Looking Forward

Luke 2:22-40

Looking Forward

1. Looking Forward that’s what Simeon and Anna have been doing for years

* We look forward to Christmas but Christmas is over

* All the pressure preparations, presents its over

* Family gatherings are over until another Christmas

* Simeon looked forward to see the consolation of Israel he had been told he would see the Lords Messiah before he died

* Anna to who was 84 also seen the lords Messiah

2. Joseph and Mary look forward to this day of purification in church purification of their child a Chrising, dedication, baptism

* An Angel just warned Joseph to take the baby to Egypt

* The parents Joseph and Mary look forward to this day like we want to baptize dedicate our babies they were so happy

* Mary, also goes through the rite of purification — it was an obligation for Jewish women after childbirth. Looking forward to be considered clean after purification rights

* Mary and Joseph bring with them a couple of small birds — turtledoves or pigeons — for the sacrifice. That tells us a lot about Mary and Joseph. The ordinary sacrificial offering for this purpose was a lamb and a pigeon — way out of their price range — but the law of Moses takes mercy on the needy.

3. Two other folks look forward to this day

* Simeon heard the voice of God, the Holy Spirit, speaking to him. “You will not taste death,” the Spirit told him, “until you have seen the Messiah with your own eyes.” She’s cradling a baby in her arms.

* We really don’t know how he Simeon knows this child to be the One? But he does. Luke simply tells us he was “led by the Spirit.”

* Did his heart burn within him as looked upon the baby?

* Anna We know even less than we do about Simeon. All Luke tells us is that she’s a widow, and well up in her 80s. She comes to the temple each day to pray, and stays well into the night.

* Anna just dressed simple and ordinary she kneeled in prayer day after day she probably recited the prayers out of the psalms each day. I am here and I see Anna’s coming in and out of the church here its routine

* On this day, Anna suddenly stops, mid-prayer. Her eyes flash open. Her head turns, as though she has no control of it — as though someone else has gently placed hands on her temples and directed her gaze. Her eyes rest on that oh-so-young mother and her newborn son.

4. Simeon and Anna reveals the baby Jesus mission to redeem

* Anna she announces, He is the One who will redeem Jerusalem!

* The first thing Simeon says to God, in prayer, is “my eyes have seen your salvation.”

* What Simeon is saying is “he will not only lead the people to salvation. This child is their salvation.”

* Simeon goes on to says God has prepared this salvation “in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

* He is saying this child will change the world, change me, change you,

5. Simeon shares some hard thoughts also

* His prophecy grows dark. “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed …” All is not going to be sweetness and light.

* This baby will bring salvation to the earth, but he’ll also bring about division between people.

* Then, Simeon speaks directly to Mary — perhaps in a whisper, perhaps out loud. We have no way of knowing. He says: “… and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

* Can he somehow know what is to come? Can he envision that scene, more than 30 years in the future, when Jesus will hang bleeding on the cross,

6. We can look forward today

* In Anna’s and Simeon day There was disease, famine, and slavery. Life expectancy was short.

* The Romans were stepping up their oppression of the Jewish people.

* It was sad. Bad times but in the midst of all this bad stuff they catch a glimpse of the baby Jesus in his mother’s arms,

* they both see potential for good present in this child — who is the Son of God.

* One commentator I read said. “Friends we can look forward knowing there is more more potential in the birth of a baby than in any threat — real or imagined — we could ever dream up. And when that baby is the Son of God, the powers of death and disorder flee in disarray.