Luke 2:21-35
Sunday Morning Bible Study
December 21, 1997
Introduction
We’re all familiar with the many events surrounding the birth of the Lord Jesus. We’re also pretty familiar with the story of the Magi visiting Jesus (which we believe took place about two years later). But we don’t often hear about an incident that took place a little over a month after Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.
:21-35 Baby Jesus goes to Jerusalem
:21 eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child
The circumcising of a baby boy was supposed to be done on the eighth day after birth, according to the Law (Lev. 12:2-3)
:21 his name was called Jesus
Apparently it was a tradition at that time to officially give the baby a name at circumcision.
Jesus – the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua (ya-shua), which means "Yahweh is salvation".
:21 which was so named of the angel
Before Mary had become pregnant, the angel Gabriel appeared and told her that she was going to be pregnant, even though she was a virgin, and that she was supposed to call her baby boy Jesus. (Luke 1:31)
:22 the days of her purification according to the law of Moses
According to the Jewish Law, a woman was to go through a ritual of purification 33 days after having given birth to a baby boy (Lev. 12:4). This would be on Jesus’ 41st day.
:22 they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord
They brought the baby from Bethlehem to Jerusalem.
They would have brought him to the temple, to a priest, and this was done at the eastern gate, called the gate of Nicanor. It was here "they made women, suspected of adultery, to drink, and purified new mothers, and cleansed the lepers." (Gill)
Lesson:
Dedicating children to the Lord.
Some churches have developed traditions of baptizing little infant babies. Some of these churches teach that somehow baptism washes away the baby’s "original sin". The Bible does not teach this. The only people that are ever baptized in the Bible are grown adults who have come to put their trust in the Lord.
But the Bible does teach that we ought to dedicate our children to the Lord and teach them about the Lord.
Jesus said,
Mt 19:14 (NIV) Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
I think it’s a wonderful practice to bring our children before the church and to dedicate them to the Lord, praying over them and blessing them in the Lord.
:23 Every male that openeth the womb …
There were two things going on with Jesus’ family in Jerusalem, the first being the "redeeming" of a firstborn son.
After having rescued the firstborn sons through the use of lamb’s blood on the first Passover, God declared that all the firstborn belonged to Him (Ex. 13:2). To remember this, the parents would now have to "buy back" (redeem) their children from God (Num. 18:15-16) for the price of five shekels (a couple of bucks to us).
:24 And to offer a sacrifice
The second thing was going on here was the sacrifice of purification for the mother, according to Lev. 12:6-8.
The Law actually requires that a lamb be brought for an offering –
Lev 12:6-8
And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: {7} Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female. {8} And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.This tells us something about Joseph and Mary and their financial situation, they apparently were unable to afford the cost of a lamb, but had to settle with the poor man’s sacrifice of pigeons.
Lesson:
God uses simple people.
If we’re not careful, we can hear ourselves thinking things like, "Oh if I were only smarter, God could really use me", or, "If I were only wealthier, then God could really use me". The truth is that it’s probably just opposite of what God thinks.
God is most likely thinking things like, "Oh if only he would rely less on himself and more on Me, then I could really use him."
(1 Cor 1:27 KJV) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
(2 Cor 4:7 KJV) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Our Lord’s birth was a demonstration of how God uses simple things.
One of the ironic things about Christmas is how lavish our church productions can become. We’re all familiar with a local church’s grand production that draws people from all over the world. And though the birth of our Lord Jesus is certainly worthy of the effort, there’s a sense in which man’s productions cover up the truth. Except for the angels, the only people that showed up at His birth outside of his family were a couple of lowly shepherds.
Illustration
"One Solitary Life" - Here is a young man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty, and then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never had a family. He never went to a college. He never put His foot inside the big city of His day. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself.
While He was still a young man, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth, and that was His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Nineteen centuries wide have come and gone, and today He is the central figure of the human race, and the leader of the column of progress.
I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever sailed, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as has that One Solitary Life. - Anonymous
God uses simple people. Jesus led a simple life. He used simple people like Joseph and Mary. He can use me. He can use you.
:25-35 Simeon's Prophecy
:25 a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon …
The indications we have here are that Simeon is an elderly man.
How do you know when you're getting old?
* Everything hurts, and what doesn't hurt, doesn't work.
* You sit in a rocking chair but can't get it going.
* You look forward to a dull evening.
* You join a health club and don't go.
* Your little black book contains names ending only in "M.D."
* Your children begin to look middle-aged.
* You dim the lights for economic reasons, rather than romantic ones.
* You sink your teeth into a steak, and they stay there.
* Your favorite part of the newspaper is "25 years ago today."
* Your back goes out more than you do.
Lesson:
What will you grow up to be?
If you’ve ever been to a convalescent hospital, you will generally find two kinds of people. You will find old crotchety folks, and you will find precious saints of God.
We are given four characteristics of Simeon:
1) Just – righteous, obeying God’s laws
2) Devout – being careful to reverence God
3) Waiting for the consolation …
consolation – paraklesis – a calling near (for help); exhortation, encouragement; consolation
The Jewish Rabbis used this title ("Consolation") for the Messiah, that He was the "Comforter". Some went as far as saying that the Messiah’s name would be Menahem, which meant "Comforter".
They got this from Isaiah 61:1-3, where one of the ministries of the Messiah would be to "to comfort all that mourn"
Jesus called the Holy Spirit "another Comforter", since He was the "Comforter". (John 14:16)
This all means that that Simeon was "waiting for Messiah" to come.
We too ought to be waiting for Messiah to come. But this time it will be the Second Coming.
Jesus said,
(Mat 24:45-47 NLT) "Who is a faithful, sensible servant, to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his household and feeding his family? {46} If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. {47} I assure you, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.
4) Filled with the Holy Spirit
The Holy Ghost was "upon" him. We’ve seen in our studies in Acts that this is a description of the filling of the Holy Spirit.
What kinds of life-long habits are you creating? What will you be like when you grow old?
Is your walk with the Lord, "something I’ve been meaning to get around to"? Or is it something you’ve begun to do?
:26 he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
God had given Simeon a specific revelation that he would be alive to see the coming of Messiah.
:27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple
Of all days to go to the temple, he picks the exact day, and the exact time that a young couple are bringing their newborn baby to be dedicated.
:28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God
This is a picture of tenderness as Simeon takes Jesus into his arms and cradles him.
I’m curious if when he "blessed God", he directed the blessing to Jesus, God in the flesh.
:29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace
Now he can die in peace.
:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation
Some of the Israelites were expecting God’s salvation to involve freedom from Roman tyranny. But all Simeon had seen with his eyes was a little baby.
Lesson:
Seeing God’s salvation.
The concept of God’s salvation boils down to this – we are sinful people, and our sins keep us from being able to have any kind of relationship with our Creator at all because He is holy. In order to deal with the problem of our sins, God has made a way for our sins to be "paid for", but allowing Jesus to die on the cross, and paying the penalty of our sins for us. We receive salvation when we choose to accept God’s free gift of forgiveness and payment for our sins.
But it all boils down to a person. It all boils down to Jesus.
On Wednesday night, we did something unusual, and simply read through the book of Revelation. The entire book. As I was reading it, there were one part in particular that hit me kind of hard, where John got a glimpse of Jesus and His salvation. John was in heaven at the throne of God, and nobody was worthy to take a particular scroll from God’s hand.
(Rev 5:6 KJV) And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
What hit me so hard was picturing what John must have thought, seeing his Jesus as the Lamb slain, slain for his sins.
Now here is Simeon seeing this little baby, holding this little body in his arms, the same body that would one day bear his (Simeon’s) own sins.
:31 Which thou hast prepared
Jesus dying on a cross was not just an accident, nor was it something that seemed a good thing to do at that time.
God had planned it out long before Jesus’ birth. As God puts it in Revelation 13:8, Jesus was the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world"
:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles
Though Jesus is indeed a thoroughly Jewish Messiah, He came for us Gentiles as well.
Even the ancient prophecies said that Messiah would be a blessing for the Gentiles as well.
Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Isa 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
:33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things
marvelled – thaumazo – to wonder, marvel
I’m kind of surprised that they’re marveling at this, considering all that they’ve been through.
Joseph had already had an encounter with an angel –
(Mat 1:20-21 KJV) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. {21} And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Mary too had seen an angel as well –
(Luke 1:30-32 KJV) And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. {31} And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. {32} He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
It’s not that Simeon’s words are something new to them. It’s the fact that this man has come out of the clear blue, and given them the same message that they’ve already had. It’s a confirmation of what they’ve already known.
Lesson:
It’s good to get confirmation.
There are times when it seems like the Lord has been speaking to you about something.
But when somebody out of the clear blue comes up and starts talking to you about the same thing, without knowing what the Lord has been saying to you, it’s wonderful. Marvellous.
I think that sometimes it’s a good thing to wait for confirmations, and not just assume that what you think God is saying is what God is actually saying. Sometimes it’s last night’s pizza. Sometimes it’s just your flesh.
:34 this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel
fall – some people are going to stumble over Jesus.
Isa 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
rising again
– anastasis – a raising up, resurrection from the dead. For others, there won’t be a falling, but a raising up.Eph 2:6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:
:34 and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
Jesus would be a sign of God’s love for the world, but He would be spoken against and rejected.
:35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,)
sword – rhomphaia – a large sword; a long Thracian javelin
One day, there would be something regarding her Son that would pierce through her heart.
John would record it –
Joh 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the [wife] of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
:35 that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
This appears to refer to the phrase "for a sign which shall be spoken against".
In other words, the test of what a person is really like can be found in what kinds of things they say and think about Jesus.
Lesson:
What is Jesus to you?
Is He something you stumble over? Or has He raised you up?
Are you ready to see salvation?
Jesus said you’re either "for me or against me".
There’s no middle ground.
Just like getting on an elevator, it’s either up or down. There’s no "undecided" button.