All Who Were Looking Forward

Luke 2: 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

·         Do not be afraid

We can be like these shepherds simply going on with our normal lives and suddenly God appears in some way. Our first reaction is almost always, fear. Why? Maybe because it always brings change! The unknown, a contrast!

o   I bring you good news of great Joy

§  Good news almost sounds foreign to us in a world that lives on bad news.

o   for all the people

§  We are also only used to considering something “good” if it affects us positively.

·         These glorious moments in time:

o   Angels appear, singing of his Glory

o   Miracles happen

o   Great things are said and proclaimed

·         And then….v:15 when they left and were gone…(the credits begin and your left with the feeling was that the end?)

·         Let’s go see…What did they find? A baby…

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 upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 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 now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” 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.”

·         Simeon was waiting, listening, looking, fully expecting… and he saw! What did he see? A baby…

36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, 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.

Anna

Maybe a widow since she was 22 yrs old.

She had a hard life, 62 yrs never left the temple worshiping day and night. Anticipation growing as she got older. Fully expecting to see the salvation of her people. What did she see?

A baby…

She spoke about the child to….

·         ALL WHO WERE LOOKING FORWARD…Only those looking Forward can understand this.

What it will be.

Philippians 1: 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

God always finishes what he begins. They saw a baby, but knew God had begun.

How easily we forget. The parents of Jesus must have been shocked when they heard the first recorded words of Jesus in the Bible. “Don’t you know I must be doing my Fathers buisness?” and when they heard his last words! “It is finished”

The Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. The author and finisher of our faith.

Have you seen the baby? Have you seen the seed? Have you seen the beginning?

Then rejoice and let’s go see the end…