Light & Glory Series

Light & Glory

Jeffery Anselmi / General

Light & Glory / Christmas; Glory / Luke 2:22–35

Simeon sings praise to God for the gift of salvation for all people.

INTRODUCTION

- Christmas is just a few days away!

- Today, we will be looking at something that happened when Jesus was about 40 days old.

- Don’t worry; He is still the baby Jesus!

- The event is the presentation of Jesus at the Temple.

- As the Law of Moses prescribed in Leviticus 12:1-9 Mary and Joseph traveled to the temple after Mary’s time of purification to present the infant Jesus.

- For a male child, this event takes place 40 days after the birth, and if a female child is born, the time frame is about 80 days.

- Joseph, Mary’s trip to the Temple was motivated by religious obligation.

- Their encounter with Simeon, though, was prompted by the Holy Spirit, who led them to meet in the TempleTempleTempleTemple.

- Simeon’s future and the future of all people depended on this baby.

- Let’s read Luke 2:22-28 for some context.

Luke 2:22–28 (NET 2nd ed.)

22 Now when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord

23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male will be set apart to the Lord”),

24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves or two young pigeons.

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon who was righteous and devout, looking for the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

27 So Simeon, directed by the Spirit, came into the temple courts, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law,

28 Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying,

- This Christmas message centers on the birth of Christ as the fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation for the whole world.

- Inspired by Simeon’s words of praise in Luke 2:29–32 after he meets the newborn Messiah, we celebrate that Jesus is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:32).

- Big Idea of the Message: Simeon sings praise to God for the gift of salvation for all people.

- The message of Simeon is significant because his message of praise gives us the reason for the season, why Jesus came to us, and why we need to respond to Him and His gift to us.

- Let’s turn to verses 29-32.

Luke 2:29–32 (NET 2nd ed.)

29 “Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord, permit your servant to depart in peace.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation

31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples:

32 a light, for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

SERMON

I. The Light of revelation.

- We have this man, Simeon, who was devout and was looking forward to the coming of the Messiah.

- The Spirit told Simeon he would not die until he saw the long-anticipated Messiah.

- From our description of Simeon, he had to lament the condition of Israel and wanted to see the Messiah come so that the nation would get back on track.

- The restoration of Israel, for which Simeon had waited, refers to the coming messianic age.

- However, Simeon, inspired by the Holy Spirit, knows that the coming ministry of Jesus would bring about some surprises: His salvation would bring a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the falling and rising of many in Israel.

- Mark C. Black, Luke, College Press NIV Commentary (Joplin, MO: College Press Pub., 1995), Lk 2:25.

- Simeon has his prayers answered!

- Simeon’s song of praise celebrates that the promise of the Spirit has been fulfilled.

- Simeon has seen “the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26).

- Simeon’s song in vv. 29–32 expresses thanksgiving to God.

- The first part of Simeon’s song of praise, his prophecy, deals with the fact that Jesus is the light of revelation to the Gentiles!

- We see that Jesus is not just for Israel but for all nations.

- The glory of God is revealed through Christ, breaking down barriers and inviting everyone into His family.

- In John 8:12 Jesus boldly declares that He is the light of the world!

John 8:12 (NET 2nd ed.)

12 Then Jesus spoke out again, “I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”