The Foundation of Righteous Life

Introduction

Good morning I want to invite you to open in your Bible’s to Luke 2:21-40 that is Luke 2:21-40. That is on page 805 that is page 805 if you are using a Bible scattered throughout the chairs.

In 1 John 2:1 we read, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” We also read in Hebrews 2:10 “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.” In these two texts we see two very important truths about Jesus. One, he is the righteous one, and that righteousness is a necessary if He is going to be qualified to advocate before God the Father on the behalf of sinners like us. And two, Jesus was perfected or it might be better to say his righteousness was completed or accomplished through the living of his human life, including his suffering. Jesus is the righteous one and Jesus completed his righteousness, proved his righteousness, by actually living a perfect life. Without the perfect or righteous life of Jesus, he cannot be the perfect sacrifice for our sin, he cannot advocate for sinners before the Father. This is a ver important reality for sinners like you and me. Is Jesus qualified to go before the father for us. Is he truly righteous?

In today’s text we read about the foundations of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Luke will show us through the entirety of his narrative that Jesus was in fact the righteous one who is worthy to give his life as a sacrifice for sin. The detailed account of the life of Jesus that in contained in the book of Luke is making this very case. Jesus was righteous and therefore could and did die in the place of sinners as a perfect sacrifice. Today, we get into the ground level of this argument. Luke is making it clear that from the very birth of Christ, he was righteous. He is raised by righteous parents who ensure his complete obedience to the Old Testament law, he is testified about by a righteous and devout man, and the cause of thanksgiving by a righteous woman, and also we will see that his righteousness will reveal the thoughts and motivations of many.

Jesus was born without sin, he lived without sin, he suffered without sin, and raised from the dead a sinless and righteous man. Let’s take a look at where it all began in his earthly life. (Read Luke 2:21-40)

Righteous Parents v. 21-24

Mary and Joseph, the earthly parents of Christ, display their righteousness by obeying the law of God and having their son circumcised on the 8th day. We saw this happen with John the Baptist earlier in the book and Jesus as a faithful Jew is also circumcised at the appropriate time. This ritual was done to all the Jewish boys as a reminder of the covenant that God had made to Abraham, their forefather. In Genesis 17 God reiterates the promise he has made to Abraham to bless all the families of the earth through his lineage and in Genesis 17:12 we read, “He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring,” This was a way to distinguish the people of God from other nations, and it was a shedding of blood and removal of flesh which stood as a sign of this covenant, this promise, that God had made to Abraham. It was a command, that Jesus would have to follow if he was to fulfill all of the Old Testament law. And Joseph and Mary make this happen, they put on display their righteousness by ensuring this would take place.

They are righteous because they obey God’s law, but they are also righteous because they obey God’s word to them. They name the child Jesus which was given by the angel. Mary in Luke 1:31 is instructed to name the child Jesus, and Joseph Matthew 1:25 is given the same command in a dream from the angel. They are both commanded to name him Jesus, which means God’s salvation, because Jesus is meant to save His people from their sins.

Their righteous acts continue as when the time comes for Mary to be purified at the temple, after giving birth, they go to Jerusalem to perform this rite and obey the OT law. They bring Jesus to be dedicated since he is their firstborn son, and an offering is to be offered to ceremonially cleanse Mary from the blood ordeal that is child birth. We read this in Leviticus 12:1–4 “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days. As at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed.” Leviticus 12:6–8 ““And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, and he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.””

The people of God would need to offer sacrifices any time they dealt with things deemed unclean, like blood and other bodily fluids. They could not enter the temple, God holy and clean place, until their rituals were performed. It was a way of symbolically saying, God is pure, perfect, holy, and clean. In our sinful world, in which child labor and its pain are a part of the curse, death, blood, and other bodily functions happen. These unclean parts of humanity are to be separated from the holiness of God and his temple. Mary and Joseph know this, and so they perform this sacrifice in order to display their righteous hearts. It is an act of saying, we know that God must make us clean. And the sacrifice of a lamb, for those who could afford, pointed to a future once and for all sacrifice, the spotless lamb of God who would forever take away our sin and reproach. The irony here, is that as Mary and Joseph bring their turtledoves or young pigeons to atone for Mary’s uncleaness, they actually carry in the very lamb who will be sacrificed once and for all.

They are God fearing people, Jospeh is called righteous in Matthew 1. However, they still need atoned for, and their Son, will one day make that final atonement for their sin. They offer up their sacrifices taking a small part in completing the righteous life of Jesus that will one day be laid down to bring them full atonement for their sin.

We also see in this text, that these righteous people are poor. They can’t afford the lamb, so instead they must bring cheaper birds as their sacrifice. It is such an interesting reality that God in choosing earthly parents for His Son chooses the righteous over the rich. God’s desire for His Son is to live a righteous life. Jesus lives the perfect human life, and the perfect human life is not one of luxury. Rather is it is a life obedience to the Word of God. Joseph and Mary good examples of good parents. They don’t have money, but they are righteous.

What a challenge to us as we probably all spent too much money our kids and grandkids this past week. What do you want for your children? What does God want from you parents and grandparents? Does he want you to provide a life of ease, opportunity, and luxury? Or is God’s desire that we are examples of righteousness for our kids. Luke 2:40 “And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.” Jesus grew up and strong and filled with wisdom. He lived a truly human life, now he did that without sin, but that means he learned. And it seems like he had good examples to learn from in Joseph and Mary. Their love for the Lord is put in display in the early chapters of Luke and Matthew. They are people who are defined by really one quality. They trusted the word of the Lord.

T/S- This visit to the temple gives us a sneak peak into the parenting of Mary and Joseph, but it also gives a us a sneak peak into the future life of Jesus as they encounter the prophet Simeon.

The Testimony of a Righteous Man v. 25-32

Luke 2:25–32 “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. 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 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, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.””

Simeon is described as a righteous and devout man, and as such he was waiting for the consolation or the comfort of Israel. He was waiting on the Lord is a welcoming and happy way. The particular word used here has that connotation and it’s root is used two others times in this text. I’ll point it out as we get there. But for now, this is an attribute of a righteous man, a man who waits on the Lord. And he is a man who walks in communion with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is mentioned three times in this text. It comes up Simeon, and it reveals to Simeon that he will not die until he sees the Lord’s Christ himself. And then the Spirit leads him to the tempe and to Jesus. Simeon, because he came in the Spirit, seems to just know that Jesus is the Christ. He is in the tempe and text tells us as his parents arrive to fulfil the law and offer their sacrifice that Simon takes up the child in his arms. This is were that verb, that means to wait in welcoming way, is used again. It is not the verb we would expect Luke to use. It is an intentional play on words signifying that Simeon is doing more than just holding the baby. He is taking the child into his welcoming arms. He is embracing the Lord’s Christ, yes physcially, but also in belief. He is taking Jesus up by faith and believing that this child is in fact the Christ, the promised Messiah who would be the consolation or the comfort of Israel.

And in this belief and in the power of the Spirit he declares three truths about Jesus. He begins by first saying that he can die in peace, why? Because Jesus is one, God’s salvation two, the light for revelation to the Gentiles, and three the glory to God’s people Israel. As he takes us Jesus in his arms, welcoming the child, the Christ. He knows that he holds what he has been waiting for. This child would be God’s salvation to all peoples. He would be light to the Gentiles who walk in darkness. The people who walk in ignorance who do not know God, those who are pagan and far from the true God will reject the darkness and turn from idolatry to the true God through His Christ. And for those in Israel who have been eagerly waiting for the Lord’s Christ, he would be their Glory!

These truths make this man embrace the Christ and in so doing bravely and peacefully embrace death. Simeon can die in peace, because he has taken hold of the Savior. Death is not peaceful, death for the strongest of Christians can be a terrifying concept. But death for all people is inescapable. You will face it. Will you face it with peace? Can you face death without fear? Can you say with Simeon and the apostle Paul 1 Corinthians 15:55–57 ““O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is the peace of God promised to you if you embrace Christ in faith. If you wait, in welcome expectation for the coming of the Lord. Paul has this confidence this peace when he writes 2 Timothy 4:8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” Are waiting for Jesus, do you love his appearing. Do you wait for your death with a joyful expectation knowing that as you welcome Christ in faith He will welcome you into his kingdom on the last day!

Take up Christ into yourself by faith today. He is the salvation of God, the light to Gentile sinners like me and you, the glory of His people. He lived a righteous life, died a sacrificial death, and now stands ready to welcome you into his arms by faith.

T/S- However, you must be warned. To take up Christ by faith is to take on his righteousness. A righteousness, though not your own, which will have an affect on how you live this life and how you experience this life. You see the righteousness of Christ reveals the hearts of others.

A Righteousness that Reveals v. 33-35

Luke 2:33–35 “And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 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 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.””

Simeon after his prophecy about Jesus turns his attention to Jesus’ parents. He blessed them and says to Mary that her child will cause the fall and rising of many in Israel. That he will be a sign for is opposed. A sword will pierce her soul and the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. Jesus is the light is of the world and while the light overcomes the darkness we know here in the Midwest, it often also attracts the biggest mosquitoes and other pesky bugs. You see Jesus would come and his revealing light, his righteousness would bring to light the evil deeds and thoughts of many.

The self-righteous the Scribes and Pharisees would reject him as the Christ and plot against Him. They would be jealous, petty, their hearts closed off to the truth, and they would be the ones to hatch a plot to have Jesus killed. Jesus’ righteous light would bring about the fall of the prideful. The elite and self-righteousness would not be happy about the Son of God changing the lives of sinners and tax collectors. They would be upset that angels would appear to the likes of shepherds, that a poor couple from Nazareth would be chosen to raise the Messiah, that elderly saints like Simeon and Anna would announce his coming rather than them.

They would desire to be the glory of Israel, but when the true glory appeared it would reveal the evil in their hearts. Their plot would work and Jesus would be crucified. John 19:25 tells us that Mary would witness the death of her son and her Savior. A unique kind of pain. Many unfortunately have had to burry a child, but only Mary had to burry her child who was also her King, Savior, and Lord. This experience would like a sword piercing not just your flesh, but your very soul.

And while this prophecy of Simeon would come true, and while it does not seem like good news we know that Jesus.. Hebrews 12:2 “….who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” The story of Christmas is one of joy and sorrow. Joy that the Christ has come, sorrow at the knowledge of what he would have to do. Yet, we know that in this moment of greatest sorrow, there was victory. Because he humbled himself to death, and his righteousness caused the fall and judgement of the wicked. It also caused the exaltation of the humble. Jesus himself would rise and one day every knee with bow and tongue confess that He is Lord. In his rising from the dead he will raise up with all of those who are His.

T/S- Even an elderly woman who spent a lifetime worship through fasting and prayer waiting for the redemption of Israel.

The Testimony of a Righteous Woman v. 36-40

Luke 2:36–40 “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, 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. 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. And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.”

First we meet Simeon who testifies to Jesus being the Christ and now we meet Anna. We meet a man and a woman who prophesy. I think this is a precursor to the fulfilment of the prophecy about Jesus in Joel 2:28–29 ““And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.” Now this is ultimately fulfilled in Acts 2 after Jesus ascends into heaven after his resurrection and the Holy Spirit comes to indwell all Christians. I believe God is foreshadowing what is to come by having both a male and female testify to the Christ. Female prophets or prophetesses are elsewhere in both the Old and New Testament. A reminder to us that Christ has come for all people, Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, and male and female.

Anna is a faithful woman, a woman who’s devotion would put us all to shame. She was married in her youth for seven years, but then it seems (the language is a little tricky) but it seems like she has spend the last 84 years as a widow devoting her life to the continual worship of God. She was in the temple night and day worshiping in fasting and in prayer. She is a very old woman, perhaps over 100 years old, if we are to understand the 84 years as being after the death of her husband.

This devoted woman, comes up at the same time as when Mary and Joseph are in the temple and in seeing Jesus she begins to give thanks and she speaks to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. Anna is the kind of old lady were should all aspire to be. You see, getting old, though I don’t have much personal experience yet, is hard. All I have to do is look at those people in my life who are aging. Small things like colds can land you in the hospital, stairs are now a burden and obstacle, you can’t eat what you once ate, you might need someone else to drive you around, there comes a point when showering is difficult. Aging in a fallen world is hard. What kind of elderly person will you be? Will you be like Anna? Giving thanks to the Lord and telling everyone about him.

Now, this is not something that happens overnight. In order to be like this old lady, it takes a lifetime of devotion to the Lord. You see she can give thanks at 100 plus years because her she has spent a lifetime in close fellowship with God. Age strips away all of your external protections. You suffer as you body fails, you say whatever comes into your mind…. it slowly strips away everything accept what is truly at your core. For Anna, that would the joy of the Lord. It was her waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. Hers and those she spoke with.

Luke uses that word again, the word that means a waiting with a welcoming attitude. These people and I believe Anna, were eager to see the Christ. They were waiting on the Lord, and believing that He would actually send His Christ. Their waiting was a manifestation of faith. And so, God uses this elderly woman to announce the good news that Christ has come. She is a righteous woman.

Conclusion

Romans 4:3 “For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”” I believe this is what Luke is trying to tell us in this passage. You see, the passage covers so much life it begins will a young couple who bring a baby to the temple and ends with a 100 year old woman. It shows us what righteousness looks like in the early days of parenting your first child, determined to be example of righteousness. It shows how we can face death with peace if we embrace the Lord’s Christ. It shows how we can give thanks in old age and the joys of living a full life of continual devotion to God. It even shows us how persecution is real, but also overcome by the rising of Jesus. And at every stage of life in the good and the bad the goal to be righteous, but righteousness if found only by faith. Mary and Joseph obey because they have chosen to believe the word of the angel. Simeon obeys because he is waiting, ready to welcome, for the consolation of Israel, Anna obeys because she too has been waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. Obedience, the acts of righteousness, are impossible apart from faith in Christ. If you want to live a righteous life it starts with faith in Jesus. You need the one who is God’s salvation, the light of revelation, and the glory of God’s people. And once you place your faith in him, you become unified with Him, and therefore are able to live a righteous life from start to finish. You can face life’s troubles with peace if you have embraced the Savior.

Let’s Pray.