This Baby

Introduction - Open to Luke 2

Christmas is here!

unless you have shopping left to do, then you still have today and tomorrow.

Where we live, you’re going to have to go get it now… Amazon cannot help

Last week we talked about God sending his son at the right time, for the redemption and adoption of his people

This week, we are going to talk about this baby that we will celebrate in just a couple days.

So that is the title of the message… This Baby.

25 There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said, 29 Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation.31 You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples—32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory to your people Israel. 33 His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary: “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed—35 and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” 36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. 38 At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Pray!

Retell this story in my own words…

why they were at the temple in the first place

why they were at the temple in the first place

When the eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus—the name given by the angel before he was conceived. 22 And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord,) 24 and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,).

21 When the eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus—the name given by the angel before he was conceived. 22 And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord,) 24 and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,).

parents to make a sacrifice at least 40 days after the birth of Jesus

Read to understand all they had to do after childbirth

where is that in the Christmas Story

after the birth, the shepherds and angles, the census,

before the wisemen and Herod killing all the babies

Read to understand all they had to do after childbirth

Simeon and Anna - waiting for the messiah…

older people waiting for the messiah

v25 There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

v37 and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers.

we picture them like the people at Walmart that believe that any baby is up for grabs

you can pick up any baby, play with any baby ext…

What we get from their message is important to remember this week, as we celebrate Christmas

25 There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said, 29 Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation.31 You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples—32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,h and glory to your people Israel. 33 His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary: “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed—35 and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” 36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,,m 37 and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. 38 At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

This Baby is the Messiah

What about Christmas are you looking forward to

kids… the presents

adults… time with family, or for it to be over

They were looking forward to the coming of the Messiah

v25 There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

v37 and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers.

They were waiting and looking for the messiah because the OT had told them that one was coming...

for hundreds of years through so many prophets the Lord had told them of the coming messiah

Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.

What they were looking forward to

military or political leader is used so much by preachers that it is almost cliche

it is almost like a reaction to say that

what we know is that they misunderstood all of the prophecies in the OT

Jesus was not the messiah they thought was coming

or better said, Jesus was not the Messiah that they wanted

he was not a political leader

he was setting up and concerned with an eternal kingdom, not a temporary earthly one

he was not elevating the religious and political leaders to power in this world but calling them out on their true loyalties to self, instead of loving God

That is not necessarily true of Simeon… he was looking for “Israel’s consolation”

consolation - to console or encourage; a calling to one’s aid

Simeon knew, after years of silence by God that Israel was broken and in need of healing

they needed saving…

And now… he could celebrate

Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

We are looking forward to the coming of the messiah

We celebrate that he came… Christmas, but we also look forward to his coming again

He who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

He who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

I sometimes think that the reason we want him to come is just to remove what we see as injustice

in the world

oppression in other countries that we think need to be set straight

political issues that we want proved that we were correct

to us

more money, power and influence

or at the very least, that we would have the life we think that we deserve

I am afraid that we do not want to simply be with Jesus

Adrian Rogers asked a couple questions concerning this thought

Are you saved?

Simeon was a just man

Have you been born again

too many believe they are Christian because they are American, republican, democrat, they go to church

Have you repented of your sins, died to yourself and been raised alive in Christ

Have you surrendered?

Simeon was a devout man

He was devoted to the Lord in his life

too often, we see our faith as just another part of our life

it does not guide our choices and shape our lives

it is a box that we check off

I am male, white, Christian

This Baby is Salvation

29 Now, Master,

Babies are cute… I love them

Christmas Shopping - Heather said the hardest part was getting Grumpa out of the toy section

I love to spoil babies, hold them and play with them

there is nothing like a babies laugh

We celebrate the birth of Jesus, but we must get over it

Jesus came to die

For my eyes have seen your salvation.

yes, Simeon was looking at this child and believing that somehow, he would be taking away the sins of the world

not just Israel… but the world

v30-32 For my eyes have seen your salvation. 31 You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples—32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory to your people Israel.

For my eyes have seen your salvation.

31 You have prepared it

in the presence of all peoples—

This is not just somebody that would grow to save Israel, but the world.

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,h

This isn’t just a blanket salvation

and glory to your people Israel.

Jesus did not die and instantly everyone is saved

God does not make people follow him, you have a choice

What have you done with this baby...

2 Indeed, God is my salvation;

Can you proclaim as Thomas did when he saw the risen Christ, My Lord and My God...

I will trust him and not be afraid,

for the Lord, the Lord himself,

2 Indeed, God is my salvation; I will trust him and not be afraid, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation.” 3 You will joyfully draw water from the springs of salvation,

is my strength and my song.

We needed saving…

He has become my salvation.”

We are sinful people what have sprinted away from God

3 You will joyfully draw water

The question should not be, why wouldn’t God just save everyone, it should be why would he save anyone

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

from the springs of salvation,

If you confess in your mouth, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

That is this baby… that is what we celebrate

This Baby is Opposed

you can dismiss your servant in peace,

Jr High kids…

as you promised.

Kaitlynn, “We are not like those annoying Jr High kids.”

We tried to explain to her that all junior high kids are those annoying junior high kids

she did not believe us then, she does now

We are naive about persecution and the opposition of Jesus

Spiritually, Christ divided, so he was opposed

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation.

threatened the powerful -

who else goes to the religious leaders and calls them snakes or white washed tombs

we do not even have to go as far as his ministry, within a couple of years of his birth, the king had all the babies in Bethlehem 2 years and under murdered

pained the comfortable

31 You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples—32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,h and glory to your people Israel. 33 His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary: “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed—35 and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” 36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,,m 37 and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. 38 At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

you can look at the sermon on the mount in 7 on how he instructed, or called them out on following the law

that it has to be done in your heart, or you are not following the letter of the law

called the outcast and broken

in the presence of all peoples—

his apostles were made up of people that the leading religious leaders did not want

he ate with sinners, touched the unclean and hung on a cross with convicted criminals only to tell one that he would be in paradise with him that day

many Jews “fell” eternally speaking while many “rose” eternally due to their faith in Jesus

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,h

and glory to your people Israel.

Jesus made it very clear that those who were with him could expect persecution

That is this baby!

I am not sure that he meant the type of persecution that we claim in the U.S.

33 His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary: “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed—35 and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” 36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,,m 37 and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. 38 At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

ANNA’S TESTIMONY

Do you believe

Merry Christmas or tax deductions

but lets go with those… the division or the rising or lowering of people is what happens when those persecutions come

you cannot opposed to Christ and saved

36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,,m 37 and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. 38 At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

you are for him or against him

lets do away with the tax deduction for giving to churches

I know, our income as a church would go down

that is probably not something the Elders want me to say, especially right before the beginning of the year and budget meeting and all of that

but lets reveal your heart, are you giving money out of obedience to the Lord, or because it is financially expedient for you

This is what it means that Jesus was opposed

he revealed the hearts of people and what it was that they truly worshipped

Simeon was giving a warning to his parents about what was to come with his ministry

What is this child exposing in your heart this Christmas

the greatest gift that you can bring this baby is your heart

repent today and follow Christ