Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

We often hear and read of the Bible speaking and mentioning the Holy Spirit.

The third person of the Trinity

And in the Gospel of Luke we have seen the Holy Spirit at work in peoples lives such as:

John the Baptist - being told “he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb...”

Mary - conceiving Jesus in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit

Elizabeth - Luke 1:41 “And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb.

And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,”

Mary’s Magnificent

and Zechariah’s prophecy - Luke 1:67 “And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,”

So it’s very clear although Jesus is still a baby, we evidently see the working of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel of Luke:

So what will we learn from this text this morning?

We will learn that the Holy Spirit not only fills us as Christians; but He leads us into everlasting life; as we behold Christ and the Peace, consolation, and salvation He offers this morning.

So it’s important for us to see the Holy Spirit, He is at work in the righteous; right now.

Our Text this morning is Luke 2:22-32

Please stand for the reading of God’s Word

Pray

Background of Text:

Last Sunday we read of how the Shepherds were met by the angle’s and the glory of the Lord in the face of Jesus Christ was revealed to them.

So now starting in verse 22 in the section of Luke titled, “Jesus Presented at the Temple”

Luke 2:21 “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.”

This Presentation at the temple and purification would of occurred 33 days after Jesus circumcision

Circumcised that way he would show to be apart of God’s covenantal people, and it was according to the Law

Luke 2:22 “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”

So why would Jesus the Son of God need to do such things?

(both be purified and presented)

Surly it’s clear to Jospeh and Mary right that Jesus is Set apart; and No ordinary child right?

Yes, while Jesus is the Son of God, born into the world so we see for Him there was no special treatment; there was no partially shown to him; as we know he was born in a trough that was used to feed horses out of (many of us can’t say the same)

See we notice this “time came for purification and presentation” and it must be done according to the Law of Moses

Jesus, we know never sinned and or disobeyed the Fathers commands or Law; “therefore the Law of Moses must be fulfilled in HIs life to then therefore be something that he obeyed” - therefore fulfilling all the Law so He at the end of his life would be truly the perfect Savior.

So yes we read of God’s sovereignty and providence over His Son’s life even as a new born, even in the tiny details

So why the time for purification?

The new Mother, (Mary) would enter the temple to purify herself and her family; “their purification”

From the impure postnatal bleeding and the contact family must have had with her

We read of this in Leviticus chapter 12: - If you want to look at it more...

The idea of purification; is if you a women of God, have just brought a sinner into the world; so your body and your family needs purification

But we know Jesus the one who knew no sin, who was born of the Holy Spirit (righteous) had absolutely no need for purification

But according to the Law of Moses this must be done, this “purification and presenting.”

When it speaks of “according to the Law of Moses…”

Meaning God’s OT revelation

“they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it written in the Law of the Lord) Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord,

It was said in the “Law of the Lord” - the Scriptures,

So their was a moment that Jesus would officially be presented; and or dedicated to the Lord as Mary and Joseph’s Firstborn Son.

As it would of been for all Jewish babies born in this time.

Exodus 13:11-16 ““When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb.

And in the presenting of Jesus to the Father, so something was needed “and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

When someone was offering something to God, so it was a serious matter, and it was at a cost in this case to Jospeh and Mary

So in this time Mary and Joseph didn’t have enough money for a Lamb, (which was originally used)

But the law made a provision that birds such as these two types could be used when a newborn was presented to the Lord in the Temple

The law made a provision that the lamb would be spared; because it wasn’t yet time for the lamb to be slain

Now our text takes a turn a bit; as we have learned what Joseph, Mary and Jesus are coming to Jerusalem to do (purification and presentation)

So they do not know whom they are about to meet...

Luke 2:25 “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.”

“Jerusalem” - the same place they were headed; from Bethlehem

And introduce Simeon - a man whom we can see has been labeled with the same language such a Zechariah and Elizabeth in…

Luke 1:6 “And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.”

Righteous - meaning innocent

Devout - meaning God fearing (exhibiting careful religious practice and proper care towards God and His commands)

In other words he took God’s promises seriously!

Simeon’s name actually meaning - obedience

So what was Simeon, this man in Jerusalem waiting on?

“…for the consolation of Israel…”

Consolation - Comforted, and why would Israel need this comforting?

Israel, God’s people had been in this time waiting; to hear from God

Remember God was silent for 400 years, but a light had began to shine in the darkness for the world.

OT Passages speaking of the consultation to come:

See Simeon knew consolation would come at some time, Simeon was a man of the Scriptures

See a righteous, devout, obedient and discerning man; is not a man who is not in the Word, but a man who can’t help but be in the Word.

We can see these verse’s of consolation spoken of in the book of Isaiah, the prophet:

Isa 40:1 “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.”

Isa 49:13 “Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing!

For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.”

So Simeon is waiting on the comfort to come for Israel God’s people (who had been waiting for a long time for this comfort)

And what else does it say about Simeon?

He was not only waiting for the consolation, or comfort but…

“…the Holy Spirit was upon him.

And it had been revealed to him….

by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

Today as we see the Holy Spirit was ‘Upon him”

Today can we be reminded that the Holy Spirit lives in us Christians, we are not apart of weak Kingdom; but the most powerful Kingdom to ever life.

Romans 8:11 “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

And the Holy Spirit had “revealed” something to him.

This word “revealed ” to him… - meaning in the greek divine oracle or command

And so we have Simeon, righteous, devout and waiting to be comforted; and the Holy Spirit is upon him and the Holy Spirit is now revealing something to Him.

Has the Holy Spirit ever Divinely, revealed to you something From God’s revealed Word *the Bible lately?

For me this morning it was the promise to not worry about tomorrow.

Well Shaun that isn’t divine?

(it is when I wasn’t expecting it in a message from one of my brothers in Christ, KC)

Luke 2:26 “And it had been revealed to him…by the Holy Spirt that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

(This was extremely specific and this righteous man Simeon was sure of it) - A man full of faith...

“that he would not see” - meaning to cause to happen or to perceive by sight....”not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ”

We read of the Holy Spirit, having revealed to Simeon, who actually may be elderly.

That before he dies, or “sees death” He first before death on earth will see...

“see the Lord’s Christ”

Remember how we talked of this consolation; that which he was waiting on; that comfort?

Well it seems the Holy Spirit is leading Him to the one who is peace!

Luke 2:14 ““Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!””

And so in verse 27 we will see Simeon doesn’t stay put in the location he is at, but he was led by the Holy Spirit “to the temple”

Let me talk really fast about moments where we are led by the Holy Spirit:

When we went to east Asia, London and Ghana on Mission Trips