Echos from the Manger (2)

Our Response

Echos from the Manger

Our response to the Birth of Christ

Context

Last week we learned about the wisemen and Herod

The wisemen responded in worship to Christ

Herod responded in violence and evil because he was afraid to lose his position and power

The week before we talked about the shepherds and angels and how they declared the good news of great joy!

Why was this good news?

Because this was the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel that through them the savior of the world would come.

This was good news because the shepherds were proclaiming this savior has arrived.

It would no longer be a mystery as to who this savior is because He has arrived

After the shepherds meet Jesus it tells us this

Luke 2:18-19 “And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.”

The shepherds see Jesus and begin to tell everyone what had happened

Reenact the shepherds proclaiming who Jesus was

As everyone sits in amazement and wonder listening to the shepherds recounting the angels visit.

Mary treasures them in her heart

Tonight we are going to talk about our response to the manger and I want to encourage you to treasure what will be said about Jesus in your hearts.

There is no greater treasure you can posses than the mysteries of God revealed to us through the birth of Christ.

PRAY

In the nativity story we often hear about people like Mary and Joseph, the wisemen, and the shepherd but we often neglect a man named Simeon.

It says this about him in Luke 2

Luke 2:25-27 “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. 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,”

Who was Simeon?

Righteous and devout

Loved the Lord

The Holy Spirit was on Him

Not available to all people in this age but is available to believers today

He was waiting for the consolation of Israel

He was waiting for the Messiah

Like all of Israel Simeon was waiting for the promised messiah

But also because he had been personally told he would not die before seeing the messiah himself

We don’t know how long Simeon waited from the time he was told he would see the messiah to when he did but we know he waited with expectation and longing

Meaning he desperately desired to see the Messiah.

Day in and day out he waited to meet the savior

Finally after all this waiting in verse 27 it tells us he goes to the temple being led by the Spirit of God and while he is there Mary and Joseph bring Jesus as required by the law.

What law required them to go to the temple?

Bible scholars you’re gonna love this...

Exodus 13:12-14 “you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord’s. Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.”

They were bringing him to the temple as a way of remembering how God redeems all things.

Remember when the Israelites were enslaved?

As a reminder that God redeemed them from slavery they would hold this ceremony and consecrate (set apart) the first born son as a way to remind them that God is a redeemer.

Now here’s where it ties into our teaching tonight.

We believe as Christians that Jesus is our redeemer.

We call Him redeemer

We recognize that He has redeemed us from sin and death

So here we have the redeemer being brought to the steps of the temple and being set apart as a reminder that our God is a redeeming God

God is a redeeming God

No matter what you have done

No matter what you have thought

No matter how you were brought up God can and will redeem those that are lost that seek Him.

So Jesus’ mother and father give him over to the priest Simeon

And he prays a prayer that he had waited to pray for a very long time.

Do y’all remember the Avengers movies.

Well there’s a line that we had waited years to hear.

That was Capt. America saying “Avengers Assemble”

Every movie he would get closer and closer to saying it but it would always get cut off.

FINALLY after every story had been told, every arch explored Capt. America catches Thor’s hammer and says “Avengers! Assemble!”

Here in front of the temple

Holding the redeemer in His arms

Simeon opens his mouth and praises God that after all this time

Since He promised Eve in the garden that through her would come one to crush evil forever

Since He made the covenant with Noah

Since He promised Abraham that through his children a nation would come who would bring about the savior

Since He talked with David about how through His line the King of Kings would be born

AND since he visited with a poor virgin and promised that she would be with Child and they would call Him Immanuel (God with Us)

After all this time, all these promises, they are finally fulfilled through the life of this child called Jesus.

Luke 2:29-32 ““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.””

Simeon is saying

Lord you are now letting me die!

Homeboy was old!

For my eyes have seen your salvation

Notice Simeon attributes salvation to the person of Jesus

It is only through Jesus and by Jesus we are saved

No other way

Not what you do, who you know, or how much money or fame you have

Only through a personal knowledge and relationship with Christ can you be saved

Simeon says I have seen your salvation and then says that you have prepared in front of all people

Greek for all = all

For everyone, the whole world will be have the opportunity to be saved (redeemed) through this child

A light to the gentiles

Anyone who is not of Jewish decent

Glory for your people Israel

Because finally the promises of God are coming true, that through the nation of Israel a savior would be born who will redeem the world and save them from their sins.

Simeon’s declaration at the temple that the savior had been born was radical because the moment all of Israel and the whole world had waited for had finally come and here is this priest declaring Him to be the messiah.

It’s why in verse 33 Jesus mother and father marvel at what was said.

That their child would be the messiah, the savior of the world.

After blessing them Simeon turns to Mary and speaks another prophetic word.

Luke 2:34-35 “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.””

This child is appointed for the FALL and RISING of many in Israel

Many will follow Him many will not

For a sign that is opposed

He will be opposed by the world

We know now this was foreshadowing Jesus crucifixion

So that the thoughts from many hearts may be revealed

Students

Tonight the only thing holding you back from receiving the salvation that Jesus provided for you through His birth, life, death, and resurrection The ONLY thing holding you back from that is your own heart

Is the sin that has blinded you and has deceived you into believing that your okay without Jesus.

Jesus came to pull back the sin and the junk, to break down the walls of your heart and to greet you with open arms.

He has come to reveal the innermost parts of your heart and to offer forgiveness and salvation from your sins.

That’s what we are offering tonight.

We are offering you the opportunity to come to Jesus face to face and accept Him as your Lord and savior.

Offer Gospel Call

Pray