A Gift Worth Waiting For

A Gift Worth Waiting For

Luke 2:25-35

I. Introduction

A. What makes the perfect Christmas gift? For most, it has to do with what I can get. It is extremely personal and usually doesn’t benefit anyone else. It usually is something that certainly has no eternal significance or universal significance. And we laugh anymore at concepts like world peace as though it is unachievable.

II. The Gift of Truth

A. Exegesis

1. Simeon believed God’s promise of consolation to Israel

2. Simeon had been called by God to sit in the temple and wait for the one who was coming when many had given up

3. He is given truth

a) How does He know it is this child? He is moved by the Holy Spirit. He has been given a truth

b) But there is even more to that stamen in Jesus who reveals the ultimate truth. In Jesus, there is the truth of salvation, of regaining favor with God, of real purification and forgiveness that will come through Him alone

4. Jesus is the light to the gentiles and glory to Israel – a truth that is only revealed in Christ

a) Gentiles – they have found a way of salvation

b) Israel – they have finally been given a way to bless the entire world

B. Application

1. In Jesus today we find the gift of truth

2. We find that salvation is not found in trying to get everything right only to fail

3. In Jesus we find righteousness performed in our place and imputed to us by faith

4. Truth was worth waiting for!

5. Are you looking for the truth this Christmas? You will find it in Jesus

III. The Gift of Joy

A. Exegesis

1. Can you imagine being Mary or Joseph and having this man come sweep you child up as you enter the temple?

2. There is joy in the praise and worship of Simeon because He has found what he is looking for – He can finally die!

3. His eyes have seen the salvation of all people

4. The only one in whom there can be true hope for salvation

B. Application

1. That is what makes the gift of Jesus so amazing and worth waiting for

2. He changes everything – His walk in this world changes everything

a) He gives hope to the sinful

b) He brings joy into the hearts of those who trust Him

3. Are you waiting for joy this Christmas? You will find it in Jesus

IV. The gift of Hope

A. Exegesis

1. Simeon declares that he can die in peace – He has found that in which he has hoped – Jesus

2. He had been told by the Holy Spirit that he wouldn’t die until he saw him

3. He had hope for this day, as did many Jews

a) They were waiting for the consolation of Israel – the one who brought hope for righting the wrongs that their sin had brought and bringing healing to the nation and to the world

b) They knew that the coming of the Messiah would bring real hope for peace back in to the world in a time when there was little peace

4. Jesus would bring a true Kingdom of peace into the world

5. In Jesus Simeon saw the rise and fall of many in Israel – such great significance in the Messiah

B. Application

1. Simeon waited because there was nowhere else to look for peace

2. Do you ever feel hopeless in this world or in your life? There is hope in Jesus

3. He is the one who will set all things straight.

4. He is the king of the Kingdom of heaven – When you place your faith in Jesus as Simeon did you will enter His kingdom and you will find peace in the midst of chaos

V. The Gift of Salvation

A. Exegesis

1. Imagine hearing the end of this speech if you are Mary

a) Rise and fall of many

b) A sign that will be opposed

c) A sword will pierce your soul, also

2. Not exactly words of encouragement, nonetheless, words of truth

3. He does divide between those who trust in themselves and those who are able to give their faith to Christ

4. On the cross all of these truths will find their fulfillment

a) It will divide those who believe from those who do not.

b) He will be opposed in the most awful of ways

c) It will pierce the soul of Mary

5. But, He will bring salvation at the moment of greatest division

6. His death upon that cross will consummate the greatest gift of God – Salvation by grace through faith offered on the sacrificial death of God’s own son

B. Application

1. His salvation is still available

2. His salvation still divides people today as much as it did then

3. The question is, can you receive His gift of salvation that comes only through faith?

VI. Conclusion

A. The Gift is for you. To see Jesus is to see the Lord’s salvation!

B. The same gift that Simeon found is available to all who trust in Jesus the way that Simeon did

C. We have the opportunity this morning to help share this gift with the world through our march to the manger for the Lottie Moon Christmas offering