If you were to travel to Israel today by airplane, most likely you would arrive at the Tel Aviv - Ben-Gurion airport and see a 50-meter-long mural that depicts all the famous people in Jewish History.
The mural is meant to showcase 4000 years of Jewish History.
The mural tells the story of the Jewish people starting with Adam to the formation of the nation of Israel, its exile, and the rise of Zionism to the establishment of the modern state.
Yet what is odd about mural is that the most famous Jewish man in history is not depicted on the mural; Jesus Christ, at least not at first glance.
Think about it. Jesus has been recently named “the most famous person in history” yet as you enter the Holy land Jesus appears to “not appear” on the painting that drapes the walls of the nations entrance.
Yet, evidently some believe that Jesus does appear on the mural as the mural contains the picture of a man holding a baby; most say that picture in the mural is Simeon and the baby is Jesus. Yet, both of them seem to get lost in the background of other significant Jews
Explanation:
When we read the Christmas story, often Simeon can also become that way in the Bible.
One man described it this way: “ Growing up we had a record called, The Glory of Christmas.” which was as a delightful musical retelling of the events surrounding Jesus’ birth. Before the days of iTunes and playlists, it became a tradition to listen to it at Grandma’s house. The record album was placed on the record player for several of my childhood Christmases. Naturally, this incessant replaying took its toll. The vinyl became scratched and the needle began to skip at certain places. One such skip, the one etched in my memory, was at the point when the narrator told of Mary and Joseph going to the temple to dedicate Jesus. “They met there an old man named Simeon.” Scratch! “They met there an old man named Simeon.” Scratch! “They met there an old man named Simeon...”Of course as kids we thought this was hilarious. We’d wait eagerly for it, and then giggle as it skipped and repeated the line over and over till one of us stomped or smacked the stereo to move it ahead. This sequence was almost as much a part of our holiday festivities as Christmas morning stockings, manger scenes, and going to grandma and grandpa’s house. It was a Christmas tradition. Yet, it was the one thing that made Simeon memorable.” (Josh Matthews PHD: Western Seminary, 2015)
It is often said that Simeon is the most popular person to get lost in the Christmas story, as well as, the Jewish tradition of Hebrew history.
Yet, Simeon plays a very significant role in the unfolding of Luke’s narrative. Strangely enough, he’s a leading character in the post-Christmas story; the story of Jesus week after Christmas. (8 days -vs. 21)
Likewise, he has a lot to say about Jesus and His impact on our life “after Christmas” and into the days that follow; the future of our lives.
In it, he declares that there’s hope for the future; become hope has a name; His name is Jesus.
Transition: For Simeon’s life, what do we learn about how Jesus leads us today, tomorrow, and for us; into a New Year?
Transitional Sentence: Simeon reminds of us of how Jesus leads us and is our daily hope for tomorrow. As our hope Jesus leads us daily to:
I. Be Available to God
vs. 25- “And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout looking for consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.”
Explanation:
The Holy Spirit and Simeon actually have a lot in common when it comes to the story of our lives; they often escape our attention when it comes to their significance. Yet, both are vital in our understanding of our lives both today and tomorrow.
Yet, when it came to who directed and provided insight and understanding of the next steps Simeon was to make in life; notice, he was dependence on the Holy Spirit.
Immediately, when we are introduced to Simeon we read these simple words: “...this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.”
What does this mean? What is the significance of the phrase that says: “and the Holy Spirit was upon him?”
This is not the first time we read this phrase in the Christmas story. When Gabriel met with Mary there was a similar statement made. He said to Mary: “The angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.” Vs. 35
The significance of this statement is immediate and personal. It us fir t You see, every time this phrase is used in the Bible is for the purpose of a special life assignment and provision for accomplishing her assignment.
Mary’s assignment was to bring forth the Christ-child. Yet, if you will notice, her assignment was impossible for her. She had many physical limitations of accomplishing this task.
Mary’s limitations:
a) First, she was a virgin. She had never intimately “known” a man.
b) Second, she was overwhelmed by the assignment and felt unworthy.
c) Third, she did not know what she needed to do for God’s will to become a reality.
Doesn’t this sound like what God often does in our lives? How many of you know that our lives and the assignment God gives us is impossible for us?
Throughout the Bible mankind has been described in many unflattering ways:
a) We are like sheep- We are easily distracted and go our own way.
b) We are dust- The only hope of becoming a vessel of service for the Lord is for him to mold
and make us , like a Potter would, into a vessel of service.
c) We are often faithless, yet God declares that He is faithful and able to do above whatever we
would ask or think.
Listen: The Bible clearly declares that we are limited created for a limitless God to “come upon” us, and helps do something or be something that we are too limited to accomplish.
So, the Holy Spirit came upon Mary in Luke 1 but in Luke 2, we read again that the Holy Spirit came upon Simeon.
Please note emphasis of the text.
Now write this down: The emphasis of The significance of this statement is that “the Holy Spirit comes on us for a certain moment, assignments, or seasons to fulfill a divine moment that will set in motion the will of God for your life . (Present Active Indicative)
Illustration: God came upon me. He does you too.
There have been many times in my life when such moments took place. For example: When God called me into ministry I remember lying in bed one night in my dorm room in college and the “Holy Spirit came on me” and made known to me that I was chosen me and assigned me to be a Pastor.
Another time was when I was praying one night in bed (sounds like a theme right? I was in bed)
and the Holy Spirit gave me a dream and showed me our Gathering Center and told me he was assigning me to come lead you to build this building as a tool to minister to our community and here it is today.
Application:
Verse 25 says: “there was a man in Jerusalem.” (vs 25) He was like us. He was just a dude. This reminds us that none of us escape the attention of God. He’s not looking for invincibility; He is looking for availability. He is not looking for “the perfect person” -- He is looking for “the available person” who has laid His will down at the altar of God and is willing to submit their life and will to God.
God is looking for men like Simeon that He can move on. He is looking for women like Mary that He can move on. Both were available and ready because they were available to God.
God is always looking for a man, woman, a young person of whom the Holy Spirit can come. Ezekiel tells us that God was “looking for a man” to build up the wall.
There is only one thing that can get between you and God plan for your life and 2024 ; it’s your availability. If you are available God’s Spirit will come upon you.
I want to encourage you today on New Year’s Eve to make yourself available to God. Be like Isaiah that said: “Here I am Lord, send me.” Be like Samuel who said: “Speak Lord your servant is listening.” Be like Jesus and said: “Unto you O Lord I submit my Spirit.”
God’s Spirit will come on you if you are available. If you are available God will give you the ability
Transitional Sentence: Simeon reminds of us of how Jesus leads us and is our daily hope for tomorrow. As our hope Jesus leads us daily to:
II. Plug Into The Holy Spirit
vs. 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.”
Explanation:
As we read verse 26, we discover a second thing that the Holy Spirit did in the life of Simeon; He revealed truth to Simeon.
It was through the presence of the Holy Spirit in Simeon’s life that he heard from God that he would not see death until he saw “the Lord’s Christ.”
Revelation 2:7 tells us that the Holy Spirit speaks to us. He is the “inner” spokesman of God.
John 16: 13-15 tell us: “But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will lead you into all truth. He will not speak his own words, but he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is to come.”
This is exactly what happened to Simeon. You see, Simeon had read God’s Word. He knew the Messianic prophecies. He was full of faith when it comes to God’s Word. In verse 25 we find that he acted on God’s Word and was “looking for the consolation of Israel.”
He had been in the scriptures and he a longing for the promises of God to be fulfilled before his eyes. Let me ask you: Do you have any promises of God that you are waiting and watching for in your life?
I don’t know about you but just as Simeon was looking for the First coming of Jesus Christ; I believe God is moving His people to look for the Second coming of Jesus Christ. The Bible says: “Blessed are those who love His appearing.”
Simeon was grounded, fixed, and well versed in God’s Word.
Because of this, God gave to Simeon something personal about His will for Simeon. You see, you can’t expect God to reveal His will and ways in your life until you first begin with simply being in God’s Word, knowing it, trusting it, and putting your expectation in it.
Yet, because Simeon was in the Word, God revealed a special revelation of His will for Simeon. In verse 25 we see that God revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Lords Christ.
This was special. Church tradition tell us that Simeon was 113 years old when Jesus was brought to the Jesus arrived at the temple.
When Jesus arrived, the Holy Spirit directed, guided, and ordered his steps perfectly to bring him in front of Jesus and when He saw Him He knew that He had seen the Lord’s Christ. Jesus was different from all the other babies in the temple that day and He recognized Jesus and took Him in his arms and received Him.
In 2024, I urge you to pray the prayer that Paul prayed for the Ephesians. He told us what He was praying for them. He said: “I keep asking God to give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know the Lord better.” Ephesians 1:17
In other words, Paul wanted them to be in the written Word so much that when the living Word Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit revealed His will, they would recognize that will and act upon it.
Is there anyone here today bold enough to say: “Lord show me the way to go.” Lord direct my life. Reveal your will to me. I devote this year to learning from your word and listening to your Holy Spirit.
He was present, empty and open to what God might show him in his life and He experienced one of the greatest revelations of Christ in human history.
God’s plan for Simeon’s life was different than yours; yet we all plug into the same power source to become all God has planned for our lives
Illustration: The toaster, the microwave, the coffee pot
Let me tell you a little story about a toaster, a microwave, and a coffee pot.
You see that all reside in my house. They’re in my kitchen. They are all different appliances with different purposes and applications.
One warms up food, another toasts food, and another provides a glorious liquid that has kept you awake all morning. I’m like the old guy that sings the song every morning: “In the morning when I rise give me Jesus and a strong cup of coffee.” Can I get a witness this New Year’s Eve?
All three have different purposes but they all have one power source. When I plug in the microwave, it has the power to warm up food. When I plug in the toaster, it has the power to make me toast. When I plug in the coffee pot, it has the power to make the day much more pleasant.
Each appliance, though different lives up to what it was made to be because each of them is receiving power from the same power source.
Application:
We have the tendency of looking at other people’s lives and focusing on their purpose and feeling perhaps their purpose is bigger than ours; yet nothing could be further from the truth.
You see, God is a Creator and he created you to be you. He gives you your own personal, and planned life. Yet, we all have one thing in common; we are designed with only one power source called the Holy Spirit.
Simeon plugged in to God’s Word and plugged in to the Holy Spirit and the power of God showed up in the temple that day and gave Simeon the ability to honor Christ in a way no one else did in the temple that day.
He prophesied over Jesus and Mary. He opened His mouth and blessed Jesus and prophesied 8 days after the cradle, the cross of Jesus as we read: “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 sing to be opposed, for a sword will pierced even your own soul-- to the end the that thoughts and hearts may be revealed. “ vs. 33-34
Let me point you to the power source for your life; not just 2024-- let me point you to Jesus and the life that He offers by sending His Spirit to lead your life.
How do you receive it? Plug in.
Transitional Sentence: Simeon reminds of us of how Jesus leads us and is our daily hope for tomorrow. As our hope Jesus leads us daily to:
III. Let His Spirit Move You
vs. 27- “And he came in the Spirit into the temple....”
Explanation:
When we read about how God’s Spirit works in our life; often the picture of His workings is one of His Spirit moving us.
What does it mean when we say: “The Holy Spirit is moving?”
The word “moved” gives the idea of being stirred. One of the pictures of the Holy Spirit is the picture of the wind. The wind is a powerful force isn’t it? It can blow down trees that have root systems that have crawled underground for years.
The wind can power a windmill and destroy whole cites at the same time. The wind when it moves is powerful.
On the day of Pentecost that’s how the Holy Spirit showed up. The day the church was born we read that the Holy Spirit came like “a mighty rushing wind.” Acts 2
I wonder when was the last time you felt the wind of God’s Spirit move in your life?
Illustration: The unseen kite
One day a little boy was in the park flying his kite yet all you could see was a string that was extending upward into the sky. The kite was long out of sight.
A man saw the boy and said: “Son, what are you doing there? He said, I am flying a kite. The man replied: “Son I don’t see the kite; how do you know that it’s up there? The boy replied, “Because I can feel the tug and pull of it.”
Application:
Simeon did not see the Holy Spirit but he felt it. He sensed that God was in the place because the tug and pull of the Spirit was moving him.
He was under the influence of the Holy Spirit was all around Simeon that day.
Have you ever noticed all the things God tells us to do in the Spirit?
a) Walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16. (Live in step with the Spirit)
b) Live in the Spirit. Galatians 5:25. (Live in the atmosphere of the Spirit)
c) Worship in the Spirit. Philippians 3:3
d) Pray in the Spirit on all occasions. Ephesians 6:18
This man was in the Spirit and did something that John the Baptist would do when Jesus was 30; but Simeon did the same thing when he was 8 days old. He introduced Jesus to everyone around because he was “in the Spirit.”
Conclusion and Invitation:
Do you want your life to count for God? Do you want to live out your purpose?
The New Year is often a moment when we think about our lives and begin planning for the days ahead; but I encourage you today to instead of looking at your future through your own lens; ask God’s Spirit to give you new eyes to see, a new heart to trust, and a new touch from God’s Spirit to experience all He has for your life; not just this year, but every year for the rest of your life.
Will you start where Simeon did?
a) He started where all righteousness starts- He started with Jesus who is the only one who
can deem a man righteous. Jesus Christ. Simeon received him in his arms- will you receive
Him in your heart?
b) He became devout- In other words, He became devoted to Jesus. Will you? The Holy Spirit
will lead your life of devotion to Jesus. Will you join Him as He leads you into God’s path
now, it will change not only this year, but every year for the rest of your life.
