As we continue on this Christmas season in our series in the Gospel of Luke – a REAL Human Life – we will get more
information on why Jesus came. Sometimes we might think that He came just to see what being a human was like. Kind of
like, “I wonder what people experience – I better go down and try it out.” God is God – He knows everything and has
perfect understanding. He had no need to try it out so He would know. Jesus didn’t come to just feel what we feel.
Maybe we think He came to make us jealous enough so we would try harder to live right. If HE can do it, I can do it.
Unfortunately, there is no “I can do it” with us. We can’t do it. There is nothing we can on our own do to live lives which
are pleasing to God. So if that’s why Jesus came, we should rethink whether He is even God. God would not do that –
He knows we can’t please Him on our own.
Jesus came for a specific reason. Jesus came to live on earth and live the perfect human life and die for our sins for reasons
that He, as God, along with the Father and the Spirit, as God, determined were not only necessary for us, but also were the
ONLY hope we had for salvation. Jesus came to provide salvation for mankind. His life, death, burial and resurrection are
the only way salvation happens. To try anything else for salvation is inadequate and won’t work.
Today we will look at some people who were waiting expectantly for that salvation to arrive. And we will examine our
own understanding of salvation, too. Let’s ask for our Teacher’s help. PRAY.
After Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary followed the requirements of the Law as it regards the birth of children. Turn to
Luke 2:21. READ. Back in Genesis 15, God made a covenant with Abraham. God promised that He would be
Abraham’s God and Abraham and his descendants would be God’s people. This was God’s idea, not Abraham’s. So
God made the covenant and God put a sign into practice to remind Abraham and his descendants of the covenant God
made. The sign is circumcision of the males.
In Genesis 17, God instituted the sign. When a male child comes out of the womb, his private part has a fold of skin
covering the end of it. God’s sign of His covenant with Abraham was the cutting off of that fold of skin. For the Jews, this
was to be done 8 days after birth. Even after 8 days of a baby’s life, that fold of skin could become very unclean. The
circumcision is a picture of the removal – the bloody removal – of the body of death in salvation by faith. In Romans 7,
Paul cries out – who will deliver me from this body of death? His answer is that deliverance comes through Jesus Christ.
Circumcision is a picture of the deliverance of Jesus Christ of those who put their faith in Him.
Notice that Jesus – the perfect human being – 8 days old – underwent this procedure. We can infer a lot of possible things
from this. Perhaps the circumcision of Jesus shows us that a human being is not perfect until God’s covenant is in effect.
We can’t take that one too far – Jesus WAS perfect. But He still underwent circumcision. Obviously God wants us to see
that His ways are to be put into practice. And it is a reminder to us that God’s covenant is still in effect.
Circumcision is a picture of what God did in Genesis 15 when He passed through pieces of flesh to activate His agreement
with Abraham. Even the Lord Jesus was a participant in the covenant of God – a covenant which He Himself instituted.
As a human being, Jesus lived out the fulfillment of that covenant.
He was also given His name at the time He was circumcised. His Greek name is Jesus. In Hebrew, the language spoken
by the Jews, His name would have been Joshua or Yeshua. His name means “savior.” This is the name Mary was told to
give Him when Gabriel visited her and before she conceived. This is the name God told Joseph to call Him in Matthew 1:
21. His name is “Savior.”
Look at the next paragraph. Luke 2:22-24. READ. In Leviticus 12, very specific and clear instructions are given about
women having babies. There is a certain amount of time set for the woman to undergo a purification process. It all relates
to the flow of her blood in the process of birth. Mary went through this purification process. Seven days she was unclean
– because of the blood involved in birth. The eighth day, the child is circumcised. Probably not at the temple – probably in
the home – perhaps even by the father.
Then, after 40 days – 7 of being unclean and 33 of purification – the husband and wife come to the temple to make
offerings for her atonement – the covering over of her sin. It is called, in Leviticus 12, and offering for sin. It is called an
offering for her atonement. And Mary had to do it. Even though she carried the Messiah. The spilling of blood and the
process of giving birth is a messy matter. It is a matter of uncleanness. Even in the birth of the Savior of the world.
And notice that Joseph and Mary were obviously not rich. In Leviticus 12, the offering for this purification is supposed to
be a lamb AND a pigeon or a turtledove. Leviticus 12:8 gives another possible offering if the woman can’t afford a lamb
and the birds. She can bring 2 turtledoves or 2 pigeons. Either turtledoves or pigeons are what Joseph and Mary brought.
There was more required by the Law at the birth of a firstborn son. Exodus 13 requires that the firstborn son who opens
the womb – the firstborn son who is the first baby of the family – is to be dedicated to the Lord. This is what is happening
in the next section of Luke 2. Luke 2:25-32. READ.
This man Simeon was probably an old man, although we don’t know. We do know that he was promised by the Lord to
see the Messiah before he died. Simeon was a just man and a devout man, it says in verse 25. A just man lives a life
which demonstrates God’s justification in him. He was justified and his life showed it. He was also devout. He devoted
himself to following the Lord as fully as he knew how. He trusted in the Lord with all his heart and did not lean on his own
understanding as much as he was able. He acknowledged the Lord in all his ways as much as he knew how.
It also says Simeon was waiting for the “consolation of Israel.” The consolation of Israel was a common saying and it
referred to the Messiah – the one who would redeem and rescue Israel and bring the Kingdom of God to earth. Simeon
was promised by the Spirit of God that he would not die until he saw the Messiah.
Here is another REAL human being. We can learn a lot from Simeon – as best he knew how, he followed God’s leading
and guidance. As best he knew how, he put God’s Word into practice. As best he knew how, he devoted himself to the
things of God. In Simeon’s walk with God, the Spirit of God communicated with him. Just like He did with Jesus. Just
like He did with Paul. Just like He did with John. Just like God wants to do with you and me.
As Simeon listens to and follows the leading of the Spirit, he comes to the temple on the same day as Joseph and Mary
bring Jesus to the temple to dedicate Him to the Lord as their firstborn son. Was this just Simeon’s good luck? Was this a
serendipitous moment for Simeon? No, John 6:44 says that no one comes to Jesus unless the Father draws that person.
The Father drew Simeon to Jesus at the right time.
The Father draws all of us to Jesus – even those who ignore Him. Why did you come to church today? I submit to you
that it is because the Father is drawing you to Jesus. If you have believed in Jesus as your Savior, how did that happen?
The Father drew you to Him. You are here today and you are here in life because the Father – God Himself – has eternal
plans for you. He WANTS you – He knows you mess up. He doesn’t care – He wants to clean you up and use you for
His purposes. Are you willing to respond?
Simeon picked up this Baby in verse 28 and blessed God, saying, “Now I can depart this life in peace. According to Your
Word You told me I would see Your provision of salvation and I have seen Him. This salvation is in place for all people
everywhere and in all times. This salvation, this Messiah, is a light to bring revelation of You to the Gentiles and to bring
Your glory to Your people Israel.”
Joseph and Mary listened to this and were astonished at what Simeon was saying about their Son. They knew God had
given Him and were reminded again as this godly saint pronounced blessing on Jesus that it was true. And Simeon blessed
them also. He spoke directly to Mary in verses 34 and 35. Luke 2:34,35. READ.
This prophecy to Mary contained a lot of powerful language and even scary stuff. This Child is destined for the “fall and
rising of many in Israel.” Notice that fall is first and then rising. Most Jews rejected Jesus when He was on earth and
continue to reject Him to this day. They are still God’s chosen people, though. According to both Daniel and Revelation,
many Jews will eventually put their trust in Jesus in the end times.
This Child is also destined for “a sign which will be spoken against.” I think this is likely a reference to the resurrection.
What greater sign did Jesus ever do? What is the core and basis of our faith? What other event would cause Mary’s soul
to be pierced like a sword initially? And what other sign would reveal the hearts of many by their reaction to this
indescribable event?
What we believe about and do with the resurrection of Jesus is vital to where we stand with God. Is it true? Is it a myth?
Is it a fairy tale? What do we REALLY think about the resurrection? Do we believe it, no matter how improbable it
seems? If we believe by faith that God raised Jesus from the dead, it says in Romans 10, we are saved.
In Romans 1:16 and 17, Paul lays out the impact of the gospel. Romans 1:16,17. READ. The gospel – the good news –
later in Romans laid out as the life, death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, is the power of God to salvation for
everyone who believes it. Through belief in the gospel, God brings salvation from sin and rescue to those who believe it.
He also reveals His righteousness through the gospel in those who believe as they grow in their faith.
So this sign, which Simeon says Jesus is destined for, is powerful to save and powerful to change those who believe in it.
Do you believe it? God has made it extremely easy.
Let’s go on. Luke 2:36-38. READ. This woman Anna was very old. There is some question as to whether she was
married for 7 years and then remained a widow for another 84 years OR whether she was married for 7 years and then, at
this point was 84 years old. It can be read both ways. Since it says in verse 36 that she was of great age, I tend to go with
the possibility that she was married 7 years and was a widow for another 84 years. If she was 15 when she got married,
that would put her at 106 years old. That is a woman of great age.
It doesn’t really matter if she was 84 or 106, she was old. This old woman did not depart from the temple, it says. She
devoted herself fully to God day and night, fasting and praying. Even though her marriage lasted only 7 years, she didn’t
get bitter at God when her husband died. She devoted herself more fully TO God after her husband died.
And, verse 38, right at the time Simeon was completing his prophecy to Mary, Anna came up and gave thanks to God for
the coming of the Messiah. And she told everyone around her in the temple that day – and probably for as many more
days as she lived – that God had sent the Savior.
Here is another real human being – a woman – living a life of full devotion to God. We may think of Simeon and Anna as
weird, but notice how God portrays them. These 2 old people were fully devoted followers of the Lord God, as much as
they knew how. Even though they were still sinners like you and me, God includes them and their lives of faithfulness in the
account of the coming of the Savior. They are not in here for their fame, but for OUR encouragement. They are people
like you and me. And God wants their lives to be an encouragement TO you and me to live for Him.
In 2 Chronicles 16:9 it says that the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Him strong on
behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. These 2 people are evidence of the truth of that proclamation. Is YOUR life
evidence of that proclamation? Are your actions and your words demonstrating a fully devoted faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ?
If not, what is holding you back? Is it:
FEAR?
- 1 John 4:4 – Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world
- Psalm 27:1 – The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom
shall I be afraid?
PRIDE? REPUTATION?
- Psalm 8:3,4 – When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have
ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him and the son of man that You visit him?
- Psalm 130:3 – If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
STUFF?
- 1 John 2:15-17 – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father
is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life – is not of the Father
but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
- 1 John 3:17 – But whoever has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how
does the love of God abide in him?
NO FAITH?
- Hebrews 11:6 – Without faith it is impossible to please God
- 2 Corinthians 13:5 – Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know
yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified.
If fear holds you back from belief, trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding
(Proverbs 3:5). God is able to handle any difficulty or harm you may think will come your way. And He understands it
perfectly – unlike you. Fear starts to lose its power when God is in control.
If pride holds you back from belief, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. To acknowledge
God means to put yourself in perspective under Him. He is God and you and I have nothing to be proud of compared to
Him. If we acknowledge Him in all our ways, treat Him as God in all situations, that will actually draw us TO belief.
If stuff holds you back from belief, start to view stuff differently. Matthew 6:19-21. READ. Will your stuff last or will it
pass away with the world? Stuff that doesn’t last is worthless and not a very smart investment.
Now if it is NO FAITH that holds you back from belief, that is easy to fix. All of these other passages we have quoted and
looked at apply here, too. But the way to fix no faith is to believe. In Acts 16, the jailer in Philippi asked Paul and Silas
what to do to be saved. Their answer was to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Investigate who
Jesus is and why He came and what He desires, and the Father will draw you to Him and you will be saved when you
believe in Him.
Jesus came as a human being to provide the only salvation there is from sin and death and hell and separation from God.
His sinless life is the kind of life God desires all of us to live. If it ever happens in us, it will be because Jesus lives His life in
us. He died to pay the penalty for our sin – and that death opens the way for salvation. We are made righteous by His
death when we believe. And we are saved – salvation is ours through His life, His resurrection. Him in us is life. Him in us
saves us. This is why He came – to live in us. This is what Simeon and Anna celebrated. You and I can celebrate it now,
too.