Untitled Sermon (2)

Introduction: In this section of the Scripture, our Lord Jesus Christ is taken by His earthly parents to the Temple for dedication according to the Law. Their example shows us the importance of dedicating children back to God acknowledging they are a gift from God.

The Gospels

Matthew - This gospel shows us the royalty of the Lord Jesus Christ and is the first of the synoptic gospels.

Mark - The second gospel, shows us the humility of the Lord Jesus Christ, is the second of the synoptic gospels.

Luke - The third gospel, shows us the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ, and is the third of the synoptic gospels.

John - The fourth gospel, shows us the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. It stands as an evangelistic track to the Hellenistic Jews.

Dedicated to God (2:21-24)

Ceremonial Designation (2:21) - “21 When the eight days were completed for His circumcision, He was named JESUS-the name given by the angel before He was conceived.”

🔑 Genesis 17:9-11 (HCSB) - “9 God also said to Abraham, "As for you, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations are to keep My covenant. 10 This is My covenant, which you are to keep, between Me and you and your offspring after you: Every one of your males must be circumcised. 11 You must circumcise the flesh of your foreskin to serve as a sign of the covenant between Me and you.”

Galatians 4:4-5 (HCSB) - “4 But when the completion of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”

Matthew 1:21 (HCSB) - “21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

🔑 Philippians 2:9-11 (KJV) - “9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

🔑 Acts 4:8-12 (KJV) - “8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby* we must be saved.”

Ceremonial Dedication (2:22-24) - “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 ).”

Exodus 13:12-15 (HCSB) - “12 you are to present to the Lord every firstborn male of the womb. All firstborn offspring of the livestock you own that are males will be the Lord's. 13 You must redeem every firstborn of a donkey with a flock animal, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. However, you must redeem every firstborn among your sons. 14 "In the future, when your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' say to him, 'By the strength of [His] hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed every firstborn [male] in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of man to the firstborn of livestock. That is why I sacrifice to the Lord all the firstborn of the womb that are males, but I redeem all the firstborn of my sons.’”

2 Corinthians 8:9 (KJV) - “9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

Delighted to see God’s Son (2:25-30)

Guarantee by the Spirit to See the Son (2:25-26) - “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.

Daniel 6:23 (HCSB) - “23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, uninjured, for he trusted in his God.”

Isiah 25:9 (HCSB) - “9 On that day it will be said, "Look, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”

Luke 1:41 (HCSB) - “41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Numbers 11:29 (HCSB) - “29 But Moses asked him, "Are you jealous on my account? If only all the Lord's people were prophets, and the Lord would place His Spirit on them.”

2 Peter 1:20-21 (HCSB) - “20 First of all, you should know this: no prophecy of Scripture comes from one's own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, moved by the Holy Spirit, men spoke from God.”

Hebrews 1:8-9 (HCSB) - “8 but about the Son: Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of justice. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; this is why God, Your God, has anointed You, rather than Your companions, with the oil of joy.”

Guided by the Spirit to See the Son (2:27-30) - “27 Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple complex. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for Him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took Him up in his arms, praised God, and said: 29 Now, Master, You can dismiss Your slave in peace, according to Your word. 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation.”

🔑 Matthew 4:1 (HCSB) - “1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil.”

Acts 8:29 (HCSB) - “29 The Spirit told Philip, "Go and join that chariot.”

Luke 2:41 (HCSB) - “41 Every year His parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival.”

Psalm 33:1-6 (KJV) - 1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. 2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. 3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. 4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. 5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. 6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.”

Psalm 105:1-3 (KJV) - “1 O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. 2 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. 3 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.”

Isaiah 57:1-2 (HCSB) - “1 The righteous one perishes, and no one takes it to heart; faithful men are swept away, with no one realizing that the righteous one is swept away from the presence of evil. 2 He will enter into peace- they will rest on their beds- everyone who lives uprightly.”

2 Samuel 2:1-5 (HCSB) - “1 These are the last words of David: The proclamation of David son of Jesse, the proclamation of the man raised on high, the one anointed by the God of Jacob, the favorite singer of Israel: 2 The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me, His word was on my tongue. 3 The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, "The one who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God, 4 is like the morning light when the sun rises on a cloudless morning, the glisten of rain on sprouting grass." 5 Is it not true my house is with God? For He has established an everlasting covenant with me, ordered and secured in every [detail]. Will He not bring about my whole salvation and [my] every desire?”

Destiny of God’s Son (2:31-35)

He is Destined to Be a Blessing to All People (2:31-32) - “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.”

Psalm 96:1-3 (KJV) - “1 O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.”

Psalm 97:6-8 (KJV) - “6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. 7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods. 8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.”

Psalm 98:2-3 (KJV) - “2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. 3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”

Isaiah 9:2 (HCSB) - “2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of darkness, a light has dawned.”

Acts 13:47-48 (HCSB) - “47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. “48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the message of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed.”

Romans 15:8-9 (KJV) - “8 Now I say that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God, to confirm the promises to the fathers, 9 and so that Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles, and I will sing psalms to Your name.”

Psalm 85:9 (KJV) - “9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.”

Jeremiah 2:11 (HCSB) - “11 Has a nation [ever] exchanged its gods? (but they were not gods!) Yet My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.”

He is a Blessing to His People (2:33-34) - “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.”

Isaiah 8:18 (HCSB) - “18 Here I am with the children the Lord has given me to be signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of Hosts who dwells on Mount Zion.”

Exodus 39:43 (HCSB) - “43 Moses inspected all the work they had accomplished. They had done just as the Lord commanded. Then Moses blessed them.”

Leviticus 9:22-23 (HCSB) - “22 Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them. He came down after sacrificing the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the fellowship offering. 23 Moses and Aaron then entered the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people.”

1 Corinthians 1:22-23 (KJV) - “22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock*, and unto the Greeks foolishness;”

Hebrews 12:1-3 (KJV) - “1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about* with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

1 Peter 4:14 (HCSB) - “14 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”