Luke 2:22-40 Joy in the Temple
Gospel of Luke • Sermon • Submitted
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Joy in the Temple
Joy in the Temple
Luke 2:22-40
Videos of kids who are surprised by a parent who has returned from serving overseas in the military. Joy! The wait is finally over and joy has come.
Passage focuses on two individuals who have been waiting for the coming of the Christ. They both experience joy in the temple.
Main Idea: The coming of Jesus Christ fulfills God's promise to bring salvation to all peoples, Jews and Gentiles.
Connect v. 21
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
The piety of Jesus’ parents is the point. They obeyed the law. (Bock 237) 2 areas…time for purification and the presentation of the firstborn male as holy to the Lord.
Also note, v. 24 two turtle doves or two young pigeons…instead of a lamb (Lev. 12) option for the poor...
Jesus born of a woman—poor woman
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
This is the way it had to be…fully God and fully man to redeem his people.
2 people waiting for the consolation and redemption of Israel....Half of all occurrences of prosdechesthai (expectantly waiting) in the NT occur in Luke-Acts, testifying to the steadfast faith of common people in the fulfillment of the messianic hope. (Edwards 81) No high priest or member of the Sanhedrin, nor any other temple official, whether priest or Levite, receives Jesus. Rather, Jesus is received by two otherwise unknown persons who never again appear in Scripture, who, although they occupy no temple office, embody the sincere faith of the temple. (Edwards 81)
Notice both a man and woman, who experience joy and peace. God’s promise has come. (Bock 233)
Upon seeing the Lord’s Christ, Simeon proclaims salvation for all peoples.
Upon seeing the Lord’s Christ, Simeon proclaims salvation for all peoples.
25 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.
Simeon is introduced as man…not a priest and no pedigree.
righteous and devout man
waiting (expectantly waiting) for the consolation of Israel comfort or source of comfort,
things are difficult at this point in Israel…Simeon not looking for political relief, he is looking for salvation.
the Holy Spirit was upon him (6th person in Luke to be indwelt by the Spirit.)
26 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. 27 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, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
Notice that reasons associated with Simeon’s works or person are assigned to why Simeon sees…the work of the Holy Spirit.
first act of faith was to touch not speak.
Then he offers a short hymn of praise. He addresses the Lord God directly…(Mary and Zechariah in the 3rd person)
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; He is so overjoyed and satisfied that he is ready to die…depart in peace.
according to your word just as You promised. This salvation should not catch people by surprise, since it was expected. (Bock 243)
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, Simeon not the only one to witness Him…few see Him as Simeon sees Him.
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” Israel is not the end of salvation…conduit of God’s revelation to all humanity (Edwards 86)
10 The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
reread v. 32—not doing two separate things... light and glory go hand in hand. (following passage not in your notes)
1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. 3 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
What follows is the first ominous and sober one in the Gospel of Luke...
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 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 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
Not a new idea, the prophet Isaiah (8:15-16, 28:16-17) Christ is both the Rock of offense and the Chief Cornerstone…both Paul and Peter refer to this text in their epistles.
The offense leads to his death…Jesus himself openly acknowledges what will happen to him.
44 “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.”
Salvation will be purchased at heavy cost... (Morris 106)
Yet, there is great joy and gratitude in the salvation of the Lord’s Christ
Upon seeing the redemption of Jerusalem, Anna gives thanks and makes his coming known.
Upon seeing the redemption of Jerusalem, Anna gives thanks and makes his coming known.
36 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, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
Anna is a woman. (women as necessary to the narrative, obvious emphasis of Luke—not functioning as a modern American)
Anna is a prophetess (a vessel for God’s revelation)
Anna is a widow. Anna is either 84 or around 105
She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
She is a woman totally focused on serving the Lord (Bock 252)
38 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.
she approaches them and gives thanks
began to…speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. deliverance of Jerusalem…
people who were looking for and longing for the coming of the Messiah.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. 8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
We, too, are watching and waiting for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
After Simeon an ominous future for Jesus is explained. After Anna, a hopeful childhood is revealed.
39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor(charis) of God was upon him.
Connection of the Old Covenant to the New…Law and grace.
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
So What?
So What?
Am I joyfully making known the salvation that has come for all peoples, including me?
Luke’s explanations are not simply details, each aspect is necessary for salvation…back to Galatians
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Salvation through Christ alone changes everything. Like Simeon, for those who are in Christ, we are now ready to depart in peace. Fear no longer has a hold on us. The circumstances and situations surrounding us are not necessary for peace and thriving.
The Lord our God is our strength.
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 19 God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.
The joy of Christ keeps us
“Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.” (Charles Wesley)
One day soon He will come and joyfully fill ever longing heart of all who in Christ. The wait will be over…Joy will have come.
Come Lord Jesus come!
Prayer “all my hope is in your hands” Song of Grace
Song: Song of Grace
Next Steps
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