Sermon Tone Analysis

CENTRAL TRUTH EXPRESSED (MAIN POINT):

Jesus is the Peace our hearts and world long for, but peace different than what we expect

GOD'S HEART REVEALED:

He desires to be with us through Jesus that we can enter into true peace in every moment

OUR RIGHT RESPONSE:

ME:

I promise you all that I don’t try to fit Marvel analogies into my messages, they just consistently fit so well…

But as I was thinking about our Advent Candle for this evening… Peace I naturally thought of Loki.

Loki in Avengers wants to create peace

Peace is desired and promised everywhere we go…

I am not a medical or scientific expert but I do remember enough from college classes to remember serotonin and its effects about producing peace of mind.

There are so many ways to produce serotonin

Massage packages, vacation packages to all inclusives, vitamins, cleanses, relationships, having your mind controlled by Loki’s scepter, you name it…

They never fully deliver on the promised result, at least not for longer than it takes for the serotonin to wear off.

Honestly this is something that hits close to home for me because as a card carrying member of the future I usually look to whatever is next to provide peace, the only problem is every time I accomplish the task or get the prize I move on quickly and wonder, was that really all there was?

Is there such a thing as lasting peace?

YOU:

What does peace look like in your mind's eye?

Is peace for you being healthy….

emotionally, physically, spiritually, and mentally?

Is peace zero conflict with all other humans?

Is peace the pandemic being over with no chance of further variants?

Is peace living in a nation where the tensions, difficulties, and injustices are done away with?

Is peace having the right political party in power?

Each of us are unique, but I imagine if someone was selling guaranteed lifelong peace without side effects we would probably jump on it.

Is there such a thing as lasting peace?

GOD:

In the days of Jesus’ life there was a type of peace that was promised to be everlasting.

It was issued by a benevolent leader.

Promised security.

Order.

Tranquility across the land.

The only problem?

This peace known as Pax Romana was peace at the point of the sword.

It was the peace of Caesar and the might of His military.

Peace to stop all dissenting voices.

Peace and quiet.

Very similar to what Loki explained, “Is not this simpler?

Is this not your natural state?

It's the unspoken truth of humanity, that you crave subjugation.

The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power, for identity You were made to be ruled.

In the end, you will always kneel.”

This counterfeit peace was the backdrop to Jesus’ birth…

Tonight as we continue in the story of Jesus birth we are going to gaze into four types of peace that Jesus came to bring into the story of humanity.

The true peace that is the longing of your heart and mine.

Read Luke 2:22 - 24

Jesus’ parents were simply observing normal Jewish religious rituals.

Dedicating their son to God.

Just like every other faithful Jewish family over the centuries.

Cool.

But this routine moment becomes very un-routine…

Read Luke 2:25

This doesn’t necessarily make this moment un-routine just yet, hopefully men and women devoted to God are journeying into the Temple.

Waiting for the consolation of Israel…

What does this mean?

Why did this matter?

The consolation of Israel is a title for the one they referred to as The Messiah, the Anointed One.

This referred to the reality that this Messiah would not just bring victory but comfort, PEACE.

Think of when you have endured something difficult or tragic and someone consoles you.

The entire nation of Israel had endured centuries of horror, terror, grief, and trauma.

So the idea that this Messiah would come, not just to overthrow their oppressors but to comfort the grieving was transformative.

Simeon refused to believe that Pax Romana was the best it was going to get.

He held out for True Peace.

German Old Man : [slowly rises to his feet]  Not to men like you.

Loki : [smiling]  There are no men like me.

German Old Man : There are *always* men like you.

Loki : Look to your elder, people.

Let him be an example.

[Loki aims a blast of power from his scepter at the old man when Captain America leaps in front of the intended target, deflecting the blast with his shield back at Loki, knocking him down]

Steve Rogers : You know, the last time I was in Germany and saw a man standing above everybody else, we ended up disagreeing.

Simeon reminds me of this old man.

Someone who holds out hope that true Peace can come, not peace by fear of a vicious emperor, but peace that can only be brought by the long awaited Messiah.

His consolation.

Do you believe this about Jesus tonight?

That he is the ultimate consolation.

This man waited with eager anticipation for this man!

And as He did so, the Spirit of God came upon Him, meaning that he received special revelation from God through His Holy Spirit.

Read Luke 2:26-27

And now the routine becomes very un-routine.

So the Spirit revealed two things to him:

He would not die before the Messiah would come

Go to the Temple

Read Luke 2:28-32

Immediate Peace

Peace had come over Simeon’s life because He knew the One who defines Peace had come!

This is the type of peace that we are most familiar with, serotonin had flooded his body.

A sensation of peace had begun… but it extends beyond that… this moment is so special that he is ready for the grave now.

This is the moment my entire life was preparing for.

His peace is rooted in another category of peace…

Incarnational Peace

Why can Simeon now depart from this life in peace?

Because he discovered a new book with wise insights beyond imagination?

No.

Because through a vision God gave him incredible insights into the future?

No.

Because HIS EYES have seen the one who is simultaneously a child undergoing routine temple dedication, AND the long awaited King of the Cosmos who this temple was created to proclaim!

Simeon experienced Jesus because Jesus is God in the flesh.

The word is Incarnational.

We don’t have Jesus entire life in Israel written down, but what we do know is that every he goes Peace goes to the broken-hearted.

Starting with Simeon.