The Wait Is Over!
The Story Of Simeon
Luke 2:25-35
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee
Israel's strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart
Born Thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a king
Born to reign in us forever
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring
TODAY – Christmas Eve 2012, I want to take just a few minutes to share with you a ‘Christmas Story…’ NOW – that is what we have been doing at Maple Grove for the last few week…
TELLING - Christmas Stories. UNWRAPPING - some of the stories that are found within the greatest story ever told. So far in this journey we have unwrapped…
The Story of Zechariah and Elizabeth ( an elderly couple),
The Story of Mary (a middle school aged girl),
The Story of Joseph (Mary’s husband, the adopted father of Jesus) and
The Story of Jesus’ birth.
This afternoon…
I want to take just a few moments to unwrap one more Christmas Story…
The Story Of Simeon in a message I am calling ‘The Wait Is Over!’
You know, I think that, is a very appropriate title for Christmas Eve service, don’t you... – I mean that is how a lot of people feel in this room, especially young people…The Wait Is Over!
I MEAN - I remember as a kid waiting for Christmas to finally get here, and it always seemed like it took forever for 12/25 to show up on the calendar. BUT NOW – as an adult it is more like…
“wow, it can’t already be Christmas… didn’t we just take the tree and decorations down last week…?”
When I was growing up, I would wake up around 2 am Christmas morning and begin my unrelenting assault on my mom and dad… “is it time to get up yet?” AND AFTER - a solid 2-3 hours I always wore them down.
NOW - though waiting was hard… I THINK – waiting only made me want Christmas to get here all more… IN FACT – waiting increased both the level of anticipation and the level of my joy, when the day finally arrived…
AND – that’s the way that waiting and wanting work…
waiting + wanting = greater anticipation and joy when the wait is finally over…
YEAH - we want certain things… and we wait for them…
AND AS WE DO - the anticipation just keeps building and building)…
WE – want and wait for things like:
• Christmas… or
• Graduating from HS… going to college… getting our degree
• Finding our soul mate, getting married
• Having our first child
• Going on that vacation
• Retiring
• Returning home from an overseas deployment
and when the wait is over and those things
finally gets here…
SIMEON - was waiting…
AND HE - had been waiting for a very long time…
In FACT - he was getting pretty old…
Which (interestingly) means different things to different people, right?…
I MEAN - if you are a young person and you hear that someone is getting old, you’re like… ‘wow, they must be around 25 or 30…
ON THE OTHER HAND - if you are like me and you here that someone is getting old, you’re like… ”wow, the guy must be approaching 137.
AND UNDERSTAND - Simeon was not waiting to retire or go on vacation… AND HE – wasn’t waiting for his soul mate, or for a diploma…
INSTEAD – he was waiting to see the Messiah, the promised one, the Savior and Redeemer of all God’s people…
YOU SEE – God hold told him, that before he died, he would see The Messiah, he would see The Christ with his very own eyes.
NOW - Simeon was a priest who served at the Temple. And I am pretty sure that every day when he woke up that he looked under the tree to see if ‘the present ‘ with the following label attached was there…
From: God
To: The world he soo loves
AND I IMAGINE - that every time a couple came to present their child before the Lord at the temple, and that baby was wrapped in a blue blanket… he must have thought… “maybe, this one is the Messiah”
Okay – let’s unwrap… Luke 2:25-35… The Story Of Simeon (it takes place 40 days after the birth of Jesus).about
At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel.
What was he waiting for?
FOR – the Messiah to come, for the Word to become flesh, for God to come and rescue his people.
The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple.
AND – do you know what?
I think the Holy Spirit woke Simeon up early on that day…
YOU SEE – God had been waiting a whole lot longer than Simeon to put this gift under the tree for mankind.
IN FACT – every since 3 chapter of HIS STORY… when Adam and Eve choose to turn the backs on and disobey HIM… God had been waiting and wanting this day (the day of rescue) to finally get here.
YEAH – I kind of picture it this way…
Simeon is kind of sleeping in.
Hitting the snooze on his alarm a bunch of times…
AND – God is like “seriously… of all the days to sleep in”
So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28
Simeon was there.
He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,
as you have promised.
UNDERSTAND – God always keeps his promises
30 I have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared for all people.
32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. hen Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother,
“This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall,
but he will be a joy to many others.
He has been sent as a sign from God,
but many will oppose him. 35
As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.
And a sword will pierce your very soul.”
- Luke 2:25-35
TODAY
Christmas Eve 2012
I bring you good news of great joy, that is for all people (including every single person in this room)
The Wait Is Over!!!
UNDERSTAND…
IF – you have been waiting for…
• A love that is (never ending and unfailing), (unconditional and unbounded) - the wait is over!
• A hope that is living… and an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade away – the wait is over!
• A way to be right with God that does not depend on your own effort or performance – the wait is over!
• Peace in a world of conflict, a joy that is inexpressible, and a life not bound up by fear or worry – the wait is over!
• True satisfaction and fulfillment, meaning and purpose – if you have been waiting for a reason to get out the bed every morning – the wait is over!
IF – you have been waiting for…
• Mercy that is new every morning and grace that sweeps over your entire being like a mighty tidal wave – the wait is over!
• Your past to be forgiven, your future to be guaranteed and your present to be empowered – the wait is over!
• Some light in your darkness, strength for each day, rest for your weary soul, that deep thirst to be forever quenched – the wait is over!
• That friend who will stick closer to you than a brother… who will love you when you are unlovely, be faithful even when you are not, who will push you and believe in you – the wait is over!
• Salvation and rescue… for the chance to begin again – the wait is over!
Simeon… was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel… when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28
Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. 30 I have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared for all people. 32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
