Baby Jesus in Jerusalem
(Luke 2:21-38)
1. Things don’t always work the way we think they should.
2. There was a man in the Persian empire that looked just like the king. When the real king was quietly assassinated, he pretended to be him and ruled for a time (Smerdis/Pseudo Smerdis).
3. Likewise, many – many alive today as well – claim to be the Messiah.
4. Jesus, however, met the stringent requirements for the Messiah (David/Bethlehem), esp. His death and resurrection.
Main Idea: The Savior’s entire life built up toward His crucifixion and resurrection. He had to be the sinless Lamb of God and endorsed by the Spirit so He could redeem us because He loves us!
I. Torah OBSERVANT: Jesus’ Obeyed Torah, and So Did His FAMILY (21-24)
The Messiah was expected to be godly, devout, and exemplary in Torah observance.
A. His Circumcision on the EIGHTH Day in Bethlehem (21)
1. In the Bible, names of great people often PREDICT the nature of their lives.
2. He was named Jesus, which is Greek for YESHUA.
3. In Hebrew, the word for salvation is YESHUAH.
B. The RITUALS in Jerusalem (22-24)
1. They paid REDEMPTION money for Jesus (Numbers 3:14) usually after 30 days.
• Amounts to perhaps $50.
2. Two animals were SACRIFICED after 40 days for Mary’s purification.
Leviticus 12:6, 8 reads: But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons… And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.’
• What “cleanness” meant in OT times.
• What the sacrifice could and could not do (no sacrifice for high-handed sins)
3. The “low income” type of sacrifice tells us that the MAGI had not yet arrived with their gold.
4. Jesus was and is JEWISH.
Galatians 4:4-5, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
C. Although Jesus often violate oral TRADITIONS, He never violated the Scripture and was sinless.
John 8:46, “Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?”
Half of Americans who call themselves “Christian” don’t believe Satan exists and fully one-third are confident that Jesus sinned while on Earth, according to a [2009] Barna Group poll. [wnd.com]
Not all traditions are equal. Some violate Scripture and need to be trashed. Others may not be necessarily evil, but indirectly undermine Scripture, while some are helpful to some but not to others. And others might be useful for most. Never confuse tradition with Scripture. The Word of God is the authority, not traditions or how you or I were raised.
D. Christianity is TRANS-CULTURAL Messianic Judaism, but much of the TORAH is directed specifically toward the Jews; although we do not live “under it,” it is still the Word of God.
Application: Although church-age believers are not called to observe Torah, we are to take obedience to God’s commands for us just as seriously. Their focus is not on ritual, however.
II. Doubly Attested: The Holy SPIRIT and Godly, Seasoned Saints (25-38)
Although the Jewish nation (as a whole) rejected Jesus, He had more than ample testimony as to His Messiahship. And the testimony started early. Angels, shepherds, and – later, Magi.
The Indian in Arizona heard his first Christian sermon. Asked for his opinion, he replied, "Big wind! Loud thunder! No rain!"
Jesus did not claim to be Who He is, but had the credentials right from the start. Descendant of David, born in Bethlehem and the testimony of God Himself.
A. A Godly Old MAN (25-35)
1. Simeon was waiting for the “comfort of Israel” promised in Isaiah 40-66.
2. The Holy Spirit revealed he would not die until he saw the Messiah.
3. Can the Holy Spirit show us things? I believe so – but we should not expect others to put faith in what the Holy Spirit might show us & recognize our fallibility. Some people try to bully others by claiming to be led by God, a vison, etc.
4. Simeon was ready to die in peace – a privilege all believers have.
5. He also sense he had completed what God had for him. We can have that, too.
6. Most of his prophesying is a weaving of Isaiah 40-66 passages; he was clearly a man who – like most devout Jews – had saturated himself in the Word.
7. The just of his prophecy: Jesus would provide salvation for both believing Jews and Gentiles (glory/light), would be polarizing, and would bring great pain to Mary.
B. A Godly Old WOMAN (36-38)
1. Tribe of Asher. No “lost tribes.” The godly from northern Israel had migrated south.
2 Chronicles 15:9, “And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were residing with them, for great numbers had deserted to him from Israel when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.”
2. She had been a widow for a good 60 years, probably spending her later years only in the temple courts (many elderly Jews came to Jerusalem to die; their Florida).
C. Both these folks were specifically LED by the Spirit to approach the baby Jesus.
Later the Spirit would testify by descending upon Him in the form of a dove, but the Spirit attested to Him in many ways throughout His ministry.
D. We should faithfully grow in the Lord so that our last years demonstrate the ACCUMULATION of our spiritual wisdom and depth.
1. We should not be embarrassed about being old, unless we have failed to gain wisdom or we act immaturely for our age.
2. Secret: start young, grow increments.
3. Growing old should be the spiritual pinnacle of our lives.
4. The elderly godly have a voice that should be noted.
Conclusion:
1. From the beginning, the evidence accumulated that Jesus is the Messiah.
2. This means that He has the right to be our King, and that we have the obligation to be loyal, obedient subjects.
