The Expectation of Christmas

Introduction

After Thanksgiving there is a switch that goes off in everyone’s head and we start counting down the days till Christmas.

Some call them shopping days, others go with the 25 days of Christmas.

$699.99 and there going fast.

We start living in anticipation of family, friends, food, presents and maybe event a Christmas eve service like this one. That anticipation then turns into expectation as the big day grows closer and closer.

We start saying to the kids, “One more sleep til’ Santa comes.”

The story of Christmas is much more than a baby in a manger one holy night. You have the wisemen that come 12 days later and the dedication of the Lord at the temple about a month after he is born.

Today I want to tell you a part of the Christmas story that is many times overlooked or forgotten. It’s the story of a man named Simeon. We know very little about this man but what we do know could change the course of your life.

Let’s pick up the story where we left off last week in Luke 2:22

The Presentation of Christ

Luke 2:22–24 ESV

22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

The Law of Firstfruits

Exodus 13:2 ESV

2 “Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.”

God established the law of firstfuits inanticipationof the coming of Christ.

Jesus is the firstfruits of the new birth.

Jesus is the firstfruits of the resurrection.

The First born is Holy to the Lord

Exodus 13:12 ESV

12 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.

The Law of Purification

Leviticus 12 ESV

1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days. As at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. 3 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. 5 But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation. And she shall continue in the blood of her purifying for sixty-six days. 6 “And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, 7 and he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. 8 And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”

Jesus was 33 days old when he was presented at the temple

Joseph and Mary didn’t have enough money for a lamb so they brought 2 turtle doves instead.

The Proclamation of the Christ

Luke 2:25–26 ESV

25 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. 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.

An expectation of consolation

Simeon knew the God of consolation.

He was walking in step with the Holy Spirit.

He was walking in righteousness with God.

He was walking in the promises of God.

Simeon knew that God would bring salvation.

The Holy Spirit had told he would see the salvation of Israel before he died.

He had faith in the salvation of the Lord.

Sometimes the plans of God are longer than your lifetime but you can see them coming.

Faith in God is playing the long game.

Hebrews 11:13–16 ESV

13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

You might have come here in need of some consoling. Someone to tell you everything is going to be alright.

An expectation from faith to sight

Luke 2:27–32 ESV

27 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, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 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.”

The Christ had come in his lifetime.

Simeon was holding the salvation of the world in the palms of his hands.

Hope was alive and he had laid hands on it.

Salvation had come to the entire world.

Jesus is the light of the world to all peoples

John 8:12 ESV

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

2 Corinthians 4:3–6 ESV

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Some receive the Light and others reject

John 1:9–13 ESV

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

An expectation from Light to light.

When you receive the Light you become the light

Matthew 5:14–16 ESV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Again we wait for Christ to return.

1 Thessalonians 5:4–5 ESV

4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.

The Light has come.

The Hope is within us.

Let’s take a lesson from Simeon and walk in the power of the Spirit to proclaim the light of the world.