Responding to the news of Jesus
Luke 2 - Simeon (family service)
Theme: Watchful Anticipation and Perfect Adoration
Aim: live in anticipation of Jesus
Happy New Year! Have you made any new year resolutions?
I'm doing some of the normal things - no dessert at lunchtimes at work, lose some weight etc. But reading today's passage I realise that there is a good one that I can include on my list. I wonder if you'll be able to guess what it is?
Reading Luke 2v22-35
After Jesus had been born, we read that Joseph and Mary did everything according to the law of Moses - the did everything right. They were people who trusted God and wanted to do everything right. The special sacrifice which they made to redeem their firstborn child - two doves or young pigeons - was the smallest sacrifice possible, indicating how poor they were as a family. If they were well-off they would have given a lamb or a bullock as a sacrifice.
It was at the temple that they met a most remarkable man. Not powerful. Not rich. Not with an important position.
A man called Simeon.
Watchful Anticipation
We don't know anything about Simeon other than what we read in these few verses. Not even how old he was - but we know from v25 that he was righteous and devout (which means that he did his best to obey Gods rules, he read Gods word and prayed and he loved God very much).
Many people in Israel at that time were hoping for the appearance of the Messiah, the promised saviour which the OT scriptures spoke of so often. Someone to rescue them from the Roman oppressors, someone to raise them up to be top nation. Many would be looking forward to a mighty warrior and ruler who would destroy all their enemies.
Simeon knew that Israel was in a pretty poor condition and he knew about all the promises in the old testament that God would send a saviour, someone to rescue his people. He had a firmer ground to be hopeful on than most, though. The Holy Spirit of God had given him a special message - Simeon had been told that before he died he would see the Messiah, the Christ, the Saviour which God was sending to this world.
We don't know how long ago Simeon had been told this by the Holy Spirit. It might have been weeks earlier- but it might have been years or decades.
But Simeon must have faithfully held on to this promise which God had made him.
<ask the children: did anyone promise you something earlier? Was it AJ? Did he promise a treat? Are you still waiting? Are you going to get it?>
I wonder whether Simeon expected to see the Messiah arrive in a blaze of glory, or leading a conquering army? He didn't necessarily know what the promised saviour would look like.
But he was living in anticipation of the Messiah. Living each day waiting for the arrival of the Promised One.
Then one day, it says in v27, he was "moved by the Spirit" to go into the temple courts. I try to picture him there, watching intently, expecting to see. what? What form would the Messiah take? Then a peasant couple walk in - he carrying the poorest of offerings, she carrying a baby - and Simeon's heart leaps for joy! It is the baby! The Christ, the Messiah is a little baby!
Perhaps to Joseph and Mary's surprise he takes the tiny baby in his arms and praises God "For my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel "
Simeon has seen Jesus with his own eyes and his life is complete. There is nothing more that he needs, he has the perfect assurance that God is in control and that everything is going to work out just like God promised in the Bible.
<ask the children: did anyone promise you something earlier? Was it AJ? Did he promise a treat? Are you still waiting? Are you going to get it?>
Application
I imagine most Christians experience that kind of prompting of the Holy Spirit now and then - the apparently random impulse to say something or do something which turns out to be a God-given opportunity. Sometimes we listen to the Spirit and obey, sometimes we quench the Spirit and don't. In my experience the closeness of my walk with God at any given time (seen in regular prayer and Bible reading) has the biggest influence in how ready I am to hear the Spirits prompting. If we quench the Spirit then God will use other means to fulfil his objectives, we are the ones who can miss out on the joy of seeing God at work.
Simeon was continually, actively, on the lookout for Jesus. We don't know how long he had been looking, but we know that he was expectant, and looking for the Christ to appear.
We have promises from God too. We have Jesus' own word that he will come again, to take his Church as his bride, to judge this world and rule over it. We haven't seen this promise come true yet, but we will, we will.
As I've asked the children, I'd like to ask you all:
<did anyone promise you something earlier? Was it Jesus? Did he promise a treat? Are you still waiting? Are you going to get it?>
When will Jesus return? Will it be tomorrow? Will it be today?
God hopes that his people today will be righteous and devout - just like Simeon.
God hopes that his people today will live in watchful anticipation.
What difference will that make in our lives? For one thing it will make us more open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and as we face the challenges and opportunities of 2005 that must be a good thing!
Live in watchful anticipation of Jesus - how about that for a new years resolution?
Alex White
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