Swiss Village Christmas Devotional
Notes
Transcript
I want to read from Luke 2 as we talk about the Christmas story, but I want to read the part of Luke 2 we don’t normally read from the Christmas story and offer some insights.
We know the part about Jesus being born in Bethlehem, of angels appearing to shepherds - “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those whom his favor rests.”
but let’s read the next part of the story...
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”),
24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
What do we learn so far?
we are reminded they are Jewish; Joseph and Mary and Jesus grew up in a particular cultural context—Jewish context—doing what the OT Law required. Because God had saved the Israelites in the OT by killing all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians but spared the Israelite firstborns b/c they were covered under the blood of the Lamb, Jewish families were to dedicate their firstborn son to the Lord. and usually Jewish families did this by offering a Lamb
but we learn hear that they offer a pair of doves or 2 young pigeons. which is important to note because this means Joseph and Mary were poor. they couldn’t afford a Lamb. so the OT Law said they could offer a pair of doves or young pigeons.
I love how one theologian preacher Thabiti Anyabwhile says —what does it mean that Jesus was actually born to a poor family?
That poverty is not a sin and is not shameful in itself
that poverty is not a sign of God’s disapproval
that poverty does not prevent a person from worshipping God (even poor people can offer their best and first to God)
poverty now does not necessarily doom a person to poverty forever. no—Jesus died, but was resurrected in glory, and I would argue is the richest being in the universe.
poverty is a cross that God entrusts to some of us for a season and we can be faithful in it.
pretty interesting—already we see Jesus has come for all, not just the rich or kings, but the poor. He identifies with them.
Jesus is a different kind of God than any other gods the people of that time and culture related to. Most gods were all about the strong, the wealthy, the kings and generals and priests, but Jesus came to identify even with the poor, the weak, the lowly. That’s how amazing God is.
let me keep reading:
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
pretty crazy story—some random guy comes up to them and carries Jesus in their arms!
I remember so many times when our kids were young babies, being at Walmart or the grocery store, and sometimes complete strangers would come by and just want to touch your baby. They were drawn in and couldn’t help themselves, but Jamie and I are like— “get your hands off ‘em!”
yet this guy, Simeon recognizes Jesus, out of all the other babies for who Jesus really is. picks him up and praises God...
how does Simeon of all the people there doing religious things recognize Jesus?
How? because of the Holy Spirit.
3x the Spirit is mentioned.
It’s an important lesson for us, says JD Greear—we can only recognize Jesus because the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit reveals Him to us.
Interestingly, there were lots of other people there, and they didn’t recognize Jesus as they went through their religious traditions/rituals. They missed out on Jesus—only Simeon (and later Anna) did.
Sometimes our own rituals and traditions can keep us from encountering Jesus especially during the holiday season. We go through our annual rituals or traditions (Or maybe you feel like yours are broken living here at SV, so you feel out of sorts). We have a certain way of decorating, certain family traditions—sometimes all of that hustle and bustle can keep us from seeing Jesus.
Thankfully, like Simeon we have the Holy Spirit of God-whose mission it is to point to Jesus. He loves and exists to spotlight Jesus.
so if you are struggling to keep the focus on Jesus this holiday season...
so I would encourage you to pray for God’s Spirit to help you encounter Jesus this holiday season.
He loves to do that...
Let’s keep reading
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
we don’t normally refer to this passage at Christmas—but it just goes to show that Jesus will be divisive. Christmas is a time of peace—and Jesus came to bring it—but it will also bring division—some will accept him; some will not.
it’s a good reminder for all of us—we have family and friends that don’t know Jesus. we need to show them Jesus—but be prepared some will rise with Jesus; some won’t. and that’s part of what Jesus came to do—He will attract and repel some.
and it makes sense—b/c he is the revealer of hearts—it’s uncomfortable.
this is why I think Simeon said “a sword will pierce your own soul, too.” b/c Joseph and Mary would see the conflict Jesus would cause—and especially Mary as she watches her son die on the cross.
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
what a difficult life for Anna! No little girls plans to be married for 7 years and then a widow, and then in that culture, it was difficult for a widow to survive.
but what do we learn from Anna? (and Simeon)
Waiting is part of the Christian life. we learn that from Simeon and Anna—both old. waiting. Simeon for the consolation of Israel—the idea of comfort. He was waiting for a Messiah to come and bring comfort—probably in all forms—political, relational, spiritual. Anna for the redemption of Jerusalem. interesting that God answered their prayer—but it took a while— Because they probably didn’t live much longer to see what Jesus would actually grow up to become!
sometimes God has us wait—waiting is a key part of the Christian life that God uses to shape us and mold us.
maybe you are in a season of waiting
maybe you are waiting for good health
waiting for a reconciled family
waiting for a prodigal son/daughter or grandson/granddaughter to come home...
waiting for better sermons from your pastor...
waiting...
we are reminded from Simeon and Anna that God answers prayers and He sees you and cares for you.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said "The Advent season is a season of waiting, but our whole life is an Advent season, that is, a season of waiting for the last Advent, for the time when there will be a new heaven and a new earth.
we are also reminded that God’s answer to them was probably different than they expected. and it wasn’t in the exact form they may have even wanted. they longed for everything to be restored on earth and to Israel. What they may have thought they needed most—was different. They may have expected and wanted political deliverance as part of it—but Jesus came for a greater mission—to save them from their sins.
what are you waiting on? while it’s fine to ask God for anything and everything—He cares about all our needs. Is there something deeper God wants us to have—in Him more than anything else? We are reminded at Christmas that God cares about every aspect of our lives, but first and foremost He sent Jesus so we could be rescued from our sin, our selfishness, and be restored to a thriving relationship with God, fully satisfied in Him.
the reason that Christmas is so amazing is that God would send His Son to take on flesh, identify with the weak and poor with us! and grow up to live and die on our behalf.
vs. 29 - Simeon says he can depart in peace? Can you say that?
Is Jesus truly our joy, peace, even if we are still waiting on Him to do something? Even if he doesn’t quite give us the answer we want? Can we say that?
or is our peace dependent on external circumstances?
Let’s pray.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
