Hope

Introduction

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and welcome to week one of the season of Advent! I absolutely love this time of year. I have my whole life. Even since I was a little kid my year kind of revolved around Christmas. That was the big thing to look forward to all year and the earlier we could get into the Christmas season, the better in my mind.

We’ve entered this season once again where strong debate rages. Where tensions flare up at a moment’s notice. Sides are drawn. Friends become enemies; enemies become friends. Opinions reign supreme and people seemingly lose their minds in a passionate pursuit to stand their ground and declare that they are right.

And I’m not talking about politics, I’m not talking about the latest event in the news. I’m talking about how early is too early for Christmas music to be playing and when is it still too early to decorate for Christmas?

Should we wait till Thanksgiving is over or can it start before Thanksgiving? Does Thanksgiving need its own time to breathe and just be its own thing, or can Christmas be wrapped up in it? Last Sunday we were closing the service talking about different Advent devotionals and prepping for the Advent season here as a church and I was wondering how many of you out there were thinking, “stop talking about Christmas!” “We haven’t even celebrated Thanksgiving yet!”

I’m in the “earlier the better” camp. Honestly, as soon as summer is over, when the temperature outside starts to cool off in the fall, I’m already gearing up for Christmas. And I know some of you are like, I can’t even look at you right now!

I think there’s a reason why the start to the Christmas season seems to keep getting pushed up earlier and earlier, and I don’t think the only reason is marketing and commercialization, a lot of it is to be sure but I do think people really do love the anticipation and longing that this season brings. It’s a strange thing really, you long for Christmas day to come, but you also want the days leading up to it to slow down because there’s kind of a savoring that takes place and when the day comes and is over, you now are the farthest away from that day coming again and then the wait begins for the next Christmas.

We’ve entered the season of Advent. It’s a season within the rhythm and life of the church of waiting and anticipation for the arrival of Jesus.

The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” It’s a season where we do two things? We look back to the First Advent of Christ, the birth of Jesus into this world. And secondly, this is a season where we wait patiently, but also eagerly for the Second Advent of Jesus when he returns and finally establishes His reign and rule, his kingdom over all creation.

From the moment sin entered this world, all of creation has been subjected to the curse of sin. Everything was broken in that moment, everything was fractured. And from that moment on, all of creation has been longing for redemption, longing to be set free, longing to be healed, longing to be restored.

The apostle Paul says it this way in Romans 8.

Romans 8:22–23 (ESV)

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Do you hear what Scripture’s saying? There’s a longing, an aching, a groaning within all creation, and within ourselves for the consummation of our redemption. To plead with Jesus to finish what he has begun, to come back and once and for all eradicate the curse of sin from God’s good world. Restore it back to how it was meant to be. A world free of death, of sickness, and disease. A world free of hostility and pain, a world of peace and harmony and joy unending. A world where we walk in a close intimate relationship with our God. Life as it was meant to be.

This is the what we hope for, long for, and yearn for.

The first and second Advents of Jesus really go hand in hand. And here’s why. We needed the first Advent; the birth of Jesus, the sinless life of Jesus because we needed the power of sin and death to be crushed. And that’s what Jesus accomplished through his life, death, and resurrection. Without the first Advent we could not have what His second Advent will bring; a complete renewal of all creation. We needed sin and death to be defeated so that the kingdom of God could be established and our full redemption finalized.

And so, what we’re going to do over the next four weeks as we enter into this season together is to look back at the birth of Jesus which has provided the way for salvation and reconciliation with God and at the same time we’re going to look forward with eager anticipation to Jesus’ second coming, His second Advent which will bring about the renewal of all things.

Main Aim

So we begin this Advent season first by talking about hope.

Since Genesis 3, when sin first entered God’s good and perfect world and fractured everything, creation was longing and waiting for a Redeemer. And the reason creation knew a Redeemer was coming was because God said as much in Genesis 3.

And so, if you’re familiar with the story of creation and the introduction of sin into the world you know that God creates in Genesis 1 and 2. All things are good. There’s harmony between God and creation, between us and one another, and and between us and God himself.

But in chapter 3, man chooses sin over God. He chooses to be god himself rather than to trust and depend in a good God. He chooses himself over glad and joyful submission to God and with that action and choice sin was first seen and brought horrific devastation to God’s good order of creation. No longer is there harmony between us and God, between us and one another, between us and the rest of creation.

The relationship is fractured and we are in need and redemption.

And so, in the midst of all of this chaos God promises a Messiah, a Redeemer, a Savior who will defeat death and bring order once again to God’s world. God says,

Genesis 3:15

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

With that statement God spoke of a future Redeemer who would come and crush the head of Satan and with it, he would crush the head of sin and death. Yet, we see that this crushing would take place through suffering. Genesis 3 says His heel would be bruised.

This pointed to the cross. Jesus accomplished this redemption of sinful and lost humanity through suffering himself. Yet, his resurrection over death is what crushed the head of Satan.

And so, all the way back in Genesis 3 we see that there’s hope for humanity. All is not lost. But, when would this Messiah come? That was the question and the rest of Scripture tells the story of God working through His people and God’s people asking and wondering who this Messiah is and when would he come? They were living with hope of a future redemption.

And so, this story of Simeon is a picture of how God’s people were living, with hope.

I love this little story that’s tucked away quietly in the second chapter of Luke. It’s a story of great significance for it shows us the beauty of what it means to hope in God and why hoping in God is so much more significant, and impactful, and more certain than any other type of hope in this world.

What we want to see today through God’s Word and throughout this Advent season is that the hope we have in God is a confident hope in a certain reality. Because Christ has come and defeated the enemy of sin and death we can rest in confidence that He will return to establish his eternal reign and rule. There’s certainty that there’s coming a day when all that is broken in this world and within ourselves will end.

But while we wait, we wait with patience and faith and expectation in a God who is faithful, who is good, who is lovely. We can learn here from Simeon what it looks like to hope in God and why hope in God is so much different than any other type of hope we experience.

Body

So, let me ask us as we begin our journey through this text. What is hope? What does it mean to have hope?

There are two different ways to define hope. One is to define it through the lenses of the world and the other is to define it through the lenses of Scripture. Here’s what I mean by that.

A worldly hope, the best way I can define it is

Worldly Hope - “Wishful thinking in an unsettled uncertainty.”

That’s really all worldly hope is, it’s wishful thinking for uncertain outcomes.

I have all kinds of hopes for myself and my family. I hope that we all remain healthy. I hope my children work hard and get good jobs and are productive members of society. I hope to be able to pastor here for many years to come. I hope this winter isn’t frigidly cold. I hope my car doesn’t break down. I hope to get through the week without too much difficulty.

You see what I mean? We “hope” for all kinds of things. Ralphie in the movie “A Christmas Story” hoped that he would get to open that most treasured of gifts on Christmas morning, “An Official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot, range model air rifle.” We can have lots of hopes, you can hope this sermon isn’t too long, but the outcome of that wishful thinking is uncertain.

We all have hopes like this don’t we? But all of these are based in uncertainty. I can do my part but I can’t guarantee that everyone in my family will remain healthy. I can’t control the weather. If my car wants to break down it’s going to break down.

We can attempt to control our environments as best we can but most things are really out of our control. That’s why worldly hope is nothing but wishful thinking in an unsettled uncertainty. It can make you feel good for a bit, but it doesn’t remove anxiety or worry because the end result isn’t assured or certain. A good outcome is still, for lack of a better phrase, “A roll of the dice.” Maybe it’ll all work out, maybe it won’t. That’s the best worldly hope can offer you.

We can wish people a Merry Christmas but it doesn’t mean they’re going to have one. Wishful thinking.

Biblical hope is different though. Biblical hope can be defined as,

Biblical Hope - “A Spirit-empowered, confident expectation in a future deliverance.”

Meaning, what God says and promises will come to be, will come to be. A confident expectation. We see this truth all throughout the text. We see this truth revealed and verified in the very birth of Jesus.

Look at verse 25 and 26.

Luke 2:25–26

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. 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.

So, the first thing to note is,

Biblical hope is Spirit-empowered.

What do you see right away in these first two verses about Simeon and even into the next verse, verse 27?

It says that the Holy Spirit was upon Simeon. In verse 26 it says the Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would not die before his eyes physically saw the "Lord’s Christ” meaning, the promised Messiah from all the way back in Genesis 3. In verse 27, the Spirit leads Simeon into the temple on the same day that Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to be circumcised according to the custom of the law.

The text clearly shows us that the faith and hope Simeon had was gifted to him through the Holy Spirit. This is not a text about the awesomeness of Simeon, it’s a text that reveals the power of God and his working in our lives.

To believe the big things that God has promised, to hope in God is something too extravagant and large for us to behold all ourselves and in our own strength. We’re too weak, too feeble, to doubting to conjure up the faith it takes to hold fast to the promises of God.

We need to ask and pray and live just like a father did in Mark 9 when his son was brought before Jesus because his son was being tormented by an evil spirit. This desperate father brings his son to Jesus and says, “If you can do anything, please help us!” To which Jesus says, “All things are possible for the one who believes.” “The one who hopes.”

This father said, “I do believe, but help my unbelief.”

He’s saying, these things you do, these things you promise, they’re too grand for my simple heart and mind to behold, I need your help to sustain me and grant me the faith to believe and hope.

To hope in God is Holy Spirit empowered.

The hope that Simeon had not only in the future promise of a Redeemer to come but also believing that he would not see death until he saw this promised Messiah was a hope that could only be built up through the Spirit of God upon him and empowering him to believe. Especially now that Simeon was nearing the end of his life. Yet, he hoped in God.

Now, here’s our comfort. The same Spirit that empowered Simeon to believe is the same Spirit who works in God’s people today.

What has God promised us now that Jesus has come? Eternal life. A promise from Romans 8 that all things work together for good for those who love God. A promise from Matthew 28 that Jesus is with us to the end of the age, so go make disciples. A promise to comfort us as we walk through trial and suffering for his name. A promise from Acts 1 that He is coming again. These are big things and take a big God to enable us to hope and believe.

And so, daily, we need to be walking in the Spirit as Galatians 5 tells us. Meaning, we are absorbing God’s Word, we’re abiding in Christ. We’re slaying sin in our lives with vigilance and fervor. We’re continually praying and asking God to sustain us and empower us to believe and hope in Him. Our lives are to be lived in constant dependence upon Him. We need to have the mindset that God, I can’t get through the day, through the hour, through the minute, through the second without you. There’s not one second where I can do this on my own. I need you. Help me. Sustain me. Walk with me. Guide me. I hope in you.

Secondly, we see,

Biblical hope is a confident expectation.

In verse 26 the Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until he saw the promised Messiah.

This is where Biblical hope differs from any hope the world offers us. Whereas worldly hope is mere wishful thinking in something uncertain, Biblical hope is a confident expectation that what God promises will happen.

Now, it takes faith to believe, but if God promises something it will happen and so you see Simeon’s response to holding the baby Jesus in his arms in verses 29-30.

Luke 2:29–30

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation

Can you hear the sigh of relief in Simeon’s voice here? He’s saying, now I can pass on. I can rest in peace because your word is true. You can almost feel the battle between the flesh and the Spirit within Simeon here. He believed God’s Word, he believed the promise, he was a righteous and devout man, but it didn’t mean this waiting was easy for him.

Most likely Simeon entered the temple day after day for who knows how long. Could have been years. Each day eagerly hoping to see the Messiah and then to return home disappointed. And yet, he remained faithful and trusting in God’s promise because God’s promises come true.

And so, one day, he came to the temple, abiding in the Spirit of God and he recognized the Messiah at 8 days old. Just is remarkable and evidence of the power of God to draw men’s hearts to the Son. Simeon would have seen lots of children entering the temple over the years, but the Spirit of God drew his heart to Jesus and he recognized him. This is him. This is the long-awaited Messiah.

I mean, here again the relief in Simeon’s voice. The Jewish people had been waiting thousands of years for the Messiah to come. From Genesis 3. And now, Simeon sees him with his own two eyes. Yes, the promise was given thousands of years prior but God always delivers. This is the confident expectation we have as we hope in God.

It’s been 2000 years since this first arrival of Jesus into the world. And the church has been eagerly waiting for his second return for a long time now. But we do not lose heart though the world fades, though the nations rage, though foundations crumble, if Jesus says he is coming again, then he is coming again.

Listen to the words of our Savior.

John 14:1–3

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

He is coming again to take to himself those who belong to him and we know this to be true and we are confident because Jesus already has come 2000 years ago.

Lastly,

Biblical hope believes in a future deliverance.

Simeon’s song that he burst into under the influence of the Holy Spirit is found in verses 29-32.

I read verses 29-30 already, but listen to the entire song.

Luke 2:29–32 (ESV)

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

The confident expectation that Simeon had was of God’s future deliverance and salvation of people from every tribe, every language, every nation. You see this in Simeon’s song.

“My eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of ALL PEOPLES. A light to the GENTILES, and glory to your people ISRAEL.”

Jesus is the gift from God for all people. He is lovely, he is beautiful, he is good, but he also demands your entire life to be lived in glad submission to his Lordship and authority. Which means, there is no middle ground with Jesus.

And that’s what Simeon says in the remaining verses to Mary and Joseph.

Luke 2:33–35

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 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 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

With Jesus there is no neutrality. You will either love Jesus and submit to him as Lord of your life or you reject him. You are either for him or you are against him. You will either be built up by him or you will trip over him. He’s either the rising or the fall of your life. As I said, there’s no middle ground here.

Simeon said he’s a sign that will be opposed. That word sign means miracle or clear evidence of God’s word. Something that is so obvious that it can’t be missed. The birth of Jesus into this world can’t be missed. It was a clear sign to his identity as God in the flesh come to redeem sinful humanity. Jesus was a sign that would be opposed because of what he demands. Our lives. We don’t want to give that to him. And yet, the one who does finds life eternal.

Simeon lastly prophecies the death of Jesus in that he looks at Mary and says, there’s coming a day when a “sword will pierce through your own soul.” As Mary watched her son be crucified many years later, though she didn’t feel the nails through her own hands, she no doubt felt the pain in her heart and soul. And yet, this is why Jesus came. He was born to die so that man’s hearts may be laid open and bear before him. So, that our neediness and desperate state would be revealed and so that we would turn to Christ for deliverance.

Conclusion

A simple closing today. What are you hoping in? What or who is Lord of your life? Something or someone reigns over you. Only Jesus is the one who gave his life for you. He proved and showed his love by giving his own life for yours. To submit to Christ means losing your life, yes, but it means to gain that which our minds can’t even comprehend. Joy unspeakable, hope unimaginable, deliverance eternally. Let’s turn our eyes, our minds, our hearts to Jesus this Advent season.