Untitled Sermon (26)

You’re 15 years old. And your dad makes a promise to you that he is going to buy you the perfect car. You’re excited. You get closer to 16 and you start looking at cars.

This one looks good...

Nope.

How about this one...

Nope.

Oh, I REALLY like this one...

Nope.

This goes on and on and on. Next thing you know you’re 33. You ended up buying your own car. Anytime you suggest a car, the dad says “this ain’t it!” Eventually you just stop asking, right?

You’ve given up any hope that the ol’ man is going to come through on his promise. He’s just holding out for THE right one…and to you at this point any old car would have done.

What happens when you’re 30 and dad says, “Hey, want to go car shopping?”

Let’s make that silly illustration real. You have things in your life that are like this…things which you believe a good God has promised....Perhaps dreams that you’ve had in your walk with Christ, dreams about your life, things you’ve hoped for…and they don’t come to fruition...

Now in our text this morning we are introduced to a guy named Simeon. God gave him a promise…we don’t know how many years ago that promise was made…but we get the idea that it was awhile ago. Simeon is old now…too old to be car shopping for his first car…but he’s kind of kept hope alive it seems.

What was that promise to Simeon?

That he wouldn’t see death until he had seen the Messiah, the Rescuer, the Deliverer. The text doesn’t tell us explicitly…but it will somewhat imply it…that this wasn’t an idle search for him. It was active…he had been given this promise and he’d been looking all over to see who would be the rescuer for his people.

What kind of thing was he looking for, I wonder. Was he looking at all the adults? Some of the would-be deliverer…so many during this time…people who claimed to be Messiah…who would overthrow Rome.

Where was Simeon looking? We don’t really know…but what we do know is that on this day…a poor couple, with two turtledoves (not even a partridge and a pear tree)…come into the temple. Listen in…listen to what it looks like when a long awaited hope is realized.

Luke 2:22–35 ESV

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 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 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, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “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.” 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.”

Sermon Introduction:

This is why we sing songs like “hope was born this night!” I’m not sure if we fully can grasp what this would have meant for someone like Simeon. It goes back even further than his own life.

There is a little promise in Genesis 3, when the Lord is giving out the curses…this one to the serpent.

Genesis 3:15 ESV

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.”

They picked up on this idea of “seed”…and saw that it meant a Deliverer was coming. Or as Simeon said it…the consolation of Israel…Who will be the rescuer.

And if you’re reading the Old Testament for the first time through this lens…if you’d never heard of Jesus. I think you’d be thinking early on...

Oh, Cain…that’s the rescuer. He’s the seed of the woman. But he kills his brother.

Noah?

Abraham?

Isaac?

Jacob?

Joseph?

Moses?

Joshua?

Saul?

David?

Solomon?

On and on and on and on…each new king…each new leader…each person who emerges…maybe this is the one. That’s big picture…and we’re talking thousands of years here.

And so much pain sprinkled through all of these years. Is the Rescuer ever going to come? And you develop all these ideas of what the Deliverer is going to look like…and then here you have this little baby.

This is the one Simeon.

Do you feel the joy in this passage? I’m not sure if we really can…we live on the other side of all this. Yes, we’re waiting for the return of Christ, when He will finally and fully make all things right. We’re looking for the glory stage…they were looking for salvation…we have the Spirit…they didn’t have the Spirit in quite the same way. And so it’s in so much darkness, so many years of a hope deferred that Simeon holds this baby.

This is the Deliverer.

Now, you need to know why this is so much good news. It’s not just the comfort of Israel as we see…it’s not just the rescuer of the Jewish people…Simeon…full of the Spirit…sees the bigness of God…and he sees that Gentiles, like you and I…are also brought into the fold.

Maybe we can see that more clearly by what we see in verse 32, “a light for revelation to the Gentiles.” In the Bible light is often connected to morality—clean living—it means that you aren’t hiding. There is an authenticity to the light. There is life there. There are colors in the light. There is beauty in the light.

I think what John Piper says about lust can really include about any sin:

Do you know why there are no windows on adult bookstores? Or do you know why there are no windows on certain kinds of nightclubs in the city?

I suppose your answer would be, “Well, because they don’t want people looking in and getting a free sight.”

That’s not the only reason.

You know why? Because they don’t want people looking out at the sky.

You know why? The sky is the enemy of lust.

And I just ask you—you think back on your struggles. The sky is a great power against lust.

Pure, lovely, wholesome, beautiful, powerful, large-hearted things cannot abide the soul of a sexual fantasy at the same time.

There’s something about bigness, there’s something about beauty, that helps battle against the puny, small, cruddy use of the mind to fantasize about [these] things.

But what Luke is saying is that apart from Christ we don’t have windows. We have a darkened worldview. We aren’t able to see glory the same way. And so Jesus comes and he brings that light. He captures us with beauty. He opens our eyes and our minds. 2 Corinthians talks about the god of this world blinding eyes and minds. That’s why I pray often that God would cause the light of the knowledge of the glory of Christ to shine in hearts. All that stuff is there in this blessing of Simeon. He’s seeing that Jesus is that and that he does that.

Light dispels darkness and confusion. It helps you to see beauty. It takes away all the confusion and purposelessness. It’s as C.S. Lewis said,

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

And then Simeon also says, “for glory to your people Israel”. This is straight out of Isaiah…and those promises where God will take places of your deepest shame and turn them into glory. That’s all part of this promise. The Jewish people had been shamed. They were nobodies. They were just a little blip on the map. They were overtaken by so many other countries. They couldn’t keep their own identity. But this child is forever going to give them a story—it’s going to encompass them into God’s great plan for the world. Redemption, salvation, rescue, light all of that is going to come from here. That’s great news to a shamed people.

Simeon is holding in his hands King of kings and Lord of lords. Here is the Deliverer. The Messiah. The King. The Rescuer.

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We need to fast forward our story a little bit…John 19

We’re about 30 years later here. And this baby is now standing trial. He’s before Pilate. He represents Rome. The one that is supposed to be overthrown.

From the outside looking in, it seems as if Mary’s little boy didn’t win. Another failed Deliverer. Simeon was wrong…this guy isn’t delivering anybody. He’s been flogged. He’s before them, bleeding and bruised. A crown of thorns on his head…to mock him....a mocking purple robe draped around him.

Pilate wants to embarrass the Jews. He’s saying, “this is your king…” But he’s there because the Jewish leaders brought him there…they didn’t like the claims He was making. Claims to be the Rescuer…claims to be the Son of God…claims to be who Simeon said he was…He didn’t fit the profile. He didn’t match up to the expectations, so they assume he is a pretender. But he’s also taking some of their power…the people are beginning to believe Him, and they don’t like it. So they plot to have him killed by Rome.

But rather than rubber stamping this Pilate decides to play with them a little…he wants to know more…and as he questions Jesus, it’s almost laughable to him. THIS guy…this is who they are afraid of? This is the big revolutionary that Rome is supposed to be so afraid of? He’s going to bring danger to us?

And so Pilate parades Jesus in front of them…hoping to mock them and that they’ll stand down…not want him to be executed. He’s already tried by saying, “you want Jesus or Barabbas”.

But here it’s even more pointed…John 19:5 “Behold the man!”

Crucify him! Crucify him!

So Pilate brings him back into the chambers…has another convo with Jesus..now he’s a little terrified because he isn’t sure who Jesus is, he’s far from any kind of saving faith—but he’s also confident now that Jesus is more than what seems…he’s trying to release him…but it’ll get to the place where it’s either Pilate or Jesus, and chooses Pilate.

Pilate tries to release Jesus…now listen to this...

John 19:12 ESV

From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”

Now a “Friend of Caesar” is more than just a dude who is chummy with Caesar…it’s an honorific title…they are basically telling Pilate that he’ll not only not get this title, but he’s going to lose face, lose favor, with Caesar. He’ll be seen as one who opposes Caesar.

Now he’s backed in a corner. So he sits down on his judgment seat…and delivers a verdict…still wanting to release Jesus, still wanting to get jabs at the people…and ultimately wanting to wash his own hands of the whole situation...”I’ll give you what you want...”

Now listen to this...

Pilate puts Jesus before them…crown of thorns…purple robe...

Behold your king!

Now listen to this...

John 19:15 ESV

They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

We have NO KING but Caesar!!! Wow! They aren’t just saying we reject Jesus as our Messiah…what they are now doing is rejecting the whole idea of a Messiah…the whole idea of king, a deliverer, a rescuer…They are giving allegiance to Caesar.

They’ve now done the very despicable and blasphemous thing that they were accusing Jesus of doing…We have no king but Caesar! We’re going to be rescued by destroying this man and shacking up with Rome!

How do you get there? How does the story get to this point? Simeon holding the baby up in his arms! The promised one, the deliverer, and then ..

Crucify Him! We have no king but Caesar!

How does that happen?

Well, let’s go back to that kid waiting for a car. We get tired……”at just the right time...” well, is “just the right time ever going to come”…I’ve got to get a car now, I’ve got to get moving, I’ve got to get wheels…I’m not waiting around...

And then dad comes home with a car. It’s not only so many years after you thought it’d be…it’s an old jalopy. Ugliest car you’ve ever seen. THIS is what I was waiting for? THIS is what you’ve promised?

Isaiah 53:2 ESV

For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.

Crucify Him! We have no king but Caesar!

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Fast forward a couple thousand years. The promise of Jesus… “I’m making all things new…this Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven…He’s returning…he’s building his kingdom, establishing his kingdom…there is a day coming with new heavens and new earth…all will be made well. Shalom. Rescue. Deliverance. The comfort of humanity…not just the consolation of Israel…but the consolation of all creation.

And for two thousand years we’ve been much like Simeon and all those who hoped and waited before him. Is this the time when he is returning...

The Fall of Rome…will this be it?

Middle Ages...Black Plague…Reformation…time of the Puritans…Great Awakenings…Revivals of early 1900s…and more and more and the gospel spreads…and we’re here today…will this be when he returns?

What will bring it about…what will bring about the kingdom? What will rescue? What will fulfill those desires? What will bring about peace?

We have the same temptations that the religious leaders of Jesus’ day had. Tired of waiting…keep a little hope in your pocket maybe…but I’ve got to make it happen on my own...

Jesus tells us that He is building His kingdom…and through us…slowly, but certainly.

Love your neighbor.

Turn the other cheek.

Love your enemies.

If your neighbor ask for your coat, give him your shirt too.

Go to where the vulnerable and hurting people are. Spend time with them. For such is the kingdom.

Store up your treasure in heaven. You can’t serve both God and money.

My kingdom is not of this world. It’s not about power and all the things the world is fighting for…it’s not about prestige…it’s quietly loving, serving…it’s not about making sure you get in a place of power. It’s not about making Christian nations…My kingdom is NOT of this world...

My kingdom isn’t confined to national boundaries…my kingdom crosses all those barriers. I’m making a new people.

I am the way, the truth, and the life…no person comes to the father except through me. I give you access to God. I’m the means. I’m the way. I’m the channel, the path, the life giving source, I’m the answer. I’m the One. You want peace…you want shalom…it comes through me...

Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I’ll give you rest.

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Behold the man!

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Take all those hopes and aims and fears and things we get worked up over. The kingdoms we are trying to build.

It’s as if Pilate is standing before you...

Shall I crucify your king?

...

What do we shout today?

Give us Barabbas? We’re setting our hope on a man. The hope for our nation is in this man, or that man, or this vote or that vote. The hope for my family is…this thing, or that thing…Give me this political leader

Give me Barabbas…give me this relationship.

Give me Barabbas…give me that job.

Give me Barabbas…give me that money.

Give me Barabbas....give me this moment of pleasure

Give me Barabbas…give me this ministry success

Give me Barabbas....give me that position of influence.

Give me Barabbas…give me that clean bill of health.

Give me Barabbas…give me this victory.

Give me Barabbas....give me this praise.

Aye, We have no king but Caesar!

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We too ask for Barabbas. We too make the foolish claim that we have no king but Caesar. Rejecting the concept of a Deliverer outright…we’ll go it ourselves.

That’s the human condition. And it leaves us a mess. Anytime we choose Barabbas we end up empty.

But this is the gospel. I chose Barabbas. I said there was no king but Caesar. I’ve made a wreck of it Lord. Would you forgive me? Would you take this?

You see it’s one thing to cry out Come, All Ye Faithful when you’ve got a baby there…a cute baby…all the hope wrapped up in there…you can still dream about what this rescuer will do…you can try to shape him and mold him.

But when that baby becomes a man…when they baby says things like “Before Abraham was, I am”…when the baby is loving sinners and prostitutes…and healing on the Sabbath…and saying things like love your enemies, turn the other cheek…when he’s blowing up all our expectations...

And because of that…we treat him like an ol’ jalopy that nobody wants and we say…give me this political leader instead, give me this money instead, give me this thing instead…give me barabbas…when we say that...

The gospel doesn’t stop there. That’s when we hear and see the true king. We see that crown of thorns is for all the broken ones…we see in that bleeding man…what Simeon really meant..Light of salvation for the Gentiles…Comfort for Israel...

Oh, this isn’t come all ye faithful. That’s not me. I haven’t been faithful. I’ve called for Barabbas…

O, Come all ye unfaithful...