What’s your reaction to the birth of a baby? Wonder? Excitement? Amazement? A baby speaks of life, vitality and energy. Each child is full of promise and potential.
This week we celebrate the birth of the Christ-child. No baby was ever born with greater promise. He was ignored by the masses but praised by the heavenly hosts. He was feared by the politicians but worshipped by wise men. He was crowded into a stable in a cave on the side of the Judean hills, but adored by shepherds who rejoiced at his coming.
He was the baby who had been prophesied for centuries as the hope of the world. The baby was born to reveal the character of Almighty God. He embodied the fullness of God. He was the baby who had always existed before he was born and the baby who changed the course of world history. He was the baby who changed the course of my life.
We’re familiar with the story of Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zacharias, the angels, the wise men and the shepherds, but there are two individuals who are part of the Christmas story who are often overlooked – Anna and Simeon.
Consider Simeon and his unique encounter with the baby Jesus that took place at the Temple in Jerusalem, eight days after the birth of Jesus.
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. (Luke 2:25 – 28).
Simeon was a righteous and devout Jewish man who was looking for the coming of the Messiah. The Bible says the Holy Spirit was upon him. In fact, as an Old Testament prophet, the Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had personally met the Messiah.
One day, at the direction of the Holy Spirit, Simeon went into the Temple courts and he discovered Mary and Joseph there with baby Jesus. Jewish law required certain days of purification for a mother after the birth of a child, and required that a male child be presented to the Lord in the Temple. Mary and Joseph were at the Temple to fulfill Jewish law. It was the Jewish version of baby dedication.
As Simeon walked through the Temple courtyard, he saw the baby with his parents and something leaped in his spirit and a light went on in his heart. The Spirit indicated to Simeon that this child was the Messiah he was waiting for. Simeon could hardly contain himself. He went over to Mary and Joseph and took the child in his arms. He blessed the parents and then he spoke words that put the entire story of Christmas into perspective. They are words of significance for us today. Notice three things.
1. YOU AREN’T READY TO DIE UNTIL YOU’VE MET JESUS
Notice what Simeon said. 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. (Luke 2:27 – 30).
i. Let me die!
Most people are afraid to die. They fight death and seek to prolong life. There is a fear of the unknown and a fear of meeting God. This was not true of Simeon. When he embraced Jesus, he said now I am ready to go. Let me die!
That has to be one of the most unusual responses to the birth of a baby! Simeon said, God, the promise you made to me is fulfilled. I’m ready to go. I’m prepared to die, so please take me home. I’ve met the Messiah so there is nothing more for me to live for.
Some time ago, I spoke at a funeral service during the week we celebrated Christmas and I used these words. Encountering Jesus is the only thing that prepares you for death. No one is ready to die until he’s met the Savior. But once you have met him, you have nothing to fear. Anyone who has experienced Jesus personally, has peace in the face of death.
Why? What was it about the birth of this baby that gave Simeon peace and prepared him for death?
ii. Your salvation
The baby Jesus meant one thing: salvation. Simeon recognized this child as God’s answer to man’s biggest need. He knew this child would save his people from their sins. He knew this child would bring forgiveness and peace with God.
That’s what Christmas is about. We need salvation from our sins and we cannot save ourselves. God sent Jesus to be our Savior.
Simeon referred to Jesus as your salvation, as God’s salvation. Simeon said it’s salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all people. We experience the salvation but it is God’s salvation because he planned it and provided it.
iii. I’ve seen
Many people are familiar with the events of that first Christmas, but they have never had a personal connection with Jesus. The wise men experienced Jesus but King Herod missed it all. The manager of the inn was close but he had no personal encounter with Jesus. Simeon was different.
As Simeon held the child, he said, My eyes have seen. This was literally true as he held the eight-day old baby. But more that, he experienced Jesus spiritually. He had a personal experience.
He didn’t just hear about salvation, he experienced salvation, personally. Can you say that this Christmas season? It’s not enough to know about Jesus’ birth, you need a personal encounter with the Christ-child. Respond to the Christ with faith and commitment.
2. YOU WILL UNDERSTOOD GOD’S SALVATION WHEN YOU MEET JESUS
I meet many people today who have difficulty understanding the need for salvation and the nature of the salvation Jesus provided.
Simeon was not confused about salvation. As Simeon blessed Mary and Joseph, he explained the salvation of which he spoke.
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. (Luke 2: 30 – 32).
i. A light.
The decorative lights and candles we have at Christmas remind us that Jesus is the light of the world.
The birth of Jesus brought light. He was the light, not just for Jewish people, but for gentiles as well. He came for everyone. He was born the light of the world. He was the light that shone in the darkness of this world revealing sin. He is the light that shines into the darkness of the human heart revealing hidden motives and secrets. He is the light that points the way to the cross and gives direction to God himself.
The tragedy, as John wrote, is that Men love darkness rather than light.
ii. Glory
Glory was a term familiar to all Jewish people. Jewish people did not need any explanation of the term glory. To Jewish people, “glory” referred to the “sacred presence of God.” It referred to the bright Shekinah resting between the cherubim over the Ark in the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle and later the Temple. It spoke of the awesome intensity of the holy, majestic presence of God.
Simeon said that Jesus is the glory of Israel. He was the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies. Simeon recognized Jesus as the Messiah, God manifested in human form, Immanuel, God with us. All the intensity of the glorious presence of God was wrapped in him.
When you encounter Jesus personally, you will understand God’s salvation. You will see Jesus as the light of the world. You will recognize Jesus as the glory of God, God himself who took on human form.
3. YOU WILL EXPERIENCE ONE OF TWO RESPONSES WHEN YOU MEET JESUS
Life is never the same after you meet Jesus. Your life will either go up or down. You are never the same.
Simeon issued a warning about the impact of Jesus for all of us. Simeon made it clear that Jesus’ coming would not have the same effect on all people. He said Jesus would cause some people to fall and others to rise up.
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. (Luke 2:33 – 35).
Simeon said, This child is destined. This child was not born by chance nor was he an ordinary child. This child had a destiny. There was a purpose and a plan in his birth. by God himself determined the course of this baby’s life.
That destiny is to cause the falling and rising of many. The birth of this child would not have the same effect on everyone. This child would not bring peace and blessing to everyone. He would have an impact on everyone, but not everyone would be impacted the same way.
i. A falling.
His birth would cause the falling of many. It would have a negative result on those who rejected him. Isaiah had predicted his coming would be a stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense. Because people would reject the Savior, they would stumble and fall.
This is the response of many today. They reject Jesus and they do so at their own peril. Rejecting Jesus leads to deterioration and disaster in life. Those who refuse to acknowledge Jesus, do so at their own peril.
ii. A rising.
Simeon said Jesus’ birth would also cause the rising of many. For those who would accept him, Jesus would cause a rising. This is why he came – to lift us up out of our predicaments and to pick us up from the bondage and chaos of sin. For those who accept Jesus, he is the lifter. He brings a resurrection in this life and for the life to come.
Jesus lifted Mary Magdala up out of the bondage of seven demons. Jesus lifted Nicodemus out of the bondage of his religiosity. Jesus lifted Zacchaeus out of his life of greed and pride. Jesus lifted the woman at the well out of her life of immorality. Jesus lifted the thief on the cross out of his life of crime and took him to paradise.
Jesus brings a separation. There are Jesus-haters and there are Jesus-lovers. Those who hate him experience a great fall. Those who love him experience a great lifting. That separation comes because he is light but people prefer darkness. Simeon spoke of the Savior’s death. He predicted that Jesus would be a sign spoken against and that he would reveal the secrets of men’s hearts. Speaking of the cross, Simeon said a sword would even pierce the soul of his mother Mary.
What’s your reaction to the birth of this baby?
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