One Savior, One Gospel, One People

Reading of the Word

Luke 2:21–38 NASB 2020

And when eight days were completed so that it was time for His circumcision, He was also named Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. And when the days for their purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, 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 that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what has been stated in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young doves.” And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to 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 by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him in his arms, and blessed God, and said, “Now, Lord, You are letting Your bond-servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation, Which You have prepared in the presence of all the peoples: A light for revelation for the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. And Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and as a sign to be opposed— and a sword will pierce your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She did not leave the temple grounds, serving night and day with fasts and prayers. And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak about Him to all those who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Prayer of Illumination

Heavenly Father, As we come before You today, we ask for Your Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds to the truth of Your Word. Illuminate our understanding of the one Savior, the one Gospel, and the one people You have called us to be. Help us to see beyond our differences and embrace the unity found in Christ. May Your Word speak deeply to us today, transforming our hearts and drawing us closer to You and to one another. We surrender our lives to You, trusting that Your message of love, grace, and salvation will guide us as we live out the Gospel in the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Introduction

Before we dive into today’s message, let’s take a quick look back at what we discussed on Christmas Eve.

Christmas had an incredible impact on human history.

The age of promise became the age of fulfillment.

What was promised for hundreds of years was fulfilled in Christ.

Christ stepped down to earth to lift us up.

Christ humbled himself by taking on flesh and dwelling among us.

He didn’t come as a King with a crown; He came to earth as the Suffering Servant, crowned with nothing but His sacrifice.

He came to reach the lost, not mingle with the kings and those with power.

This could only be accomplished by taking on their form—becoming the relatable God. He appeared as an ordinary human, unremarkable and often overlooked. Most Jews dismissed Him as just another teacher or prophet, failing to recognize Him as the Messiah and Savior of humanity.

He became the Suffering Servant

He took our sickness

He carried our pains

He was pierced for our offenses

He was crushed and laid our wrongdoings upon himself

He came to heal our wounds

He was oppressed and afflicted

He submitted to this punishment and became the silent Servant.

Christ won the victory

He crushed the enemy.

The devil thought the death of Christ was the defeat of Christ. But how wrong he was.

On the third day, death could not hold Jesus. He rose victorious from the grave, sealing Satan's defeat once and for all.

Because of this, Christ’s victory is now our victory:

Eternal Redemption

Hope

Assurance

Christ stands as the central figure who divided human history, creating a defining line of equality in His eyes. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He extended the same grace and opportunity to all—to receive the free gift of salvation. Jesus came with a clear mission: to seek and save the lost.

Purification: Path to Humility

Lk 2:21-24

40 days after the birth of a son, she would be unclean according to the law.

Mary had to go to the temple 3 days after the circumcision of Christ to go through the purification ritual for herself and her family.

Mary had to complete this ritual before they could present their son for dedication to God.

We have 2 distinct rituals being accomplished here:

Mary’s purification ritual

Jesus being presented in the Temple to God

He was born without sin and did not need to undergo the ritual, but they chose to do so out of obedience to God. This would also set the stage that Christ would be obedient to the law, even when it cost him his life.

He followed the law so that he could redeem those who were under the law.

Galatians 3:13 NASB 2020

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a Tree”—

We must present our children, grandchildren, etc. to God just as Joseph and Mary did Jesus.

Our children are in the best hands possible when they are given to God.

They needed to offer a sacrifice during the dedication ritual.

Their offering of two pigeons, worth about $2.50 in today’s money, reflects their humble circumstances.

God wasn’t concerned with their financial status; He came to be the God of everyone, regardless of wealth or social standing.God wants to connect with those who are poor in spirit.

Jesus came to restore dignity to those the world looks down upon and labels. He lifts them up and declares their equality with all of humanity.

Promise: Salvation for All

Lk 2:25-32

God was going to reveal salvation to the world through this righteous and devout man.

Righteous - conformed to God’s expectations and lived in a right relationship with God.

Devout - He feared God and showed reverence for God. He took God’s promises seriously.

God didn’t limit salvation to the Jews; He wanted everyone in the world to have an equal opportunity to experience Christ and the salvation He would provide. Jesus was changing the status quo.

It’s not our salvation. It’s God’s salvation that matters.

His birth would lead to his death.

Simeon recognized Jesus as the Savior for all people, not just the Jews.

Luke (B. The Savior’s Heavenly Mission (2:22–38))

Salvation was a light revealing God and his purposes and ways to all people, Jew and Gentile alike

The inclusion of the Gentiles must have been shocking and difficult for the Jewish people to understand.This was a world-wide mission for the Messiah.

The disciples didn’t go to the Gentiles. Paul did.

Simeon’s soul yearned to see salvation with his own eyes and his promise became reality.

God made a serious promise to Simeon that he would see salvation with his own eyes before he died.

Luke B. The Savior’s Heavenly Mission (2:22–38)

God’s personal word to Simeon guaranteed him the Christ, God’s comfort in person, would come before Simeon died. God kept his promise to a man known in history only because he waited obediently for God to keep his promise.

Since his promise became reality, Simeon was at peace with leaving the world through his death.

Christ gave him a hope and peace that allowed him to embrace death.

Those that welcome Christ into their hearts can welcome death.

This salvation in God can either lift someone up or becoming a stumbling block. He draws some, he repels others.

They would have to make a decision to either embrace or reject salvation.

Word Pictures in the New Testament (Luke 2:34)

“Judas despairs, Peter repents: one robber blasphemes, the other confesses” (Plummer).

Jesus was going to bring confrontation and controversy to those who opposed him.

For those who reject salvation, they show their love of the darkness rather than light.

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible Chapter 2

And Jesus, his doctrine, and people, are still spoken against; his truth and holiness are still denied and blasphemed; his preached word is still the touchstone of men’s characters.

Prophecy: Joy and Sorrow

Lk 2:33-35

There was much joy and sorrow tied to the mission of Christ. Mary recognized this.

The joy this child brought to Mary and Joseph’s hearts was priceless.

As Simeon spoke about Jesus, Mary and Joseph were overwhelmed with happiness and joy in Jesus being spoken about in such a positive manner.

A mother sat quietly in the back of the church listening to the sermon when her teenage son was mentioned as an example of kindness. She felt a wave of pride wash over her, realizing how much others saw in him that she sometimes took for granted. It was a humbling reminder that God often shines through our children, revealing their potential and goodness to others in ways we might overlook ourselves.

Mary treasured these things in her heart. It would be the memories such as this that would get her through the sorrows of Jesus’ ministry and death.

Mary had to encounter the sorrows that would come as well.

The childhood in the Nazareth home, and the early manhood in the Nazareth carpentry, were no doubt her happiest days, though, in those quiet years, expectation, fears, dread, curiously interwoven, must have ever torn that mother’s heart. The days of the public ministry for Mary must have been sad, and her heart full of anxious forebodings, as she watched the growing jealousies, the hatred, and the unbelief on the part of the leading men of her people. Then came the cross. We know she stood by it all the while. And, after the cross and the Resurrection, silence.

Mary’s heart would be pierced as she witnessed her son endure ridicule and rejection throughout His ministry, ultimately seeing Him crucified.

Simeon’s words about a sword piercing her heart are powerful imagery, capturing the deep sorrow and suffering she would experience.

Proclamation: Witnessing Redemption

Lk 2:36-38

Maybe, by focusing on Anna's encounter with Jesus, you can demonstrate the hope and assurance found in recognizing God's redemption plan. Her response of praise and proclamation to others signifies the shift from waiting for redemption to witnessing it. This can encourage the faithful to live and share the hope found in Christ, recognizing that our worth is never diminished by earthly constraints but is affirmed through Jesus' ultimate sacrifice. The story calls Christians to be actively involved in reflecting God's message of inclusive redemption in their communities.

Jesus shows us how important this world-wide mission was when he paid the price for the sin of the world.

Redemption requires

Reflection

Being saved through Christ is all that matters.

Repentance

We turn away from those things that cause division and strive in our hearts.

Resurrection

Anna led a life of simplicity and service.

Anna saw Jesus and believed just as Simeon did that he was the long-awaited Messiah.

Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament (Anna’s Testimony (2:36–38))

The OT law, which is in focus in Luke’s account of Jesus’ presentation, states that a legal claim has to be confirmed by two or three witnesses. A second witness, Anna, is introduced to confirm Jesus’ status as the long-expected Savior.

To Sum It Up

Jesus changed history by coming for everyone equally. Our value is now defined by the price God paid for our redemption: the blood of His Son.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we are reminded that there is one Savior, one people, and one Gospel. Jesus came to unite us all, regardless of our differences, and offer salvation to everyone.

His birth, life, and death were the dividing line of history, forever changing the course of the world. His sacrifice on the cross bridges the gaps that divide us and calls us into a shared mission to spread His message of love, hope, and redemption.

Let us embrace this truth, knowing that in Christ, we are one people, united in purpose and grace. May we carry this Gospel to the world, inviting all to experience the transformative power of Jesus.

Prayer Following Message

Gracious God, We thank You for the powerful reminder that there is one Savior, one Gospel, and one people. We are humbled by the truth that Jesus came for all of us, uniting us through His love and sacrifice. As we leave this place today, may the message of salvation echo in our hearts, compelling us to share this good news with the world. Help us to live as one people, reflecting Your grace, compassion, and unity. Strengthen us to carry Your Gospel boldly and lovingly, so that all may come to know the transformative power of Christ.

In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.

Benediction

May the peace of Christ, born in a humble manger, go with you as you leave this place. As we reflect on the gift of Jesus this Christmas season, may His love and sacrifice unite us as one people, bound by the one Gospel and the one Savior. Go in His grace, sharing His light and hope with the world, now and always. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.