Simeon and Anna

This morning, the day after Christmas, the first Sunday after Christmas, we conclude our series, Worship Christ. In our passage, we see Mary & Joseph presenting Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem. While there, they interact with two people, Simeon and Anna. These two people are remarkable because they demonstrate God’s faithfulness. While the world was going to you know where in a hand basket, God had preserved a remnant. These two represent the faithful minority. Let’s learn from our text.

What we have this morning is a practical application of what we’ve been looking at these last 5 weeks.

Mary & Joseph

The phrase, “They brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.” This is exactly what we’d expect Mary and Joseph to do. Already, we’ve seen their determination to follow God. They both said yes, together they embarked on a difficult journey, not only in travelling from Nazareth to Bethlehem, but in light of what God had called them to do. They leaned upon God, and found greater strength in Him, than in themselves. Indeed, if not for God’s strength, they would not have been able to get far at all.

As the Law required, they presented their firstborn son to the Lord. Because they were not Levites, they were able to redeem him from the Lord’s service via a sacrifice. This they did. However, Christ came to be sacrifice that would redeem everyone. His whole life was an offering to the Lord. In this, Christ fulfilled the requirements of all the Levites, all Israel, all people, with his life. His was the perfect offering.

But this moment in the temple reminds parents that they have the solemn duty, the blessed privilege to give their children over to the Lord. They do this by teaching them, rebuking them, correcting them and training them in righteousness, the righteousness of Christ. This is what God requires of every Christian parent. Yes, we trust the Lord will care and call our children into the promise. God gives us great responsibility also.

Simeon

Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel. Having received from God a prophecy telling him he wouldn’t die until he’d seen the Christ child, he lived his life, going to the temple, waiting to see the newborn messiah. God’s prophecy applies to us as well. Are we living our lives in the seriousness of knowing that Christ is coming back like a thief in the night? Are we mindful of Christ’s command to “Take up our cross and follow him”, and other passages like that?

Simeon, “guided by the Spirit... came into the temple.” What would our worship be and look like if employed the same attitude? If the preacher and the parishioners came guided by the Spirit, what kinds of blessings might be evident? Do we prepare our hearts and our minds knowing that we’re worshipping God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit as the gathered, visible body of Christ?

Are we mindfully aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives? Are we resisting him, or allowing him to move freely within us? Do we see what is actually going on? The Father and the Son are in heaven above, receiving worship. The Son pleads our cause before the Father saying, “accept their worship for my sake. Accept my sacrifice of praise as an acceptable sacrifice. See me, when you look upon them.” The Holy Spirit sanctifies our actions, our words, our worship, He moves within us, stirring our hearts though prayer, song, scripture and preaching. He opens our eyes, our ears, our minds and our hearts to the truth. He breathes life into our dead bones, willing us to do God’s will.

Simeon refers to God as Sovereign Lord. Do we think of God in this way? Do we take comfort from knowing that our whole lives are in his hands? Even vehicle breakdowns, illness, death, life, birth, changes, work, school, everything is within God’s sphere of power. This should console us when we face difficulties. The difficulties faced by Joseph and Mary, Job and many others were mediated by the knowledge that they belonged to God. The words of Romans 8 ring true, nothing can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ, and God turns everything to our benefit, our good.

Simeon says, “My eyes have seen your salvation.” Holding a mere babe in his arms, an 8-day-old infant, the Holy Spirit enabled Simeon to see that in him is salvation. He took the words of prophecy and trusted them. He held the evidence of that trust in his arms. He held salvation in his hands. Faith means seeing! Simeon looked at the baby Jesus and saw salvation. Years later, that same Jesus would look at weak Simon Peter and see a rock, Jesus looked toward the cross and saw victory! May God grant us the grace and the faith to see life with transforming potential!

“Salvation which you have prepared.” Salvation is God’s gift. It is not human achievement. Salvation is Christ, through Christ, on account of Christ. Don’t be confused. Don’t be misled. Don’t fall into the temptation of thinking that you can in any way earn or deserve salvation. Don’t think you’re entitled to the saviour’s salvation.

There’s considerable error among some Christians on this today. A popular phrase is, “you don’t need to preach the gospel; you need to be the gospel.” The Gospel is good news. The good news is that God sent his Son to save sinners. The good news is Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension. How can you be that? You can’t be an historical event! The good news has to be preached. It has to be received. It has to be understood. It has to be applied. You are saved from sin. You are made forever right with God. This is not of yourselves, it is a gift of God.

This gift, though it appeared in Jerusalem wasn’t only for those people. It is in the sight of all people. It is given to all, made available to all. Unlike Christmas gifts which are usually given only to individuals (though families might receive gifts that benefit everyone like a Wii system). This gift of God is tailor made for every single sinner on the planet.

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Simeon also said, “This child is set for the falling and rising of many...” Jesus said of himself, “I am the Way the Truth and the Life.” He’s the dividing line. He’s the continental divide. He is either death or life. There are no other options available. Those who fall, who humble themselves before him and trust in all his work and promises, they will be raised to life. Those who remain proud, who depend upon themselves their own work their own intellect, their own understanding will fall.

The significance of Christ is evident everywhere. Christmas celebrations. Crosses adorning people, buildings, even the heavens. The way we order and date history hinges on his birth. B.C. Before Christ and A.D. Anno Domini, the year of our Lord’s reign. True, Christ reigned before his birth, being eternal God. But it is interesting that they recognised Christ’s reign from the moment of his birth, not from say, the beginning of his ministry, or his resurrection, or his ascension. Simeon is right, he is the falling and rising of many.

Tied to this is God’s sovereignty. We can worry, we can fret, we can become concerned about this that and the other thing happening in the world. But the world belongs to God. Governments, leaders, police, fire, forestry, fish and wildlife, CEO’s, teachers, salesmen, engineers, homemakers, everyone is under God’s sovereign rule. He raises one nation up over another. His will happens. There’s no might be with God.

May we live under this knowledge. What it does is takes away the pressure. God’s in control. God works through us. Voice the truth of God whenever and wherever possible. Life is precious. Embrace life. Protect life. Be in contact with your leadership. Tell them the truth! God reigns! Life is so much more fulfilling when you live in reality! Nations posture and plan, but apart from God, nothing takes place.

Live in God’s sovereign will. Know that he has your life in his hands. Consider what he’s done for you already, he’s brought you from death to life. He’s fully paid for all your sins. If you’ve humbled yourself at the manger, if you’ve accepted the saviour’s death on the cross, he’s already raised you to new life in him!

We live our whole lives for Christ. Jesus said, “let the little ones come to me, do not hinder them, for God’s kingdom belongs to them.” Boys and girls, though you are young, you are in God’s kingdom. God works in you and through you. Serve God, by honouring your parents, by obeying, by loving your siblings. Serve God by sharing the truth of God with others. You’re not too young!

Teens and young people. You’re not too young. Just do something. God will lead you and guide you. His plans are specific enough to keep you from sin. Don’t work yourselves up about jobs, spouses, future, etc. Follow God, seek his kingdom first, and he’ll add these things unto you, or not. Consider the apostle Paul. He was never married. No one would say that he wasted his life, would they? Don’t waste yours. The church isn’t simply a place you go to, or something that your parents dragged you to, so you still go out of habit. It is a place to meet and serve Christ. You serve Christ by serving his body. His body is made up of many different congregations just like this one. You can serve God in whichever one, as long as they are preaching the truth, go wherever. You’re not too young to serve here.

Middle aged people, my age and up. Don’t fall into complacency. The hour of salvation is nearer now than ever before. The time is now. It is always now. Drawing on your own strength, you’ll grow weak and weary. Depend on Christ; take his yoke, his burden upon you. It’s a yoke, your pulling with him. Don’t try to pull against or away, the work will be impossible. Pull where he is leading, together with him, and you will find strength, and energy galore!

Anna

Luke tells us that Anna was very old. There is work to do for everyone, especially those who are along in years. Anna shows that we don’t retire from worship. She spent her days in prayer, praise and proclamation. I know many of you are doing the same. We need to see you continue. We need to learn from you. Consider the encouragement Anna gave to Mary and Joseph. I consider the encouragement you have given us, our family, the families of many children here. The candies are gifts of grace. You are known to the kids. Give also your knowledge, your experience in the faith!

Maybe it is the proximity to the winter solstice, but I can’t help but think of Christmas as the beginning of the new. The New Year stretches before us. The new life in Christ is now. Worship Christ, young and old. Serve him, at home, at work, at play. Delight in your Lord, the giver of life! Amen.