that the baby Jesus

00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:21.940
 fulfilled the law's demands,

00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:23.379
 something that perhaps

00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:24.020
 they didn't even

00:15:24.020 --> 00:15:25.600
 weren't consciously aware of

00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:26.660
 and necessitating,

00:15:26.760 --> 00:15:27.240
 maybe they were,

00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:27.880
 maybe they were,

00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:28.679
 we don't know.

00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:30.899
 But in addition to all of that,

00:15:30.980 --> 00:15:32.240
 their obedience resulted

00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:33.600
 in these encounters

00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:34.799
 with so many different people,

00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:35.919
 in these encounters

00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:36.740
 with Simeon and Anna,

00:15:36.820 --> 00:15:38.679
 which probably likely became

00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:40.879
 such an affirming moment

00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:42.320
 for them in the plan of God.

00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:42.700
 In fact,

00:15:42.840 --> 00:15:43.679
 we're told in the middle

00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:44.080
 of the text

00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:45.179
 that they marveled

00:15:45.179 --> 00:15:46.139
 at what was said.

00:15:46.439 --> 00:15:47.439
 We love when people

00:15:47.439 --> 00:15:48.259
 compliment our kids,

00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:48.639
 don't we?

00:15:49.659 --> 00:15:50.460
 Ashlyn played

00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:51.639
 an orchestra concert,

00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:52.820
 Christmas concert yesterday

00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:53.500
 in Statesville

00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:54.779
 and some of our family

00:15:54.779 --> 00:15:55.299
 was there

00:15:55.299 --> 00:15:56.340
 and some of you

00:15:56.340 --> 00:15:56.759
 were there

00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:57.659
 and showed up

00:15:57.659 --> 00:15:58.439
 and we love that.

00:15:58.539 --> 00:15:59.200
 We love when people

00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:00.039
 come up to our kids

00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:00.600
 and they say,

00:16:00.700 --> 00:16:02.120
 oh, you did such a good job

00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:03.360
 in the violin yesterday.

00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:04.399
 That makes us feel good,

00:16:04.439 --> 00:16:04.759
 doesn't it?

00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:05.480
 Makes them feel good,

00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:06.580
 makes us as parents feel good.

00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:09.360
 Here's Joseph and Mary.

00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:11.200
 They've got their baby boy

00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:11.840
 in the temple

00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:13.039
 and here comes

00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:13.659
 two righteous,

00:16:13.899 --> 00:16:14.559
 devout people

00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:16.100
 and they say

00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:17.000
 such wonderful things

00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:17.659
 about the child.

00:16:17.939 --> 00:16:18.360
 And what is it

00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:19.240
 that Mary and Joseph do?

00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:20.360
 They marvel at it.

00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:21.220
 Wow.

00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:22.379
 Wow.

00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:23.740
 What an affirming moment

00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:24.120
 for them.

00:16:24.299 --> 00:16:25.439
 And what is it the fruit of?

00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:26.940
 It's the fruit of their obedience.

00:16:27.300 --> 00:16:28.080
 Just simple,

00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:29.900
 faithful obedience

00:16:29.900 --> 00:16:30.540
 to the Lord.

00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:33.680
 And we should expect

00:16:33.680 --> 00:16:34.540
 that upon sending

00:16:34.540 --> 00:16:35.600
 his son to us

00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:38.160
 that God would supply

00:16:38.160 --> 00:16:38.700
 witnesses

00:16:38.700 --> 00:16:39.620
 to testify

00:16:39.620 --> 00:16:41.080
 to Jesus' identity

00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:41.760
 and purpose.

00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:43.980
 Throughout the Christmas narratives,

00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:44.600
 whether you're looking

00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:45.400
 in Matthew's gospel

00:16:45.400 --> 00:16:46.220
 or in Luke's gospel,

00:16:46.280 --> 00:16:47.240
 you'll find it the same.

00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:47.820
 Throughout,

00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:49.740
 we find various witnesses

00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:51.440
 who have established

00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:53.040
 the true nature

00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:53.799
 of the Christ,

00:16:53.899 --> 00:16:54.559
 the true nature

00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:55.639
 of this child.

00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:56.719
 And we can think of them,

00:16:57.259 --> 00:16:58.480
 we think of Joseph and Mary,

00:16:58.579 --> 00:16:58.919
 of course,

00:16:59.019 --> 00:16:59.799
 but then what about

00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:01.659
 Zechariah and Elizabeth

00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:03.339
 and the baby John

00:17:03.339 --> 00:17:04.500
 leaping in the womb?

00:17:05.139 --> 00:17:05.899
 What are they doing?

00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:06.899
 What is that all about?

00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:08.379
 Why does Matthew bother

00:17:08.379 --> 00:17:09.259
 to tell us that

00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:10.059
 or Luke bother

00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:11.259
 to tell us about that?

00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:13.440
 Because they are witnesses

00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:14.339
 to the Christ.

00:17:15.619 --> 00:17:17.119
 Then we find the shepherds

00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:18.059
 near Bethlehem.

00:17:18.899 --> 00:17:19.740
 An amazing miracle

00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:21.079
 happens with them as well.

00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:22.579
 They see the angels.

00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:23.740
 They hear the proclamation.

00:17:23.899 --> 00:17:24.419
 What do they do?

00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:25.039
 They make haste.

00:17:25.159 --> 00:17:25.919
 They run to Bethlehem

00:17:25.919 --> 00:17:26.939
 and they find it

00:17:26.939 --> 00:17:27.779
 just as the angels

00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.519
 had told them.

00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:29.179
 And then they go

00:17:29.179 --> 00:17:29.720
 throughout the land

00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:30.439
 spreading the news.

00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:31.099
 Why?

00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:32.460
 Why does Luke bother

00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:33.279
 to tell us about that

00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:33.980
 in Luke chapter 2?

00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:35.139
 Because they're witnesses

00:17:35.139 --> 00:17:35.859
 of the Messiah.

00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:38.339
 Then there's the Magi

00:17:38.339 --> 00:17:39.119
 from the east,

00:17:39.939 --> 00:17:40.699
 stargazers.

00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:42.659
 They see the star.

00:17:42.839 --> 00:17:43.740
 They make their way

00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:44.379
 toward Israel.

00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:45.359
 They find the child

00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:45.859
 ultimately

00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:46.859
 and they bring him gifts.

00:17:47.199 --> 00:17:47.899
 Why do we need

00:17:47.899 --> 00:17:48.599
 to know that?

00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.839
 That's Matthew chapter 2.

00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:51.480
 They were witnesses

00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:53.119
 to the Messiah

00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:53.919
 of the Christ.

00:17:54.399 --> 00:17:55.240
 Now here's the thing

00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:56.159
 that all of these people

00:17:56.159 --> 00:17:56.859
 have in common.

00:17:57.699 --> 00:17:59.299
 From a human perspective,

00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:00.379
 they are among

00:18:00.379 --> 00:18:01.339
 the unlikeliest

00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:02.000
 of candidates

00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:03.339
 to be such witnesses.

00:18:04.819 --> 00:18:05.720
 The Magi

00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:06.459
 from the east,

00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:08.220
 they're Gentiles.

00:18:08.859 --> 00:18:09.519
 We don't even know

00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.599
 that they're really believers.

00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:13.299
 But God uses them

00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:13.939
 in that moment

00:18:13.939 --> 00:18:14.819
 as a testimony

00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:16.259
 to the person

00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:17.259
 of Jesus Christ.

00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:20.000
 what Jew

00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:20.559
 is going to hear

00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:21.200
 their testimony

00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:22.039
 and believe it.

00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:24.359
 But it wasn't very different

00:18:24.359 --> 00:18:25.240
 for the shepherds either.

00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:27.019
 They had such a reputation

00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:27.980
 at the time

00:18:27.980 --> 00:18:28.539
 that all of this

00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.119
 was unfolding

00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:29.900
 in the first century.

00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:31.019
 They had such a reputation

00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:32.599
 that you couldn't even

00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:34.859
 accept a shepherd's testimony

00:18:34.859 --> 00:18:35.799
 in a legal proceeding

00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:36.559
 as admissible.

00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:37.200
 They wouldn't even

00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:38.000
 receive it

00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:38.799
 simply because

00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:39.500
 the reputation

00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:40.059
 of the shepherds

00:18:40.059 --> 00:18:41.079
 was so poor.

00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:43.259
 And yet that's

00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:43.980
 who God uses

00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:45.640
 as a witness

00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:46.960
 of his Messiah.

00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:48.820
 Zechariah and Elizabeth

00:18:48.820 --> 00:18:49.540
 are a bit different,

00:18:49.620 --> 00:18:49.820
 aren't they?

00:18:49.840 --> 00:18:50.280
 They're faithful.

00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:51.160
 They're holy people.

00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:52.740
 And yet there's a miracle

00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:53.880
 that God does with them

00:18:53.880 --> 00:18:54.920
 as one of their

00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:56.160
 unlikely candidates.

00:18:57.540 --> 00:18:58.759
 Well, Simeon and Anna,

00:18:58.759 --> 00:18:59.600
 they fit the bill

00:18:59.600 --> 00:19:01.680
 for unexpected witnesses

00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:02.440
 to the advent

00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:03.080
 of the Christ.

00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:05.220
 There's nothing

00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:06.400
 especially noteworthy

00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:06.900
 about them.

00:19:08.060 --> 00:19:09.360
 There's no miracle

00:19:09.360 --> 00:19:10.360
 associated

00:19:10.360 --> 00:19:11.480
 with their introduction

00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:12.340
 to Jesus

00:19:12.340 --> 00:19:13.000
 as there was

00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:13.720
 the other witnesses.

00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:16.319
 Simeon and Anna

00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:17.799
 were ordinary people.

00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:19.660
 But in terms

00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:20.500
 of their faith,

00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:21.740
 there was nothing

00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:22.620
 ordinary about them.

00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:24.339
 They were extraordinary.

00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:26.920
 Like Zechariah

00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:27.440
 and Elizabeth,

00:19:27.620 --> 00:19:28.420
 they were part

00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:29.799
 of that final generation

00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:31.140
 of old covenant saints

00:19:31.140 --> 00:19:33.380
 justified by faith

00:19:33.380 --> 00:19:34.460
 in the promise

00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:35.460
 of God's Messiah.

00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:36.759
 And their lives

00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:37.620
 reflected

00:19:37.620 --> 00:19:39.460
 that saving faith.

00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:41.960
 Simeon was known

00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:43.360
 for his righteousness

00:19:43.360 --> 00:19:44.319
 and devotion

00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:45.059
 to God.

00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:47.920
 Because he believed God,

00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:50.200
 he lived in holiness,

00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:52.160
 faithfully worshipped

00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:52.680
 the Lord.

00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:54.799
 That's an example

00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:55.420
 for us.

00:19:55.840 --> 00:19:56.660
 We just looked at it

00:19:56.660 --> 00:19:57.740
 in 1 Peter 2

00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:58.660
 a few moments ago.

00:19:59.380 --> 00:20:00.319
 What does it mean

00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:01.720
 to live in righteousness?

00:20:02.600 --> 00:20:03.460
 Well, it's a reflection

00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:04.259
 on who you are

00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:04.980
 in Christ.

00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:06.100
 It is a result

00:20:06.100 --> 00:20:06.940
 of a faith

00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:07.539
 in God

00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:08.740
 and God's promised Messiah

00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:09.759
 that leads

00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.420
 to that kind

00:20:10.420 --> 00:20:10.920
 of conduct

00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:11.640
 and behavior.

00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:13.279
 And that's the example

00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:14.820
 that Simeon gives us.

00:20:15.860 --> 00:20:16.940
 Anna was the same.

00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:19.300
 Righteous and devout

00:20:19.300 --> 00:20:20.220
 may not be words

00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:21.480
 used to describe her

00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:22.140
 in the text,

00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:23.600
 but what is said

00:20:23.600 --> 00:20:24.500
 about her shows

00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:26.180
 that righteous devotion

00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:27.560
 was indeed her reality.

00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.980
 Because she believed God,

00:20:31.320 --> 00:20:32.240
 she spent the majority

00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:33.000
 of her life,

00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:34.500
 her very long life,

00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:35.820
 in worship,

00:20:36.660 --> 00:20:37.100
 fasting,

00:20:37.099 --> 00:20:38.179
 and prayer.

00:20:38.919 --> 00:20:39.959
 Over what?

00:20:41.959 --> 00:20:43.019
 The Messiah

00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:44.759
 that she trusted

00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:45.459
 would come

00:20:45.459 --> 00:20:47.399
 and bring salvation.

00:20:47.740 --> 00:20:48.459
 And why did she

00:20:48.459 --> 00:20:49.099
 trust that?

00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:50.359
 How could she trust that?

00:20:50.419 --> 00:20:51.159
 God's been silent

00:20:51.159 --> 00:20:52.519
 for at least 400 years.

00:20:53.379 --> 00:20:54.019
 Oh, she trusted

00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:55.059
 what God said before.

00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:58.059
 And because she believed God,

00:20:58.819 --> 00:20:59.559
 she worshipped,

00:20:59.919 --> 00:21:00.639
 she fasted,

00:21:00.879 --> 00:21:01.559
 she prayed,

00:21:01.959 --> 00:21:02.799
 she waited.

00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:05.440
 But all of Simeon

00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:06.799
 and Anna's faithful devotion

00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:07.500
 is revealed

00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:08.899
 in their waiting.

00:21:09.659 --> 00:21:10.960
 They longed for God

00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:11.960
 to send the Christ

00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:12.700
 in their lifetime

00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:13.899
 and because of that,

00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:14.940
 God gave them

00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:15.720
 the blessing

00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:17.579
 of being key witnesses

00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:18.359
 of the birth

00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:19.079
 of his Messiah.

00:21:19.339 --> 00:21:20.480
 Not because there was

00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.399
 something significant

00:21:21.399 --> 00:21:21.980
 about them,

00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:23.220
 but just like Joseph

00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:23.680
 and Mary,

00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:25.359
 they were just ordinary people

00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:26.919
 with an extraordinary faith

00:21:26.919 --> 00:21:28.319
 and God blessed it.

00:21:28.940 --> 00:21:30.039
 And they became witnesses

00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:31.259
 of the Christ.

00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:33.079
 And the witness

00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:34.400
 of Simeon and Anna,

00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:35.599
 it isn't simply

00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:36.440
 the acknowledgement

00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:37.799
 that a child was born.

00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.819
 The text refers

00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:40.660
 to both of them

00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:41.940
 as prophets of God,

00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:44.059
 those chosen by God

00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:45.440
 to declare his word

00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:47.099
 and reveal his truth.

00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:49.339
 We don't know

00:21:49.339 --> 00:21:51.140
 if they were regarded

00:21:51.140 --> 00:21:51.839
 as prophets

00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:52.839
 before this moment.

00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:53.539
 The fact is

00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:53.900
 that's probably

00:21:53.900 --> 00:21:54.839
 very unlikely.

00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:57.720
 Their status

00:21:57.720 --> 00:21:58.379
 as prophets

00:21:58.379 --> 00:21:59.599
 probably applies

00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:01.240
 specifically to this

00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.039
 this encounter.

00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:03.799
 Think about that.

00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:05.799
 In other words,

00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:06.900
 God chose them

00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:08.380
 as his witnesses

00:22:08.380 --> 00:22:09.859
 for this moment

00:22:09.859 --> 00:22:11.000
 in redemptive history

00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:12.839
 and their righteous devotion

00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:14.299
 gave credibility

00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:16.480
 to their prophecy.

00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:19.160
 How wonderful

00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:21.059
 to be mightily used

00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:21.700
 by God

00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:23.720
 if even just once

00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:25.259
 in your lifetime,

00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:27.380
 if even just once

00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:28.680
 in your life

00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:30.500
 to be a prophet

00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:31.120
 in the sense

00:22:31.120 --> 00:22:32.259
 of proclaiming

00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:33.600
 the gospel of God

00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:34.840
 so that it affects others

00:22:34.840 --> 00:22:36.000
 and God uses

00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.519
 your witness

00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.100
 in that way.

00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:38.380
 That's what's happening

00:22:38.380 --> 00:22:39.440
 with Simeon and Anna.

00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:41.560
 How wonderful of a thing.

00:22:43.160 --> 00:22:44.180
 Nothing is quoted

00:22:44.180 --> 00:22:44.799
 from Anna

00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:45.539
 in the text.

00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:47.460
 We only know

00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:48.420
 that God revealed

00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:48.940
 to her

00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:50.039
 the child's identity

00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:51.660
 because she

00:22:51.660 --> 00:22:52.940
 subsequently rejoiced

00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:53.759
 and shared the news

00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:54.259
 with others.

00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:56.579
 The fact that

00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.400
 her declaration

00:22:57.400 --> 00:22:58.240
 was prophetic

00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:59.180
 is seen simply

00:22:59.180 --> 00:22:59.599
 in the fact

00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:00.500
 that Luke calls her

00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:01.680
 a prophetess.

00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:02.900
 Makes it pretty easy

00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:03.579
 to figure out.

00:23:04.859 --> 00:23:05.379
 Now much more

00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:06.160
 is recorded for us

00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:06.779
 about Simeon.

00:23:06.859 --> 00:23:07.559
 That's where we'll spend

00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:08.859
 the rest of our time.

00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:10.519
 He was empowered

00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.480
 by the Holy Spirit

00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:12.220
 for this moment

00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:12.700
 we're told.

00:23:13.779 --> 00:23:15.160
 The Spirit prepared him

00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:15.879
 ahead of time

00:23:15.879 --> 00:23:17.299
 telling him

00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:18.440
 what would take place.

00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:20.019
 Revealing that he would

00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:20.839
 see the Christ

00:23:20.839 --> 00:23:21.759
 before his death.

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:22.480
 We don't know

00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:23.379
 how long he was

00:23:23.379 --> 00:23:23.859
 aware of that.

00:23:24.099 --> 00:23:24.740
 Perhaps he was only

00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:25.299
 aware of it

00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:26.240
 that day.

00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:27.779
 We don't know.

00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:29.920
 But at some point

00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:32.140
 he had operated

00:23:32.140 --> 00:23:33.839
 with this understanding

00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:36.240
 eagerly anticipating

00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:37.680
 meeting the Lord's Christ.

00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:39.640
 And when that moment

00:23:39.640 --> 00:23:40.619
 finally arrived

00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:41.579
 God used Simeon

00:23:41.579 --> 00:23:42.579
 to prophesy

00:23:42.579 --> 00:23:44.220
 about Jesus'

00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:45.640
 purpose

00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:46.980
 the purpose of the child

00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:48.799
 to bring salvation.

00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:49.779
 Let's just look

00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:50.299
 what he said.

00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:51.339
 Look with me again

00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:52.980
 at verses 28 to 33

00:23:52.980 --> 00:23:53.480
 first.

00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:57.619
 Simeon took him

00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.139
 up in his arms

00:23:58.139 --> 00:23:59.059
 took Jesus up

00:23:59.059 --> 00:23:59.500
 in his arms

00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.740
 and blessed God

00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:01.119
 and said

00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:01.519
 Lord

00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:03.199
 now you're letting

00:24:03.199 --> 00:24:03.759
 your servant

00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.740
 depart in peace

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.879
 according to your word.

00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:07.980
 For my eyes

00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:08.699
 have seen

00:24:08.699 --> 00:24:10.079
 your salvation

00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:11.980
 that you have

00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:12.679
 prepared in the

00:24:12.679 --> 00:24:13.679
 presence of all peoples

00:24:13.679 --> 00:24:14.980
 a light for revelation

00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:16.000
 to the Gentiles

00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:17.279
 and for glory

00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:18.359
 to your people Israel.

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.139
 And his father

00:24:20.140 --> 00:24:20.740
 and his mother

00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:21.540
 marveled at what

00:24:21.540 --> 00:24:22.480
 was said about you.

00:24:23.540 --> 00:24:24.340
 Isn't it interesting

00:24:24.340 --> 00:24:25.140
 here that upon

00:24:25.140 --> 00:24:26.100
 seeing the child

00:24:26.100 --> 00:24:27.660
 Simeon says

00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:28.259
 that he's now

00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:29.080
 ready to die.

00:24:29.820 --> 00:24:30.540
 Is that what he says?

00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:31.600
 Lord now you're

00:24:31.600 --> 00:24:32.380
 letting your servant

00:24:32.380 --> 00:24:33.320
 depart in peace.

00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:35.140
 He doesn't say

00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:35.840
 anything about death

00:24:35.840 --> 00:24:35.960
 there.

00:24:36.080 --> 00:24:37.540
 We make that connection

00:24:37.540 --> 00:24:38.180
 because what has

00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:39.280
 just been told to us

00:24:39.280 --> 00:24:40.040
 that the spirit

00:24:40.040 --> 00:24:40.540
 came and said

00:24:40.540 --> 00:24:40.960
 hey you're not

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:41.620
 going to die

00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:42.500
 until you see the Christ

00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:43.340
 and now he sees the Christ

00:24:43.340 --> 00:24:43.900
 and he says okay

00:24:43.900 --> 00:24:44.780
 I'm ready to die.

00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.980
 That's interesting isn't it?

00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:46.860
 Why would he say that?

00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:48.500
 Wouldn't it make more sense

00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:49.699
 for Simeon to want

00:24:49.699 --> 00:24:50.500
 to live longer

00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:52.399
 so that he might see

00:24:52.399 --> 00:24:53.179
 what would become

00:24:53.179 --> 00:24:53.839
 of the child?

00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:57.359
 Simeon's response

00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:58.879
 however it reflects

00:24:58.879 --> 00:25:00.259
 the depth of his faith

00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:00.799
 doesn't it?

00:25:02.639 --> 00:25:03.699
 These are not words

00:25:03.699 --> 00:25:04.219
 of a man

00:25:04.219 --> 00:25:05.379
 who simply wished

00:25:05.379 --> 00:25:06.419
 that the child

00:25:06.419 --> 00:25:07.099
 would be the one

00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:07.939
 to bring salvation.

00:25:08.199 --> 00:25:08.959
 This is someone

00:25:08.959 --> 00:25:09.779
 who was entirely

00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:10.759
 convinced of it.

00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:11.779
 In fact

00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:13.179
 he's so convinced

00:25:13.179 --> 00:25:14.399
 so assured

00:25:14.399 --> 00:25:15.879
 that his eternal salvation

00:25:15.880 --> 00:25:17.080
 would come through

00:25:17.080 --> 00:25:17.920
 this baby

00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:19.620
 that it gave him

00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:20.620
 complete peace

00:25:20.620 --> 00:25:21.560
 to go on to death.

00:25:21.840 --> 00:25:23.100
 Is that not the picture

00:25:23.100 --> 00:25:24.000
 of saving faith?

00:25:25.340 --> 00:25:27.080
 That we're so trusting

00:25:27.080 --> 00:25:28.000
 in the person

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.500
 and the work

00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:29.320
 of Jesus Christ

00:25:29.320 --> 00:25:30.300
 that we know

00:25:30.300 --> 00:25:31.200
 how to face death

00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:31.940
 with peace.

00:25:33.300 --> 00:25:34.340
 Being assured

00:25:34.340 --> 00:25:34.980
 of the fact

00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:36.420
 that our eternal soul

00:25:36.420 --> 00:25:37.920
 rests in the grace

00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:38.540
 and mercy

00:25:38.540 --> 00:25:39.480
 of the Lord Jesus.

00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:41.120
 Isn't that what

00:25:41.120 --> 00:25:42.480
 Simeon is indicating here?

00:25:43.020 --> 00:25:43.580
 He doesn't have

00:25:43.580 --> 00:25:44.380
 to see the cross.

00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:45.340
 He doesn't have

00:25:45.340 --> 00:25:45.840
 to see anything

00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:46.139
 else.

00:25:46.379 --> 00:25:47.399
 He's so convinced

00:25:47.399 --> 00:25:47.959
 in his faith

00:25:47.959 --> 00:25:49.359
 this is Messiah.

00:25:49.859 --> 00:25:51.539
 Lord now bring me home.

00:25:51.699 --> 00:25:52.419
 You have fulfilled

00:25:52.419 --> 00:25:53.119
 your word

00:25:53.119 --> 00:25:54.359
 to me.

00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.819
 Oh what an example

00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:57.439
 for us

00:25:57.439 --> 00:26:00.519
 to trust Jesus

00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:01.359
 so much

00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:03.899
 that upon coming

00:26:03.899 --> 00:26:04.439
 to Christ

00:26:04.439 --> 00:26:05.139
 we can say

00:26:05.139 --> 00:26:07.159
 I can die

00:26:07.159 --> 00:26:07.819
 in peace now.

00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:09.659
 And we can say that

00:26:09.659 --> 00:26:10.659
 because it's the truth.

00:26:11.959 --> 00:26:13.119
 It's the reality

00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:14.679
 of our position

00:26:14.679 --> 00:26:15.299
 of our position

00:26:15.299 --> 00:26:16.019
 in Christ.

00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:18.259
 It is one of peace

00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:18.799
 with God.

00:26:20.859 --> 00:26:21.759
 Now according

00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:22.479
 to Simeon's

00:26:22.479 --> 00:26:23.539
 prophetic blessing

00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:25.319
 the salvation

00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:26.500
 Jesus would bring

00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.899
 was expansive.

00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:30.239
 It included more

00:26:30.239 --> 00:26:31.000
 than just those

00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:32.019
 who belong to Israel.

00:26:33.159 --> 00:26:34.279
 He says that

00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:35.199
 this salvation

00:26:35.199 --> 00:26:37.099
 has been prepared

00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:38.739
 before the eyes

00:26:38.739 --> 00:26:39.500
 of all peoples.

00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:43.119
 Jesus is the light

00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:43.900
 of revelation

00:26:43.900 --> 00:26:45.160
 to the Gentiles

00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:46.180
 who had not

00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:47.160
 received God's

00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:47.640
 revelation

00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:48.700
 as had the Jews.

00:26:49.819 --> 00:26:50.460
 Think about that.

00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:51.180
 They didn't have

00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:51.619
 the word.

00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:52.200
 They didn't have

00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:52.700
 the promises.

00:26:52.859 --> 00:26:53.099
 They didn't have

00:26:53.099 --> 00:26:53.500
 the covenant.

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.019
 They didn't have

00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:54.539
 the worship

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.460
 that all pointed

00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:56.240
 toward this Messiah.

00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:56.960
 They didn't have

00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:57.200
 that.

00:26:57.359 --> 00:26:57.759
 But they could

00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:58.400
 look to Christ

00:26:58.400 --> 00:26:59.000
 and they saw

00:26:59.000 --> 00:26:59.660
 the revelation

00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:00.779
 of God in Christ.

00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.440
 Oh it's wonderful.

00:27:03.900 --> 00:27:04.799
 Looking to Jesus

00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:05.799
 even non-Jews

00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:07.039
 would see the nature

00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:07.839
 and salvation

00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.920
 of Almighty God.

00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:09.980
 Through Jesus

00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:11.579
 all who repent

00:27:11.579 --> 00:27:12.039
 and believe

00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:12.559
 whether Jew

00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:13.259
 or Gentile

00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:16.220
 would be saved.

00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:19.460
 Jesus is also

00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:20.579
 the glory of Israel.

00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:23.259
 At least for those

00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:23.759
 who believe.

00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:26.440
 There was so much

00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:28.000
 for the Jews

00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.619
 to glory in

00:27:28.619 --> 00:27:29.119
 wasn't there.

00:27:29.900 --> 00:27:30.420
 They could glory

00:27:30.420 --> 00:27:30.940
 in the law.

00:27:31.700 --> 00:27:32.240
 They could glory

00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:32.859
 in the Exodus.

00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:34.279
 They could glory

00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:35.000
 in the prophets.

00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:36.599
 They could glory

00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:37.279
 in the temple.

00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:39.240
 They had so much.

00:27:40.900 --> 00:27:41.519
 And yet Simeon

00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:42.440
 reminds us here

00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:44.079
 that for those

00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:44.599
 who believe

00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:45.359
 the true glory

00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:45.879
 of Israel

00:27:45.879 --> 00:27:47.460
 is the Christ.

00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:48.759
 Supersedes

00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.460
 all of those things.

00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.119
 Isn't that what

00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:51.059
 the writer of Hebrews

00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:52.359
 is intent to tell us?

00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:53.359
 That Jesus

00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:53.859
 is better

00:27:53.859 --> 00:27:54.500
 than all of it.

00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:55.299
 All of it

00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:55.899
 is a shadow

00:27:55.899 --> 00:27:56.459
 that's pointing

00:27:56.459 --> 00:27:57.259
 forward to him.

00:27:57.619 --> 00:27:58.939
 Simeon realizes that.

00:27:59.899 --> 00:28:00.219
 He says,

00:28:00.379 --> 00:28:01.399
 oh, this child,

00:28:01.479 --> 00:28:01.959
 this child

00:28:01.959 --> 00:28:02.539
 is the glory

00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:03.099
 of Israel

00:28:03.099 --> 00:28:04.439
 more than anything

00:28:04.439 --> 00:28:05.019
 else we would

00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:05.959
 pride ourselves in.

00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:09.439
 Simeon's blessing,

00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.059
 it declares

00:28:10.059 --> 00:28:10.679
 the identity

00:28:10.679 --> 00:28:11.399
 of the child

00:28:11.399 --> 00:28:12.079
 and that he is

00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:12.679
 the Christ.

00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:14.459
 But it's his

00:28:14.459 --> 00:28:15.299
 prophetic words

00:28:15.299 --> 00:28:15.939
 to Mary

00:28:15.939 --> 00:28:16.539
 that actually

00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.519
 reveal the child's

00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:17.979
 purpose.

00:28:19.199 --> 00:28:19.679
 Look at verse

00:28:19.679 --> 00:28:20.799
 34 and 35.

00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:23.759
 after Simeon's

00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.559
 song as it's

00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:25.180
 known,

00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:27.159
 Simeon blessed

00:28:27.159 --> 00:28:28.039
 them and he said

00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:29.879
 especially to Mary,

00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:31.899
 behold,

00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:33.759
 this child is

00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:34.740
 appointed for the

00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.759
 fall and rising

00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:36.720
 of many in Israel

00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:38.559
 and for a sign

00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:39.379
 that is opposed.

00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:41.359
 A sword will

00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:41.899
 pierce through

00:28:41.899 --> 00:28:42.639
 your own soul

00:28:42.639 --> 00:28:43.480
 also so that

00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:44.619
 faults from many

00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:45.359
 hearts may be

00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:45.720
 revealed.

00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:48.119
 Appointed

00:28:48.119 --> 00:28:49.279
 is the key word

00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:49.500
 here.

00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:52.660
 It tells us

00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:53.619
 that what

00:28:53.619 --> 00:28:54.480
 follows is

00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:55.660
 Jesus' purpose,

00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:56.740
 what God has

00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:57.720
 chosen him to

00:28:57.720 --> 00:28:58.440
 be and to

00:28:58.440 --> 00:28:58.839
 do.

00:29:00.119 --> 00:29:00.639
 First,

00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:01.619
 we find in

00:29:01.619 --> 00:29:02.720
 Simeon's prophecy

00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:03.700
 Jesus is the

00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:05.119
 Lord who will

00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:06.019
 judge us all.

00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:07.899
 With his

00:29:07.899 --> 00:29:08.359
 judgment,

00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:09.920
 Jesus will

00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:10.599
 cause those

00:29:10.599 --> 00:29:11.339
 who persist

00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:12.259
 in prideful

00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:13.019
 unbelief

00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:14.119
 to fall

00:29:14.119 --> 00:29:15.720
 and those

00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:16.440
 who persist

00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:17.000
 in humble

00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:17.539
 faith

00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:19.059
 to be exalted.

00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:21.339
 But then he

00:29:21.339 --> 00:29:21.920
 says Jesus

00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:22.759
 is also a

00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:23.160
 sign,

00:29:23.399 --> 00:29:24.279
 a sign that

00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:24.599
 will be

00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:25.559
 opposed by

00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:25.879
 many.

00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:27.500
 And what

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:27.819
 is the

00:29:27.819 --> 00:29:28.200
 sign?

00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:30.879
 Jesus himself

00:29:30.879 --> 00:29:31.599
 tells us.

00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:32.899
 In Matthew

00:29:32.899 --> 00:29:33.720
 chapter 12

00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:34.480
 verses 39

00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:35.039
 and 40,

00:29:36.339 --> 00:29:36.819
 the Jews

00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:37.500
 demanded of

00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.019
 Jesus a

00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:38.399
 sign and

00:29:38.399 --> 00:29:38.700
 here's how

00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:39.099
 he answered.

00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:39.539
 He answered

00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:39.779
 them,

00:29:40.119 --> 00:29:40.920
 an evil and

00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:41.660
 an adulterous

00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:42.660
 generation seeks

00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:43.279
 for a sign.

00:29:43.460 --> 00:29:44.099
 In other words,

00:29:44.139 --> 00:29:44.579
 an evil and

00:29:44.579 --> 00:29:45.000
 adulterous

00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:45.899
 generation looks

00:29:45.899 --> 00:29:46.700
 at the Messiah

00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:47.160
 and says,

00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:47.960
 prove it again.

00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:51.160
 But no sign

00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:51.720
 will be given

00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.620
 to it except

00:29:52.620 --> 00:29:53.480
 the sign of

00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:53.920
 the prophet

00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:54.460
 Jonah.

00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:56.160
 For just

00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:56.779
 as Jonah

00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:57.340
 was three

00:29:57.340 --> 00:29:57.940
 days and

00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:58.640
 three nights

00:29:58.640 --> 00:29:59.160
 in the belly

00:29:59.160 --> 00:29:59.620
 of the great

00:29:59.620 --> 00:30:00.039
 fish,

00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.759
 so will the

00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.400
 Son of Man

00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:03.240
 be three days

00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:03.980
 and three nights

00:30:03.980 --> 00:30:04.400
 in the heart

00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:04.840
 of the earth.

00:30:05.579 --> 00:30:06.059
 What's the

00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:06.360
 sign?

00:30:07.400 --> 00:30:07.740
 Death

00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:08.860
 is the

00:30:08.860 --> 00:30:09.160
 sign.

00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:10.940
 Not just

00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.279
 death.

00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:12.220
 The sign of

00:30:12.220 --> 00:30:12.819
 Jonah is not

00:30:12.819 --> 00:30:13.539
 just death.

00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:14.980
 It is a

00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:15.640
 temporary death,

00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:16.019
 isn't it?

00:30:16.019 --> 00:30:18.059
 Only three

00:30:18.059 --> 00:30:18.519
 days and

00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:18.940
 three nights

00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:19.259
 will he

00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:19.779
 remain in

00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:20.039
 the heart

00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:20.259
 of the

00:30:20.259 --> 00:30:20.539
 earth.

00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:22.460
 Oh,

00:30:22.500 --> 00:30:22.879
 it also

00:30:22.879 --> 00:30:23.339
 is a

00:30:23.339 --> 00:30:23.700
 sign of

00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:24.259
 resurrection,

00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:26.180
 neither of

00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:26.740
 which was

00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:28.480
 acceptable to

00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:28.920
 the Jews

00:30:28.920 --> 00:30:29.480
 who demanded

00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:30.200
 these signs.

00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:31.759
 Jesus says

00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:32.240
 it again in

00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:32.639
 John chapter

00:30:32.639 --> 00:30:32.879
 three,

00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:33.319
 uses a

00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:33.660
 different

00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:34.740
 illustration

00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:35.200
 here.

00:30:35.339 --> 00:30:35.539
 John

00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:35.779
 chapter

00:30:35.779 --> 00:30:36.259
 three in

00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:36.440
 verse

00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:36.920
 14,

00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:37.940
 as Moses

00:30:37.940 --> 00:30:38.579
 lifted up

00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:39.099
 the serpent

00:30:39.099 --> 00:30:39.500
 in the

00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:39.839
 wilderness,

00:30:40.839 --> 00:30:41.559
 so must

00:30:41.559 --> 00:30:42.200
 the Son of

00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:42.680
 Man be

00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:43.359
 lifted up,

00:30:44.099 --> 00:30:44.639
 that whoever

00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:45.340
 believes in

00:30:45.340 --> 00:30:45.800
 him may

00:30:45.800 --> 00:30:46.280
 have eternal

00:30:46.280 --> 00:30:46.720
 life.

00:30:48.040 --> 00:30:48.600
 That's a

00:30:48.600 --> 00:30:49.220
 reference to

00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:49.800
 an event in

00:30:49.800 --> 00:30:50.440
 Israel's history

00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:50.759
 as they

00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:51.200
 wandered in

00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:51.600
 the desert,

00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:52.360
 they disobeyed

00:30:52.360 --> 00:30:52.660
 God,

00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:53.400
 God sent

00:30:53.400 --> 00:30:54.460
 fiery serpents,

00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:55.540
 and then God

00:30:55.540 --> 00:30:56.500
 told Moses to

00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:57.520
 make a bronze

00:30:57.520 --> 00:30:57.960
 serpent,

00:30:58.100 --> 00:30:58.600
 to put it up

00:30:58.600 --> 00:30:59.240
 on a post,

00:30:59.840 --> 00:31:00.560
 and those who

00:31:00.560 --> 00:31:01.160
 were bitten by

00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:01.620
 the fiery

00:31:01.620 --> 00:31:02.140
 serpents,

00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:02.820
 if they just

00:31:02.820 --> 00:31:03.340
 looked up to

00:31:03.340 --> 00:31:03.920
 the provision

00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:04.420
 of God,

00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:04.840
 that's the

00:31:04.840 --> 00:31:05.100
 symbol,

00:31:05.360 --> 00:31:05.800
 look up to

00:31:05.800 --> 00:31:06.420
 the provision

00:31:06.420 --> 00:31:06.920
 of God,

00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:07.420
 what God

00:31:07.420 --> 00:31:07.840
 has given

00:31:07.840 --> 00:31:08.560
 them for

00:31:08.560 --> 00:31:08.920
 healing,

00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:09.500
 that they

00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:09.820
 would then

00:31:09.820 --> 00:31:10.240
 be healed.

00:31:10.580 --> 00:31:11.420
 Jesus reflects

00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:11.940
 on that in

00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:12.620
 his conversation

00:31:12.620 --> 00:31:13.340
 with Nicodemus,

00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:13.960
 and he says,

00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.840
 just like Moses

00:31:14.840 --> 00:31:15.319
 hung that

00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:16.000
 snake up on

00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:16.559
 the pole,

00:31:16.819 --> 00:31:17.380
 and people

00:31:17.380 --> 00:31:17.920
 looked to

00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:18.799
 that for

00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:19.299
 their healing

00:31:19.299 --> 00:31:19.940
 from God,

00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:21.059
 so must the

00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:21.559
 Son of Man

00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:22.500
 be lifted up,

00:31:22.640 --> 00:31:23.420
 so that those

00:31:23.420 --> 00:31:24.019
 who look to

00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:25.039
 him will find

00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:25.660
 true healing.

00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:26.819
 What's the

00:31:26.819 --> 00:31:27.220
 sign?

00:31:28.700 --> 00:31:29.660
 The sign

00:31:29.660 --> 00:31:29.900
 that is

00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:30.640
 opposed is

00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:31.200
 the cross

00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:31.840
 of Christ.

00:31:32.940 --> 00:31:33.600
 What Paul

00:31:33.600 --> 00:31:34.480
 said was a

00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:35.180
 stumbling block

00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:35.860
 to the Jews,

00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:36.640
 what he said

00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:37.539
 was foolishness

00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:38.559
 to the Gentiles,

00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:40.840
 and both Jews

00:31:40.840 --> 00:31:41.680
 and Gentiles

00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:42.480
 refused to

00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:43.640
 believe in a

00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:44.220
 Lord and

00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:44.960
 Savior who

00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:45.320
 would be

00:31:45.320 --> 00:31:45.980
 revealed in

00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:46.900
 such weakness,

00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:48.180
 dying a

00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:48.780
 criminal's

00:31:48.780 --> 00:31:49.180
 death.

00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:51.680
 But to

00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:52.240
 those who

00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:52.780
 have eyes

00:31:52.780 --> 00:31:53.380
 to see,

00:31:54.600 --> 00:31:55.520
 it is the

00:31:55.520 --> 00:31:56.259
 good news

00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:56.960
 of how God

00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:57.340
 has brought

00:31:57.340 --> 00:31:58.400
 salvation to

00:31:58.400 --> 00:31:59.640
 sinners through

00:31:59.640 --> 00:32:00.600
 Jesus Christ.

00:32:02.020 --> 00:32:03.140
 This child

00:32:03.140 --> 00:32:03.940
 in Simeon's

00:32:03.940 --> 00:32:06.200
 arms is the

00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:07.080
 sinless one.

00:32:08.040 --> 00:32:08.820
 He's the

00:32:08.820 --> 00:32:09.500
 sinless one who

00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:10.200
 died as a

00:32:10.200 --> 00:32:11.460
 criminal so

00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:12.580
 that trespassers

00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:13.259
 of the law

00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:13.759
 like you

00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:14.299
 and me

00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:15.460
 might be

00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:15.939
 forgiven

00:32:15.939 --> 00:32:17.399
 and counted

00:32:17.399 --> 00:32:18.379
 righteous before

00:32:18.379 --> 00:32:18.819
 God.

00:32:20.859 --> 00:32:21.779
 And how we

00:32:21.779 --> 00:32:22.659
 respond to

00:32:22.659 --> 00:32:23.359
 the sign of

00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:24.019
 the cross,

00:32:24.899 --> 00:32:25.480
 either in

00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:26.839
 faith or in

00:32:26.839 --> 00:32:27.500
 unbelief,

00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:29.179
 will be

00:32:29.179 --> 00:32:30.199
 exposed at the

00:32:30.199 --> 00:32:30.980
 final judgment

00:32:30.980 --> 00:32:31.439
 of the Lord

00:32:31.439 --> 00:32:31.819
 Jesus.

00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:33.720
 That's the end

00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:34.259
 of the prophecy,

00:32:34.439 --> 00:32:34.720
 isn't it?

00:32:35.379 --> 00:32:36.159
 This sign will

00:32:36.159 --> 00:32:36.839
 be opposed.

00:32:36.839 --> 00:32:39.619
 the process

00:32:39.619 --> 00:32:40.559
 of that sign

00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.179
 being carried

00:32:41.179 --> 00:32:42.139
 out would be

00:32:42.139 --> 00:32:42.919
 a sword

00:32:42.919 --> 00:32:43.319
 through the

00:32:43.319 --> 00:32:43.699
 soul of

00:32:43.699 --> 00:32:44.159
 Mary as

00:32:44.159 --> 00:32:45.199
 she watched

00:32:45.199 --> 00:32:46.519
 her own

00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:47.119
 son be

00:32:47.119 --> 00:32:47.519
 murdered.

00:32:48.559 --> 00:32:49.220
 But then in

00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:49.919
 the very end,

00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:50.579
 what does all

00:32:50.579 --> 00:32:50.819
 of this

00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:51.220
 accomplish?

00:32:52.139 --> 00:32:52.839
 That many

00:32:52.839 --> 00:32:53.619
 hearts will be

00:32:53.619 --> 00:32:54.199
 exposed,

00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:54.919
 many hearts

00:32:54.919 --> 00:32:55.220
 will be

00:32:55.220 --> 00:32:55.559
 revealed.

00:32:55.919 --> 00:32:56.159
 What does

00:32:56.159 --> 00:32:56.599
 that mean?

00:32:57.659 --> 00:32:58.459
 That it is on

00:32:58.459 --> 00:32:59.259
 the basis of

00:32:59.259 --> 00:32:59.859
 what we do

00:32:59.859 --> 00:33:00.759
 with the sign

00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:02.059
 that Christ,

00:33:02.259 --> 00:33:02.939
 the judge,

00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:04.859
 will judge

00:33:04.859 --> 00:33:05.299
 us.

00:33:07.979 --> 00:33:08.679
 Simeon and

00:33:08.679 --> 00:33:09.159
 Anna, by

00:33:09.159 --> 00:33:09.959
 God's grace,

00:33:10.899 --> 00:33:11.599
 had eyes to

00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:11.879
 see.

00:33:13.359 --> 00:33:13.740
 And they

00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:14.619
 rejoiced in

00:33:14.619 --> 00:33:15.419
 the advent of

00:33:15.419 --> 00:33:16.319
 God's salvation,

00:33:16.539 --> 00:33:17.319
 the baby Jesus.

00:33:18.139 --> 00:33:18.839
 They're witnesses

00:33:18.839 --> 00:33:19.819
 of the Messiah.

00:33:20.619 --> 00:33:21.379
 And each of us

00:33:21.379 --> 00:33:21.879
 will be held

00:33:21.879 --> 00:33:22.619
 accountable to

00:33:22.619 --> 00:33:23.259
 their testimony.

00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:26.479
 For Simeon and

00:33:26.479 --> 00:33:28.500
 Anna, the wait

00:33:28.500 --> 00:33:29.139
 was over.

00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:32.379
 As it regards

00:33:32.379 --> 00:33:33.240
 our salvation,

00:33:33.240 --> 00:33:35.460
 the wait can

00:33:35.460 --> 00:33:36.120
 be over for

00:33:36.120 --> 00:33:36.819
 you as well.

00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:39.359
 If you look

00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:40.120
 to the sign

00:33:40.120 --> 00:33:42.240
 and believe,

00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:44.420
 if you look

00:33:44.420 --> 00:33:45.099
 to the cross

00:33:45.099 --> 00:33:47.400
 and trust

00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:47.880
 in him

00:33:47.880 --> 00:33:49.200
 and what

00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:49.640
 he's done,

00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:51.180
 the wait

00:33:51.180 --> 00:33:51.640
 will be over

00:33:51.640 --> 00:33:52.240
 for you too.

00:33:53.839 --> 00:33:54.400
 Now I want

00:33:54.400 --> 00:33:54.740
 to finish

00:33:54.740 --> 00:33:55.059
 with one

00:33:55.059 --> 00:33:55.500
 other thing.

00:33:56.880 --> 00:33:57.460
 Just as

00:33:57.460 --> 00:33:58.019
 Simeon and

00:33:58.019 --> 00:33:58.859
 Anna faithfully

00:33:58.859 --> 00:33:59.680
 longed for the

00:33:59.680 --> 00:34:00.519
 advent of Christ,

00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:02.380
 so are we

00:34:02.380 --> 00:34:02.980
 as Christians

00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:03.839
 to faithfully

00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:05.180
 long for

00:34:05.180 --> 00:34:05.660
 his second

00:34:05.660 --> 00:34:06.039
 advent?

00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:09.860
 Jesus is

00:34:09.860 --> 00:34:10.639
 coming back.

00:34:12.719 --> 00:34:13.440
 The word

00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:14.240
 testifies to

00:34:14.240 --> 00:34:14.719
 that again

00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:15.199
 and again.

00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:16.900
 He will

00:34:16.900 --> 00:34:17.400
 return.

00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:20.300
 And we

00:34:20.300 --> 00:34:20.940
 await that

00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:22.719
 moment like

00:34:22.719 --> 00:34:23.260
 Ralphie

00:34:23.260 --> 00:34:24.199
 awaited Christmas

00:34:24.199 --> 00:34:25.079
 morning to get

00:34:25.079 --> 00:34:25.420
 his Red

00:34:25.420 --> 00:34:26.099
 Rider BB

00:34:26.099 --> 00:34:26.500
 gun.

00:34:26.500 --> 00:34:30.420
 with great

00:34:30.420 --> 00:34:31.320
 anticipation.

00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:33.019
 We long

00:34:33.019 --> 00:34:34.900
 that he would

00:34:34.900 --> 00:34:35.460
 come back.

00:34:37.900 --> 00:34:38.599
 Using a

00:34:38.599 --> 00:34:38.940
 parable,

00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:39.679
 Jesus said

00:34:39.679 --> 00:34:40.719
 that all

00:34:40.719 --> 00:34:41.500
 who faithfully

00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:42.179
 await his

00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:42.920
 return will be

00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.320
 blessed.

00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:44.679
 This is in

00:34:44.679 --> 00:34:45.119
 Luke chapter

00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:45.619
 12.

00:34:46.360 --> 00:34:46.880
 Jesus said,

00:34:47.239 --> 00:34:47.440
 blessed are

00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:48.199
 those servants

00:34:48.199 --> 00:34:49.139
 whom the

00:34:49.139 --> 00:34:50.059
 master finds

00:34:50.059 --> 00:34:50.880
 awake when

00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:51.420
 he comes.

00:34:52.659 --> 00:34:53.519
 Truly I say

00:34:53.519 --> 00:34:53.800
 to you,

00:34:53.880 --> 00:34:54.880
 he will dress

00:34:54.880 --> 00:34:55.519
 himself for

00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:56.079
 service and

00:34:56.079 --> 00:34:56.480
 he will have

00:34:56.480 --> 00:34:57.259
 them recline

00:34:57.259 --> 00:34:58.519
 at table and

00:34:58.519 --> 00:34:59.219
 he will come

00:34:59.219 --> 00:34:59.699
 and serve them.

00:34:59.759 --> 00:35:00.079
 That's all

00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:00.940
 indication of

00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:01.579
 blessing and

00:35:01.579 --> 00:35:02.320
 eternity in the

00:35:02.320 --> 00:35:02.599
 kingdom.

00:35:04.059 --> 00:35:04.500
 And if he

00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:05.000
 comes in the

00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:05.699
 second watch or

00:35:05.699 --> 00:35:06.159
 in the third

00:35:06.159 --> 00:35:07.019
 watch or whatever

00:35:07.019 --> 00:35:08.139
 watch and he

00:35:08.139 --> 00:35:09.239
 finds them awake,

00:35:09.800 --> 00:35:10.739
 blessed are those

00:35:10.739 --> 00:35:11.400
 servants, Jesus

00:35:11.400 --> 00:35:11.860
 says.

00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:12.860
 What's he saying?

00:35:13.159 --> 00:35:13.880
 He's saying that

00:35:13.880 --> 00:35:15.480
 we must await him

00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:16.960
 as Simeon and

00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:18.099
 Anna awaited him.

00:35:18.099 --> 00:35:20.699
 they show us

00:35:20.699 --> 00:35:21.199
 what it looks

00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:21.619
 like to

00:35:21.619 --> 00:35:22.239
 faithfully

00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:23.719
 wait so

00:35:23.719 --> 00:35:24.239
 that we

00:35:24.239 --> 00:35:24.679
 too might

00:35:24.679 --> 00:35:25.219
 be blessed

00:35:25.219 --> 00:35:25.699
 by God

00:35:25.699 --> 00:35:26.059
 in the way

00:35:26.059 --> 00:35:26.339
 that they

00:35:26.339 --> 00:35:26.779
 were blessed

00:35:26.779 --> 00:35:27.380
 by God.

00:35:28.420 --> 00:35:28.900
 And so let

00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:29.539
 me close by

00:35:29.539 --> 00:35:30.380
 just highlighting

00:35:30.380 --> 00:35:31.579
 some features

00:35:31.579 --> 00:35:32.440
 of their example

00:35:32.440 --> 00:35:32.920
 that we can

00:35:32.920 --> 00:35:34.019
 apply to our

00:35:34.019 --> 00:35:34.819
 own Christian

00:35:34.819 --> 00:35:36.119
 waiting for

00:35:36.119 --> 00:35:36.679
 the return of

00:35:36.679 --> 00:35:37.039
 Christ.

00:35:38.319 --> 00:35:38.839
 Our waiting

00:35:38.839 --> 00:35:39.480
 should be marked

00:35:39.480 --> 00:35:40.400
 by five things.

00:35:41.539 --> 00:35:42.019
 First,

00:35:42.900 --> 00:35:43.460
 it should be

00:35:43.460 --> 00:35:44.460
 marked by

00:35:44.460 --> 00:35:44.920
 faith.

00:35:44.920 --> 00:35:47.099
 Indeed,

00:35:47.440 --> 00:35:48.119
 faith is the

00:35:48.119 --> 00:35:48.740
 root of their

00:35:48.740 --> 00:35:49.180
 longing.

00:35:50.460 --> 00:35:51.539
 Without faith

00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:52.400
 and trust in

00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:53.019
 God and his

00:35:53.019 --> 00:35:53.440
 word,

00:35:54.240 --> 00:35:55.019
 there would be

00:35:55.019 --> 00:35:55.579
 no longing.

00:35:55.720 --> 00:35:56.039
 There would be

00:35:56.039 --> 00:35:57.019
 no waiting for

00:35:57.019 --> 00:35:57.579
 Simeon and

00:35:57.579 --> 00:35:57.820
 Anna.

00:35:58.960 --> 00:35:59.940
 They fully

00:35:59.940 --> 00:36:00.800
 trusted God's

00:36:00.800 --> 00:36:01.119
 word.

00:36:01.860 --> 00:36:02.639
 So should we

00:36:02.639 --> 00:36:04.900
 trust based on

00:36:04.900 --> 00:36:05.360
 the first

00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:06.760
 advent that the

00:36:06.760 --> 00:36:07.619
 second advent

00:36:07.619 --> 00:36:08.200
 is coming.

00:36:09.260 --> 00:36:09.880
 Trust it

00:36:09.880 --> 00:36:10.619
 wholeheartedly.

00:36:11.500 --> 00:36:12.440
 And it is in

00:36:12.440 --> 00:36:13.980
 that faith that

00:36:13.980 --> 00:36:14.599
 the Lord will

00:36:14.599 --> 00:36:15.199
 create the

00:36:15.199 --> 00:36:15.539
 longing.

00:36:16.779 --> 00:36:17.059
 So our

00:36:17.059 --> 00:36:17.599
 waiting should

00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:18.199
 be marked by

00:36:18.199 --> 00:36:18.619
 faith.

00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:19.400
 Number two,

00:36:19.860 --> 00:36:20.440
 our waiting

00:36:20.440 --> 00:36:20.940
 should be

00:36:20.940 --> 00:36:21.559
 marked by

00:36:21.559 --> 00:36:22.619
 righteousness.

00:36:23.699 --> 00:36:24.119
 It should be

00:36:24.119 --> 00:36:24.480
 marked by

00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:24.980
 righteousness.

00:36:25.699 --> 00:36:26.420
 How are we

00:36:26.420 --> 00:36:27.199
 to live as

00:36:27.199 --> 00:36:27.839
 we wait for

00:36:27.839 --> 00:36:28.339
 the Lord?

00:36:29.179 --> 00:36:29.659
 Righteously.

00:36:30.319 --> 00:36:30.900
 That was

00:36:30.900 --> 00:36:31.759
 Peter's testimony

00:36:31.759 --> 00:36:32.759
 in 1 Peter 2.

00:36:33.960 --> 00:36:34.599
 That we

00:36:34.599 --> 00:36:35.500
 abstain from

00:36:35.500 --> 00:36:36.019
 the deeds of

00:36:36.019 --> 00:36:36.619
 the flesh.

00:36:37.619 --> 00:36:38.099
 That we

00:36:38.099 --> 00:36:39.159
 pursue Christ

00:36:39.159 --> 00:36:39.880
 and his glory

00:36:39.880 --> 00:36:40.360
 and the glory

00:36:40.360 --> 00:36:41.000
 of God in

00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:41.420
 the world.

00:36:41.539 --> 00:36:41.759
 That we

00:36:41.759 --> 00:36:42.839
 live honorably

00:36:42.839 --> 00:36:43.420
 according to

00:36:43.420 --> 00:36:43.819
 what God

00:36:43.820 --> 00:36:44.420
 has told us

00:36:44.420 --> 00:36:44.740
 to do.

00:36:45.019 --> 00:36:45.740
 Our faith

00:36:45.740 --> 00:36:46.420
 must be

00:36:46.420 --> 00:36:47.880
 reflected in

00:36:47.880 --> 00:36:48.519
 our obedience.

00:36:49.380 --> 00:36:49.760
 Isn't that

00:36:49.760 --> 00:36:50.300
 what was true

00:36:50.300 --> 00:36:50.680
 of Joseph

00:36:50.680 --> 00:36:51.180
 and Mary?

00:36:51.600 --> 00:36:52.480
 They trusted

00:36:52.480 --> 00:36:52.980
 the word of

00:36:52.980 --> 00:36:53.880
 God so they

00:36:53.880 --> 00:36:54.640
 obeyed the

00:36:54.640 --> 00:36:55.160
 word of God

00:36:55.160 --> 00:36:55.539
 in the way

00:36:55.539 --> 00:36:55.840
 that they

00:36:55.840 --> 00:36:56.360
 handled their

00:36:56.360 --> 00:36:56.720
 baby.

00:36:57.519 --> 00:36:58.039
 It's true of

00:36:58.039 --> 00:36:58.519
 Simeon and

00:36:58.519 --> 00:36:58.800
 Anna.

00:36:59.240 --> 00:36:59.940
 They trusted

00:36:59.940 --> 00:37:00.780
 God and they

00:37:00.780 --> 00:37:01.260
 were both

00:37:01.260 --> 00:37:02.000
 acknowledged for

00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:02.820
 their righteousness

00:37:02.820 --> 00:37:03.920
 and that

00:37:03.920 --> 00:37:05.039
 righteousness was

00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:05.760
 the overflow

00:37:05.760 --> 00:37:06.780
 of their faith

00:37:06.780 --> 00:37:07.500
 not the cause

00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:07.780
 of it.

00:37:08.019 --> 00:37:08.620
 It was the

00:37:08.620 --> 00:37:09.240
 fruit of it.

00:37:09.239 --> 00:37:11.199
 Thirdly,

00:37:11.679 --> 00:37:12.379
 our waiting

00:37:12.379 --> 00:37:13.279
 should be

00:37:13.279 --> 00:37:13.939
 marked by

00:37:13.939 --> 00:37:14.959
 devotion.

00:37:16.019 --> 00:37:16.599
 Devotion.

00:37:19.159 --> 00:37:19.839
 Simeon and

00:37:19.839 --> 00:37:20.519
 Anna gave

00:37:20.519 --> 00:37:21.199
 their lives

00:37:21.199 --> 00:37:23.119
 to worship

00:37:23.119 --> 00:37:26.219
 and we

00:37:26.219 --> 00:37:26.799
 must not

00:37:26.799 --> 00:37:27.819
 forsake that

00:37:27.819 --> 00:37:28.319
 worship.

00:37:29.159 --> 00:37:30.059
 Whether it

00:37:30.059 --> 00:37:30.399
 be the

00:37:30.399 --> 00:37:31.659
 worship in

00:37:31.659 --> 00:37:32.279
 our private

00:37:32.279 --> 00:37:32.959
 devotion to

00:37:32.959 --> 00:37:33.239
 the Lord

00:37:33.239 --> 00:37:34.000
 day by day

00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:35.059
 or it

00:37:35.059 --> 00:37:35.339
 be in

00:37:35.339 --> 00:37:36.219
 obedience to

00:37:36.219 --> 00:37:36.879
 the gathered

00:37:36.879 --> 00:37:38.179
 church in

00:37:38.179 --> 00:37:39.359
 worship Sunday

00:37:39.359 --> 00:37:40.079
 by Sunday.

00:37:40.980 --> 00:37:41.719
 We must

00:37:41.719 --> 00:37:42.480
 live as we

00:37:42.480 --> 00:37:43.799
 wait devoted

00:37:43.799 --> 00:37:45.359
 to worship

00:37:45.359 --> 00:37:47.059
 not being

00:37:47.059 --> 00:37:47.899
 distracted by

00:37:47.899 --> 00:37:48.419
 the things of

00:37:48.419 --> 00:37:48.940
 this world

00:37:48.940 --> 00:37:50.079
 but devoting

00:37:50.079 --> 00:37:50.460
 ourselves

00:37:50.460 --> 00:37:51.359
 wholeheartedly

00:37:51.359 --> 00:37:52.500
 giving ourselves

00:37:52.500 --> 00:37:53.399
 wholeheartedly

00:37:53.399 --> 00:37:54.419
 to the worship

00:37:54.419 --> 00:37:54.940
 of God.

00:37:56.199 --> 00:37:56.960
 Fourth,

00:37:57.719 --> 00:37:58.239
 our waiting

00:37:58.239 --> 00:37:58.699
 should be

00:37:58.699 --> 00:38:00.259
 marked by

00:38:00.259 --> 00:38:01.139
 focus.

00:38:02.199 --> 00:38:03.039
 By focus.

00:38:05.379 --> 00:38:05.759
 Isn't that

00:38:05.759 --> 00:38:06.299
 an implication

00:38:06.299 --> 00:38:07.219
 of Simeon

00:38:07.219 --> 00:38:07.679
 and Anna's

00:38:07.679 --> 00:38:08.159
 example?

00:38:08.179 --> 00:38:08.239
 people,

00:38:08.839 --> 00:38:10.799
 they weren't

00:38:10.799 --> 00:38:11.679
 distracted by

00:38:11.679 --> 00:38:12.199
 the world.

00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:14.039
 They weren't

00:38:14.039 --> 00:38:14.879
 distracted by

00:38:14.879 --> 00:38:15.639
 this life to

00:38:15.639 --> 00:38:16.299
 the extent

00:38:16.299 --> 00:38:17.980
 that they

00:38:17.980 --> 00:38:18.779
 always had an

00:38:18.779 --> 00:38:19.399
 eye on what

00:38:19.399 --> 00:38:20.079
 was to come.

00:38:21.500 --> 00:38:22.319
 For them,

00:38:22.419 --> 00:38:23.159
 as old covenant

00:38:23.159 --> 00:38:23.679
 believers,

00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:24.639
 what was to

00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:25.379
 come for them

00:38:25.379 --> 00:38:26.379
 was that first

00:38:26.379 --> 00:38:26.699
 advent.

00:38:26.859 --> 00:38:27.299
 It's different

00:38:27.299 --> 00:38:27.739
 for us.

00:38:28.019 --> 00:38:28.579
 We have so

00:38:28.579 --> 00:38:28.919
 much more

00:38:28.919 --> 00:38:29.659
 opportunity than

00:38:29.659 --> 00:38:29.879
 they do.

00:38:29.940 --> 00:38:30.500
 We have so

00:38:30.500 --> 00:38:30.940
 much more

00:38:30.940 --> 00:38:31.759
 revelation than

00:38:31.759 --> 00:38:32.079
 they do,

00:38:32.119 --> 00:38:32.440
 don't we?

00:38:33.599 --> 00:38:34.279
 In the new

00:38:34.279 --> 00:38:34.619
 covenant.

00:38:34.619 --> 00:38:37.920
 it's so easy

00:38:37.920 --> 00:38:38.559
 for us to be

00:38:38.559 --> 00:38:39.319
 distracted by

00:38:39.319 --> 00:38:39.839
 the cares of

00:38:39.839 --> 00:38:40.339
 this life.

00:38:41.639 --> 00:38:42.319
 Let me just

00:38:42.319 --> 00:38:42.980
 ask you,

00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:44.480
 when's the

00:38:44.480 --> 00:38:45.179
 last time

00:38:45.179 --> 00:38:46.880
 that you

00:38:46.880 --> 00:38:47.359
 thought,

00:38:48.359 --> 00:38:49.500
 today,

00:38:49.739 --> 00:38:51.019
 I'm going to

00:38:51.019 --> 00:38:51.779
 live in light

00:38:51.779 --> 00:38:52.359
 of the coming

00:38:52.359 --> 00:38:52.880
 of Christ?

00:38:53.880 --> 00:38:54.319
 Today,

00:38:54.319 --> 00:38:54.659
 I'm going to

00:38:54.659 --> 00:38:55.039
 look for

00:38:55.039 --> 00:38:55.460
 Christ.

00:38:56.159 --> 00:38:56.559
 Today,

00:38:56.559 --> 00:38:57.000
 I'm going to

00:38:57.000 --> 00:38:57.599
 make sure that

00:38:57.599 --> 00:38:58.279
 my life is

00:38:58.279 --> 00:38:59.779
 focused on that

00:38:59.779 --> 00:39:00.759
 heavenly citizenship

00:39:00.760 --> 00:39:01.320
 that is to

00:39:01.320 --> 00:39:01.560
 come.

00:39:02.360 --> 00:39:02.980
 Most of us

00:39:02.980 --> 00:39:03.600
 probably don't

00:39:03.600 --> 00:39:04.040
 think that way

00:39:04.040 --> 00:39:04.620
 very often,

00:39:05.260 --> 00:39:05.880
 but that was

00:39:05.880 --> 00:39:06.660
 true of Simeon

00:39:06.660 --> 00:39:07.040
 and Anna's

00:39:07.040 --> 00:39:07.420
 life.

00:39:09.100 --> 00:39:09.660
 Anna lived

00:39:09.660 --> 00:39:09.900
 at the

00:39:09.900 --> 00:39:10.140
 temple.

00:39:11.460 --> 00:39:12.440
 She worshipped.

00:39:13.040 --> 00:39:13.780
 She fasted.

00:39:14.040 --> 00:39:14.480
 She prayed.

00:39:14.580 --> 00:39:15.040
 She always had

00:39:15.040 --> 00:39:15.820
 an eye on

00:39:15.820 --> 00:39:16.260
 what was to

00:39:16.260 --> 00:39:16.520
 come.

00:39:16.920 --> 00:39:17.900
 Simeon always

00:39:17.900 --> 00:39:18.540
 had an eye on

00:39:18.540 --> 00:39:19.000
 what was to

00:39:19.000 --> 00:39:19.280
 come.

00:39:20.580 --> 00:39:21.320
 And it's time

00:39:21.320 --> 00:39:21.880
 for us to get

00:39:21.880 --> 00:39:22.380
 our eyes off

00:39:22.380 --> 00:39:23.020
 of this life

00:39:23.020 --> 00:39:24.400
 and really

00:39:24.400 --> 00:39:25.320
 intentionally as

00:39:25.320 --> 00:39:26.400
 Christ people,

00:39:27.180 --> 00:39:28.200
 to have an

00:39:28.200 --> 00:39:29.240
 eye on what

00:39:29.240 --> 00:39:29.800
 is to come,

00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:30.740
 to live in

00:39:30.739 --> 00:39:31.359
 light of the

00:39:31.359 --> 00:39:31.839
 glory that

00:39:31.839 --> 00:39:32.419
 is to come

00:39:32.419 --> 00:39:33.279
 when Christ

00:39:33.279 --> 00:39:33.799
 returns.

00:39:35.039 --> 00:39:35.519
 Fifthly,

00:39:36.939 --> 00:39:37.599
 our waiting

00:39:37.599 --> 00:39:38.099
 should be

00:39:38.099 --> 00:39:39.639
 marked by

00:39:39.639 --> 00:39:40.459
 evangelism.

00:39:41.479 --> 00:39:41.959
 Evangelism.

00:39:44.819 --> 00:39:45.739
 They shared

00:39:45.739 --> 00:39:46.459
 the good news

00:39:46.459 --> 00:39:46.859
 of Christ

00:39:46.859 --> 00:39:47.339
 coming with

00:39:47.339 --> 00:39:47.639
 others.

00:39:48.359 --> 00:39:48.859
 It's plain

00:39:48.859 --> 00:39:49.479
 in the text.

00:39:51.119 --> 00:39:51.539
 Simeon

00:39:51.539 --> 00:39:52.119
 excitedly,

00:39:52.299 --> 00:39:53.079
 it doesn't

00:39:53.079 --> 00:39:53.539
 tell us how

00:39:53.539 --> 00:39:54.139
 old he is.

00:39:54.239 --> 00:39:54.639
 We gather

00:39:54.639 --> 00:39:55.199
 because of

00:39:55.199 --> 00:39:55.519
 the whole

00:39:55.519 --> 00:39:56.299
 scenario

00:39:56.299 --> 00:39:56.959
 with his

00:39:56.959 --> 00:39:57.459
 death and

00:39:57.459 --> 00:39:58.000
 the language

00:39:58.000 --> 00:39:58.339
 of his

00:39:58.339 --> 00:39:58.619
 death.

00:39:58.939 --> 00:39:59.519
 We gather

00:39:59.519 --> 00:40:00.059
 that maybe

00:40:00.059 --> 00:40:00.359
 he was

00:40:00.360 --> 00:40:00.880
 advanced in

00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:01.240
 age like

00:40:01.240 --> 00:40:01.840
 Anna was.

00:40:02.019 --> 00:40:02.280
 We don't

00:40:02.280 --> 00:40:02.760
 really know,

00:40:03.019 --> 00:40:03.860
 but perhaps

00:40:03.860 --> 00:40:04.300
 he was at

00:40:04.300 --> 00:40:04.720
 that age

00:40:04.720 --> 00:40:04.960
 where you

00:40:04.960 --> 00:40:05.200
 can just

00:40:05.200 --> 00:40:05.420
 kind of

00:40:05.420 --> 00:40:05.820
 get by

00:40:05.820 --> 00:40:06.220
 with taking

00:40:06.220 --> 00:40:06.640
 people's

00:40:06.640 --> 00:40:07.120
 babies up

00:40:07.120 --> 00:40:07.340
 in your

00:40:07.340 --> 00:40:07.559
 hand.

00:40:08.760 --> 00:40:09.220
 I don't

00:40:09.220 --> 00:40:09.480
 know what

00:40:09.480 --> 00:40:10.019
 age it is

00:40:10.019 --> 00:40:10.240
 that you

00:40:10.240 --> 00:40:10.760
 cross into

00:40:10.760 --> 00:40:11.019
 that,

00:40:11.099 --> 00:40:11.300
 but there

00:40:11.300 --> 00:40:11.539
 is an

00:40:11.539 --> 00:40:12.019
 age where

00:40:12.019 --> 00:40:12.740
 you get

00:40:12.740 --> 00:40:13.140
 to where

00:40:13.140 --> 00:40:13.539
 it's just

00:40:13.539 --> 00:40:14.280
 like you

00:40:14.280 --> 00:40:14.720
 just talk

00:40:14.720 --> 00:40:14.980
 to all

00:40:14.980 --> 00:40:15.440
 the babies

00:40:15.440 --> 00:40:15.680
 in the

00:40:15.680 --> 00:40:16.000
 restaurant

00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:17.240
 and parents

00:40:17.240 --> 00:40:17.599
 just kind

00:40:17.599 --> 00:40:17.800
 of let

00:40:17.800 --> 00:40:18.059
 you do

00:40:18.059 --> 00:40:18.240
 it,

00:40:18.240 --> 00:40:18.460
 right?

00:40:20.860 --> 00:40:21.260
 Maybe

00:40:21.260 --> 00:40:21.720
 Simeon's

00:40:21.720 --> 00:40:21.960
 kind of

00:40:21.960 --> 00:40:22.480
 like that.

00:40:22.579 --> 00:40:22.820
 We don't

00:40:22.820 --> 00:40:23.300
 know if

00:40:23.300 --> 00:40:24.880
 it was the

00:40:24.880 --> 00:40:25.579
 intention of

00:40:25.579 --> 00:40:26.099
 Joseph and

00:40:26.099 --> 00:40:26.559
 Mary to

00:40:26.559 --> 00:40:27.099
 receive a

00:40:27.099 --> 00:40:27.759
 blessing from

00:40:27.759 --> 00:40:28.019
 Simeon.

00:40:28.099 --> 00:40:28.239
 We don't

00:40:28.239 --> 00:40:28.480
 know if he

00:40:28.480 --> 00:40:28.739
 was a

00:40:28.739 --> 00:40:28.960
 priest.

00:40:29.139 --> 00:40:29.319
 We don't

00:40:29.319 --> 00:40:29.659
 know anything

00:40:29.659 --> 00:40:30.099
 about him

00:40:30.099 --> 00:40:30.400
 from that

00:40:30.400 --> 00:40:30.759
 perspective.

00:40:31.019 --> 00:40:31.319
 We just

00:40:31.319 --> 00:40:31.639
 know that

00:40:31.639 --> 00:40:31.920
 he saw

00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:32.460
 this baby

00:40:32.460 --> 00:40:33.099
 that the

00:40:33.099 --> 00:40:33.619
 Lord revealed

00:40:33.619 --> 00:40:34.059
 to him who

00:40:34.059 --> 00:40:34.480
 this baby

00:40:34.480 --> 00:40:34.980
 was and he

00:40:34.980 --> 00:40:35.480
 takes him up

00:40:35.480 --> 00:40:35.940
 in his arms

00:40:35.940 --> 00:40:36.179
 and what

00:40:36.179 --> 00:40:36.500
 does he do?

00:40:36.619 --> 00:40:37.219
 He publicly

00:40:37.219 --> 00:40:37.980
 declares the

00:40:37.980 --> 00:40:38.420
 truth of who

00:40:38.420 --> 00:40:38.840
 this child

00:40:38.840 --> 00:40:39.199
 is.

00:40:41.199 --> 00:40:41.500
 And what

00:40:41.500 --> 00:40:41.860
 is it that

00:40:41.860 --> 00:40:42.420
 Santa does?

00:40:42.980 --> 00:40:43.420
 Santa.

00:40:44.079 --> 00:40:44.880
 Christmas on the

00:40:44.880 --> 00:40:45.079
 brain.

00:40:46.340 --> 00:40:46.659
 Anna.

00:40:48.659 --> 00:40:49.279
 What is it

00:40:49.279 --> 00:40:50.539
 that Anna does?

00:40:51.699 --> 00:40:52.599
 She sees the

00:40:52.599 --> 00:40:53.019
 Christ.

00:40:53.219 --> 00:40:53.480
 We don't

00:40:53.480 --> 00:40:54.039
 know exactly

00:40:54.039 --> 00:40:54.659
 the interaction

00:40:54.659 --> 00:40:55.299
 that she had

00:40:55.299 --> 00:40:55.799
 but clearly

00:40:55.799 --> 00:40:56.719
 she understood

00:40:56.719 --> 00:40:57.239
 what Simeon

00:40:57.239 --> 00:40:57.579
 understood.

00:40:57.679 --> 00:40:58.019
 Maybe she

00:40:58.019 --> 00:40:58.380
 was with

00:40:58.380 --> 00:40:59.619
 him when

00:40:59.619 --> 00:40:59.920
 he made

00:40:59.920 --> 00:41:00.539
 this prophecy.

00:41:01.219 --> 00:41:01.440
 And what

00:41:01.440 --> 00:41:01.759
 is it that

00:41:01.759 --> 00:41:02.179
 she does?

00:41:02.860 --> 00:41:03.519
 She immediately

00:41:03.519 --> 00:41:03.900
 goes to

00:41:03.900 --> 00:41:04.460
 everybody else

00:41:04.460 --> 00:41:04.960
 around her.

00:41:05.699 --> 00:41:06.239
 Others who

00:41:06.239 --> 00:41:06.799
 were longing

00:41:06.799 --> 00:41:08.299
 for the coming

00:41:08.299 --> 00:41:08.819
 of the Messiah

00:41:08.819 --> 00:41:09.279
 and she said

00:41:09.279 --> 00:41:09.980
 he has come.

00:41:10.619 --> 00:41:11.119
 He's come.

00:41:12.579 --> 00:41:13.099
 What are we

00:41:13.099 --> 00:41:13.799
 to do as we

00:41:13.799 --> 00:41:14.279
 wait?

00:41:15.519 --> 00:41:16.059
 We're to go

00:41:16.059 --> 00:41:16.619
 to other people

00:41:16.619 --> 00:41:17.239
 around us and

00:41:17.239 --> 00:41:17.900
 say listen he's

00:41:17.900 --> 00:41:19.460
 come and he's

00:41:19.460 --> 00:41:20.059
 coming back.

00:41:21.599 --> 00:41:22.059
 Repent and

00:41:22.059 --> 00:41:22.579
 believe the good

00:41:22.579 --> 00:41:22.880
 news.

00:41:23.779 --> 00:41:24.159
 It's what

00:41:24.159 --> 00:41:24.840
 Jesus commanded

00:41:24.840 --> 00:41:25.380
 us to do.

00:41:26.139 --> 00:41:26.719
 Now Jesus

00:41:26.719 --> 00:41:27.380
 says in Luke

00:41:27.380 --> 00:41:28.539
 12 blessed

00:41:28.539 --> 00:41:29.659
 are those whom

00:41:29.659 --> 00:41:30.159
 the master

00:41:30.159 --> 00:41:31.099
 finds awake

00:41:31.099 --> 00:41:31.799
 when he

00:41:31.799 --> 00:41:32.139
 returns.

00:41:33.579 --> 00:41:34.259
 That's what

00:41:34.259 --> 00:41:34.679
 it looks like

00:41:34.679 --> 00:41:35.360
 to be awake.

00:41:37.460 --> 00:41:38.239
 Are you

00:41:38.239 --> 00:41:38.980
 waiting well?

00:41:39.860 --> 00:41:40.279
 Are you

00:41:40.279 --> 00:41:40.960
 waiting well?