Bridge Church Vancouver

Luke 2:21-35

From the very beginning – even before he could speak, the purpose for Jesus’ coming to earth was being revealed.

And God was using another man’s life to reveal His purpose of salvation

God uses people to reveal his purposes of salvation

Simeon had given his life to living God’s promises

Righteous & devout

Just -        ‎(dik'-ah-yos); equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively):

Devout -  ‎eu)labh/$ ‎eulabes (yoo-lab-ace'); taking well (carefully), i.e. circumspect (religiously, pious):

Do what is the right thing to do and doing it rightly – remaining good and holy in all he does

          Knows the right thing to say and he says it in the right way

          Knows the right thing to do and he does it in the right way

Speaks to both the

-    Simeon was looking for God’s promises to be revealed

 “He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.”

• Simeon was waiting for the Messiah to come –

In those days there was lots of speculation in the Jewish world about who / what the Messiah was, except he was to be God’s chosen and anointed one who would bring in a new era

In the years leading up to the birth of Jesus (the Macabean age) , the Messiah was seen as a rebel and political leader

Judaism never reached agreement on what to expect of a future Messiah, There was no common acceptance or understanding of what God’s Salvation would be or look like– except to believe that God would vindicate His people.

There were many in that day who were not convinced they needed a Messiah, and if they did, his only purpose was to make their lives better, free them from the domination of Rome, re-establish their own economy, give them more power, money, prestige, significance on the world stage, provide them societal dominance.

Waiting for God’s promises

Simeon’s feet were on the ground, but his eyes were constantly looking for God.

Like me looking for Diana in a crowd – many things to captivate my attention, but to find her I have to stay focused, intentionally looking – takes effort.

Simeon says:...

29 "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

                    Simeon knew God’s promises and acted accordingly...

you now dismissd your servant in peace.

                    Simeon knew that peace was found in the revelation of God’s promise – Peace is found when God’s promise is realized.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,

                      Simeon knew that the Messiah was God’s salvation – the consolation of Israel went far beyond political dominance or any other self-serving action but it was that Israel – and ALL Humanity – needed a saviour – one who would bring God and all humanity back together – restoring a relationship between us and God. 

Most of Israel thought that they were ‘good with God’ because they were Jewish

Today – most of North America thinks they are ‘good with God’ because they are human.  But like Israel of that day, Simeon knew that we needed a saviour, a Messiah, a mediator, a deliverer,  who would reconcile us with God.

Just a few months before Jesus was born,     Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist prophesied this of Jesus...

Luke 1:77-79

77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins,

78 because of the tender mercy of our God,

by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

79 to shine on those living in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the path of peace."

Simeon was an extremely forward thinking devout Jew – for he knew God’s love and salvation was not for Jewish people alone – but for all mankind – and that God would make his salvation known to the entire human race...

Simeon knew that God’s revelation is the promise

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."

-          God’s revelation is salvation

Luke 19:7-10

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'"

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."

9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

-           Salvation through Jesus is for all people – in all nations – in all times and places   

John 17:6

6 "I have revealed youa to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.

Jesus came to bring salvation to all humanity, to restore us into a real relationship with God our creator and who made us to bear his image  -

Who will I reveal Jesus to in 2010?

John 17:15-19

15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctifyb them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

John 17:20-21

20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

33 The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 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."

“Many in Israel”  would  be brought to a moral decision, some to a point of collapse and others to what can be called a resurrection (rising)

There will be a cost to Jesus, as the one himself is the ultimate “sign”; the visible affirmation of God’s declared intentions, he will be vulnerable to the hostilities of unbelievers.  There will be a negative attitude towards him, but it serves to brand the unbeliever as one who has rejected not only Jesus, but the whole of God’s revelation

This year – who would Jesus want you to become the revelation of God to – to use you to bring salvation to someone around you...