Grace! Welcome but costly!

2021—A Good Year?

Everyone knows without me giving out a list what a tough year 2021 has been.

Sooner or later everyone has their turn at tough years.

The year we (or someone we love) has a disease.

The year a parent died.

2021 (and 2020) has been different because most people in the world have had two particularly tough years together.

But what I want to ask this morning is: Has 2021 been a good year?

The first 1 1/2 chapters of Luke cover a period of perhaps 18 months.

Luke opened with the barrenness in Israel and Elizabeth;

God has been silent for 400 years

Rome occupies the holy land

and Zechariah and Elizabeth are godly but childless.

Then an angel appears to announce the birth of the one who will herald the coming of the Lord to his temple.

Zechariah doubts and is struck dumb.

Six months later the same angel appears to a young girl to tell her she will be pregnant by the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of God.

Mary wonderfully believes what she is told… and the praising starts.

Mary visits Elizabeth and the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaps for joy.

Elizabeth in a loud voice says… blessed, blessed, favoured, blessed and it all comes together Lk 1:45 “45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!””

And Mary responds with The Magnificat. “Tell out my soul...”

Then Elizabeth gives birth and Zechariah’s mouth is loosed and he praises God.

Mary gives birth to Jesus and angels praise God in front of shepherds.

THIS IS AMAZING!

This is the breaking of the drought and famine for God’s people.

Indeed this is the breaking in of a whole new world into our own.

I think it is amazing that so much of the world celebrates the birth of Jesus at Christmas.

Or at least they used to.

Now people increasingly wish each other “Happy holidays” and party because it’s the end of another year!

Christmas is not the celebration of the end of the year but the beginning, the entrance into the world of the world that is to come.

Is 9:2 “2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”

This is the entrance of the world of honouring God, loving God’s people and serving the world until the Lord Jesus returns.

This is the beginning of the new world of light and life and joy in the Holy Spirit.

This is the petition in the Lord’s prayer, Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

So I have two things to mention this morning.

Luke again pairs two people to bring us a message.

Two righteous and devout followers of God… who want us to see past both the lockdowns and face masks and the baubles and glittery lights to the new world order that these events have inexorably put in motion.

And secondly, to ask the question of ourselves… are we prepared to pay the price to see God’s kingdom come and God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven?

So in Luke 2 we are told that on the eighth day Jesus was circumcised and name Jesus.

Then five weeks later Joseph and Mary take Jesus to present him to the Lord as their firstborn male and offer a sacrifice as Moses had commanded after childbirth.

But as they enter the temple precincts a man called Simeon greets them.

Luke 2:25–27 (NIV84)

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.

Simeon is perhaps more “Christian-like” then many other people in the gospels!

He is righteous and devout.

He has the Holy Spirit “upon” him.

This is the role of the HS on believers before Pentecost. He came upon people for a time.

And he is waiting “for the consolation of Israel”.

He knew that one day God would comfort his people by fulfilling what he had promised by sending his Christ, his Messiah, his Anointed One to put the world right.

And God has revealed to him that he will not die before the Messiah comes.

So he looks and he waits… in eager anticipation!

Who knows?

Had he heard of Zechariah’s vision in the temple 18 months ago? Most likely!

Had he heard about the angels singing to shepherds 6 weeks ago? It’s not far from Bethlehem to Jerusalem so probably.

But nevertheless, like us... he has never seen Jesus.

And so on this day he goes into the temple courts and he sees Joseph and Mary and the baby

Luke 2:28–32 NIV84

28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

Having taken the baby Jesus into his arms Simeon says, “OK, Lord; I’m ready to go now; Now I’m ready to die.”

‘Look’ at the ‘seeing’ words in this hymn of praise:

Seen your salvation;

prepared in the sight;

revelation, revealing, to Gentiles

and glory for Israel.

Here’s the application for us.

It doesn’t matter if a person attends the best church in town; or sings in choirs that people come from near and far to see; they might read the Bibles in church and even hold positions of office in the church…

but if they haven’t seen Jesus with their very own eyes of faith they’re not ready to die.

Have you seen Jesus… with eyes of faith… personally?

Do you sing hymns in church… or praise Jesus?

Can you talk with other believers about your faith?

Do you talk to Jesus each day… and during the day?

Does he sometimes make you do things you don’t want to do?

Or not do things you do want to do?

Good! That’s the sort of things that show you’re ready for the next world… because you’re taking part in it in this world.

But Simeon doesn’t stop there.

Joseph and Mary marvelled at his words… but then… Simeon turns then to Mary, not Joseph and Mary (Joseph is not mentioned again after Lk 2) and says Lk 2:34-35

Luke 2:34–35 NIV84

34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

John Cadogan is an automotive engineer from Sydney who has a YT channel about vehicles. He seems very smart… knows a lot about cars. But he hates God with a passion.

Why? I imagine he would say he doesn’t believe in God… or the tooth fairy… or elves in the bottom of the garden. But he doesn’t hate the tooth fairy or elves… why hate God?

Because Jesus is the man we can’t ignore. They couldn’t ignore him in Israel… nor Australia 2000 years later.

He is spoken against and he reveals the thoughts of people’s hearts.

Those that are humbled by their sin, see their need of a Saviour and are drawn to Jesus and turn to him in repentance and faith.

Those who are proud and refuse to be humbled by their sin.

Those who think they can get to glory on their own.

They are offended that they have to form a relationship with a Jewish Rabbi from 2000 years ago.

They think it’s a scandal that God offers salvation through the cross.

2021 A Good Year? It is if you’ve seen the Lord’s salvation!

So was 2021 a good year for you?

It depends on whether you rose or fell in your relationship with Jesus.

Those who come to faith in Jesus… who grow in their faith in Jesus… who matured through all the drama of the last 12 or 18 months; who are humble and sing their praises to their Saviour.

They are the ones who Simeon said would rise.

Life and richness and growth is not about the pandemic. If the pandemic was stopped dead tomorrow… they’d be something to cause us heartache next year or the year after that.

But a Good Year is a year being ready to be dismissed because we’ve seen and trusted Jesus.