Untitled Sermon (7)

Intro

Have you ever wanted a present really bad?

Have you ever had to wait a really long time to get something?

Do you remember what it felt like to get that present?

Imagine waiting 400 years to get that present and you didn’t even realize it came

We are going to read a story about a guy who didn’t miss that present

Read Luke 2:22-35

Luke 2:22–35 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.” 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. 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.” 33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 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 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

In the cast of characters one we dont often talk about is this man Simeon

The story of Simeon will remind us of three things

God fulfills his promises

The long awaited savior has come

Jesus came to save many

God fulfills his promises

God had promised a savior to Israel It had been 400 years since the nation of Israel had even heard anything from God

They thought God had ghosted them

They could only hang on to the hope of what was promised

God promised to Simeon that he would see the savior before he died

Luke 2:26–32 ESV

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. 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.”

God fulfilled the promise to Israel and Simeon

Vs 30 my eyes have seen your salvation

The Savior has come

Most of Israel missed this because they were looking for a king not a savior

They wanted a warrior not a baby

But we know that this king and warrior will come back

But this first coming was as a savior who would conquer our sins and be our eternal salvation

The one who would reveal the thoughts of our hearts

Luke 2:34–35 ESV

34 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 35 (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

This Child will glorify those who deserve it and will humble those who need it

This child will reveal the hearts of many

Jesus came to save many

Notice the language Simeon uses

A light of revelation to the gentiles and the glory of Israel

He will reveal the hearts of many

Simeon is able to recognize not only is this the one who has come to save Israel but he is also the one who has come to save mankind

He is the one who has come to reconcile hearts

Conclusion

Israel missed it promised savior because it was looking for a king

Israel wasn’t expecting a baby that had come to defeat the spiritual enemy

They weren't expecting a king that would deliver them from sin

They wanted a king that would deliver them from their earthly plight

We must not miss this gift

This gift that we so desperately need

The gift that is our true salvation

Because we were looking for something else

We must respond like Simeon did

Recognizing that God fulfilled his promise

That this baby is our salvation

Not from earthly oppression but from the oppression of our own hearts

And acknowledge that Jesus came to save us