Anticipated
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Where does the Christmas story end?
With the wise men? With the flight to Egypt?
The dedication at the temple
Christian Standard Bible Chapter 12
12 The LORD spoke to Moses: 2 “Tell the Israelites: When a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a male child, she will be unclean seven days, as she is during the days of her menstrual impurity. 3 The flesh of his foreskin must be circumcised on the eighth day. 4 She will continue in purification from her bleeding for thirty-three days. She must not touch any holy thing or go into the sanctuary until completing her days of purification. 5 But if she gives birth to a female child, she will be unclean for two weeks as she is during her menstrual impurity. She will continue in purification from her bleeding for sixty-six days.
6 “When her days of purification are complete, whether for a son or daughter, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. 7 He will present them before the LORD and make atonement on her behalf; she will be clean from her discharge of blood. This is the law for a woman giving birth, whether to a male or female. 8 But if she doesn’t have sufficient means, for a sheep, she may take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. Then the priest will make atonement on her behalf, and she will be clean.”
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).
Many questions:
Why the ceremonial law? God wants His people to be holy as He is holy
possibly some health benefits to circumcision, other laws
Why a greater period of uncleanness for a female than a male?
Why do the release of body fluids make one unclean?
Mary was ceremonial impure for 7 days and then the following 33 days
Jesus was circumcised on the 8th day
Following the 40th day, Mary went to the temple for her purification
Anticipated
Anticipated
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,
These events took place after 40 days
v. 25 Simeon - no official position within the temple, but “righteous and devout”
righteous - meeting my obligations
devout - reverent, careful about religious duties
“Israel’s consolation” - the messiah
“Holy Spirit was on him” - uncommon before Pentecost
v. 26 “revealed to him” - one of several events of God breaking 400 years of silence
v. 27 “customary under the law” - see discussion in the introduction
“God’s promises bring purpose in life”
The Lord’s Prayer - “thy kingdom come” - did Simeon pray for this?
When we seek God’s kingdom, He can use us in unexpected ways
Recognized
Recognized
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.”
v. 29 How to sound smart - “Nunc Dimittis” - opening words in Latin, “Song of Simeon”, used in Christian liturgy - book of common prayer, Evensong. Note the different formatting! Popular with composers (e.g., Magnificat, Requiem). Even Martin Luther:
In peace and joy I now depart,
According to God's will,
For full of comfort is my heart,
So calm and sweet and still;
So doth God His promise keep,
And death for me is but a sleep.
'T is Christ hath wrought this work for me,
Thy dear and only son,
Whom Thou hast suffer'd me to see,
And made Him surely known
As my Help when trouble's rife,
And even in death itself my Life.
For Thou In mercy unto all
Hast set this Saviour forth;
And to His kingdom Thou dost call
The nations of the earth
Through His blessed wholesome Word,
That now in every place is heard.
He is the heathens' saving Light,
And He will gently lead
Those who now know Thee not aright,
And in His pastures feed;
While His people's joy He is,
Their Sun, their glory, and their bliss.
v. 30 “My eyes have seen your salvation” - Jesus means Yaweh Saves
v. 31 “You have prepared it” for how long?
Gen 3:15, “proto evangelium”
v. 32 “Gentiles” and also “Israel” - salvation for all!
v. 33 “Amazed” - What had happened over the past 40 days?
A few visits from those whom the shepherds had told?
Relocating to more permanent accommodations?
Probably no one told them words such as these
v. 34 “the fall and rise of many”
humble and poor - salvation
haughty and rich - judgment
“a sign that will be opposed” - Jesus would face great opposition
v. 35 “and a sword will pierce your own soul” - how difficult this would be for Mary, especially at the crucifixion
Shared
Shared
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.
v. 36 “prophetess” - one of just a handful mentioned in scripture
What did she do - preach? prophecy? No - pray and fast continually
“Anna” - favor, grace
“tribe of Asher” - one of the lost ten tribes, but evidently some members of it had survived and kept genealogies
v. 37 “84 years” - a lifetime of spiritual service
v. 38 “thank God” - spiritual insight into the truth of Simeon's pronouncement
“speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem”
Applications
Embrace these truths
Jesus is the Messiah
Jesus is for all people
Jesus’ message is not universally good for all people
Share the truth
With those who are favorable
With those who are not
