LOOKING FOR THE SAVIOR TO APPEAR
Luke 2:22-36
When Jesus was born many people claimed to be expecting His arrival. But when surveying the scriptures it becomes clear that many people missed Him. While it is certain that many did see Him, many more rejected Him.
The Apostle John said - "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not." (John 1:10-11)
Think about that fact, Jesus created the World, but the people of the world did not recognize Him. His own nation despised and rejected Him and the people who should have been the happiest to see Him paid Him no attention at all.
The rejection of Christ began before He was even born, for we are told that when the time came for Mary to deliver her first born Son, there was no room in the inn. After Jesus' birth it will become apparent that Herod was not thrilled with the news of His arrival. For the majority of people in that time, the Birth of Christ was just another day.
Thankfully that was not the case for everyone. The Bible records several positive responses to the birth of Christ. His birth was revealed and celebrated by some faithful shepherds, later on His birth was revealed to certain "wise men". We are also told that the Heavenly Host assembled at His birth and "praised God, saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:13-14)
Approximately forty days after the Savior was born, Mary & Joseph took Jesus to the temple to be dedicated to the Lord; there in the Temple was a man named Simeon. Unlike the majority of people in those days, Simeon did not miss the arrival of the Savior. Furthermore he had been anticipating that day for some time. Simeon had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would live to see the arrival of the Messiah. The moment Mary & Joseph entered the Temple, Simeon knew Jesus was the Savior.
How could this man see a month old baby and know that he was in the presence of the "Promised One"? He knew this because it was revealed to him. This is the same way that we are able to know that Jesus is the Savior; we know that He is the Christ because it has been revealed to us.
When Mary & Joseph entered the Tempe Simeon took Jesus into his arms and thanked the Father for sending the Savior to the world and he goes on to proclaim what Jesus would do for Jew & Gentiles alike. He said I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” (v30-32)
Though we don't know much about him, Simeon is a man with a wonderful testimony. We know that he lived in Jerusalem, but we are not told if he was married or if he had any children. We do not know if he was rich or poor. We don't even know his exact age. But what we do know about him is very important. Scripture tells us that as he lived and worked, he was “waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25)
The brief record of Simeon's life serves as an example of how we should live our lives. As followers of Christ we should live in anticipation of His inevitable return. I think there is much that we could learn from this "unsung hero" of the Christmas story named Simeon. I would like to consider his story and preach on the thought "Looking For The Savior To Appear".
- Let us begin by examining:
I. THE PREPARATION OF THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR THE SAVIOR TO APPEAR
v25a and, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, v25c …..and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
- Notice some of the words that are used to describe Simeon:
He is called “just” - this means that he is honest and possesses moral character. He is called “devout” , this word literally means "taking hold of what is good. We are also told that “the Holy Ghost was upon him”. Simeon was a devout man who loved the Lord with all His heart, soul, strength and mind.
If we are to be used of God we must be devoted to Jesus Christ. We should spend our lives looking for Him, living for Him and laboring for Him. His promised return should be at the forefront of out minds. Simply put we must be prepared for His arrival. We don't know exactly when He is coming but we know that He will return. The Bible tells us that He will appear "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Corinthians 15:52)
The last verse in the Bible tells us that He is coming, in fact He says that He is coming quickly. Revelation 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. I personally echo John's sentiment when he said "Even so, come, Lord Jesus".
Simeon had looked for this day, for some time he had longed for the arrival of the Messiah, now that promise was fulfilled... he saw the Promised One. Simeon was more than prepared, he was longing for the arrival of Jesus. In verses 25-26 he shows us:
II. THE ANTICIPATION OF THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR THE SAVIOR TO APPEAR
v25b waiting for the consolation of Israel: 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
Simeon was “waiting for the consolation of Israel”. He was waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. It is apparent that Simeon had been taught the prophecies concerning the Messiah. We also read that it had been “revealed to him by the Holy Ghost that he would see the Christ before he died”. This was a man who lived close to God.
I am not sure how long he waited to see the Messiah. There may have been some days when he questioned if this day would ever come. There may have been other people who scoffed at his devotion and desire to see the Promised one. He was not deterred by doubt or disbelief, this man had a desire to see the Savior.
We should have that same desire today. Our desire should not just be to see His physical return or to see Him after we draw our last breath... we should have the desire to commune with the Savior each and every day of our lives; And the good news is that we have that opportunity!
Simeon was looking forward to seeing the deliverer, we have already been delivered. Knowing this, we should have a desire to see the Savior move in our lives daily. And we should live each day anticipating His return.
- Upon further examination it becomes clear that Simeon was also a man who was Spirit led. The same should be said of us as well. Let's look to verse 27 and consider:
III. THE DIRECTION OF THOSE WHO ARE WAITING FOR THE SAVIOR TO APPEAR
v27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple
God’s spirit led Simeon, on the exact day, at the exact moment that Mary & Joseph came to the temple. Throughout the Bible we see how God leads His people to the right place at the right time. Abraham went to the right mountain and found a ram, Noah followed God’s direction and was protected from the flood, Elijah went to the brook and was fed by ravens, Saul had a divine appointment in Macedonia, on and on it goes. God leads His people! God led Simeon to the Temple at the right time. If Simeon had not obeyed the direction of God he would have missed out on the promise.
How many times does the Holy Sprit lead us in one direction and we go the other way? I wonder how many blessings we forfeit because we refuse to follow the direction of the Holy Spirit? It is imperative that we are sensitive and obedient to God's direction!
Joseph & Mary brought Jesus to the temple to dedicate Him "after the custom of the law". According to the Law, at this point Jesus was at least forty days old. Mary would have been considered ceremonially impure until this time had elapsed following childbirth. After the time of purification a sacrifice must be made.
Leviticus 12:6 “When the time of purification is completed for either a son or a daughter, the woman must bring a one-year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or turtledove for a purification offering. (NLT)
This was the purpose for the journey to the temple, but it brought about an encounter that changed Simeon’s life. In the same way God led you to that place where you were when He saved your soul; and the Holy Spirit continues to lead you in the direction you should go. Let us be faithful to follow the direction of the Holy Spirit.
- When God's promise became a reality Simeon was overwhelmed with joy. Lets look at verse 28 and consider:
IV. THE CONSOLATION OF THOSE WHO ARE WAITING FOR THE SAVIOR TO APPEA - v28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God
Simeon lifted his voice in praise of the Lord Jesus Christ. He has seen the arrival of “the consolation of Israel” . Simeon truly had something to shout about! Picture this, He takes the baby Jesus from Mary lifts Him high and praised the Lord. It is apparent that God was in the midst of this situation, otherwise Simeon may have died in the temple! Everybody knows you don't just snatch a woman's baby from her hands. (Especially when that woman has been entrusted to raise the only begotten Son of God.)
When Simeon took the Baby Jesus into his arms he could not help but to praise the Lord. So far we have only seen Him with eyes of faith, but when we see Him face to face we will rejoice and praise Him as well!
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
This is one more verse that proclaims that He is coming back. When He does we will see Him as He is. we don't know when that will be but there is no denying the fact that we are closer today than we were yesterday.
When Mary & Joseph entered the Temple, Simeon “took Jesus up in his arms” . With this act, Simeon was saying "This is my salvation and my desire". Throughout His life, many people saw Jesus but they did not see Him as “God’s salvation” . Though many rejected Him and refused to see Him for who He was, Simeon did. Simeon saw that Jesus would be "A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Israel." Simeon looked for this day with eyes of faith and now his faith had become sight.
Many things we see we see by faith, but one day our faith will become sight! What are we looking for with these eyes of faith? Titus 2:13 says that we are Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Like Simeon, we should be anticipating the arrival of the Promised One.
Some of you are not prepared for Christ's return. You have never surrendered your life to Him. If this is the case I must warn you that you are lost and headed for an eternity in the Lake of Fire. I implore you to turn to Christ for salvation today. Trust in Him as Lord and Savior. Look to Him for the forgiveness of sins and life eternal.
Many of you profess that you have done this. You have trusted in Christ and you have been born again. I must warn you that being prepared for His return involves more than being saved. Being prepared means that you are living in such a way that you would not be ashamed if He came back before the close of the hour.
At the height of WWII, Protestant theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was imprisoned for taking a stand against Hitler. Yet he continued to urge fellow believers to resist Nazi tyranny. A group of Christians, believing that Hitler was the Antichrist, asked Bonhoeffer, "Why do you expose yourself to all this danger? Jesus will return any day, and all your work and suffering will be for nothing." Bonhoeffer replied, "If Jesus returns tomorrow, then tomorrow I'll rest from my labor. But today I have work to do. I must continue the struggle until it's finished." (source: Our Daily Bread, November 10, 1991.)
Jesus left us with the promise that He would return one day. His return must remain at the forefront of our minds. Though we anticipate His arrival, we are not to spend our days gazing into the clouds. There is work to be done. Just like the first time He came, there are many people who are not ready for Him. May we do all that we can to help people realize that Jesus is coming back and it could be today.
Like Simeon, let us live our lives "Looking For The Savior To Appear"
