Behold The Lamb Praised Series

Behold the Lamb Praised

Behold the Lamb Series 4

Sermon outline from Dr. Adrian Rogers former pastor of Belleview Baptist Church, Memphis, TN

Luke 2:21-38 Monte T. Brown

December 14, 2014 Sunday Morning

Stapp Zoe Baptist

Introduction

This coming Thursday is Christmas, presents will be given and received.

Meals will be eaten, festivities will be celebrated and then for the most part, it will all come to an end for another year.

That lime green scarf, you received will go into the drawer to join the hot pink one you got last year.

That red and brown paisley tie will quickly find its way to the back of your closet, soon to be forgotten.

The tree and the decorations will come down and Christmas will be gone for another year.

Or will it?

The fact is Christmas really has nothing to do with the things I just mentioned.

Christmas can go on 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

It can go on if allow Jesus to be the central Figure of Christmas and to understand “Behold the Lamb to be Praised.”

In our text, the Lamb of God has been born.

God has stepped out of eternity and entered human history.

“Behold the Lamb of God” was promised, He was prepared and He has been provided and it is the time to be praised.

Our text takes us to Jerusalem for an event that occurred after the very first Christmas.

When Jesus was 8 days old He was circumcised, as prescribed by the Law, Leviticus 12:3. “And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.”

Mary has reached the end of her purification period as spoken of in Leviticus.

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2"Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'If a woman has conceived, and borne a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her customary impurity she shall be unclean.

3And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

4She shall then continue in the blood of her purification thirty-three days. She shall not touch any hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are fulfilled. Leviticus 12:1-4

If you would let us honor the Word of God by turning to our text in Luke 2: 21-38 and stand as I read our text this morning from Luke 2: 21-38.

Scripture

21And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22And when the days of her purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

23(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

24And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

25And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

26And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

27And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

28Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

30For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

31Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

32A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

33And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

34And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

35(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

36And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;

37And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

38And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.