Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus

The National Retail Federation has estimated that our total retail spending in the United States of America this season will be at a minimum 957 billion dollars. That is just here in America. 957 billion. To put this in perspective, there are a little under 8 billion people on the planet. This means that Americans average spending somewhere around 121 dollars per human on the globe at Christmas.

Now, we can have a couple of responses to this. Some of us may feel shame, knowing that we have spent too much already, and not really wanting anyone else to know this. We may feel a sense of self-righteousness, boasting in the fact that we would never be like those who would spend so much. But neither of these responses is either biblical or helpful. Self-imposed shame and guilt will never lead to change, and self-righteousness is the highway to pharisaism, so we need to be careful to abandon these responses. Rather, I think we should ask a simple question:

What does this type of spending at Christmas demonstrate? What does it say about us?

I think it says a great many things, but at least one thing that it speaks to, that we can relate to, is a general lack of contentment in our culture.

Contentment feels elusive to us. Our desire to be “happy” leads us to spend money we don’t have on things we don’t need. But it does more than this, doesn’t it?

The two weeks after Christmas are also the time when the most people statistically will look for a new job. Why? Lack of contentment.

The beginning of the year marks the New Year’s resolution. A large number of these can be marked to a lack of contentment.

Everywhere you look this time of year, something is promising a contentment that it cannot deliver on. When you add the restlessness that a year of unmet expectations and/or sufferings brings, it’s little wonder that we pull out our wallets and seek to spend ourselves happy. Or eat ourselves happy. Or quit ourselves happy. One way or the other, we seek contentment, and this world makes promises to up that it never promises to follow through on.

But the Bible speaks to us about a different type of contentment. A real, lasting, and hopeful contentment that we can actually have, actually grasp, and actually keep. And that is what I think this little section has for us today. Simeon’s song is for us a lesson on the secret to Christian contentment. As we walk through this song together, we will see three clues to the secret of Christian contentment that Simeon lays out for us, demonstrated through the way he lives his own life.

Intro/setting: Christ has been born, and Mary and Joseph are taking Jesus to the temple to be sure that all the law concerning firstborn sons is fulfilled.

While they are there, God directs their steps towards Simeon.

We hear in v. 25 that he had been waiting for the consolation of Israel. What a packed little phrase.

“Consolation” isn’t a word we use very often anymore. In the Greek however, we can see exactly what Dr. Luke is telling us here. Have you ever heard of the Holy Spirit being called the Paraclete? That is an Englishification of a greek word that means “comforter.” That is the exact word that is being used here. Simeon was waiting for the “comforter” of Israel.

Israel’s history was suffering. Often through their own actions and rebellion, always according to God’s good providence, but the story of Israel and the Jewish people is one of suffering. The hope of the Messiah was an end of that suffering. Now we know, because we know Christ, that the Messiah has indeed come to put an end to suffering. But not here, not on this earth until His second coming. But Simeon is seeking the One who would come to bring an end to the suffering of the people of God.

And now we hear that the Spirit has told this faithful old man that he would, with his own eyes, see the promised one! In God’s providence, he goes into the temple, and there sees Jesus, with Mary and Joseph, and takes the 8 day old baby up in his arms and begins to sin!

And in the song that Simeon sings, and in the few sentences that follow, we can see the joy of Christian contentment. What can we learn from Simeon’s interaction with Jesus that can teach us more about contentment in a very discontented time?

1. Contentment begins with trusting God’s good providence (29)

Luke 2:29 ESV

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;

The long list of people in the OT who only got to see the beginning of things:

Moses - stands on the edge of the promised land, and sees it from afar. Simeon sees the birth of the promised land, and sees the work from afar.

David - had a vision to build the temple, but never got to do so. His son Solomon would end up building it.

Elijah - is taken up in a chariot of fire before the work is finished. Simeon will pass away before the Messiah’s finished work.

A common theme: there are some who get to only see the beginning of what God is up to. Some saints don’t even get to see that much, but only a dim picture of the work of God is made available to them. How can we have contentment when we don’t see what is going on? How can we be content when we don’t feel like we are in control? This is where trusting God’s providence becomes such an essential piece to contentment. Seeing even the beginning of what God is up to is a great gift to us.

Simeon sees the infant Messiah, but doesn’t “need” to see any more. He is so moved, and so thankful for what God has given that he is prepared to go in peace now.

What about you, friend? Are you content with what God has revealed? Are you satisfied with what little God has revealed about His sovereign plan?

At the end of the year, it’s always a helpful practice to stop and reflect. So let me ask you a question, friend. One year ago today, what was it that was creating the anxiety or discontentment in you heart? What was it that you were just sure that God would never, ever do for you?

What was it that you were begging God to do?

What were you begging Him to take away?

What were you grieving, and were sure that you would just never be able to move past?

What were you lamenting, with maybe the hope that you would feel joy again, but not hope about when that would be?

I have had Decembers in my life where I was totally sure nothing would ever changed, only to get to the next December and see how God had changed almost everything. Maybe this is true for you as well. What needs to change for us is contentment, friends. God has only revealed enough of His plan to keep us moving in faith. We have no way to know what next year will bring, but we can absolutely know that God will be good, will provide, and will work according to His divine plan. How? Well, that’s the next secret to contentment in Simeon’s life.

2. Contentment is found through thinking less of ourselves (30-32)

Luke 2:30–32 ESV

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 art of gift giving is wrapped up in thoughtfulness. A good gift does more than simply check a box off of your wish list. A good gift reflects the love of the giver, and serves to constantly point someone back to that love. When Simeon sees infant Jesus, the greatest gift given to the world, he does exactly what Mary does, and what Zechariah does: he begins to glorify the Giver! And this is instructive for us as we think about contentment.

We often think of contentment in terms of “what:”

I want to be content with the material possessions I have

I want to be content with the job I have

I want to be content with my current family situation

I want to be content with being old, or young, or single, or childless, or whatever.

All these things are good goals, and worthy of our examination, but they are all secondary. Contentment in any of these gifts of God must begin by being content with the Giver. And that is how Simeon could say “now your servant can depart in peace.” Why? Because contentment starts with a “who,” not a “what.”

v. 39 - “my eyes have seen your salvation.” Simeon’s contentment was not merely in the fact that God had kept His promises. His contentment was in the fact that he beheld Christ! Friends, when we truly behold Christ, we can move towards contentment.

Christ, Your Salvation - Simeon has seen not just his salvation, but the salvation of all people who would ever be saved.

Think about this friend: when we behold Christ, we behold more than just our own salvation - we see the salvation of all people who would ever be saved! But Zechariah here is saying even more than that - he is looking at God and marveling at, as he says “Your salvation.” He is seeing the work of God to reconcile people, and is amazed!

When we stop looking at ourselves quite so much, it’s pretty amazing how much more content we can be. Zechariah looks to God first, and then check out what he does!

Christ, their light - The stories of the birth of Jesus generally revolve around light, and I am saving some of these for later when we get closer to Christmas Eve, but to behold Christ is to see the Light of the World! The darkness of discontentment is shattered by the piercing light of the world as we behold His glory!

but here is a curious statement by Simeon: he is rejoicing in Jesus, the light of the Gentiles! Again, Zechariah’s joy isn’t in just what God is doing for Him, it’s what God is doing for the whole world! So, there is an order to Zechariah’s praise here: first, he worships God! Then, he rejoices in others. And now, we get down to what God is doing for Israel!

Christ, our glory - He is the glory of Israel! The people who were waiting for consolation have received glory!

Did you notice that, yet again, this song is sung about God! Simeon doesn’t talk about “my Salvation;” he speaks to the Lord and rejoices in “your salvation.” He rejoices in the God who has brought this great gift, not just in the gift itself. He doesn’t simply talk about the light he has been given; he rejoices that the Gentiles have been given great light! And now, he sees Christ, the glory of Israel. Even when he talks about what God is doing for him and for Israel, it is intended to bring glory to God and God alone!

There is great contentment in self-forgetfulness. One of my dear friends is a guy named Mark. Mark pastors a very large church, he has a network of churches that they support, he has written multiple books, and he has been about as successful as one could imagine. But when you talk to Mark, at some point you will hear him say and mean “I’m not that big of a deal.” Humility is one of the great secrets of contentment.

How often are we prone to overspend, or overbuy, not because we are thinking of others, but because we are thinking of ourselves? We can be very prone to buy gifts for other people that reflect the fact that we are really thinking about us!

How quickly can we really get bent out of shape when we buy for someone else and they do not respond with our expected measure of gratitude? Now, gratefulness is essential, and gratitude is definitely important, but when we get upset that someone else is ungrateful, we should at least pause and check our own hearts and make sure that we are giving for the right reasons! This is what Jesus tells us, right? Give, expecting nothing in return.

Each week we talk through the beauty of the incarnation, we come back to hammer the same nail - we are to take this season and behold Christ! But here is one of the side effects of doing so: contentment! A lack of contentment is most often because we are viewing something else as more beautiful, more fulfilling, more satisfying or maybe even more necessary than Christ. Simeon’s song here shows us Christ as salvation, light and glory. And when we do as he did, we find contentment an easier thing to grasp!

What material possession would compare with the light of the world?

What job could possibly satisfy a heart that was built to find its satisfaction in Christ?

What change in your situation would actually result in contentment?

Only Christ can fill these things. Jesus as God’s greatest gift fills the heart and soul in a way that nothing else will or can.

Contentment is realized as we grasp God’s Gospel (33-35)

Luke 2:33–35 ESV

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.”

There is no true, lasting and eternal commitment if we do not grab hold of the Gospel. When we behold Christ, we can now behold the Gospel as our true source of contentment. The songs takes a turn into a minor key, if you will, as Simeon looks to Mary and gives her a summation of the work of Christ in four parts. He tells her that for which the child is appointed:

For the fall and rising of many in Israel - Simeon is leaning into the language of the book of Isaiah, where the stone that the builders rejected would be the cornerstone. He is telling Jesus’ earthly parents that Jesus would not be received by all of Israel. As John would say later “he came to his own, but his own did not receive him.”

For a sign that is opposed - not everyone will receive Jesus in the same way that Simeon is receiving Him. Jesus Himself would later say that He came bringing division and a sword. Not everyone will respond positively to Jesus, and Simeon knows this as he has a moment of prophecy.

For a sword that will pierce Him, and so pierce her own soul - Simeon is making reference here to the pain that the ministry of Jesus will cause Mary. We see glimpses of this as we read the Gospels.

His earthly parents are confounded and terrified when they can’t find Him as a young teenager, but He turns up in the temple, saying “I had to be in my Father’s house.”

He would be rejected by people who would simply say “isn’t this the carpenter’s son?”

He would create his own family, saying “behold my mother and my brothers.”

He would be rejected by the people of His own hometown.

He would ultimately die a brutal death right in front of his own mother.

For the thoughts from many hearts will be revealed.

And this is the plan. Jesus is the litmus test for the Jewish people. Will they believe it or not? Jesus is the true test for how people respond to God, to the promises of God, and to the goodness of God.

We see this even now, right? You can generically talk of God all you want, and most people will gleefully smile and nod along with you. But when you specifically start talking about the Jesus of the Bible, the one who currently reigns over the universe and is returning to judge the quick and the dead, people’s tune changes really quick!

Jesus says repent or you will likewise perish. How we respond to Jesus’ command of repentance and faith is how we respond to God. There is no worship of God without worship of Jesus Christ! The earthly ministry of Jesus served to truly demonstrate the heart of the Jewish people towards God. And our response to Jesus as revealed in His Word serves to demonstrate our hearts towards God.

Which is precisely why we said contentment starts with a who, not a what! Truly finding contentment at Christmas is only found by truly meditating on, pursuing, and enjoying Christ! And that is what our passage is telling us to do today:

What is Luke 2:29-35 telling me to do?

This Christmas, find contentment in Christ and Christ alone.

The song we sing this morning, “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” gives us this charge to contentment that perfectly summarizes what we are fighting against in the Christmas season: “let us find our rest in thee.” True rest. Not just ceasing from labor. Not simply quiet. True rest will not be found in those things.

True rest is found by resting in the person and work of Jesus Christ. And that is the key to contentment - resting in Christ. What does it mean to rest in Christ?

it means to stop worrying about what we have, or what we will wear, or what we will eat, because our life is more than food and clothing - we are fed by the bread of life and clothed with the righteousness of Christ!

It means to work hard to fully trust in God’s good providence, not only admitting that you can’t see all of God’s plan, but rejoicing in the fact that Christ has freed us to live by faith and not by sight.

It means to grieve with hope, to lament anticipating eternal joy, to remember the past while looking expectantly to the present.

These are some of the things that Wesley meant when he sang “let us find our rest in thee.” As Augustine said “our hearts are restless until we find our rest in Christ.” And that is the key to Chrsitian contentment; resting in Christ. This is what Simeon could do, even before seeing the work of Jesus; based on the promise of God, and the work of the Spirit, Simeon rested in Christ.

What’s great is that we have these things as well. We have the promise of God, written and recorded in His Word. We have the work of the Spirit, who dwells in us and intercedes on our behalf. And through these things, we can rest in Christ. So, would you this year pursue your contentment by resting in Jesus?

Benediction: 1 Timothy 6:6-8

1 Timothy 6:6–8 ESV

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.