Good morning! Please turn in your Bibles to Luke chapter 2.
I’d like you guys to think about the last time you went shopping for a mattress. It’s kind of a big deal. When Trish and I first got married, the mattress on our bed was the first major purchase we made together. I remember the sales person convinced us to pay way more than we were expecting to pay with one simple line. She said, “Well, if you think about the fact that you’re supposed to get eight hours of sleep a day, then you’re going to spend a third of your life in bed. So it’s worth the investment.
Genius. So we did. We bought the best mattress we could afford. Maybe even a little more than we could afford. And since you’re supposed to replace your mattress every 8-10 years, and we are celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary this week, that means we’ve actually gone through this three or four times now. And every time, we research, and comparison shop, and ask for advice, because we want the perfect night’s sleep. We’ve found that as we get older, that eight hours of sleep is harder and harder to come by.
Be honest: How many of you have trouble sleeping? How many of you rolled your eyes when I talked about getting eight hours of sleep a day? Did you know that if you google the phrase “the perfect mattress” you get 204 million results? Did you know that in 2019, people spent almost $79 billion on things that they hoped would help them sleep better—from medication to CPAP machines to white noise generators to sleep hypnosis, and that by 2030 that figure is expected to double?
A good night’s sleep can be hard to come by. Maybe that’s why the song “Silent Night” is consistently one of the most popular Christmas carols. It’s that one line—sleep in heavenly peace that gets us.
But have you ever thought about that song? It sounds like a lullaby. So are we singing the lullaby to baby Jesus—hoping that HE sleeps in heavenly peace? Hoping that He won’t wake up while the cattle are lowing and the little drummer boy is drumming?
If so, that’s kinda presumptuous, don’t you think? Who are we to tell the King of Kings to sleep in heavenly peace?
Because, after all, we are the ones who need sleep. It isn’t the creator of the Universe that needs to be sung to sleep. Psalm 121 says that he [God] who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."
And even when God came to earth as a human being, in the person of Jesus, He apparently never had a hard time going to sleep. One time, He fell asleep in the bottom of a boat in the middle of a furious storm. (think about that next time we have tornado warnings all night long.”
No, Silent Night is not about Mary and Joseph singing a lullaby to the baby Jesus. Silent night is about how, because of Jesus, we can sleep in heavenly peace.
This Scripture passage for today tells the story of two people who were also hoping for some heavenly peace. We are going to look at the story of Simeon and Anna, two precious senior adults who had spent their entire lives waiting for God’s heavenly peace. Their stories are in Luke chapter 2, verses 25-38. As we look at their story, I’d like us to look for the answers to three questions:
What were they looking for?
Where were they looking for it?
What did they do once they found it?
And maybe you’ve come to church this morning with some of the same questions in your life. What are you looking for? Maybe you are looking for some peace, or joy, or love, and you’re desperately hoping that it’s going to last longer than just the Christmas season. Where have you been looking for it? How have you been searching? And if you’ve found it, what do you do about it?
Let’s stand in honor of the reading of God’s word:
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant[e] depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.[f] She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. [Pray]
Set the scene: This is 40 days after Jesus was born. We know this because according to Leviticus 12, a woman was considered ritually unclean for forty days after giving birth to a male child. But at the end of the forty days, a Jewish mother and father would come to the temple together to make the purification offering for the mother, as well as the redemption offering for the firstborn son. So that’s what Mary and Joseph were doing. We know from Leviticus 12 that the customary offering for a firstborn son was a lamb. But if a couple couldn’t afford a lamb, they could substitute two turtledoves.
We know that Mary and Joseph were poor, because this was what they brought.
Mary and Joseph came to the temple that day, but Simeon and Anna came to the temple every day.
What were they looking for? Verse 25 says that Simeon was “waiting for “the consolation of Israel.”
Consolation is the Greek word paraklesis, which means comfort or solace. That’s a nice thought, isn’t it? We all like to be comfortable. At the end of a workday, I love to come home and change into my comfy clothes. When there’s nothing else to do, Trish and I sit on our comfy couch, we eat comfort food, and we watch Hallmark movies. If its cold outside, Trish likes to wrap herself up in a comforter.
So Simeon and generations before were waiting for the day when Israel would be consoled, or comforted. They knew the words from the prophet Isaiah, who said, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for” (Isaiah 40:1–2).
Skip down to Anna’s story: Luke tells us that Anna was a prophetess who had married young and was widowed young. Translations differ– she was either 84 years old, or had been a widow for 84 years, meaning she could have been around 100 by this time. But either way, she was one of many people who were waiting for the “redemption of Jerusalem” What does that mean?
This word “redemption” refers to ransoming or deliverance from bondage.
In Jesus’ day, Israel was suffering under Roman rule. Their hope was that there would be a Messiah that would pay the redemption price to set them free from Roman rule. Do you remember the two disciples on the road to Emmaus? Before they recognized Jesus as Jesus, they said, “We had hoped that He was the one who would redeem Israel (Luke 24:21).
Let’s stop right there. Simeon is looking for consolation. Anna is looking for redemption. Doesn’t that describe what a lot of people are looking for today? We’re looking for comfort. We want to feel better. [Matthew Perry?]
And many people are looking for redemption. Deliverance from something that has them in bondage. Could be getting out from under financial debt, or freedom from addiction, or just a second chance. A way to make up for a mistake in their past.
So now, let’s look at our second question: Where were Simeon and Anna looking for it?
The answer is pretty simple: verse 27: Simeon came in the Spirit into the Temple. Verse 37: Anna did not depart from the Temple.
I’m not saying that all you have to do is come to church and it’s going to solve all your problems. No church is perfect, and ours surely is not. You may have had a bad experience with church. You might have gotten burned out on religion at some point in your life. I get that. But please understand this: You will not find God’s peace apart from God’s presence. And if you have been looking for peace or hope in any other way, you aren’t going to find it. Think about it this way: Anna went to the Temple every single day for 84 years before she met Jesus. If there was ever anyone in history who had the right to say, “You know what? I tried church” it was Anna. So maybe you’ve tried church in the past, and you didn’t find what you were looking for. Did you keep trying for 84 years? Then maybe you gave up too soon!
I pray that 2023 is the year you give church another chance. Maybe it isn’t Glynwood. That’s ok. Keep looking. Find the church that is preaching the Bible, that is authentically worshiping Jesus and not putting on a show, where God’s people are real and warm and genuine. Where it’s ok to not be ok. But don’t give up. Because you will not find God’s peace apart from God’s presence.
And when you are with God’s people, you will find God’s presence. [Not by name, but Chase Guyon]
Here’s the last question: What did Simeon and Anna do when they found that they were looking for?
Verse 28: Simeon took Jesus up in his arms. He came to Mary and Joseph. He must have said, “Can I hold him?” And maybe she was a little uncertain, like any first time mom would be, but Mary gave her newborn baby to Simeon, and Simeon became the first person to literally receive Jesus. [riff on this]
Verse 38: Anna gave thanks to God and spoke of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. It doesn’t say she talked about a philosophy, or a new diet plan, or a new purchase. It says she talked about Him. [riff on this]
Here’s what I need you to understand about both comfort and redemption. In the New Testament, these words are not primarily associated with feelings. They are associated with a Person.
Remember that Greek word for consolation or comfort. It’s paraklesis. Check out how Jesus used the word with his disciples. On the night before he was crucified, he didn’t promise them comfort (paraklesis). He promised them a Comforter (parakletos) it is parakletos: one who is called alongside. An Advocate. A Comforter. It's the word Jesus used to describe the Holy Spirit in John 14-15 (translated "advocate" in NIV; "Helper" ESV; "Counselor" in CSB):
• And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever (John 14:16)
• But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26)
• “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. (John 15:26)
It’s the same with Anna. Anna was looking for redemption, but what she saw in the temple that day was the Redeemer.
• In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, (Ephesians 1:7)
• Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Galatians 3:13)
This is the good news of the gospel. Not that we are going to feel better, But that we have someone called alongside us to comfort, help, speak for us, counsel us.
This is what’s different about Christianity. Unlike religion which seeks to give us rules to follow or principles to live by, Christianity gives us a person to follow. Rather than give us a set of principles to walk by, Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit to walk with us.
Friends, we see the gospel in this so clearly. You aren’t going to find the peace you are looking for in religion.
It’s not about seeking comfort. It’s about being sought—and found, by the Comforter. It’s not about paying a price for your redemption. It’s about the one who paid the price for your redemption.
Not redemption, but redeemer. Not rules, but relationship.
Conclusion: Is Jesus Your Prince of Peace?
Back in September, Queen Elizabeth died, and her son Charles became King of England. Now, I know there are some people that are just absolutely obsessed with the Royal family, and if that’s any of you, then I may be about to hurt your feelings. But I want to go out on a limb and ask you something: How many of you actually care about who the king of England is?
Why not? That’s right. It’s because you’re not English. See, intellectually, you can accept that Charles is king. You can know it in your head. And maybe you are that Anglophile who knows all about William and Kate and Harry and Meghan and Princess Grace and Prince Philip and Buckingham Palace and on and on and on. You might know all sorts of facts about the king of England. But that doesn’t change the fact that he isn’t your king.
You aren’t English. You aren’t a British subject. The king of England has no authority over your life.
By the same token, you don’t have any of the benefits or privileges a British citizen has.
Charles might be the king, but he isn’t your king.
In the same way, you can acknowledge that Jesus is the Prince of Peace and still not experience the benefits and privileges of being a citizen of His kingdom. You can spend your life pursuing the things you hope will bring you peace and never sleep in heavenly peace. Why? Because even though Jesus is the Prince of Peace, you haven’t made Him your Prince of Peace.
