Before reading today’s text I want to give you a little background or context. The passage takes place on the Temple grounds about 40 days after Jesus’ birth. Joseph and Mary have gone to the Temple for a couple of reasons. First, it was customary for a family to dedicate their first born son to God’s service and then redeem him back with an offering of five shekels or a couple of pigeons. This buy back was designed to remind the Jewish people of their redemption from slavery to Egypt. The second reason they came to the Temple was so that Mary could make the required offering for her purification after child birth.
Also at the Temple Mount that day were two elderly characters. Simeon, a godly man who was fulfilling his rotational duties at the Temple as a priest and Anna, a prophetess, who had been going to the Temple to worship every day since she became a widow.
Hear now the word of the Lord and what happened on the Temple mount that day so long ago.
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 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.
The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel (FAN-yoo-el), of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at the very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2.25-38)
The word of God, for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
Simeon was also looking for something significant to happen during his lifetime. Simeon, like many other Jews was looking for the Messiah. Every time the Jewish nation was under the domination of a foreign power the people looked for the Messiah to come. The Jews had been looking for their Messiah for centuries. Now, under Roman rule the Jews looked for a bright, handsome, courageous, and godly man to lead them back to God and God’s favor. The Jews were looking for someone who could make Israel into a godly powerhouse like it used to be when David was king. Simeon was looking for one who would rebuild and restore Israel to its rightful place among the nations food chain. Simeon, a Jew, was looking for the one who would transform his life, the life of a nation, and the nations of the world. If Simeon had a bucket list, the list of to do’s he wanted to accomplish before dying, it included being able to see Israel’s messiah.
Simeon was looking for the Messiah with great anticipation because God told him that the day was coming when he would see this Messiah with his own eyes.
It wouldn’t surprise me if he felt like a child the week of Christmas who keeps asking his or her parents if it’s Christmas yet. I wonder if Simeon didn’t wake up every morning asking God, “Is it time? Is it time?” “Is this the day?”
And then one day he went to the Temple to perform his duties when a couple placed a six-week old baby boy in his arms. At first he probably didn’t think anything about it. It was just another baby boy to dedicate. But then something happened. The bible doesn’t tell us exactly what happened, but sometime between turning towards an altar and blessing the boy he was made aware that the 10-pound bundle of boy in his arms was the Messiah he longed for. The hope of Israel was in the palms of his hands. The joy of the world was looking into his eyes. Simeon was gazing upon God’s glory before him. And on top of it all, he had the privilege of dedicating him to God in the Temple. How do you think Simeon felt? I can only imagine what it must have been like to be one of the few people on this earth to hold, to touch, to see, to hear, and to smell the Messiah, Jesus.
The waiting was over. The Messiah had come. And Simeon and Anna got to see him with their own eyes. Wow.
I found myself wondering what this has to do with Advent. And before long the words, “Look for me” registered in my mind. “Look for me like Simeon did.” “Look for me like Anna did.” “Yearn for me like the Jews of old did.” “Look for me.” But why? I think God wants us to look for him because God’s coming to town to transform someone’s life this Christmas and he doesn’t want them to miss it.
Sound unreasonable? Let me tell you a couple of stories.
I had a conversation with a young mother some time ago during the Christmas season who told me of an experience she had in the Northwest Arkansas Mall. It was just a couple of days before Christmas and she found herself scurrying through the mall trying to find some last minute gifts. She was pushing her daughter in the stroller trying to dodge other last minute shoppers. She was drained. Her heart was heavy and her steps were cumbersome. At one moment she found herself wondering what on earth she was doing. Christmas she admitted wasn’t supposed to be this way.
At about that time she saw him. Right there in the middle of the crowd, a man. A man with scraggly hair wearing a custodian uniform pushing a large cart filled with bags of trash. As he pushed the cart of trash he lifted his head and glanced through the crowd at her. But she couldn’t look away. Her heart started pounding. His eyes she said gazed into her heart and soul and even though his lips didn’t move she heard his inaudible voice say, “It doesn’t have to be like this.” And then a great peace and calm came over her. She said, “You’ll think this is crazy, but I think he was Jesus.”
Jesus revealed himself to her in the middle of the mall. Where might he reveal himself to you?
Oh, and let me tell you about Joe. Joe was a custodian in a department store who worked the night shift after the store had closed. Christmas was one of his most favorite times of the year at work because the store displayed a life size nativity scene in the main display window just inside the main entrance. The first thing Joe did when he came on duty was to start with the Nativity scene. Every night he would find gum wrappers, pop cans, cups, napkins and other items strewn among the straw.
One night while Joe was picking up the trash he paused and wondered what it might have been like to have been there when it happened. He closed his eyes, and then it happened. It was as if everything came to life in a Christmas movie. He could smell the straw and the odors of the animals. There were noises of sheep and donkeys moving about in their stalls. He saw Mary lying uncomfortably in the straw next to a feeding trough where a little baby slept content. He could hear Joseph speaking words of comfort to a mother who had given birth to a son just a few hours earlier. And then he heard them. A sound so beautiful he had nothing to compare it to. The heavenly host had unleashed their voices in praise and it sent goose bumps crawling all over his body. And then something happened to him that had never happened before. It felt like someone poured warm oil over his heart followed by peace, joy and contentment.
And then just like that, it ended. And the next thing he heard was one of the other custodians calling out, “Joe, where are you?”
Whether or not a person believes the nativity set came to life, is not the issue. What is, is that Christ visited Joe during Advent.
God is looking to transform someone’s life this Christmas. Could it be yours or someone you love? “Look for me.” “Look for me this Christmas” says our Lord. Look for him like Simeon. You might just be surprised at what happens next.
