Luke 2:22-40
Luke • Sermon • Submitted • 31:47
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· 31 viewsHow can we take the example of Simeon and Anna in their waiting and apply it to situations of waiting in our own lives?
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How are we supposed to react when we’re in a season of waiting?
How are we supposed to react when we’re in a season of waiting?
Reaction to uncertainty
Job security
Future after graduation
a time of waiting can feel like an eternity even if only a 2 month period
Do we trust God?
Are we even in a place where we would be able to recognize when God moves?
Our reaction when faced with uncertainty or unanswered questions tells a lot about our faith in God, in his promises, in his plans
Our Three Questions
What does it say?
Authorial intent to intended audience
What does it mean?
Timeless theological truth
How does it apply?
Landing it in our lives
The Text - Luke 2:22-40
The Text - Luke 2:22-40
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.
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.”
Reference to Mosaic law regarding purity and uncleanness following childbirth in Lev. 12
The proper offering would have been a lamb, but for those who couldn’t afford a lamb two pigeons or turtle doves would do.
Exodus 13: God’s command to redeem the firstborn sons of every Jew
Jesus was raised by poor parents who remained faithful to God’s law
What does God value vs. what does society value?
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,
Simeon likely very old, average guy
“righteous and devout”
Righteous: walked rightly with God and with man
Devout: careful about his religious duties
waiting for the consolation of Israel
Jews waiting 400 years since they last heard from God
Throughout these 400 years hardship came; Roman rule and subjugation just one example
Everyone was waiting for the Messiah to come
For Simeon, he could’ve been waiting a long time as he rejoices that he is allowed to die
Holy spirit upon him
Holy Spirit is mentioned three times in these three verses
Simeon’s presence in the temple God’s doing, not his own
God made a promise to Simeon, a promise that we’ll see in the next few verses that He would keep
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.”
Simeon blesses God for:
Fulfilling his promises
Jesus as salvation
for all people
The LORD’s salvation is identified as being prepared in the presence of all peoples (affirmation of God’s love for all people groups, not just Israel)
Isaiah 9:2
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
glory for Israel
connects to 2:34
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.”
Mary and Joseph in awe at what was said
Simeon blessed Jesus parents in the same way that he blessed God
BEHOLD means THIS IS IMPORTANT
Jesus’ ministry will be divisive
the cost of discipleship will be steep
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.
Anna is a true member of the nation of Israel, a descendant from one of the tribes
84 is old even now so imagine how old she would’ve seemed in the first century
Devout in her practice, like Simeon
Spreads the gospel
Shows how Jesus is still connected to the Jewish people
movement from the old era, into the era of God’s Kingdom
Simeon and Anna were waiting for the first coming of Christ, while we are waiting for the second coming
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.
Further emphasizes Jesus’ parents dedication to God and his commandments
Jesus grows up, matures, and is being prepared for his ministry in obedience to God
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
The Jewish people were waiting for a long time
Simeon and Anna are good examples of that waiting
They waited faithfully on God to move
Waiting properly is difficult
Faithful waiting leads to:
Expectancy Psalms 5:3
O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
Hope Psalms 33:20
Our souls wait for the Lord, he is our help and shield
Trust Isaiah 8:17
I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him.
Patience Romans 8:24-25
Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes in what he sees? But if we hope in what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
In those periods of waiting, when it feels like God has hid his face, it is very important to grow impatient, to grow hostile and touchy, to doubt in God
Simeon and Anna show the fruit of the spirit
Remaining expectant, hopeful, trusting, and patient even when you don’t comes next, when you can’t see or hear God is one of the hardest challenges you’ll have in your spiritual walk but it leads to the most growth
Important to have the spirit at all times so you can recognize when God does show up
Simeon’s expectations vs. Reality
Faithful despite his expectations
Anna proclaimed the gospel once she saw the Messiah
God’s timing and methods won’t always be the same as the timing and methods that we want, but they will always be better than our own timing and methods
The proper response when we do see God work is to turn praise back to him and to tell the people around you about how God has shown up in your life
God loves you and wants to use you despite your circumstances
God chooses to use Mary and Joseph despite their poverty
Faithfulness is more important than wealth
God chooses to use Simeon and Anna despite their age
Devotion to God is more important than youth
Jesus came to save people of all nations out of love
God’s desire for you transcends racial, ethnic, and cultural boundaries
Don’t let what you see as a setback be a hindrance to God’s working in your life
Prayer