INTRODUCTION: Remember when you were a kid and you couldn’t wait until Christmas arrived? When my brother and I were young, my Mom would have this Christmas calendar with cotton balls stuck to each of the squares. Each day we took turns taking a cotton ball off. We were excited to do so knowing that each one we took off meant we were one more day closer to Christmas. The anticipation of walking into the living room Christmas morning and wondering what you were going to find. It was exciting because my parents would leave certain things wrapped but the cool toys they always put together and set up. We would walk in and be thrilled with that first glimpse. It’s obvious why kids look forward to Christmas. But today we’re going to look at two people who were looking forward in eager anticipation for a much different reason.
1) Simeon (vs. 25-35): Vs. 25, “Waiting for the consolation of Israel…” Simeon was waiting in eager anticipation. It had been nearly 400 years since the last prophet was in Israel. The Jews hadn’t heard the voice of God for several generations and I’m sure many were wondering if the deliver that God had promised them would ever arrive. Another word for consolation is comfort. Simeon was waiting for the comfort that the birth of Jesus would bring to him and his people. That’s what Jesus brings. How about you? Would you like some comfort, some relief, some support? Jesus is our consolation. Perhaps you’ve been grieved for a long time and you’ve been waiting like Simeon. Maybe you’re wondering if that comfort will ever come. What you’re waiting for is found in Jesus. Some Scholars believe that Simeon was 113 years old when he saw the baby Jesus. Perhaps there were times when Simeon himself may have wondered if God was going to fulfill his promise to him that he wouldn’t die before seeing the Messiah. But Simeon was a devout man who hadn’t given up on God fulfilling his promise. So when that promise materialized in the baby Jesus Simeon was overjoyed (vs.28-32). Vs. 33-35. That’s not really a joyful Christmas greeting, is it? But here’s the truth: since Jesus has entered the world, He has divided the human race. Jesus will cause the falling and rising of many. Because of who Jesus is and what He came to do, He forces people to make a decision about Him. Jesus is either a rock that you build your life upon (that’s the sense of rising) or he’s the rock that you stumble over (that’s the meaning of falling). Simeon realized that when he saw Jesus he had seen the savior. He got what he was waiting for.
2) Anna (vs. 36-38): Anna was a prophetess. There aren’t very many recorded prophetesses in scripture so Anna was a special woman. Her name means ‘grace’. She was from the tribe of Asher which means, ‘happy’ or ‘blessed’. We also know that Anna was a widow. She lost her husband seven years into her marriage. She had experienced the pain and devastation of losing her husband. And it was undoubtedly something dramatic that happened to him since he was probably relatively young. So chances are it was a sudden loss. It doesn’t speak of her having any children so one might conclude that Anna was left alone; no husband, no children. Being a widow was devastating enough but being a widow in those days was even more trying. The only support Anna would’ve received was from the kindness of strangers. Therefore, if you were to go by this, you might think that she was anything but happy and blessed. This type of situation might have caused many a widow to move away from God. Instead, she moved closer to him. She moved into the temple. The temple grounds had various rooms where one could live. She not only moved in; she never left! She spent all her time there serving God. God became her husband. She became totally devoted to Him. We minister to many single people here at Cornerstone. Is your time spent looking for and wishing for that special someone to come into your life? Is this your priority? Anna probably could’ve gotten remarried. And no one would’ve blamed her if she had. But she made a different choice. She chose to fully devote herself to God. No one should blame you for hoping to find a godly husband or wife. But what if that’s not God’s will for you? If God’s will for you is to serve him single would you be content with that? Anna lived and served many years at the temple. I don’t think God would’ve chosen someone who was miserable to be a prophetess. Anna embraced God’s will for her as a widow and despite her circumstances, found plenty of reasons to call herself happy and blessed. She was able to see Jesus. She gave thanks. She knew the source of joy was God. What is our source of joy? Is this a joyous time of year because of parties and presents or is our source of joy the same as Anna’s-Jesus? And she didn’t keep that joy to herself. She went around telling others about the redemption and the redeemer. What about us? If you’ve experienced the joy of redemption do you joyfully tell others about it? What greater joy could there be? What greater word could there be but redemption? To be saved, to be delivered, to be rescued, to be released. The freedom, the liberation, the emancipation; the joy. Anna was looking forward to seeing her redeemer and now she had found what she had been waiting for.
3) Our response.
What can we do to eagerly anticipate the real reason for Christmas?
• Move. Vs. 27, “Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.” The name, ‘Simeon’ means, “one who hears and obeys”. That’s what we need to do. When we hear the Spirit calling us to move toward Jesus, we need to obey. The closer we move toward Jesus the more we will experience the joy of Jesus. Vs. 38, “Coming up to them at that very moment…” Simeon and Anna had the desire to move to where Jesus was. If we are going to be excited about Christmas for the right reason then we need to move closer to Jesus. We need to connect with him in prayer. We need to be in church where his word is preached. Where did Simeon and Anna receive their Jesus encounter? In the temple, in the church. Not that we don’t encounter Jesus anywhere else but there is a special connection with Christ when we come to meet him at church each week. We need to move closer to Jesus outside of the church walls as well. We need to be in circles of people whose conversations are about him. We need to listen to the radio or watch TV shows that talk about him. We need to read the bible that opens up to us the life of Jesus. We need to draw near to Christ so we can experience the unique connection that is found only in him. That will make our Christmas special.
• Marvel. Vs. 33, “They marveled at what was said about Jesus.” Often times with excitement comes wonder. We need to be thrilled with Jesus. Unfortunately there’s so much glamour and glitz of commercialism and materialism to where we ‘oooh’ and ‘aaah’ more about that than about Jesus. Don’t misunderstand, I’m not a scrooge, I like to see the lights and decorations too but I would hope that the real thrill of the Christmas season for me isn’t a well-lit house or tree but rather a Father’s love in sending his Son. I hope my excitement isn’t in anticipation of what’s underneath the pretty wrapping paper but rather the Savior is born. I hope what I truly marvel at on Christmas day isn’t how well-prepared the holiday dinner is but rather that God came here to be with us. That He came to live among us, to talk to us, to teach us, to minister to us-to die for us. That’s what I want to marvel at on Christmas. Christ is the one who makes Christmas marvelous.
CONCLUSION: Many years ago, there was a very wealthy man who shared a passion for art collecting with his son. They had priceless works by Picasso and Van Gogh adorning the walls of their family estate. As winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram. His son had died. Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season had vanished with the death of his son. On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home. As he opened the door he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hands who said, “I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you.” He mentioned that he was an artist and then gave the old man the package. The paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the man’s son. Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius, the painting featured the young man’s face in striking detail. Overcome with emotion, the man hung the portrait over the fireplace, pushing aside millions of dollars worth of art. His task completed, the old man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given. The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the pieces of art for which museums around the world clamored. The following spring, the old man died. The art world waited with anticipation for the upcoming auction. According to the will of the old man, all the art works would be auctioned on Christmas Day, the day he had received the greatest gift. The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world’s most spectacular paintings. Dreams would be fulfilled that day. The auction began with a painting that was not on anyone’s museum list. It was the painting of the man’s son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid, but the room was silent. “Who will open the bidding with $100?” No one spoke. Finally someone said, “Who cares about that painting. It’s just a picture of his son. Let’s move on to the good stuff.” The auctioneer responded, “No, we have to sell this one first. Now, who will take the son?” Finally, a neighbor of the old man offered $10 dollars. “That’s all I have. I knew the boy, so I’d like to have it.” The auctioneer said, “Going once, going twice…gone.” The gavel fell. Cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, “Now we can bid on the real treasures!” The auctioneer looked at the room filled with people and announced that the auction was over. Everyone was stunned. Someone spoke up and said, “What do you mean, it’s over? We didn’t come here for a painting of someone’s son. There is millions of dollars worth of art here! What’s going on?” The auctioneer replied, “It’s very simple. According to the will of the Father, whoever takes the son…gets it all.” Some of us are like these art collectors when it comes to Christmas. We’re not looking for the Son; we’re looking for the new gaming system or the new computer. We’re looking for the new jewelry or the new clothes. We’re looking for the gift cards and the money. But we’d be overlooking the greatest gift of all. Why are you looking forward to Christmas? The presents? The meal? Getting together with family? All those are good things but my prayer is that the biggest reason you’re looking forward to Christmas is Jesus. But you don’t have to wait until Christmas to move toward Jesus. You don’t have to wait to marvel at Jesus, you can do that today. Jesus is waiting in anticipation for you.
