Purpose: To portray what a godly person is really like.
Aim: I want the listeners to determine if they know Christ or not.
INTRODUCTION: Have you ever had a dog to welcome you home? A dog has a way of making you feel important. They always seem happy to see you.
This last week my wife saw a young girl lean out the window of her car as they rode through Kensington and she shouted, "It's Christmas. It's Christmas everybody!" That kind of enthusiasm is fun to watch.
Out text today is about a man was also waiting anxiously for something very exciting to happen. For hundreds of years the Jews had been looking for the deliverer and the savior to come that God had promised. Isaiah 9:6--7 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this. (NAS)
This longing for a deliverer only deepened as the Jews endured the oppression of the Roman Empire. They desperately wanted to be in charge of their own country again. It was humiliating to always have to answer to Rome for everything they wanted to do.
As much as the Jews wanted a deliverer it is surprising that so few of them were actually studying the Scriptures in order to know how to recognize the Messiah when He did come.
Simeon was an exception. He was not only anxiously waiting for the Messiah to come; he was actively looking for the Messiah. He was constantly looking for the Messiah and God had promised him that he would actually see Him in his life time.
The Messiah came to earth over 2,000 years ago, but we should also we looking for Him because He is coming again.
2 Timothy 4:8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. (NAU)
Vs.25 I. What Kind of Person Longs for Jesus? "looking for the consolation"
Luke uses a Greek word for LOOKING that literally means "alert to His appearance, and ready to welcome Him." Simeon was waiting with expectation for the coming of the Messiah, or Savior.
Simeon was longing for peace and deliverance. His nation was under the heel of the Roman Empire, but he must have sensed a need for personal peace.
We all struggle with loneliness, emptiness, insecurity, and even despair. In fact, there is more depression and suicide during the Christmas season than any other time of the year.
But what kind of person longs for God to deliver them?
A. A person who is ordinary "a man in Jerusalem"
Well, who was Simeon? As far as we know he wasn't a religious ruler, a priest, or even wealthy. He was just a man.
1 Corinthians 1:27--29 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. (NAS)
B. A person who loves what is right "this man was righteous"
He makes decisions based on what is right, not on what will make him popular. Following Christ requires that we be unmovable in what we believe about Christ. If we really love and long for Christ then we will want to do want pleases Him. Philippians 3:8 ... I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, (NAS)
C. A person who has decided to do right "devout"
DEVOUT means "godly fear." Not only does a Christian have unbending convictions about Christ, but he also has a warm and passionate desire to please Christ. All of that begins with a commitment to follow Christ no matter what.
1 Peter 2:21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, (NAS)
D. A person who is controlled by the Holy Spirit "Holy Spirit was upon him"
The person who is longing for Christ is not swayed by what other people think of them. They are only concerned about what God thinks of them. 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (NAS)
The person who longs for the appearance of Jesus Christ relies on the Holy Spirit to guide him and control him.
Vs.28-32 II. How Does Christ change those who long for Him?
Vs.28 A. They are moved to worship Christ "blessed God"
Revelation 15:4 "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU, FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED." (NAS)
Do you long to worship Jesus? If not, then what is it that you long for more than Jesus?
Vs.29 B. They have courage to die "depart in peace"
Those that have welcomed Christ may welcome death. Matthew Henry [1]
"The word DEPART in the Greek has several meanings, and each of them tells us something about the death of a Christian. It means to release a prisoner, to untie a ship and set sail, to take down a tent (see 2 Cor. 5:1--8), and to unyoke a beast of burden (see Matt. 11:28--30). God's people are not afraid of death because it only frees us from the burdens of this life and leads into the blessings of the next life." [2]
Let me share two stories that contrast how differently people can die.
A young lady was taken very sick and was informed that she could not live. Her parents had educated her to follow the ways and fashions of the world and had turned her away from the truth of God. Now she lay dying, surrounded by her young friends, with whom she had indulged in the pleasures of sin.
The miserable girl called her father to the bedside and in front of everybody said, "Your heart is as black as Hell. If you had taught me to live for God, rather than spending your time quarreling with mother, I might have been saved."
Turning to others, she pled with them saying, "Do not follow my ungodly example. Do not do as I have done. Do not indulge in the hellish pleasures of the world! Oh, if I had only heeded the warnings. . . ."
Then she suddenly cried, "Oh, the devil is coming to drag my soul down to Hell! . . . I am lost, lost forever!" Then she died. [3]
Contrast that with Merritt Caidwell's Last Words:
This great and good man, principal of Wesleyan Academy in Maine and vice-president of Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, was a gifted writer. He was born in 1806 and died in 1848.
Shortly before his death he said to his wife, "You will not, I am sure, lie down upon your bed and weep when I am gone. You will not mourn for me when God has been so good to me. When you visit my grave, do not come in the shade of the evening, or in the dark of night; these are no times to visit the grave of a Christian, but come in the morning, in the bright sunshine when the birds are singing."
His last words were, "Glory to Jesus! He is my trust CHe is my strength! Jesus lives; I shall live also!"
Which way will you die?
Vs.30-32 C. They are content with Christ "my eyes have seen Your salvation"
God promised Simeon that he would see the Christ, but he was also able to hold the Christ. God did more than was promised.
Isaiah 45:25 In the Lord all the offspring of Israel will be justified and will glory. (NAU)
Jesus is our salvation. If we have Him we have ALL we need.
Solomon told us, Ecclesiastes 1:8 All things are wearisome; Man is not able to tell it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor is the ear filled with hearing. (NAU)
The eye is not satisfied with seeing until it sees Christ.
Throughout His lifetime, thousands looked at Jesus, but only a few saw Him as God's Salvation. What do you see when you look at Jesus?
What are you looking for?
They were looking for a lion,
He came as a Lamb, and they missed Him.
They were looking for a warrior,
He came as a Peacemaker, and they missed Him.
They were looking for a king,
He came as a Servant, and they missed Him.
They were looking for liberation from Rome,
He submitted to the Roman stake, and they missed Him.
They were looking for a fit to their mold,
He was the mold maker, and they missed Him.
What are you looking for? Lion? Warrior? King? Liberator?
What are you looking for?
They were looking for their temporal needs to be met,
He came to meet their eternal need, and they missed Him.
Vs.33-35 III. How Does Christ's Coming Affect the World?
Vs.33-34a A. Some are blessed and some are condemned "fall and rise"
Matthew 10:34--39 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it. (NAS)
The same sun that melts the ice hardens the clay. 1 Peter 2:7-8 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner stone," 8 and, "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense"; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. (NAU)
Vs.34b B. Many will hate Christ "a sign to be opposed"
"Jesus Christ is God's miracle; and yet, instead of admiring Him, the people attacked Him and spoke against Him. His birth was a miracle, yet they slandered it (John 8:41). They said His miracles were done in the power of Satan (Matt. 12:22--24) and that His character was questionable (John 8:48, 52; 9:16, 24). They slandered His death (Ps. 22:6--8; Matt. 27:39--44) and lied about His resurrection (Matt. 27:62--66). Today, people are even speaking against His coming again (2 Peter 3)."
The world continues to spew out hatred for Jesus Christ. Just this month the Smithsonian Christmas Exhibit featured a video of a crucifix of Jesus with ants crawling all over Him.
This should not surprise us. Jesus said that His followers Luke 21:17 will be hated by all because of My name. (NAS)
Vs.35a C. Sins will be paid for "sword will pierce"
This is a prediction that Mary will witness the death of Christ (evidently Joseph will not be alive to experience this). The spear that the Roman soldiers thrust into the side of Jesus Christ was picture of what Mary was feeling in her soul as she watched Jesus die.
1 Timothy 2:5--6 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all.... (NAS)
Vs.35b D. Motives will be exposed "thoughts...may be revealed"
The way a person reacts to Jesus reveals what is in the heart.
When Jesus is proclaimed, decisions must be made. How you respond to Christ reveals what is in your heart.
2 Peter 3:11-14 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, (NAU)
CONCLUSION:
He came as a Lamb to be sacrificed for your sin.
Will you miss Him?
He came to make peace between God and man.
Will you miss Him?
He came to model servant hood for all mankind.
Will you miss Him?
He came that we might have true liberty.
Will you miss Him?
He came to give you eternal life.
Will you miss Him?
Trust in Christ's payment for your sins and your eternal needs will be met; then God will take care of all the other things you need.
For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. So take care how you listen... (Luke 8:17--18a NAS)
What evidence is there that you are longing for Jesus Christ?
[1]Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.
[2]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Lk 2:21 (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996).
[3]N. M. Neims, Kopperl, Texas. From Voices from the Edge of Eternity compiled by John Myers. Pp. 190-191
[4]From Dying Testimonies by S. B. Shaw. N. M. Neims, Kopperl, Texas. From Voices from the Edge of Eternity compiled by John Myers. Pp. 190-191
[5]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Lk 2:21 (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996).
