New Years Eve 2023

Messiah ???

Luke 2:27–32 NRSV

Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

Luke 2:21–26 NRSV

After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 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 firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated 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; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.

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Merry Christmas!!!

We made it Jesus has been born, the savior of the world has come or has he?

The Messiah has been born, let’s start the party, everyone should be rejoicing and singing and hope should be springing eternal from everywhere.

But wait let’s check the Jesus timeline.

a baby is born to Joseph and Mary

8 days later he is circumcised and named Jesus

32 days after that lands us here in luke chapter 2 verse 22

Luke 2:22–24 “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.””

Mary and Joseph are in Jerusalem to offer the sacrifice of purification and present Jesus at the temple.

Enter Simeon

Luke 2:25–26 NRSV

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.

Simeon had been told (previously) by God that he would not die until he saw the Messiah come. We don’t know how long this had been in the works but scholars are thinking it was a decent period of time.

(explanation)

Then……

Luke 2:27–32 NRSV

Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

Simeon didn’t know Jesus existed until he had a personal encounter with the Messiah himself.

Just because Christmas has come not everyone knows Jesus Christ is born.

In the information age where we have all the information we are want at our fingertips we can forget that people don’t know Jesus.

They don’t know the reason for the season, because they have never met.