FULFILLMENT: Simeon’s Song
Luke 2:25-35 - Victory Fellowship
December 18, 2022 - Rev. Roderick Grabski
4th Sunday of Advent
INTRODUCTION: (The Simplicity of Christmas)
Hope is defined as: “The expectation of something happening.” It’s very different from wishing or dreaming…because with “hope” there is a true belief that what you’re hoping for will really happen.
Let me give you an example of the difference between real hope and dreaming or wishing.
Suppose you’re a single 35 year old guy living in your parent’s basement and working at Home Depot. You wish and dream about meeting and marrying Taylor Swift. It was your purchase that jammed up ticket master and you know she will run into your arms and down the aisle with you. Nice dream - but the chances of it really happening are zero!
Hope is different. Hope is looking forward to something you know is going to happen. It’s expectant waiting. Hope is what children will experience on Christmas Eve that keeps them awake.
Do you remember as a child being so excited about Christmas morning that you could hardly stand it? You knew it was coming but you could hardly wait for it to get here…that’s hope!
In Luke Chapter 2 there is an old man who had lived his entire life with that kind of hope…the expectance of Christmas…Simeon understood God’s promise of a Savior coming to this world…He looked forward to this event with hope that enveloped everything he did. 8 days after Jesus is born in Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph bring him to the temple in Jerusalem to be circumcised. The Holy Spirit urges Simeon to go into the temple. Of all the children Simeon has held and blessed in the Temple, this is different. He takes Jesus into his arms and God confirms that he is holding the Messiah - the Promised One. Simeon is holding the Fulfillment of hope. Simeon’s song of praise is a song of hope.
I. GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISES
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised you may now dismiss your servant in peace.”
The word “sovereign” means “all powerful with all authority and independent of all others.” Simply put: “God is in complete control.”
Simeon had waited patiently for God to keep the promises made through His prophets in the Old Testament, as well as the personal promise God made to Simeon about seeing the Christ before he died.
He has lived his life hoping and preparing for this day and now Simeon says “It’s here - now I can die in peace.”
The Christmas story is all about hope…it’s the message that “God keeps His promises.”
Christmas is the message that “our all-powerful God promised a Savior, for all people…no matter who you are, what you’ve done, what you look like…no matter how much you’ve sinned or how many times you’ve blown it…there’s an answer…there’s hope…there’s forgiveness. A Savior has been born to you and for you - He is Jesus Christ, the Lord.
A woman named Anne Willey took her 2 little children to Texas to be with her parents during Christmas…Her husband is stationed in Europe during World War 2. They prepared for Christmas and got the tree up and all the gifts bought and were enjoying the joy of Christmas, almost putting aside the worry of the war. When one week before Christmas they got that dreaded knock on the door and the terrible telegram greeting. And the mother had to tell the children that “daddy wouldn’t be coming for Christmas ever.” And then Anne went up to her room to weep alone. And grandma and grandpa debated about what to do and finally they decided to take down the Christmas tree and the decorations and put the presents away. When Anne came out of the room and saw the empty spot she said, “Mother what have you done?” And her mother said, “You’re so brokenhearted, your father and I talked and decided this is no time for Christmas.” And Anne said, “Oh, no mother, bring the tree back, Christmas was made for times such as these.”
We are God’s people and we don’t live our lives wishing or dreaming for heaven. We live our lives hoping! There is a radical difference.
1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-14: And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
We believe that the Christ of Christmas came to save us. He lived a perfect life, died on a cross, rose again, and He’s coming back. When He does He will bring with Him those who have died in Christ.
We don’t wish for that to happen, or dream of it happening. We, like Simeon believe in hope.” We fully expect it to happen.
II. ON THAT DAY WE CAN SING SIMEON’S SONG
“My eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in sight of all nations; a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.” “Sovereign Lord, you’ve kept your promise!”
Remember Jesus is only a baby 8 days old at His circumcision. Simeon praises Him as “the Savior of all mankind.”
But Simeon also speaks prophetic words directly to Mary, Jesus’ mother. “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that is spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed and a sword will pierce your own soul as well.”
Ominous words she couldn’t understand as she held her 8 day old baby boy. But Mary would remember as a treasure when at the age of 12 He amazes the teachers in the temple. Later, Mary will watch Him love and heal the outcast, but confront the high and mighty Pharisees. And one day Mary will stand at the foot of a cross and watch him die…and the sword that pierced His side…pierces her soul.
She would be one of the first at the empty tomb. She would experience His resurrection and ascension into heaven. Mary would be in prayer with the Apostles on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit comes in fire.
The words that Simeon prophesied – in that day Mary had no idea how God would accomplish all this through her child. But later she did know as she watched Him die on a cross, what sword he was talking about. She did know as she saw Him rise from the dead why He is Lord of all!
Prayer
Song: Mary Did You Know?
Luke 2:25-35 NLT
25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. 30 I have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared for all people. 32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” 33 Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”
