Purification, Simeon, and Anna

Intro

Most of our life is is rarely planned around other people. You don’t expect others to plan around you and you don’t plan around others. You won’t schedule your time around a Tennessee football game because you don’t care. This subjective mindset also bleeds into our thoughts about Christ.

Need: We can assume the coming of Jesus is only good for one group. Jews were waiting for him, Gentiles weren’t. Yet, we see that his coming impacts everyone.

Main Idea: The coming of Christ impacts everyone

We move to 40 days after Christ has been. They go to the temple.

Luke 2:22-38

Imperative #1: Purify yourself in Christ (22-24)

Exp. Mary and Joseph come to the temple in Jerusalem to participate in purification. Purification during the Law of Moses in three stages:

Purification of mother (sacrifice for sin) (Lev. 12:6-8). Found in verse 24. Couldn’t afford lamb.

Redemption of firstborn (requires 5 shekels; cost of temple was high and shekels helped offset costs for sacrifices) (Num. 3:47-48).

Consecration of firstborn (giving of the child to God). 1 Sam. 1:11-28.

Exp. Both the mother and the child were considered unclean for 40 days. That’s how long they waited. During these days, they would heal and be nourished before going to the temple. Then, they would purify themselves.

Ill. This purification wasn’t like hand sanitizer at the hospital. It was a symbolic act to atone for sin.

Arg. Why do this?

Purification of mother. Before offering son, she presents a sacrifice to God to atone for her sins.

Redemption of firstborn. Couldn’t repay God for redemption, they could pay for priests to have income and materials.

Consecration of firstborn. Because God deserves our firstfruits. Israel is his firstborn. We give our first and best because he did in Christ.

Christ - Jesus is his son that he gave to redeem us. For the atonement of sins. Jesus is the fulfillment of the purification process. We don’t have to pay shekels because Jesus paid it in full. Offer sacrifices because Jesus washed us and paid it in full.

App. No amount of piety will purify your soul.

Trust in Christ for purification. Live being purified.

Give your firstfruits. Financial. Talents. Time.

Imperative #2: Praise the salvation of Christ (25-32)

Exp. We meet Simeon. He is filled with HS. Verse 25-26. Consolation = comfort. God revealed he wouldn’t die until he saw the Christ. Verse 27. Led by HS. As they were there, Simeon took him and blessed God. Verse 28-32. Simeon says:

I’m good to die now. His soul is at rest. You kept your word.

My eyes have seen your salvation. Isaiah 40:5. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” He’s seen Jesus.

You prepared in the presence of everyone. God has prepared salvation before Jews and Gentiles.

Revelation to Gentiles, glory for Israel. Light as we have seen before. Salvation is light to Gentiles and glory for Israel.

Exp. Simeon is praising God for his salvation.

Arg. The light for Gentiles is him bursting through darkness. Gentiles haven’t merely turned their backs to God as they grew up in paganism. It would be a complete revelation for them. For Jews, their glory is not the peak of politics and power. It is the fulfillment of God’s promise to bless the nations through their offspring.

Christ - Simeon echoes the prediction of the angel: Jesus will bring salvation to all people. He brings salvation to Gentiles and glory to Jews.

App. What do we do? Praise God for salvation.

Praise him for shining through darkness.

Praise him for restoring glory to his people.

Imperative #3: Partake in the sufferings of Christ (33-35)

Exp. Simeon’s prophecy is not just praise. It includes somber reality. Verse 33-35. Mary pondered as she did with shepherds. His somber prophecy:

Fall and rising of many in Israel. The upside down kingdom. The humble exalted; proud humbled.

Sign that is opposed (affect you as well). Prophesied in Isaiah.

Isaiah 8:14

And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Many will oppose Jesus!

Many hearts may be revealed. Those who worship with lips must have action. Will they do as Jesus says?

Ill. Hearts need to be revealed. Jesus would help reveal hearts. Like sifting sand at the beach. You sift to find shells and other items.

Arg. Jesus sifts to reveal hearts. Remember pandemic. That was a time of sifting. Not about vaccine or gathering. That’s the problem. People began to make those things ultimate things. Then Christ was not the ultimate thing. That wasn’t even suffering, that was inconvenience. The hearts of people would be sifted. Would they be true to God? When suffering appears, would they stay? We are called to suffer, but we don’t even take inconvenience well.

Christ - Jesus would suffer for us. His message stands in opposition to sin. Sin keeps you from God. Jesus took that for us.

App. What do we do?

Suffer well. Don’t be shaken.

Be uncomfortable with sin.

Imperative #4: Participate in sharing Christ (36-38)

Exp. They not only met Simeon. They also met Anna. Verse 36-38. Anna was a prophetess, speaking the words of God. Widow. Spent her time at the temple worshiping with fasting and prayer. Fasting and prayer was associated with awaiting salvation. She began to give thanks to God and then tell of God’s salvation. Awaiting redemption. Simeon awaiting consolation, Anna awaiting redemption. Tells everyone salvation has come.

Ill. Imagine you’ve prayed for something for nearly 84 years. Then, God reveals it to come to pass. Would you not tell everyone??

Arg. Anna’s life was committed to God, and he gives her a chance to see salvation before it occurs. Her response was to tell Israel they had been redeemed.

Christ - The gospel of Jesus began to spread when he was a baby. Now, we have shepherds, Zech. and Elizabeth, John the Baptist, likely Simeon, and now Anna preparing people for the Messiah. The gospel was being shared before it had come to fulfillment.

App. What do we do? Take the gospel to those around you.

Share of Christ’s salvation. Mission statement. Luke’s consistent message.

Keep praying. Not specific to the story, but encouragement.

Conclusion

Our call is not to be spectators, but active participants in the mission of God. The coming of Jesus is for everyone.

How will you respond?