SCRIPTURE
Luke 2:21-40
And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
OBSERVATIONS
He was called Jesus
Jesus lived under the Law
Jesus is the consolation of Israel and the Christ
Jesus is Light and the glory of Israel
Jesus is a sign that is opposed
Jesus is worthy of our praise, prayer and proclamation
When we study God’s Word, it should lead us to both rejoicing and repenting.
- What stands out to you from the text?
- What questions or comments do you have about it?
- In what ways did you find yourself encouraged and/or rejoicing when you heard the message?
- In what ways were you challenged to repent or change when you heard the message?
- How did the teacher connect this passage to Christ? What other connections do you see between this message and the redemptive work of Christ?
CONCLUSION
- What is one thing that you want to remember from this sermon?
- Why is that important to you?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Name change of Joshua (from Hoshea) – Numbers 13:16
Meaning of the name of Jesus – see Matthew 1:21
Purification after childbirth – Leviticus 12
Firstborn set apart – Exodus 13:2, 12-15; Numbers 3:13
Redemption of firstborn – Numbers 8:14-17
Jesus born under the law came to fulfill the law – Galatians 4:4; Matthew 5:17
We are made righteous through His obedience – Romans 5:19
The great exchange – 2 Corinthians 5:21
Simeon came in the Spirit into the temple (Luke 2:27). We didn’t have time to consider the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit. As believers, we are sealed (Ephesians 1:13) and indwelt (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) with the Holy Spirit. We are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). How? In Grudem’s Systematic Theology, he notes that effective teaching on this area must include the need (1) to yield our lives fully to God (Rom. 12:1; Gal. 2:20), (2) to depend fully on God for power to live the Christian life (Rom. 8:13; Gal. 2:20; 3:2-3), and (3) to obey the Lord’s commands in our lives (1 John 2:6).
Learn more about People Groups at the following website: https://www.joshuaproject.net
Simeon knows the Old Testament and quotes from Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6 when he calls Jesus a “light for the Gentiles” (nations).
One of the names of God is the Glory of Israel – 1 Samuel 15:29
Older women are to train younger women – Titus 2:3-5