Introduction

· When I was a kid, I always experience a downer after Christmas. For a whole year I had waited for St. Nick with great anticipation. Then the day finally came, and it was so wonderful-so much fun! And then it was over--gone--for another year!! BUT . . .

· Christmas isn't over! The celebration continues. For we who follow Christ, Christmas a time to celebrate salvation and that celebration of salvation continues. Let’s turn to

· Lk. 2:25:-35, NIV 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. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 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, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too”.

· On this particular day that Mary and Joseph brought the Christ child to the temple, he's actually more than a month old. If you look at Lev. 12:3-4 you find that after a male child’s birth there was an eight-day-wait for circumcision and then a thirty-three-day-period of purification for the mother. Then came the time for dedication. This really, in a sense, Simeon's first Christmas. And so, what did he celebrate on his first Christmas? Salvation! That’s the heartbeat of the text. This morning, I invite you to follow Simeon’s lead as he celebrates God’s salvation. Specifically I want you to see three interlocking aspects of salvation to celebrate—first, the promise of salvation.

1. The Promise of Salvation

· The story is told of a certain politician who was on the campaign trail extolling himself as "a man who knows how to get things done." During an outdoor speech in the farm belt, he made a solemn promise to his listeners that he would do everything in his power to relieve their suffering from a long-standing drought. It hadn't rained in many weeks and the crops were being ruined. As the speech was drawing to a close, the politician looked heavenward and said, "Again, I promise you that I'll do everything in my power to help you!" Whereupon, there was a sudden cloudburst, and the rain came down in torrents. As the rain-soaked crowd began to cheer mightily, the amazed politician said to himself, "Gosh! I didn't know I had it in me!"

· Politicians and their promises--I'm amazed at what some of them will say they're going to do to get our vote. But I'm not amazed at how many political promises are broken.

· Aren't you glad God's not a politician? He always keeps the promises he makes!

· God’s glorious promise of salvation was made in ancient times, hundreds of years before the time of our text. Through his faithful mouthpieces of old (the prophets), the Lord proclaimed the promise. Simeon had tapped into that promise.

· Who was this Simeon? We don’t know a lot about him. What we do know comes from this passage. Luke tells us in v. 25 that he was “righteous” and “devout.” Here’s what that means in a nutshell—he stood head and shoulders above the crowd when it came to a relationship with the Lord. We could call him a "model believer” (Bock, Luke, 238). Luke also tells us that the “Holy Spirit was upon him.” By this phrase Luke may mean that Simeon experienced the Spirit continually. For sure we know that Simeon was waiting for the salvation of God to be revealed—here called “the consolation of Israel.” The word translated “consolation” means “comfort” or “encouragement.” Coupled with the world “Israel” it refers to the Messianic hope of God’s people. It speaks of their dream of the divine rescue that God had promised.

· Now something interesting is the promise the Lord made just to Simeon. Look at v. 26. Simeon had the Lord’s personal assurance that he wouldn’t die until he witnessed the coming salvation. So Simeon watched and waited as a faithful bond-slave of the Lord. How long did he wait? It’s hard to say. I’ve always pictured him as very old. If so, he may have waited for many years. But as you can see from our text, his age isn’t given. Some figure that he was old because of his willingness to die. In v. 29 Simeon says, “now dismiss your servant.” “Dismiss” is a nice way of saying “let die” (Marshall, The Gospel of Luke, 119). “Lord, you’ve kept your promise. I’m ready to go.” One extra-biblical source puts Simeon’s age at 112, but that’s unlikely. We can’t be sure how old he was or how long he waited, but this much is clear: the wait was over. Simeon was absolutely convinced that God’s promise had been fulfilled.

· God always keeps his promises. But you knew that already, didn’t you? And his greatest one—the promise of salvation—is a promise kept. What a wonderful cause for celebration, especially right here at Christmas time. The proof of the promise kept was the child in Simeon’s arms. The proof of the promise kept is the child we celebrate at Christmas. And that leads us to the second aspect of salvation we need to celebrate this Christmas.

2. The Person of Salvation

· Twenty-four-years-ago, during the Christmas season of 1984, my son, Daniel was on his way. By the middle of January ’85, he decided to come. Dr. Joseph Pineda was the obstetrician on call. Soon, I thought, it would be all over—wrong!. The hours crawled by. Late that night Dr. Pineda came out in his preppy Tulane sweater and said the baby was at risk. He recommended an emergency C-section to which I promptly gave consent. And at 12:51 a.m. on January 20, 1985, our first baby was born. Dr. William Haynie (our pediatrician) came out with that 9 ½ pound boy and placed him in my arms. I can’t tell you exactly how I felt at that moment; the rush I experienced was (and is) indescribable—what a blast!

· Lately I’ve been thinking about Simeon quite a bit—trying to put myself in his sandals. What was it like—to hold the Son of God, I mean? The baby in his arms wasn’t just any baby. It wasn’t even Simeon’s own “first-hatched.” The child he held was (to use Luke’s words) the “Lord’s Christ.” Wow! Can you imagine? I’ve tried but I just can’t. But I can see Mary gently, lovingly handing her child to Simeon and Simeon eagerly receiving him. I can visualize Simeon with a glowing face cuddling the baby ever so close. Simeon took Jesus into his arms, looked down, and what did he see? Salvation! The wonderful promise of salvation was fulfilled through the savior sent.

· “My eyes have seen your salvation (v. 30).” Here Simeon confirms the unbreakable link between salvation and the person of Christ. The Messianic dream of Israel—the hope for the entire world is bound up in the baby of Bethlehem—the Anointed One of God.

· No doubt others who beheld the baby saw just a baby, but Simeon saw salvation. In our day people still see Jesus as just a baby. To them he has never grown up. He’s a cute, cuddly child—a reason for Christmas trees and Santa. And many who have allowed him to grow up see him as a wonderful teacher—a great spiritual leader—an inspiring revolutionary. Unfortunately they don’t see him as salvation. Even many “religious” thinkers, while conceding that he may be a way, would never consider him to be the way. That would be too primitive—too narrow-minded. But the Father never intended any other way. Peter was clear when he said: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12, NIV). And John the beloved apostle wrote plainly: “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 Jn. 5:12, NIV).

· Years later, during the ministry of the babe who became a man, many would see him as anything but salvation. Some thought him insane. Others were sure he was demonic. Still others knew he was a blasphemer. Jesus would bare the sin-blackened hearts of those whom he encountered, and many responded with derision and disbelief. Simeon anticipated this. In the midst of the salvation celebration, there’s a somber note—that of conflict to come. We know, of course, that Christmas isn’t all evergreen trees and sparkling tinsel; it’s not all about a cuddly baby. The event of Christmas foreshadows conflict. Christmas anticipates the cross. Let’s look at vv. 34-35. See the phrase “the falling and rising of many”? Here’s the idea: some will receive him and others will reject him. Inevitably he will bring division as the innermost thoughts of humanity are revealed. And notice the mysterious statement directed to Mary: “a sword will pierce your own soul too.” The word rendered “sword” here refers not to a small sword but a large broadsword. Jesus’ ministry would ultimately result in tremendous hurt to his mother. Her heart would be torn apart. I personally believe with Leon Morris that this points to the cross.

· There were those who would not receive him, but those who did found salvation. John wrote:

· Jn. 1:10-13, NIV He (Jesus) was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

· The promise of salvation was made complete through the person of Jesus Christ. He gave his life on the cross so that we might be cleansed of sin and caused to be raised to new life—new hope.

· Is Christmas a time for celebrating salvation? Yes!! Now, let’s consider one more aspect of salvation to celebrate this season—the potential for salvation.

3. The Potential for Salvation

· God never intended that salvation be confined to a select group of people. The potential for salvation is for people all over the planet.

a) For People all over the Planet

A theme that reverberates throughout Luke’s Gospel is universal salvation. The book is replete with stories that emphasize the pervasive thrust of the Gospel; the grateful Samaritan leper and the healing of the centurion’s slave are prime examples. The universal nature of salvation takes center stage in Simeon’s song. See what Simeon says in v. 31: the salvation of God has been “prepared in the sight of all people” (v. 31).
Norval Geldenhuys was right on target when he wrote, “The plan of salvation embraces all mankind” (Geldenhuys, The Gospel of Luke, 119). And Simeon speaks of salvation as the “glory” of Israel. Listen. Jesus was of Israelite stock, born in the line of Israel’s great king—David. What a glorious privilege for the nation! Messiah had arisen from their ranks. But Jesus wasn’t just from the Jews and for the Jews. He was (and is) for Jews and Gentiles alike. Simeon also says that salvation through Jesus is a light to the Gentiles.
God’s desire is for people of all races, nations, and geographic regions to be saved. And we are part of his plan. This morning we’re talking about celebrating salvation. Here’s a great way to do it—by sharing the promise of salvation—by introducing the person of salvation to others. We rejoice by releasing the enormous potential for salvation through the power of God’s Word. Never underestimate the power of God’s Word to penetrate the darkness as it is unleashed throughout the world.
In 1918, a notorious criminal named Tokichi Ichii was sentenced to hang. While in prison in Tokyo, he was sent a New Testament by two missionaries. After a visit from one of the missionaries, Tokichi began to read the story of Jesus' crucifixion. When he reached the point where Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," something "clicked" within his heart. He wrote: I stopped: I was stabbed to the heart, as if by a five-inch nail. What did this verse reveal to me? Shall I call it the love of the heart of Christ? Shall I call it His compassion? I do not know what to call it. I only know that with an unspeakably grateful heart, I believed. People will say that I must have a very sorrowful heart because I am daily awaiting the execution of the death sentence. This is not the case. I feel neither sorrow nor distress nor any pain. Locked up in a prison cell six feet by nine in size, I am infinitely happier than I was in the days of my sinning when I did not know God. When Tokichi stood on the scaffold with the noose around his neck, with great earnestness he spoke his last words: "My soul, purified, today returns to the City of God" (Anderson, God's Word for God's World, 38-41).
The work of two missionaries—the work of God’s Word—and a criminal in a dark corner of the world who came to Christ for salvation—and as he looked death in the face, he celebrated that salvation.
The potential for planet-wide salvation is exciting. Will you do your part to help make it happen? Salvation potential exists for people all over the planet and for people in this place today.

b) For People in this Place Today

· I want to be sure that everyone here today is truly able to engage in the celebration of salvation. It would be easy, but neglectful for me to assume that everyone here is in a saving relationship with God. Only you know and God know your heart. We all sang that great hymn "Blessed Assurance" earlier in this worship service. So, I ask, are you sure? Have you experienced the salvation of the Lord? Do you truly have something to celebrate this morning? If not, I ask that you make it known to me so that we may talk about it--so that you may come to the place where you fully give your heart to Christ.

Conclusion

· 2,000 years ago God fulfilled his promise of salvation by sending Jesus as Savior. An ancient seer named Simeon celebrated the occasion and bears witness to us even today of the promise kept and the Savior sent. God has brought us here today to hear Simeon’s song and to join with him in celebrating God’s wonderful salvation.

Hymn #378 Amazing Grace