Light & Glory
Jeffery Anselmi / General
Light & Glory / Christmas; Glory / Luke 2:22–35
Simeon sings praise to God for the gift of salvation for all people.
INTRODUCTION
- Christmas is just a few days away!
- Today, we will be looking at something that happened when Jesus was about 40 days old.
- Don’t worry; He is still the baby Jesus!
- The event is the presentation of Jesus at the Temple.
- As the Law of Moses prescribed in Leviticus 12:1-9 Mary and Joseph traveled to the temple after Mary’s time of purification to present the infant Jesus.
- For a male child, this event takes place 40 days after the birth, and if a female child is born, the time frame is about 80 days.
- Joseph, Mary’s trip to the Temple was motivated by religious obligation.
- Their encounter with Simeon, though, was prompted by the Holy Spirit, who led them to meet in the TempleTempleTempleTemple.
- Simeon’s future and the future of all people depended on this baby.
- Let’s read Luke 2:22-28 for some context.
Luke 2:22–28 (NET 2nd ed.)
22 Now when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male will be set apart to the Lord”),
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves or two young pigeons.
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon who was righteous and devout, looking for the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 So Simeon, directed by the Spirit, came into the temple courts, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law,
28 Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying,
- This Christmas message centers on the birth of Christ as the fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation for the whole world.
- Inspired by Simeon’s words of praise in Luke 2:29–32 after he meets the newborn Messiah, we celebrate that Jesus is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:32).
- Big Idea of the Message: Simeon sings praise to God for the gift of salvation for all people.
- The message of Simeon is significant because his message of praise gives us the reason for the season, why Jesus came to us, and why we need to respond to Him and His gift to us.
- Let’s turn to verses 29-32.
Luke 2:29–32 (NET 2nd ed.)
29 “Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord, permit your servant to depart in peace.
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.”
SERMON
I. The Light of revelation.
- We have this man, Simeon, who was devout and was looking forward to the coming of the Messiah.
- The Spirit told Simeon he would not die until he saw the long-anticipated Messiah.
- From our description of Simeon, he had to lament the condition of Israel and wanted to see the Messiah come so that the nation would get back on track.
- The restoration of Israel, for which Simeon had waited, refers to the coming messianic age.
- However, Simeon, inspired by the Holy Spirit, knows that the coming ministry of Jesus would bring about some surprises: His salvation would bring a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the falling and rising of many in Israel.
- Mark C. Black, Luke, College Press NIV Commentary (Joplin, MO: College Press Pub., 1995), Lk 2:25.
- Simeon has his prayers answered!
- Simeon’s song of praise celebrates that the promise of the Spirit has been fulfilled.
- Simeon has seen “the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26).
- Simeon’s song in vv. 29–32 expresses thanksgiving to God.
- The first part of Simeon’s song of praise, his prophecy, deals with the fact that Jesus is the light of revelation to the Gentiles!
- We see that Jesus is not just for Israel but for all nations.
- The glory of God is revealed through Christ, breaking down barriers and inviting everyone into His family.
- In John 8:12 Jesus boldly declares that He is the light of the world!
John 8:12 (NET 2nd ed.)
12 Then Jesus spoke out again, “I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
- This Christmas, let us remember that the gift of Jesus is for everyone.
- We are called to share this light with those around us, reflecting His glory in our communities.
- Here is what is interesting about this part of Simeon’s prophecy: anyone who would have heard this proclamation concerning the Gentiles would have been angry because the Jews thought God only cared for them, that He was only for them.
- Yet, God’s plan was always to be God for all people and nations.
- Simeon was in line with many Old Testament prophecies regarding the Gentiles.
- Isaiah 49:6, Isaiah 56:6-7, Psalm 22:27, and Malachi 1:11 to name a few.
- The Jews considered the Gentiles to be nasty and living in darkness, with no hope and no God!
- That type of thinking helped steer the nation of Israel down a destructive path; it brought them arrogance and entitlement.
- We are missing the mark when we start to think that God does not want certain people groups in His kingdom or when we feel that He onlymiss wants to love those in the Church.
- Jesus brings light and salvation to all nations, tribes, and people.
John 3:16–17 (NET 2nd ed.)
16 For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him.
- We quote verse 16 a lot, but we cannot forget verse 17!
- A good example of this point is the shepherds and wisemen.
- The shepherds were outcasts that people disliked, but who did God send the angels to with the message of Jesus?
- It was the shepherds.
- The wisemen were not Jewish, yet they traveled far to worship Jesus, while His own people would eventually reject Him!
- We are called to share the light of Christ with others.
- The Christmas season opens a unique opportunity to do so!
- Let’s turn back to verses 30-32.
Luke 2:30–32 (NET 2nd ed.)
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.”
II. The Glory of Israel.
- Simeon was so blessed that he was able to see the Messiah.
- As we spoke of in our last point, Simeon was overjoyed that this Messiah would bring salvation to all nations.
- He was also joyful that Jesus would bring glory to God’s people!
- Since Jesus was a Jew, salvation was offered to the Jews first.
- Jesus also brought glory to Israel because He fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophecies and all the promises God had made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and the nation of Israel!
- Our God is a promise keeper!
- The dual role of Jesus being a light to the Gentiles and the glory of Israel highlights Jesus’ universal mission and specific fulfillment of Jewish hopes!
- For Israel, glory signifies the fulfillment of God’s promises and the realization of their identity as God’s chosen people.
- The Jewish people anticipated a Messiah who would restore Israel’s glory, liberate them from oppression, and establish God’s kingdom.
- Jesus fulfills these expectations not through political power but through spiritual salvation and establishing a new covenant.
- Once again, the Prophets of Old prophesied on this subject!
Isaiah 60:1–3 (NET 2nd ed.)
1 “Arise! Shine! For your light arrives! The splendor of the LORD shines on you!
2 For, look, darkness covers the earth and deep darkness covers the nations, but the LORD shines on you; his splendor appears over you.
3 Nations come to your light, kings to your bright light.
- The glory of God is revealed in Jesus!
- The life, teachings, actions, and miracles of Jesus reveal God’s character and glory!
- The glory of Israel offers hope for restoration and renewal for all of us.
- The nation of Israel was a mess.
- Throughout their history, they turned their back on God, wandered away from God, cheated on God, and even despised God, yet through Jesus, they could be restored and saved!
- Do you know who else can be restored and saved?
- YOU!
- In our passage, you can see and feel Simeon and Anna's joy and praise upon seeing the long-awaited Messiah!
- Throughout the Old Testament, Israel was promised a Messiah who would deliver them and restore their glory.
- Jesus, as the Messiah, is seen as fulfilling these prophecies, bringing glory to Israel by completing what was foretold.
- Jesus' coming is the fulfillment of God's covenant with Israel.
- He embodies God's faithfulness to His promises, bringing spiritual and national fulfillment to the people of Israel.
- Let’s turn to verses 33-35
Luke 2:33–35 (NET 2nd ed.)
33 So the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him.
34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Listen carefully: This child is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected.
35 Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul as well!”
III. The responses to Light and Glory.
- There are many ways we can respond to the light and glory of Jesus.
- Simeon responded with blessing and Prophecy.
- Simeon blesses Mary and Joseph, showing a positive, reverent response to the revelation of Jesus as Messiah.
- Simeon’s words provided insight into the future impact of Jesus’ life on Israel and beyond.
- We also see a marveling at the revelation concerning Jesus.
- Joseph and Mary were astonished and marveled at what was said about their son Jesus.
- This wonder reflects the human response to the divine revelation and the acknowledgment of Jesus's role in the world and our lives.
- Their marveling also indicates an awareness of the fulfillment of prophecies and the extraordinary nature of their child.
- We also see a dual impact.
- Jesus’ coming would cause division; some would stumble and fall because of Him (those who rejected Him), while others would rise (those who accepted Him).
- This reflects the dual impact of Jesus’ ministry as a light to some and a stumbling block to others.
- Mary would experience both joy and anguish in her life on the account of Jesus.
- Verse 35 references the anguish Mary would experience during the crucifixion.
- This verse is the first hint of impending doom in Luke’s Gospel.
- We see some of the times Mary suffered with sorrow in Luke 4:29. Matthew 12:46, and John 19:26.
- We will also see opposition and conflict.
- Jesus would be a sign that would face opposition.
- This opposition would come from those who reject His message and mission, highlighting the conflict between light ProphecyProphecyProphecyProphecyness.
- The prophecy of a sword piercing Mary’s soul symbolizes the personal pain and sorrow she would experience, particularly at Jesus’ crucifixion.
- It underscores the cost of bringing light into a world that often resists it.
- Some will accept the light and glory of Christ, while others will reject Him.
- We must choose to embrace the light and glory of Christ in our own lives
CONCLUSION
- As we reflect on Simeon’s song of praise, we are reminded that Christmas is about recognizing Christ's light and glory in our lives.
- He fulfills God’s promises, fulfills a revelation for all nations, and challenges us to respond.
- May we carry this light into our world, sharing the hope and joy that comes from knowing Jesus.
› Application Point: We are called to praise God in the Christmas season and all year round for the promise of salvation offered to all humanity.
- Let us reflect the light and glory of Christ in our words and actions, sharing His love with others.
