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First Sunday After Christmas
Series B
"Waiting
For The Comfort Of Israel"
Luke 2:25-38
Rev. Wayne Dobratz, M.Div.,
1. Waiting on a promise: vv.25-26
Note how Simeon is describedeulabeesIt
means taking ahold of a subject carefully, reverently. Looking for the
consolation of IsraelThe old Greek Verb means "to admit to ones
presence." parakleesin here and of Anna in v. 38 means "the
Messianic hope, calling this hope into your presence to cheer you." (See
Isa. 11:10 & 40:1)
2. Acting on a promise: V.27 Simeon was
"in the right place at the right time" because he was in the Temple on
a regular basis. Matthew Henry: "Just then, when Joseph and Mary brought in
the child, to be registered as it were in the church-book, among the first-born,
Simeon came, by direction of the Spirit, into the temple. The same Spirit
that had provided for the support of his hope now provided for the transport of
his joy. It was whispered in his ear, "Go to the temple now, and you shall
see what you have longed to see." Note, Those that would see Christ must go
to his temple; for there The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to meet
you, and there you must be ready to meet him."
3. Comfort from a promise fulfilled:
vv.28-32 Many Churches sing Simeons words after Communion. Having experienced
Christs presence in the Sacrament, they have had as real an experience of Him
as old Simeon did. Gods promises fulfilled in Christ allow one to die in
peace, looking forward to a "face to face" relationship with Him in
eternity. See 1 Cor. 13:12.
"The infant Saviour is greeted by Simeon as
a "Light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of his people
Israel" (2:32). The Baptist, in applying the prophecy of Isaiah concerning
the voice in the wilderness (Isa 40), adds the words (from Isa 52:10): "All
flesh shall see the salvation of God" (Lk 3:6)." (Schaff,
History of the Christian Church"
"Simeon combined the three characteristics
of Old Testament piety: Justice, as regarded his relation and bearing to
God and man; fear of God, in opposition to the boastful
self-righteousness of Pharisaism; and, above all, longing expectancy of the near
fulfilment of the great promises, and that in their spiritual import as the
Consolation of Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him; and by that same Spirit
the gracious Divine answer to his hearts longing had been communicated him.
And now it was as had been promised him. Coming in the Spirit into the
Temple, just as His parents were bringing the Infant Jesus, he took Him into his
arms, and burst into rapt thanksgiving. Now, indeed, had God fulfilled His word.
He was not to see death, till he had seen the Lords Christ. Now did his Lord
dismiss him in peacerelease him in blessed comfort from work and
watchsince he had actually seen that salvation, so long preparing for a
waiting weary world: a glorious light, Whose rising would light up heathen
darkness and be the outshining glory around Israels mission. With this Infant
in his arms, it was as if he stood on the mountain-height of prophetic vision,
and watched the golden beams of sunrise far away over the isles of the Gentiles.
Alfred Edersheim, Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah
4. Pain in the promise: v.34-35 Simeon
refers to Isaiah 8:14, 15: Jehovah, God of hosts, shall befor a stone of
stumbling and rock of offense to both houses of Israel; and many among them
shall stumble and fall. As Christ did not come as a temporal deliverer, in which
character alone the Jews expected him, the consequence should be, they would
reject him, and so fall by the Romans. See Romans 11:11, 12, and Matthew 24. But
in the fullness of time there shall be a rising again of many in Israel. See
Romans 11:26.
And for a sign: The word can mean: A
mark to shoot ata metaphor taken from archers. Which shall be spoken
against"The participle is the present; and the expression does not
voice a prophecy, but describes an inherent characteristic of the sign: a
sign of which it is the character to experience contradiction from the world. In
the beginning, as a babe, Jesus experienced this at the hands of Herod; so all
through his earthly ministry and on the cross; and so it will be to the end,
until he shall have put all enemies under his feet." (Robertson, Word
Pictures in the New Testament)
And a sword shall pierce your own heart
too"We may easily suppose what an affliction it was to these poor
women (on Calvary) to see him thus abused, especially to Mary. Now was fulfilled
Simeons word, A sword shall pierce through thy own soul, Lk. 2:35. His
torments were her tortures; she was upon the rack, while he was upon the cross;
and her heart bled with his wounds; and the reproaches wherewith they
reproached him fell on those that attended him." (Matthew Henry)
5. Joy in the coming of Redemption! In
verses 36-38 Luke wrote of Anna: Coming up to them at that very moment, she
gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to
the redemption of Jerusalem. The word for "redemption" is lutronwhich
means something to loosen with; that is, a redemption price
(figuratively atonement):ransom.
Who was Anna and what was she looking for?
Adam Clarke writes: "Anna, a
prophetessIt does not appear that this person was a
prophetess in the strict sense of the word, i.e.
one who could foretell future events; but rather a holy woman; who, from her
extensive knowledge and deep experience in Divine things, was capable of
instructing others; according to the use of the word propheeteuoo
1 Corinthians 14:3: He that prophesies, speaks unto men to edification, and to
exhortation, and to comfort. So we find this holy widow proclaiming Jesus to all
who looked for redemption in Jerusalem, Luke 2:38."
"The more pious Jews were in constant
expectation of the promised Messiah. They were expecting redemption, lutrosin,
such a redemption as was to be brought about by an atonement, or expiatory
victim, or ransom price. See Luke 1:68 ."
The Disciples Study Bible adds this note about pious souls like Anna and Simeon who lived at the time of Jesus birth: "The birth of Jesus was bound up with expectations and fulfillment. An aged prophetess Anna also testified to Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. At Christmas all orders of Gods creation were involved: the star; foreign folk (Magi) representing all of the ethnic groups; the great of earth (Herod the King); the wealth of earth (the Magis gifts); the law (both Roman and Jewish); the prophets (John and Anna); the priesthood (Zechariah); the poor of the earth (shepherds); the angels; and even the animals (by implication from the manger). Jesus birth is for all the world."
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