The Consolation of Our Peace

Luke 2:21–38 ESV

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 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.” 36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The only greatest comfort we can have in this life is the peace that Christ brings allowing us to depart this world with assurance of what lies behind the veil of death.

Where do you find your Consolation?

The Gospel of Luke comes from what is referred to as the synoptic gospel, along with Matthew and Mark.

Synoptic means “to see together.” These gospels tell the story of the life of Christ from a similar perspective.

However, the gospels do not share a great deal about Jesus' childhood. Almost everything we learn about Jesus' childhood is seen in Luke chapters 1-2.

Fulfilling the minutest detail of the Law

Throughout Jesus' ministry, we see the painstaking purpose of fulfilling even the smallest detail of the Old Testament laws. We see in Jesus's life the purpose of fulfilling all the laws that God had laid upon the Jewish people. The only difference is that He perfectly fulfilled them.

1st purpose of coming to the Temple

In Israel it was a requirement for a mother and father on the eighth day after the birth to bring the child to the Temple for the right of purification. The woman was considered ceremonially unclean until that point.

It was also a time to offer a sacrifice.

I think it is interesting that this sacrifice was different in that “the sacrifice” for the sins of the world was present at the Temple that day.

Sin offerings were required, and typically this offering was twofold.

In the first place, a lamb without blemish was brought and sacrificed on the altar.

Secondly, an additional offering was brought of a single pigeon, or a turtle dove was brought, except in special circumstances. A provision was made for those who were very poor; a substitute of the lamb was given by a second turtledove because the turtledove could be purchased cheaply.

This goes to Jesus' impoverished upbringing and humble estate.

2nd Purpose of Coming to the Temple

Jesus was brought to be dedicated to the Lord.

The Old Testament requirement of Jewish parents was that the first-born male should be consecrated to God.

Many Jews went through this process out of a sense of obligation or ritual. However, this dedication was supremely different; it was the only one who could perfectly fulfill the will of the Father who sent Him.

(The Rite of Purification (Luke 2:21–24)

Have you ever been so tired or so discouraged that you earnestly wanted to die but were not allowed to die?

(The Consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25–28)

The consolation of Israel.’ The phrase is used in the Bible to call attention to the Jewish hope of the coming of the Messiah.

Those Jews who had groaned in times of bondage, wept in times of exile, and now were oppressed under the heavy burden of the tyranny of Rome looked to heaven for their release from suffering. You see, it is people who experience consistent grief, frustration, and pain who want to be consoled.

We think of babies needing to be consoled. Our youngest grandchild, Sarah, woke up the morning after Christmas running a high fever and cried, and cried, to be consoled.

Similarities of the Two Characters

Simeon and Anna

They are both old

They are both devoutly religious

They are both waiting in expectation of the Consolation of Israel

They are both prophets

They were both waiting on God and for His consolation to come to them. What does the consolation mean for us today?

In the book, Fearing Bravely, McNiel illustrates Jesus’s intention for the kingdom by pointing to his own illustration:

Salt and light. Jesus claimed that his followers were the world's light, the earth's salt.

McNeil tells the story using more modern imagery: Christmas lights. One family might string tiny lights around their home, adding beauty to the world—but with little impact overall. But when most of the houses in a neighborhood—or city or country—do the same, suddenly everything is lit with festivity.

When Simeon walked into the Temple that day, it was as if a bright light was hitting him square between the eyes. Today, when the Church experiences and shines this light, here is the reason for shining this light.

1. The time of consolation brings an end to our alienation from God.

The mark of Simeon’s spiritual condition was his devout state of coming to the Temple daily praying for the coming of the Messiah.  We see the condition of his heart in his great hope.

Why was Simeon praying so fervently for the coming of the Messiah?

The consolation we read about in Luke represents the heavy weight of oppression that the people felt under the Roman occupation and rule. However, the greater picture goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden and the broken relationship we have with God.

All humanity is now enmity or alienated from the commonwealth of God. We see this restlessness depicted and prophesied all throughout the Old Testament:

Isaiah 40:1 ESV

1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

Isaiah 49:13 ESV

13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.

Isaiah 61:2 ESV

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

Isaiah 66:13 ESV

13 As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

The world is looking for someone to comfort them in their groaning and times of affliction. Unfortunately, many are still groping in the darkness, seeking comfort and peace in their lives. Many are still without any true consolation in their lives.

The consolation that we read about in the Old Testament is one of a conqueror to defeat their enemies.

This is where the nation of Israel missed the point when Jesus finally did arrive on the scene. He did not arrive as the conquering hero they were looking for in their story, he appeared as a baby born in a manger from a family that was of meager means in somewhat poverty.

In the days that the nation was under oppression, they looked even more fervently for a deliverer, someone to come and take all their problems away.

We do not have a lot of details about Simeon, only the fact that he was a righteous man whom God had promised that he would not die until he had seen the consolation of Israel with his own eyes.

The alienation that people experience changes position once the consolation of their hope is fully realized. Look what Paul writes in Ephesians about our alienation before the consolation.

Ephesians 2:12–13 ESV

12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

*The Alienated are far away from God.

Have you ever been trying to share with someone the great hope you have in Jesus Christ and seen a glaze come over their eyes as if you are talking about an alien concept or idea?

Even though Israel had now waited since Genesis 3 first proclaimed a deliverer would come, their eyes were still blinded to the truth.

1st, they are Christless

To be separated from Christ personally, that is, separated from His salvation, is to be “excluded from the life of God” (Eph 4:18). Is there anything more terrible than this? Christ is missing from their lives.

2nd, they are Foreigners

The Gentiles, up to this point, had been excluded from the covenants of Israel. They are now adopted and grafted into the covenant promise to Israel through Jesus Christ. Jesus now bridges the gap between all of humanity and God.

They were also not part of a covenant people.

The term “covenants” implies a series of covenants: Abraham (Gen 15:7–21; 17:1–21), Isaac (Gen 26:2–5), Jacob (Gen 28:13–15), Israel (Exod 24:1–8), and David (2 Sam 7).

The word “promise” probably has to do with God’s promise to Abraham. To be separated from the covenants of promise meant they were missing the covenants that promised the Messiah (Rom 9:4).

3rd, they are hopeless and Godless

While we do know and read in the Old Testament that a part of God’s plan was to bless all people through the covenant He made with the nation of Israel, the Gentiles did not know this because they did not know the promise.

They opted for idols instead of God, they suppressed the truth that had been given to them, because they did not know God they became futile in their way of thinking. (Rom. 1:18-20).

Before we trusted Christ alone for our Salvation, we were all still in this helpless state. Simeon and Anna knew the promise that they had been given; we remember that the Angel's declaration was good news that shall now be for all people.

*The Alienated are now brought near to God.

Ephesians 2:4 ESV

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

Historically:

Christ died on the cross. It was public and visible. It was not on a hill far away from the sight of people. His death would be like crucifying someone today in a shopping mall. (John 12:32 “And I when I am lifted up from the earth will draw all people to myself)

Theologically:

Christ died on behalf of sinners. He bore our punishment. He took our place so that we might be declared righteous. We receive the benefits of forgiveness, righteousness, and a new life.

Experientially:

We encounter the effect of the cross by our union with Christ. Notice it is “in Christ Jesus” that we experience the benefits of His shed blood (v. 13).

There was a past event that is experienced in the present. This is what gives us peace with God and with others today.

2. The time of consolation institutes for us the age of the Holy Spirit.

Notice how Simeon came into the Temple. We read that “the Holy Spirit was on Him.”

The very incarnation of God who was fully God and fully man. The fullness of the Trinity is evident in this picture as Simeon comes into the Temple full of the spirit of God and with a promise given to him by the Holy Spirit of God.

Can you imagine the absolute joy and elation of Simeon, who knew all at once what was taking place right in front of Him?

The fulfillment of all his hope and his endless days of prayer and anticipation. The time of waiting was over, his consolation and the consolation of the world was laying in the arms of Mary and Joseph.

History of the Holy Spirit

Up to this point in human history, the Holy Spirit was given to people like Simeon at times throughout history; however, he was not accessible to everyone.

Notice that it indicates that the spirit was on him, meaning continually. In the Old Testament, we read about the spirit coming on people at specific special times in Biblical History; however, this is a rare occasion where we read about a continual filling of the spirit.

Notice how the spirit brought Simeon into the Temple when Mary and Joseph arrived with Jesus.

Have you ever heard someone say that they had experienced a divine appointment? Or say that God brought them to a specific place at a specific time to do the Lord's will.

The covenant in which God made provision for the salvation of sinners is called the covenant of grace, and as the Mediator of the covenant, is said to have appeared “full of grace,” so that we can receive out of His fulness “grace for grace,” John 1:16, 17, so the Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of grace,” since He takes the “grace of Christ” and confers it on us.

Who or What is the Holy Spirit

There has been a lot of misrepresentation or understanding of the Holy Spirit and what He does in our lives today.

We live in a culture that is significantly influenced by Eastern religion, New Age thinking, and other worldviews, all of which can confuse our understanding of the Holy Spirit and his work. These nonbiblical systems of thought have gained strength over the past fifty years.

As a result, many in the church today have very little understanding of the Bible and what it teaches about the Holy Spirit.

For example, it is not uncommon to hear professing believers refer to the Holy Spirit as “it.” Many people think of the Spirit as an impersonal force or power like “the Force” in Star Wars.

Because of many vague and erroneous ideas about the Spirit, we need to begin by briefly clarifying who the Holy Spirit is.

In the Old Testament continually speaks of the grace of God as receiving His favor or blessings. The Holy Spirit is the one who dispenses this Divine Grace of God.

In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit unites the believer with Christ and places them in the body of Christ.

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit is not seen as empowering the individual Israelite under the Old Covenant. However, the Holy Spirit comes into light during the New Testament as we have the incarnation of Christ being born of a virgin in Bethlehem. Now, with Simeon, the Holy Spirit is testifying to the God-man and the inauguration of his ministry. The age to come is now here or many times referred to as the age of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit empowers people to proclaim the gospel message.

The Spirit convicts the lost of their own sin, righteousness, and judgment to come.

The Spirit brings about spiritual regeneration and rebirth for all who believe in Christ alone for their salvation.

The Spirit incorporates adopted believers into the body of Christ. (the ecclesia of Christ)

The Spirit gives us a deep knowledge of Christ and His love.

The Spirit illuminates the truth of scripture for us. (1 Cor. 2:6-13)

He empowers believers to put to death the works of the flesh. (Romans 8:6) “to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind of the spirit is life and peace.”

He gives us gifts for ministry. (1 Corinthians 12:11).

* The Holy Spirit is the key to an authentic Christian life.

(both Simeon and Anna knew this reality)

Therefore, the basic New Testament paradigm of the church is a community of Spirit-filled disciples engaged in advancing the kingdom of God.

This is what many congregations need to recover today.

Once Simeon took the Christ-child in his arms full of the Holy Spirit, he proclaimed, “Now you are letting your servant depart in peace.”

Do you see what is behind the song? ‘O Lord, I don’t have to watch this child grow up, I don’t have to watch him talk with the doctors in the temple as a lad of twelve years old; I don’t have to watch him multiply the fishes and the loaves to feed five thousand people to be convinced.

I don’t have to watch him walk on the water or turn the water into wine. I don’t have to be on the Mount of Transfiguration. I don’t have to be an eyewitness of the resurrection or his ascension into heaven. I have seen all I need to see. Now, let me die in peace.’ One glimpse of the Christ-child, and Simeon was ready to go home to God.

Possibly one of the number one things that spirit does is remind us that this world is not our home. Simeon was fully ready now to depart this world into the next.

He had fulfilled God’s purpose for him here on this earth, and now he was ready to go.

Now Simeon expresses his great joy mixed with sorrow. The spirit brings us great joy and consolation and reminds us of who we are and the sacrifice it took to buy our freedom.

Simeon looks at the young parents and proclaims that not only will this child be a light, but He will be the kind of light exposed. And because He exposes he will face lots of opposition. Such opposition will come in the form of a piercing that will pierce the very heart of His mother Mary. Simeon glimpses a view that flows through the gospel from the manger to the cross.

Jesus still exposes hearts and provokes opposition.

Perhaps you don’t know what you think about Jesus. Maybe you’re aware of your slight opposition to him, but you don’t really know where it comes from or how it got there.

It could have gotten there by any number of things you’ve been taught over the years. But the ultimate source of that opposition is your sinful nature. You were born that way. All of us were. In our sin, we have this opposition to Christ, to his claim on our lives, to his lordship and deity. And so we rebel against him.

For our hate, we deserve, and we receive death. For our love, we don’t deserve, but we do receive life. Choose life. Choose Christ. Believe in him so that you might be saved.

Here is the point, with Christ, there is no neutrality.

When someone comes in contact with Christ, he is either for Him or against Him. He either trips over Him or is established by Him. Notice it states that He will be a clear sign that bears witness to His identity.

(consider one of his executioners, a Roman centurion soldier at the cross, stated, “Surely this was the son of God. Or when Peter declared that Jesus was the very son of the living God.”)

3. The time of consolation compels us to tell others.

There had been no prophet for hundreds of years‚ so it is noteworthy that God had raised up this prophetess. The Talmud recognized seven prophetesses only, so this was no ordinary distinction.

Asher was one of the 10 lost tribes of Israel, but clearly, some members of it survived and left their lineage. She had been married for seven years and then remained a widow until now.

Note: Anna’s life of service to God was described as fasting and prayer. Usually, we think of service as preaching, teaching, and reaching out to the poor, hungry, or those in prison, which are all good acts of service; however, so is the ministry of fasting and prayer.

What are you doing with the gospel or Good News that you have been given? We sing at Christmas the beloved song, “Go tell it on the Mountain that Jesus Christ is Born.” How do we live this out in our daily lives?

*Good News is not really Good News until you give it away.

What does Anna do First?

First, Anna Gives Thanks to Her Savior.

Her first response to realizing the Christ Child was present in the Temple that day was to “Thank God.”

Don’t be like the nine lepers Jesus healed who went off without a word of thanks. Be like the one leper who returned out of gratitude (17:11–19).

As believers, one of the greatest characteristics of a follower of Christ is one whose heart is filled with gratitude. I have noticed how sometimes age has made people more bitter and ungrateful for what God has given them in Christ Jesus our Lord. There are churches filled with older people that do not look like Anna. Their faces are shriveled and unkind, and you find no joy or gratefulness in their faces.

Second, Anna Starts Gossiping the Gospel.

How often do we gossip about so many other things that do very little for the increase of the kingdom of God? Or maybe the better question to ask is, why are we not spending our time gossiping about the gospel of Christ?

Anna decided, “I am going to tell it on the Mountain, over the hills and everywhere that Jesus Christ is born.”

CONCLUSION

The Woman at the Well (John 4)

The woman asked a pointed question to Jesus after He told her about her earthly relationships and failings. She asked where they should worship. Jesus' response brings us back full circle with the appearance of Jesus in the Temple.

Jesus told her, “The hour is coming, and is now here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.”

The woman then continued the conversation by stating that she knows that the day is coming when the Messiah, called “the Christ, will come,” when He comes, He will give me the answer I am looking for. Jesus responded to her, “I who speak am he.”

Notice her reaction to the revelation of coming in contact with the Messiah; she left her water jars where they were and immediately went into town to compel the people to come and see the man who told me everything about me. Could this be the Messiah?

What is your response to your consolation today?

All of the Scripture points to Jesus. As Sally Lloyd-Jones writes, “There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. … Every Story in the Bible whispers his name. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle—the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together, and suddenly you can see a beautiful picture”

What is the one thing that makes sense of this life for you?