1 00:00:01,320 --> 00:00:05,280 A couple of Sundays ago, while illustrating a point from the 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:10,320 Book of Revelation, I briefly mentioned a saintly man from the 3 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:18,080 Scriptures known as Simeon, that elderly fellow who embraced the 4 00:00:18,080 --> 00:00:22,840 child Jesus in the temple. And prayfully, as we are 5 00:00:23,080 --> 00:00:27,800 celebrating the birth of Christ this week, we will devote this 6 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:29,720 entire message to that same Simeon. 7 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:35,000 We'll be looking more carefully at his account as he appears 8 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:40,360 very early in the book of Luke. I became more intrigued about 9 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:44,240 him when I realized how virtually every other Bible 10 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:47,680 translation introduces him except for the ESV. 11 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:53,040 When Mary and Joseph entered the temple precincts in order to 12 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:56,920 observe the Law of Moses in dedicating their child, the 13 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:01,320 Spirit of God presents Simeon in the following way. 14 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:09,320 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. 15 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:16,200 It's one of the first things or people that Luke tells us in his 16 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:24,960 book to behold, as if to say, don't rush past this individual. 17 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:31,680 Pay close attention to him. And that is what we will do 18 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:36,280 today by the grace of God, because he is an inspiration. 19 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:38,760 And I will tell you from the beginning the goal of this 20 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:43,720 message for you and I to leave here with a greater sense of a 21 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:49,960 love for Christ, to understand through this man what is 22 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:52,520 possible for us in our sanctification, in our 23 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:57,080 relationship with God. And there are three things, at 24 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:00,000 least three things that we can do. 25 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:06,200 And observing this man, three things that we can observe #1 26 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:15,400 his passion, His passion #2 his peace, and lastly, his prophecy. 27 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:19,240 And so we'll begin now in Luke chapter 2, beginning in verse 28 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:25,400 25, reading a couple of verses to meditate on Simeon's passion 29 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:32,800 as he encounters the child Jesus not too long after his own 30 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:37,120 birth. Luke 2, verse 25. 31 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:42,840 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this 32 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:47,440 man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of 33 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:51,520 Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon 34 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:54,160 him. And it had been revealed to him 35 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:59,560 by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen 36 00:02:59,960 --> 00:03:03,440 the Lord's Christ. Oh, would you pray with me 37 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:09,240 briefly, Lord, our prayer is that you would help us see the 38 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:14,840 Christ, help us see Christ, make him more real to each of us. 39 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:22,440 And may it causing us to know renewed passion, fortified peace 40 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:27,360 and worship as we understand this prophecy through the lips 41 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:29,680 of this man that you used 2000 years ago. 42 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,680 We thank you for it. In Jesus name we pray, Amen. 43 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:41,720 What a description for any man, any woman, righteous and devout. 44 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:44,560 Now, why is the Holy Spirit telling us this about Simeon? 45 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:51,520 Well #1 because he's going to testify about the destiny of 46 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:55,200 this child, the Spirit of God is going to use him to identify 47 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:58,240 this child as a long-awaited Messiah. 48 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:03,560 And so in order for there to be credibility to his own 49 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:06,200 testimony, we learn of his piety. 50 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:09,960 He was trustworthy. He was acknowledged as a holy 51 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:12,400 man. He was someone that you can 52 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,280 count on. And so in preparation for what 53 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:18,920 he is going to say, we know something about his character. 54 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,800 But there's something else. The Spirit of God wants us also 55 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:29,640 to learn a few things about true righteousness and what devotion 56 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:33,520 looks like. And interestingly, righteousness 57 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:38,760 and devotion in this context is connected to the inner heart, 58 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:45,200 the hidden heart. We're told here that Simeon was 59 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:50,200 waiting for the consolation of Israel. 60 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:53,440 Waiting means that there was expectation. 61 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:55,280 Waiting means that there is desire. 62 00:04:55,720 --> 00:05:02,240 Simeon desired for the comfort, the consolation, the rest, the 63 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:07,360 deliverance of his own people. And this is connected to his 64 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:11,920 righteousness. This feeds his devotion. 65 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:15,800 So the eyes of this man's heart were ever watchful. 66 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:20,240 This man down deep inside, he longed for something. 67 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:24,240 He yearned from Messiah. He wanted to see the promises 68 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:26,880 fulfilled. He he wanted to be in the 69 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:32,200 presence of this King. And that is the thing that is 70 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,720 highlighted about him. Surely since he was a boy, and 71 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:39,200 throughout his years as he studied the Scriptures, this 72 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:42,520 longing grew more and more and more. 73 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:46,240 And surely as he and his people were living under the growing 74 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:49,240 brutality of the Roman oppression, that ache became 75 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:54,360 more intense. There are many things that God 76 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:58,560 could have said about Simeon, but in his wisdom he brings to 77 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:01,360 our attention his consuming passion. 78 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:08,640 Why do you think that is? To teach us who God is and what 79 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:13,720 God looks for. You see, God considers your 80 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:23,520 desires, God takes into account your aspirations, your wishes 81 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:30,760 and mine, and He honors US based on what he discovers about them. 82 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:37,960 And in the case of Simeon, God gave him the privilege of not 83 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:43,680 only seeing the Messiah, but as is common with our God, he he 84 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:47,320 gives him more, He lets him hold the Messiah. 85 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:51,560 And he says you will not see death until you behold the 86 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:54,560 Lord's Christ. Imagine this. 87 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:57,120 In a moment, we're going to see Simeon's prophecy. 88 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:02,480 And here you have a man who is going to bless God while holding 89 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:05,280 God. Fascinating, isn't it? 90 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:10,800 And I want to convince, I want you to be absolutely persuaded 91 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:17,440 today by how God actually looks at your heart and mine. 92 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:21,600 And what he finds there will determine reward in this life 93 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:25,040 and in the life to come. So here at the infancy of 94 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:27,120 Christ, we are introduced to an obscure fellow. 95 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,600 But now I want us to Fast forward to the death of Christ 96 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:34,400 as we are introduced to another uncommon character. 97 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:37,640 So we're in the gospel. Luke travel to the Gospel of 98 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:43,400 Mark and go to the end of it in chapter 15, Mark 15. 99 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:55,000 Look at verse 43 with me. Joseph of Arimathea, A respected 100 00:07:55,000 --> 00:08:00,880 member of the council who was also himself looking for the 101 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:07,040 Kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the 102 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:10,000 body of Jesus. I'm sure there are a lot of 103 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:14,240 differences between Joseph of Arimathea and the Simeon, but 104 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:15,560 you know what I find in my Bible? 105 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:19,320 They shared one common desire, the manifestation of the Kingdom 106 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:24,400 of God, one near the birth of Christ, one after the death of 107 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:27,520 Christ. You know this Joseph impresses 108 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:30,760 me because he was an important man in society. 109 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:35,120 Matthew tells us he was wealthy, but his position and his 110 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:41,080 prosperity did not diminish his longing for God's Kingdom to 111 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:44,760 crash into the world and to take over everything, cooling his own 112 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:49,600 estates, his own authority. And I just wonder today if there 113 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:51,920 are people in this place who are members of great councils or 114 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:54,000 maybe you're a part of an exclusive club, or maybe you're 115 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,200 just wealthy. Can I ask you something? 116 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:02,080 What do you strive after? What do you ultimately seek? 117 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:07,280 Here's this Joseph, and all we're told about him is that he 118 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:11,080 looked for the Kingdom of God, and I see something else. 119 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:17,560 He's rewarded for it. And the same way Simeon had the 120 00:09:17,560 --> 00:09:21,800 opportunity to hold in his hands Messiah, God gave that same 121 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:27,360 privilege to Joseph. He came into close proximity to 122 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:32,080 Christ, and he had the honor of taking that lifeless body and 123 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:36,760 honoring it in the best way he could and ultimately fulfilling 124 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:42,280 a part of Isaiah 53. God cares. 125 00:09:42,560 --> 00:09:46,960 God examines what no one else sees. 126 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:52,680 Oh, sure, we can do things, but why do we do them? 127 00:09:53,560 --> 00:09:56,680 Even good things, even spiritual things, but what do we really 128 00:09:57,120 --> 00:10:01,560 long for? Let me show you another verse. 129 00:10:01,560 --> 00:10:04,040 I listen. I really, really want to 130 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:07,400 communicate this because it will radically change your 131 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,320 relationship with Christ. When you understand that he 132 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:12,960 looks at the heart, He looks for the heart, You will know where 133 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:15,840 to put your focus and your energy as you seek Him and as 134 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:19,240 you come to His word. Go to Hebrews Chapter 11 with 135 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:22,400 me. Oh, the hall of faith, these 136 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:25,520 wonderful men and women that are praised for their trust in God. 137 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:29,440 And in there we have many, many golden Nuggets, and I want to 138 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:37,680 show you one of them in Hebrews 11, verse 16, Hebrews 11/16 139 00:10:37,680 --> 00:10:42,400 reads. But as it is, they desire a 140 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:46,480 better country, that is, a heavenly one. 141 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:51,520 Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has 142 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,840 prepared for them a city. You see that word desire there? 143 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,800 It's only used a total of three times in the New Testament, 144 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:03,440 including this instance, and it's actually found in First 145 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,280 Timothy 31, and you don't have to turn there. 146 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:11,760 It's where Paul tells Timothy if one aspires the office of an 147 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:14,240 overseer, he desires a noble task. 148 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:21,840 The meaning actually in the original is to reach after, to 149 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:27,160 grab something. And So what Paul tells Timothy 150 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:30,360 is if there's anybody who has such an intense yearning to 151 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:34,760 apprehend the position of a pastor or an elder, that's a 152 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:39,000 good desire. And the Holy Spirit uses that 153 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:46,360 same word here in Hebrews 11/16 to speak of those who desire a 154 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:51,040 better country heaven. It's a it's a yearning for 155 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:54,840 something to become a reality. Here's what's so astounding 156 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:59,400 about this verse. Those who inwardly, inwardly 157 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:05,080 reach out for the manifestation of God's government, for his 158 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:10,360 return. Those who ache and pine for his 159 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:13,160 presence to be more real. What does he say? 160 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:17,000 God is not ashamed to be called their God. 161 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:21,720 Look at the Word there. Therefore, that connects the 162 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:23,160 following thought with the previous one. 163 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:25,560 Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God. 164 00:12:25,560 --> 00:12:28,280 Well, what did He say before? He's talking about those who 165 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:30,920 desire a better country. I can't think of a greater 166 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:34,720 blessing than that, that God in heaven, with all the myriad of 167 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:41,200 angels and all these heavenly creatures, is willingly wanting 168 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:47,360 to testify of a child of His. He belongs to me. 169 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:50,680 Do you see what he loves? Do you see what she desires? 170 00:12:50,680 --> 00:12:54,760 More than anything, she sees this world as a wilderness. 171 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:58,200 He's a Pilgrim. His heart beats. 172 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:02,880 For me to become more real, for my promises to be made known, 173 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:08,560 for my Kingdom to come. I'm not ashamed to be called 174 00:13:08,560 --> 00:13:12,120 their God. Behold, one who truly loves me. 175 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:16,920 Simeon was such a man. You know, sometimes Christians 176 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:18,760 struggle to discern whether their love for the Lord is 177 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:22,920 strong enough or greater than their attachments to the things 178 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:26,440 of this life. And so they wrest soul. 179 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:28,480 And it becomes even more pressing when you encounter 180 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:33,680 commands and instructions like do not love the world or the 181 00:13:33,680 --> 00:13:37,000 things of the world. How do I know if I love the 182 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:39,480 world? How do I know if I love Christ 183 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:43,080 more? How do I make sense of this? 184 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,240 How can I measure it? How can I examine myself 185 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:48,000 appropriately? Well, I have good news for you, 186 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:51,120 because as you look through the Scriptures, you will find 187 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:55,560 helpful clues that will determine, for you and me if 188 00:13:55,560 --> 00:14:01,800 we're willing to receive it, the health of our desires and if 189 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:03,760 they are towards the right things. 190 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:07,600 Can I give you one helpful clue? Here's one. 191 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:11,280 Just listen to it. Psalm 119, verse 97. 192 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:17,960 Oh, how I love your law. It is my meditation all the day. 193 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:24,040 Where's the clue in that? Let me tell you, you meditate on 194 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:26,720 what you love. That's the clue. 195 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,880 Oh, how I love your law. You know, there are there are 196 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:34,520 people who know the Bible, there are people who are willing to 197 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:37,920 even adjust their lives to some of the principles of the Bible. 198 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:43,160 But it's a whole different thing when you love God's Word and the 199 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:45,280 psalmist tells us one way, you know you love it. 200 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:51,320 I meditate on it all the time. I take it with me wherever I go. 201 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:55,800 I'd love to talk about it with others who also meditate on the 202 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:58,080 law. So that's just, that's just one 203 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:03,240 nudge among many that shows us where our desires really are, 204 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:05,560 what we truly long for, what we're reaching out for. 205 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,880 This Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel. 206 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:12,960 It was a burning passion in his bosom. 207 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:18,000 And I am convinced that God saw that in this old man. 208 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:23,000 And out of the many, including the scribes and the scholars and 209 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:30,400 the theologians, he allowed Simeon to behold Christ at a 210 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:33,720 very early point. That's His passion. 211 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:37,360 May be our passion. May the Holy Spirit use this 212 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:40,680 message to breathe that into our hearts. 213 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:50,960 But let's consider His peace. Let's read now His peace, verse 214 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:58,600 27 to verse 32. And he came in the Spirit into 215 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:03,120 the temple, And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do 216 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:06,920 for him, according to the custom of the law, he took him up in 217 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:10,000 his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now you are letting 218 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:14,040 your servant depart in peace according to your word. 219 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:16,960 For my eyes have seen your salvation, that you have 220 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:20,320 prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation 221 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:23,480 to the Gentiles and for glory to your people. 222 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:31,280 Israel Simeon and verse 28 took him up in his arms and blessed 223 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:34,720 God. One of the ways that you know 224 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:39,560 you can bless God is exemplified by this man where you outwardly 225 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:44,240 express your gratitude and rehearse the testimonies of the 226 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,720 Lord. And in this case, Simeon wants 227 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:52,200 to declare God's faithfulness. You kept Your word to me, O 228 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:56,400 Lord, and that is something that you and I must continually give 229 00:16:56,400 --> 00:17:00,040 praise to God for that Any promise that He has made to all 230 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:02,680 humanity, the promises that He made to the nation of Israel 231 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:05,200 through the prophets and the Psalms and the law, and any 232 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,839 promise that He makes to you as an individual concerning your 233 00:17:07,839 --> 00:17:10,839 life, know this. He will never waver in His Word. 234 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:13,760 He is constant. He is reliable. 235 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:19,240 But even before Simeon celebrates God's fidelity, he 236 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:26,400 highlights and rejoices in this, the peace he received from God. 237 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:31,880 Notice it again here. It says here, Lord, now you are 238 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:35,080 letting your servant depart in peace. 239 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:40,120 What kind of peace is this? What kind of peace is this that 240 00:17:40,120 --> 00:17:43,400 allows a man to speak so calmly about his own death? 241 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:48,040 I'm ready to die now, Lord. I'm ready to die right at this 242 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:52,600 moment. How, what, what kind of 243 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:57,480 confidence can a man tap into that allows him to be comforted 244 00:17:57,480 --> 00:17:59,320 at the thought of his own earthly departure? 245 00:18:01,120 --> 00:18:05,440 Simeon had it. There is this level of serenity 246 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:08,920 that is so rare, and yet he's declaring it. 247 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:12,560 He's sharing it out loud. And I think Simeon gives us a 248 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:14,920 clue of how we can have it and how we can know it for 249 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:18,520 ourselves. You unlock it by what he says in 250 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:20,000 verse 30. Look at it again. 251 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:22,760 For my eyes have seen your salvation. 252 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:26,520 Why am I ready to depart in peace? 253 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:29,360 Because my eyes have beheld your salvation. 254 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:33,160 And listen, Simeon is not just ready to die because the Lord 255 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:36,440 showed him the Lord's Christ. And so, OK, the promise is 256 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:38,680 fulfilled. I'm ready to go now. 257 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:43,120 It's because Simeon understood the salvation that this child 258 00:18:43,120 --> 00:18:45,040 would bring to him and to the rest of the world. 259 00:18:46,360 --> 00:18:52,240 It was a knowledge of the saving work of Christ that gave him 260 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:56,280 this kind of peace. And here's the question that 261 00:18:56,280 --> 00:18:58,320 every single one of us has to ask. 262 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:04,520 Do I have a clear vision like this man concerning what Christ 263 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:09,280 has done? More specifically, do I have a 264 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:14,720 comprehension of what Christ did in a trusting way? 265 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:19,000 Because that will determine the level of peace you enjoy. 266 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:22,720 Notice some of the things that Simeon says. 267 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:24,560 Again, look at verse 31. What does he say? 268 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:29,120 That you have prepared in the presence of all peoples? 269 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:31,320 The salvation that he spoke of here. 270 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:35,560 He says it was prepared. So Simeon even in this moment, 271 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:38,880 understood that God had planned the salvation, that God from 272 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:44,360 eternity passed, orchestrated salvation to come to humanity 273 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,760 through this child. He understood this. 274 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:50,680 Look at verse 32. It says that he would be a light 275 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:54,960 for revelation to the Gentiles. So Christ was not just going to 276 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:56,960 come to save the Jewish people, but the rest of the world. 277 00:19:57,040 --> 00:20:00,280 How many people understood that in Simeon's day? 278 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:02,880 Very few. Even when Christ in the prime of 279 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:06,280 his life was teaching it, people didn't get it. 280 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:12,720 Simeon did. You're going to break into the 281 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:17,040 darkness surrounding Israel. And lastly, look what he says 282 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:20,280 here in verse 33 and for glory to your people, Israel. 283 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:26,720 So there are many things that Israel can rejoice in concerning 284 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:28,960 their history. The Jewish people understand 285 00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:32,080 that they have been granted the promises, the covenants, the 286 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:35,520 law, the prophets. But Simeon says here that the 287 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:40,080 greatest glory for them and from them is that the Savior 288 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:43,200 descended from the seat of David. 289 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:45,360 That would be their greatest glory. 290 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:49,320 Here's what's so amazing about this confession. 291 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:53,200 Did Simeon come to this understanding because Christ was 292 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:55,280 preaching A sermon? No, he could barely walk at this 293 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:59,040 time. Before the gospel was understood 294 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:02,000 through the lips of the Savior, before he performed any kind of 295 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:06,800 miracle, before any parable was expounded, Simeon had a robust 296 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:13,120 understanding of the gospel. More than the again, the 297 00:21:13,120 --> 00:21:16,480 scholars and the theologians of his day, more than those who 298 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:19,600 would behold the incomparable power and wisdom of Christ 299 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:21,600 throughout his teaching ministry. 300 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:26,680 And no doubt his clear perception contributed to his 301 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:28,960 remarkable peace. You know, I found something 302 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:32,080 about Christians, many things. One of them is this, that those 303 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:36,440 who have a grasp of the gospel, those who understand the victory 304 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:41,040 that Christ purchased on my behalf, are the same ones who 305 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:47,320 tend to speak with the most confidence about death and are 306 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:51,320 also the ones who are willing to face it with an otherworldly 307 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:55,160 calm. I know Christians like that. 308 00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:59,120 They talk about death like they talk about sleep. 309 00:21:59,920 --> 00:22:02,760 You know, Christians like that. Oh, and that was very common 310 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:06,320 with the older Christians. And so personally, I'm just 311 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:10,200 catching up with some readings with the Puritans and I stumbled 312 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:12,640 upon this quote and I thought it would be worth sharing just to 313 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:17,920 give you a sample of how some of these minds that really, really 314 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:21,440 dug into the Scriptures to know the depths of Christ's work on 315 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:25,720 the cross and what he purchased for us, how they spoke and how 316 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:27,360 they viewed this thing called death. 317 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:30,600 According to the Bible, death is known as the King of terrors. 318 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:33,480 But you would think to that these Puritans especially, they 319 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:38,320 were like buddies with death. Listen to this from George 320 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:41,720 Swinnik quote. He's trying to comfort 321 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:44,440 Christians. So quote now is the quote. 322 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:49,320 Is it the tearing down of your earthly Tabernacle that troubles 323 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:52,360 you? Do you not know that death is 324 00:22:52,360 --> 00:22:57,160 the worker sent by the Father to pull down this earthly House of 325 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:01,120 clay and mortality so that it may be set up anew, infinitely 326 00:23:01,120 --> 00:23:03,040 more lasting, beautiful and glorious? 327 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:05,800 End Quote. Isn't that precious? 328 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:11,160 What is he saying? For the Christian, death is his 329 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:17,640 servant, and all death is, is once sent by God to disrobe you 330 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:20,640 and to remove you of this flesh that has been corrupted and 331 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:23,920 bruised and scarred, so that you would be prepared to be clothed 332 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:27,160 with something infinitely more glorious and beautiful. 333 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:30,880 Who thinks like that? Those who understand what Christ 334 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:34,200 has done and what He purchased for us. 335 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:38,760 But how did Simeon know all of this? 336 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:43,720 How? How did he come to this 337 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:46,920 knowledge? We have the answer. 338 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:51,800 Maybe you missed it, but did you notice just how much Simeon in 339 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:58,040 this brief biography has the Holy Spirit actively working in 340 00:23:58,040 --> 00:24:01,040 and through him? Go back to verse 25. 341 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:05,840 Look at the end of verse 25. And the Holy Spirit was upon 342 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:09,960 him, look at verse 26. And it had been revealed to him 343 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:12,720 by the Holy Spirit. Look at verse 27. 344 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:17,040 And he came in the spirit into the temple. 345 00:24:18,120 --> 00:24:21,240 And three verses, the Holy Spirit is mentioned, the 346 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:23,200 activity of the Holy Spirit is mentioned in connection to this 347 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:25,720 man, the Spirit, the Spirit, the Spirit. 348 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,120 I'll tell you how you knew all of this, the Holy Spirit, the 349 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:31,880 Holy Spirit. So you're, you're sitting today 350 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:36,080 and you say, oh, brother, if I can only have a week of peace 351 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:40,400 like this, I'm here to tell you can have more than just a week 352 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:41,880 of it. You can have a lifetime of peace 353 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:46,320 and you can have a peace so strong, so potent, that even 354 00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:49,480 when death knocks on your door, you can say, oh, God's servant 355 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:52,880 is here to prepare me for my eternal abode. 356 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:59,560 Well, how do I get it? Well, Simeon gives us some 357 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:03,200 guidance. You need to know something about 358 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:07,560 what Christ has done for you, the gospel that Christ performed 359 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:08,800 for us. You need to know that. 360 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:13,280 Well, how do I know that you? You can't come close to it 361 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:16,360 unless you understand how the Holy Spirit works. 362 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:19,200 So you have to seek the Holy Spirit. 363 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:22,640 You have to be in his presence. You have to humble yourself and 364 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:25,840 say, Lord, I with these eyes and with this mind, I might be able 365 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:28,960 to collect some truths. But to know this thing about the 366 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:32,520 gospel in a way that unlocks this kind of calm and 367 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:36,720 confidence, I need your help. And as you seek him and as you 368 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:40,560 wait on him, he'll be faithful to give you more understanding. 369 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:42,960 And through that understanding, more faith, and through that 370 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:47,920 faith, more peace. You know, Simeon, we're not told 371 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:50,960 much about him here, but all that we have might even stir up 372 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:54,240 a holy jealousy in you and me, specifically in his relationship 373 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:56,040 with God. I mean, look how sensitive he is 374 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:57,880 to the Spirit of God. Look how much the Spirit of God 375 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:03,440 does for Simeon. I mean, on one day after he was 376 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:05,800 promised, and we're not told when he was promised that he 377 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:09,400 would see Christ. He was being guided unusually. 378 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:14,000 Was it an audible voice? Was it this force moving him? 379 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:17,440 We don't know. But all leading up to that 380 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:19,240 moment, Can you imagine the anticipation? 381 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:21,840 Oh, will it be today? You know, Simeon's there 382 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:23,560 preparing his breakfast. Will it be today? 383 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:25,840 Will I see the Messiah this afternoon? 384 00:26:25,840 --> 00:26:27,560 Will it be tonight? How will I know him? 385 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:29,680 How is it going to be a light on him? 386 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:31,440 Are others going to recognize him? 387 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:34,280 You just imagine the daily excitement. 388 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:41,200 And on one morning it was known and Simeon makes his way there. 389 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:47,400 And what looked like an ordinary young family actually was 390 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:52,760 something extraordinary. In the arms of these parents was 391 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:56,080 the promised Messiah, and Simeon saw it. 392 00:26:58,120 --> 00:27:01,080 I'm sure we would love the Holy Spirit to lead our lives like 393 00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:04,520 that, right? All the time that we would save 394 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:09,400 the testimonies we would have. But I want to actually lead you 395 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:13,640 to this other point. Simeon in this chapter is not 396 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:16,840 the only one who gets to experience the revelation that 397 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:19,720 he had. Actually, we read of another 398 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:21,920 elderly person. Look, later on in Luke chapter 399 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:26,040 2, we read about a woman named Anna who's a prophetess advance 400 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:28,800 in years, and I want you to see how the scriptures describe her 401 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:33,120 experience of this moment because she didn't have the same 402 00:27:33,120 --> 00:27:36,400 experience as Simeon, though she had the same revelation as him. 403 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:41,240 Luke 236 read this with me and there was a prophetess Anna, the 404 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:43,600 daughter of Fanuel of the tribe of Asher. 405 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:46,880 She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband 406 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:50,520 seven years from when she was a virgin and that as a widow until 407 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:53,480 she was 84. She did not depart from the 408 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:57,080 Temple, worshipping with fasting and prayer, night and day, and 409 00:27:57,080 --> 00:28:00,680 coming up at that very hour. She began to give thanks to God 410 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:04,160 and to speak of Him, all who are waiting for the redemption of 411 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:08,760 Jerusalem. So, like Simeon, Anna's devotion 412 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:11,840 to God is emphasized. She was a spiritual woman. 413 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:16,200 You rarely found her outside of the temple courts. 414 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:19,440 She was fasting, she was praying, she was worshipping, 415 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:24,680 and remarkably, she was glued to the House of God even though she 416 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:29,600 had lost her husband. You know pain will either pull 417 00:28:29,600 --> 00:28:31,160 you away from God or push you towards Him. 418 00:28:33,120 --> 00:28:38,280 And this, this woman's devotion to the Lord did not wane, even 419 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:42,080 though perhaps her expectations of marriage we're not met. 420 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:48,720 But here's what's amazing, verse 38, Read your Bible slowly. 421 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:53,560 Notice what it says. And coming up at that very hour. 422 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:59,400 Translation right when Joseph and Mary entered and Simeon saw 423 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:03,400 the child and prophesied, Anna was there and she heard it. 424 00:29:05,480 --> 00:29:09,480 And not only did she hear it, but she got so excited that what 425 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:11,000 did she do at the end of verse 38? 426 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:13,680 She began to speak of him to all who are waiting for the 427 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:17,840 redemption of Jerusalem. So there was others who are 428 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:19,360 waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. 429 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:22,680 Don't you appreciate just how careful the Bible is with its 430 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:27,920 words? We're told about Simeon, that he 431 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:31,400 was waiting for what? The consolation of Israel, 432 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:33,160 consolation meaning comfort, peace. 433 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:40,320 But then when we come here, we read that Anna was testifying to 434 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:44,360 all those who are waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. 435 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:48,640 I don't think that's accidental. I think there's a point to be 436 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:54,200 made from this that none of us can know true consolation unless 437 00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:59,160 we first know redemption. Redemption is the entryway into 438 00:29:59,160 --> 00:30:02,360 consolation, and Christ alone can provide that. 439 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:08,280 Simeon is waiting for Israel to be delivered, and it's in a 440 00:30:08,280 --> 00:30:13,160 person, Christ. It's not just a government, it's 441 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:15,960 not just a set of laws. It's in a person, Christ, who 442 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:19,000 redeems, and he can bring consolation to your life. 443 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:20,960 He can bring consolation to this nation. 444 00:30:21,720 --> 00:30:24,320 But we would have to humble ourselves and allow Him to 445 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:28,160 redeem us. But that's a different point. 446 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:31,320 The point that I want to bring to your attention is how Anna 447 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:34,280 was led by God. It was not like Simeon. 448 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:37,200 Simeon had a direct supernatural GPS. 449 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:40,080 Turn here, turn there. Go now. 450 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:41,160 Stop. No, not them. 451 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:42,640 Yes, over there. I don't know how it was done, 452 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:47,640 but then when you read about Anna, who is just as spiritual 453 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:50,600 as Simeon, she just happened to be at the right place at the 454 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:54,480 right time. She was guided by the invisible 455 00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:57,160 hand of God. This is what we call it, 456 00:30:57,160 --> 00:31:00,000 Providence. And I want to tell you 457 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:02,360 something. If you belong to the Lord, 458 00:31:02,640 --> 00:31:04,560 Providence will always work in your favor. 459 00:31:05,600 --> 00:31:09,080 If you love the Lord, you have nothing to fear in this life, 460 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:13,240 and you might want to have these encounters and perhaps visions 461 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:16,520 and all these things. But Anna gives us the more 462 00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:20,280 common way we experience God's guidance in our lives, that as 463 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:23,320 you simply obey the Lord as you walk and as you love him and 464 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:27,560 serve him, he will take ordinary things and make him into an 465 00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:33,120 extraordinary story. If you want to know greater 466 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:38,000 testimonies in 2026, be like this woman, be like this man and 467 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:42,560 give him undivided devotion. There's a passion, but there's a 468 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:45,480 peace, a peace that's granted through revelation, a peace 469 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:47,000 that's granted through a relationship with the Holy 470 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:49,040 Spirit. But all we have to end here with 471 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:51,960 his prophecy. We can't just end with this 472 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:54,880 knowledge of His peace. Look at verse 33 down to verse 473 00:31:54,880 --> 00:32:00,800 35. And his father and his mother 474 00:32:00,800 --> 00:32:03,200 marveled at what was said about him. 475 00:32:04,360 --> 00:32:09,040 Pause there for a moment. How how did you marvel? 476 00:32:09,560 --> 00:32:17,360 You had angelic encounters, the wise men, the shepherds, all 477 00:32:17,360 --> 00:32:20,160 that they said, all these experiences and and you're still 478 00:32:20,160 --> 00:32:26,760 marvelling rightfully so. I pray you and I would never 479 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:30,080 cease to marvel as we learn new things about Christ. 480 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:37,200 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this 481 00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:40,520 child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, 482 00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:44,320 and for a sign that is opposed. And a sword will Pierce through 483 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:49,480 your own soul also, so that the thoughts from many hearts may be 484 00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:53,640 revealed. So contrary to the limited 485 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:57,560 understanding of most of the Jews at this time concerning the 486 00:32:57,560 --> 00:33:02,320 Messiah, and that many Jews still today have Simeon 487 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:05,760 recognized and explained that although He is the promised 1, 488 00:33:05,760 --> 00:33:07,680 he will not be widely accepted by his own. 489 00:33:09,600 --> 00:33:12,800 That He will be the cause for the fall and the rise of many. 490 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:15,160 The fall Speaking of those who would reject Him and be 491 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:19,560 condemned as a result, and the rise Speaking of the redemption 492 00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:22,720 of those who would embrace Him and believe on His message. 493 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:27,520 And Simeon goes on to prophecy. And he turns his attention to 494 00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:32,120 Mary to let her know that the opposition that this child will 495 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:35,880 face will be so fierce that it's going to be like a sword as you 496 00:33:35,880 --> 00:33:38,800 see it and hear about it being pierced and driven into the 497 00:33:38,800 --> 00:33:42,240 depths of who you are. And that sword will be driven 498 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:47,080 deeper still as this opposition climaxes at the cross of Christ. 499 00:33:47,880 --> 00:33:50,040 And so you see a measure of God's kindness through this 500 00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:54,400 prophecy and preparing Mary for the future of this child. 501 00:33:54,560 --> 00:33:56,480 I find it interesting that he doesn't address Joseph. 502 00:33:56,480 --> 00:33:58,920 And it could be because Joseph wouldn't live long enough to see 503 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:03,160 it. And so Mary is is hearing all of 504 00:34:03,160 --> 00:34:09,280 this, and yes, she's marvelling, but she's also being warned so 505 00:34:09,280 --> 00:34:11,040 that she wouldn't be caught by surprise. 506 00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:15,719 But what Simeon says in the last part deserves our most attention 507 00:34:15,719 --> 00:34:17,840 for this time. Notice how he ends it in verse 508 00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:22,960 35 so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. 509 00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:29,159 What does that mean? Well, in the immediate sense, it 510 00:34:29,159 --> 00:34:32,760 means that the Incarnate Son of God would expose the true 511 00:34:32,760 --> 00:34:34,679 motives and intentions of people. 512 00:34:35,440 --> 00:34:37,440 And we see that in the gospel accounts, do we not? 513 00:34:37,440 --> 00:34:41,600 Especially with those Pharisees. They could not withstand, they 514 00:34:41,679 --> 00:34:44,920 they couldn't compress their true nature, their vile 515 00:34:44,920 --> 00:34:46,320 character in the light of Christ. 516 00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:51,679 He unmasked them. The truth that He spoke blasted 517 00:34:51,679 --> 00:34:55,800 away all the veneers and all the falsehood, and their hearts were 518 00:34:55,800 --> 00:35:00,560 really exposed. But in the broader sense, what 519 00:35:00,600 --> 00:35:02,880 Simeon says here applies for all time. 520 00:35:04,560 --> 00:35:09,280 The message of Jesus Christ reveals the very essence of who 521 00:35:09,280 --> 00:35:14,400 we are as people. When you really understand who 522 00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:20,560 He is and what He says, our sinful nature is exposed. 523 00:35:22,640 --> 00:35:26,200 In fact, no one describes the human condition more accurately 524 00:35:26,200 --> 00:35:31,680 than Jesus Christ of Nazareth. No psychologist, no philosopher, 525 00:35:31,840 --> 00:35:37,800 no religious leader comes close to how Christ assesses and 526 00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:40,360 diagnosis humanity's foundational problem and 527 00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:47,400 greatest need. And I know of some people whose 528 00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:50,880 journey with Christ started because they read or heard the 529 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:55,080 Beatitudes, for example. Just the Beatitudes was enough 530 00:35:56,280 --> 00:35:59,680 for millions, I'm sure, throughout the ages to bend 531 00:35:59,680 --> 00:36:02,320 their knee in humility and acknowledge that they are 532 00:36:02,560 --> 00:36:05,840 sinners in need of a Savior. Think about it. 533 00:36:06,760 --> 00:36:10,240 Christ saying things like you've heard it was said that you shall 534 00:36:10,240 --> 00:36:14,880 not murder and that to murder and be a murderer is to be 535 00:36:14,880 --> 00:36:18,480 liable for judgement. But I say to you, if anyone is 536 00:36:18,480 --> 00:36:20,640 angry with his brother, he is liable to judgement. 537 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:24,280 You've heard it was said you shall not commit adultery. 538 00:36:24,680 --> 00:36:28,760 But I say to you that if anyone looks at a woman with lustful 539 00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:33,120 intent, has already committed adultery with her in his heart, 540 00:36:35,640 --> 00:36:40,640 inescapable scrutiny. A standard so high no one dare 541 00:36:40,880 --> 00:36:45,440 be able to stare at the face of this teacher and say, I pass. 542 00:36:47,840 --> 00:36:49,120 He will reveal the hearts of many. 543 00:36:49,200 --> 00:36:53,760 And he's still doing it today. And this is what it means for 544 00:36:53,760 --> 00:36:55,920 us, especially for the person who might be sitting here and is 545 00:36:55,920 --> 00:36:59,280 not a follower of Jesus Christ. You have to understand that when 546 00:36:59,280 --> 00:37:03,040 you understand who Christ is, you will discover who you are 547 00:37:05,400 --> 00:37:07,800 and what you will discover about yourself. 548 00:37:07,800 --> 00:37:12,240 And the light of his moral beauty and majesty is humbling 549 00:37:12,680 --> 00:37:16,880 if you're willing to accept it, that you were not as good as you 550 00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:19,960 thought. You're not as righteous as you 551 00:37:19,960 --> 00:37:25,160 believe, and you're actually so below the standard that God 552 00:37:25,160 --> 00:37:30,720 presents to us and sets against all of us as a moral lawgiver of 553 00:37:30,720 --> 00:37:34,800 the universe, that you're doomed, as am I. 554 00:37:37,880 --> 00:37:40,560 But Christ is not just the revealer of hearts. 555 00:37:41,280 --> 00:37:45,040 This is the best part. He's the only one who can 556 00:37:45,040 --> 00:37:50,040 transform them. Christ doesn't reveal hearts to 557 00:37:50,040 --> 00:37:52,600 shame people. You find that in the Gospels. 558 00:37:54,160 --> 00:37:57,400 Christ doesn't expose men in order to embarrass them or to 559 00:37:57,400 --> 00:38:02,920 condemn them. He removes all the veils that we 560 00:38:02,920 --> 00:38:06,960 set up, all the fig leaves that we've sown to try to cover 561 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:11,160 ourselves, to show us just how wounded, just how rebellious, 562 00:38:11,720 --> 00:38:18,840 just how sick we are. He's the great physician that 563 00:38:18,840 --> 00:38:22,640 does not shy away from giving you the accurate diagnosis of 564 00:38:22,640 --> 00:38:28,360 your condition. In order for you to say I need 565 00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:34,040 to be healed, I need to be forgiven, I have a great debt 566 00:38:34,800 --> 00:38:39,920 that needs to be paid. And Luke, who's telling us a 567 00:38:39,920 --> 00:38:44,000 story about Simeon, his passion, his peace, his prophecy, like 568 00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:48,400 most of the other Gospel accounts, spends more time 569 00:38:48,600 --> 00:38:53,960 focusing on Jesus's ministry leading up to his redemption on 570 00:38:53,960 --> 00:38:57,520 the cross. And when you continue from this 571 00:38:57,520 --> 00:39:01,440 point on, you learn something. You learn many things about the 572 00:39:01,440 --> 00:39:04,000 heart of Christ. Let me give you one example 573 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:07,480 before we close. The same Jesus who Simeon says 574 00:39:08,560 --> 00:39:12,800 would reveal the thoughts of many hearts shows us just how 575 00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:15,520 tender he is. Though he is blazing in purity 576 00:39:15,520 --> 00:39:18,960 and holiness, it's gentle and lowly. 577 00:39:21,280 --> 00:39:22,840 Even to this day. After years of reading the 578 00:39:22,840 --> 00:39:25,960 Bible, there's one account of Jesus healing power that never 579 00:39:25,960 --> 00:39:28,720 ceases to fail to move me to tears. 580 00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:32,600 I don't care where I am, when I'm reading it, it it does 581 00:39:32,600 --> 00:39:36,640 something to me. It's when Jesus is there and 582 00:39:36,640 --> 00:39:41,360 this man, this leper runs to him out of nowhere and it says he 583 00:39:41,360 --> 00:39:44,520 falls to the ground and he begs him, Lord, if you are willing, 584 00:39:44,520 --> 00:39:47,440 you can make me clean. Like every time I read that it 585 00:39:47,440 --> 00:39:52,240 just if you just knew what a leper had to go through, how he 586 00:39:52,240 --> 00:39:55,440 was ostracized, he lost his family, he was rejected. 587 00:39:57,080 --> 00:40:00,080 He was a walking red flag. Nobody would come near the years 588 00:40:00,080 --> 00:40:07,160 of not knowing human judge being despised, rotting somewhere in 589 00:40:07,160 --> 00:40:11,560 the outskirts of the city. And yet he hears about this 590 00:40:11,560 --> 00:40:15,640 Christ and he finds him one day and he runs them in desperation 591 00:40:15,640 --> 00:40:18,320 and he says, oh, if you can, you can make me clean. 592 00:40:18,320 --> 00:40:22,280 And when you read about it in Luke chapter 5, before Jesus 593 00:40:22,280 --> 00:40:26,200 even says anything, he says that he reaches out and he touches 594 00:40:26,200 --> 00:40:32,040 him, and then he says, I will be clean. 595 00:40:34,080 --> 00:40:36,720 I'm sure that when Christ initially extended his hand and 596 00:40:36,720 --> 00:40:41,200 touched that man, there was a gasp for any onlookers. 597 00:40:42,320 --> 00:40:47,480 You wouldn't dare touch a leper. You would be richly unclean. 598 00:40:47,480 --> 00:40:49,520 You would be in danger of being contaminated. 599 00:40:49,520 --> 00:40:54,200 Surely in Christ, without hesitation, he doesn't even 600 00:40:54,200 --> 00:40:56,360 flinch. He doesn't step back. 601 00:40:56,360 --> 00:41:01,920 He steps forward and he touches the man and he heals him. 602 00:41:03,480 --> 00:41:04,560 So many things to learn from that. 603 00:41:04,560 --> 00:41:06,120 Let me give you just one main thought. 604 00:41:06,440 --> 00:41:10,040 What others would not dare embrace, what others would not 605 00:41:10,040 --> 00:41:15,920 dare interact with, Christ does. There is no pollution, There is 606 00:41:15,920 --> 00:41:20,760 no filth, there is no disease. More importantly, in the 607 00:41:20,760 --> 00:41:24,200 spiritual sense, that Christ is not willing to touch and heal 608 00:41:24,560 --> 00:41:26,200 because you might be sitting here and saying, OK, He's the 609 00:41:26,200 --> 00:41:29,440 revealer of hearts. Brother, you don't know what my 610 00:41:29,440 --> 00:41:32,720 heart produces, the idols that it creates, and the perversion 611 00:41:32,720 --> 00:41:34,680 that it likes to nibble on from time to time. 612 00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:37,920 In fact, I'm struggling while you're preaching with the things 613 00:41:37,920 --> 00:41:39,760 in my heart. Let me tell you something. 614 00:41:39,760 --> 00:41:46,840 This is the same Christ who touches lepers and He's willing 615 00:41:46,840 --> 00:41:52,400 to touch and heal you. He's not intimidated by you. 616 00:41:54,680 --> 00:41:59,080 He understands our sin, but he doesn't recoil. 617 00:42:00,200 --> 00:42:03,360 He doesn't reconsider. In his great love, he enters 618 00:42:03,360 --> 00:42:07,440 into our world, this Dark World, this evil world, so that he can 619 00:42:07,440 --> 00:42:11,480 make the payment necessary to wash you. 620 00:42:11,480 --> 00:42:15,480 And it was a great payment to cleanse you. 621 00:42:16,600 --> 00:42:17,640 Me. Yes, you. 622 00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:22,640 You, the one that others would not dare have anything to do 623 00:42:22,640 --> 00:42:26,640 with, perhaps. This gives me so much hope, man. 624 00:42:26,640 --> 00:42:28,600 You got to believe it for those in your family that are the 625 00:42:28,600 --> 00:42:30,680 black sheep. You got to believe it for your 626 00:42:30,680 --> 00:42:32,760 nephews, your nieces. You got to believe it for your 627 00:42:32,760 --> 00:42:34,520 parents. You got to believe it for your 628 00:42:34,520 --> 00:42:35,960 spouse. You got to believe that no 629 00:42:35,960 --> 00:42:39,200 matter how dark and evil and corrupt they may be, that Christ 630 00:42:39,200 --> 00:42:42,320 can heal them. This is the Christmas message. 631 00:42:43,160 --> 00:42:46,080 This is the Christmas message. The Christmas message is not us 632 00:42:46,160 --> 00:42:49,080 huddling around the scene of a baby that doesn't talk. 633 00:42:49,080 --> 00:42:50,760 And it's just cute that no, no, no, no. 634 00:42:51,000 --> 00:42:52,360 This is the message of redemption. 635 00:42:52,360 --> 00:42:56,600 That's what Christmas is about. And I'm here to offer it to you, 636 00:42:56,600 --> 00:42:59,120 not because I have anything to give you, but because this book 637 00:42:59,400 --> 00:43:03,800 promises us redemption and Simeon tells us about it in this 638 00:43:03,800 --> 00:43:08,280 prophecy. I wonder today if your heart has 639 00:43:08,280 --> 00:43:11,120 been more exposed than ever under the preaching of His Word. 640 00:43:12,160 --> 00:43:14,960 I wonder if today you feel more convicted than you ever have. 641 00:43:15,400 --> 00:43:18,360 Well, if you're sitting there in conviction, be comforted that 642 00:43:18,360 --> 00:43:26,320 this Christ who pulls the sheets of our excuses and our lies and 643 00:43:26,320 --> 00:43:31,440 our justifications, doesn't do it so that He can find you in a 644 00:43:31,440 --> 00:43:35,240 place naked and afraid. He does it so that He can clothe 645 00:43:35,240 --> 00:43:38,240 you with His own righteousness after He heals that heart of 646 00:43:38,240 --> 00:43:40,480 yours. Would you let Him? 647 00:43:42,160 --> 00:43:46,560 What's holding you back? What about this is bad news? 648 00:43:48,320 --> 00:43:49,960 What about this makes you hesitate? 649 00:43:49,960 --> 00:43:51,600 What about this makes you afraid? 650 00:43:52,520 --> 00:43:55,520 What is your sin done for you except bring pain to your life? 651 00:43:56,800 --> 00:44:00,280 What does being the the master of your own fate produce for you 652 00:44:00,640 --> 00:44:05,400 other than disappointment? Surrender. 653 00:44:07,280 --> 00:44:09,320 Give up? What does repentance really 654 00:44:09,320 --> 00:44:12,560 mean? Really just means give up, stop, 655 00:44:13,600 --> 00:44:20,160 fall at His feet, crown Him as Lord and He will transform your 656 00:44:20,160 --> 00:44:27,000 life. If you doubt it then understand 657 00:44:27,000 --> 00:44:31,760 what the Christmas message is. He didn't have to come, but he 658 00:44:31,760 --> 00:44:36,920 did come with one goal in mind. Yes, to bring glory to Himself. 659 00:44:36,920 --> 00:44:40,320 We know that, but also in His great love to draw you to 660 00:44:40,320 --> 00:44:44,800 Himself for all of eternity and I pray that today you would put 661 00:44:44,800 --> 00:44:47,960 your hand in his hand and no true life. 662 00:44:48,720 --> 00:45:11,260 Let's pray low. 663 00:45:11,260 --> 00:45:17,140 We know that no one would be able to do what Simeon had the 664 00:45:17,140 --> 00:45:22,560 privilege of doing. That is holding in his arms the 665 00:45:22,560 --> 00:45:27,160 child Jesus the Lord. Your word does tell us that we 666 00:45:27,160 --> 00:45:32,080 can embrace you in another way, the embrace of faith. 667 00:45:33,360 --> 00:45:37,040 And we pray that this afternoon that the gift of salvation would 668 00:45:37,040 --> 00:45:44,640 be opened by some, maybe even 1 today, that they would realize 669 00:45:44,640 --> 00:45:48,080 by the help of your Holy Spirit, the great salvation that you've 670 00:45:48,080 --> 00:45:51,360 prepared for them that you offer to the entire world. 671 00:45:54,320 --> 00:45:56,360 And that you are not just the revealer of hearts. 672 00:45:56,360 --> 00:46:00,680 You are the healer of those broken, shattered hearts. 673 00:46:01,600 --> 00:46:05,680 Today, Lord, for those who have been saved, we pray that you 674 00:46:05,680 --> 00:46:08,000 would help us grow in our passion for what matters the 675 00:46:08,000 --> 00:46:15,080 most, that we, like Simeon, would be reaching out inwardly 676 00:46:17,000 --> 00:46:21,480 for the things above, for your promises, Your presence to be 677 00:46:21,480 --> 00:46:25,280 more real in our lives. And Lord, we pray even for those 678 00:46:25,280 --> 00:46:28,440 who may not have peace, who may be even entering into this 679 00:46:28,440 --> 00:46:32,320 holiday season worried that they will not enjoy it because of 680 00:46:32,480 --> 00:46:37,480 circumstances like Anna's, where family members will not be there 681 00:46:37,640 --> 00:46:40,600 like they were in previous years, where loneliness will 682 00:46:40,600 --> 00:46:45,440 become more of a reality. Lord, we pray for your peace to 683 00:46:45,440 --> 00:46:49,600 be our portion for the rest of this year, and not just the rest 684 00:46:49,600 --> 00:46:51,000 of this year but the rest of our lives. 685 00:46:51,000 --> 00:46:54,640 Even as we approach our own death, we can say, Lord now your 686 00:46:54,640 --> 00:46:57,880 servant can depart in peace for we have seen your salvation. 687 00:46:58,800 --> 00:47:01,360 In Jesus name we pray these things, Amen. 688 00:47:02,680 --> 00:47:09,000 Let's worship the living Christ who loves us so deeply.