GIVE ME A REASON TO SHOUT
Luke 2:8-38
December 5, 2009
Pastor Brian Matherlee
A few weeks ago the Panthers played on Thursday night and Pastor Josh and I went along with Dave Lawlor and another friend. We had a great time and really appreciated the gift of the tickets. Pastor Josh and I were talking the following day about the amount of money, time, and effort put into that game. The people yelled and screamed, put down a lot of money and all of it was for something that doesn’t matter at all in life when you really get down to it. It’s a game. But people invest their lives in it.
Wouldn’t it be better to find something real to shout about? Something that would change our life and have lasting value?
In Luke 2 we find 3 expressions of praise regarding Jesus. Each of them teaches us something beautiful about our Lord’s plan of salvation. The first two were waiting for something specific the Lord had promised. That something was really a “someone”. The last-they weren’t waiting for anything.
1. Simeon
a. Luke uses a Greek word that tells us how Simeon was waiting for the Messiah. He was “alert to his appearance, and ready to welcome him.”
b. Luke tells us Simeon was righteous and devout. This means he lived right before God and put into practice the principles of his faith in God.
c. It tells us he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. What does that mean? It sounds like he was the losing bidder on The Price is Right. It means he was longing for deliverance from the tough times they were facing as a nation.
d. Things weren’t going very well for Israel. They had experience 400 years of silence from God. No prophets, no spiritual leaders. The Romans were in charge and they were held captive by fear. They had no say in government and were at the mercy of Herod…a cruel turncoat who found great pleasure in oppressing the Jews.
e. Simeon hoped for deliverance because the Holy Spirit revealed to him (v. 26) that he would see the Messiah. If we compared Simeon’s wait to a car ride he would have been the one in the back seat peering out the front asking, “Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?”
f. This focus on Christ as a comforter was a popular title among the Jewish people of Simeon’s day. And why not? We long for God to answer the emptiness or hardship of life.
g. The need for comfort is a universal human need. Everyone struggles with loneliness, empty times, not feeling valued. Some even fall into desperation. This time of year sees a marked increase in these feelings that can lead to depression and strife…but it doesn’t have to be that way.
h. Simeon was promised comfort was coming in his lifetime.
i. God wants you to learn He can be the comfort you need. What better picture of God’s desire to bring comfort than His willingness to identify with our broken world. To walk where and how we have to walk and to reveal the loving heart of God that touches all those who feel abandoned and betrayed.
j. Verse 28 tells us that Simeon reached down and took Jesus out of Mary’s arms and began to praise God. Can you imagine how bizarre this scene must have been? How would we react today if someone came up, took your child and starting singing, “God, You came through, now let me die.”
k. Simeon’s story reminds me God loves me and has not forgotten my situation.
2. Anna
a. Anna was like Simeon…alert and ready to welcome.
b. She was a widow and had dedicated herself to fasting and praying in the temple. She never left. She was something special.
c. Where Simeon was waiting for comfort, Anna had a different desire she longed to see fulfilled for her people.
d. Anna was looking for redemption.
e. Redemption is related to the idea of captivity. Those who were enslaved could be redeemed (bought back) for a price. And that’s what it was going to take for humanity to bought back from the one holding their souls captive.
f. Anna understood that Israel was hopelessly bound and only God could set them free. I’m convinced that Anna had more in mind than political captivity. She would have known Israel’s history of spiritual rebellion, captivity, and God’s deliverance. Israel had a spiritual issue at the core of their captivity.
g. What she prayed for was spiritual release.
h. Perhaps that’s where you are today. You may be plagued with guilt of past sins. You may be trapped in the cycle of sin. Despite your best effort, you cannot solve your redemption problem. Slaves cannot pay their way out. Someone with great means must do it. God was Israel’s only hope. He’s your only hope.
i. If you’re looking for a remedy for sin and guilt…I recommend Jesus Christ.
3. Shepherds
a. Out in the fields, minding their own business. They weren’t looking for anything. It was an ordinary night until celestial beings and bright lights made them scream like little girls. Can you imagine the scene? I bet they dove under sheep and pushed their friends forward.
b. They didn’t see Jesus and they wouldn’t have seen him…except that God reached out to them.
c. I’ve wondered what appealed to them the most (besides the supernatural proclamation)
d. The shepherds probably latched onto the fact that they were included in the greatest move of history. Verse 10 says, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” All people. Not just the rich and righteous. Not the social elites and people that didn’t smell like sheep. All people included them. Low men on the totem pole.
e. The shepherds teach all of us that God will come looking for us even when we’re not looking for him.
f. Maybe today God is speaking to you and you’re sensing that drawing in your heart. In a few moments you’ll have an opportunity to say yes to that invitation of love.
Well that’s it. We have three places in chapter 2 that show us God’s desire to comfort, forgive and reach out even when no one was looking for Him. But we can stop here…we have to take to heart what each of them did.
1. They marveled at the work of God
a. Where we have glazed eyes and dark hearts at the beauty of what God has accomplished through the Incarnation let’s have a renewed passion and wonder that God would love “a sinner such as I”.
b. Pick one of the characters of this account and put yourself in their shoes and then feel what they felt.
2. They were people of action
a. Simeon and Anna both acted at the direction of the Holy Spirit. Beyond these we’ve discussed, Mary and Joseph were willing to do whatever God desired.
b. The Shepherds decided they were going to step out and seek out what had been proclaimed to them. They didn’t understand everything but they acted on what they knew.
3. The final thing they all did-they testified
a. There was no reservation
b. There was no shame
c. They couldn’t wait to express what God had invited them to be a part of!
d. Simeon proclaimed the truth to Joseph and Mary.
e. Anna proclaimed redemption “to all who were looking forward” to it.
f. The shepherds told anybody who would listen.
g. Have you ever proclaimed your faith publicly?
h. Have you told what you have seen God do in your life?
“What a Night”
That night when in the Judean skies
Thy mystic star dispensed its light,
A blind man moved in his sleep
And dreamed that he had sight
That night when shepherds heard
The song of angelic choir near,
A deaf man stirred in slumber’s spell
And dreamed that he could hear
That night when o’er the new born babe
The tender Mary rose to lean,
A loathsome leper smiled in sleep
And dreamed that he was clean
That night when in the manger lay
The Sanctified who came to save
A man moved in the sleep of death
And dreamed there was no grave
(source unknown)
God sent Jesus to demonstrate His desire to comfort, forgive and search….for you. What do you dream for?
