Luke 2:21-40

Luke 2:21-40

‘Tis The Season

I. Tis always the season to celebrate Jesus, so we must continually, faithfully, and obediently set Him apart in our lives (Vv. 21-24, 39-40)

a. Joseph and Mary were obedient to follow God’s law. All male children had to be circumcised on the 8^th day after birth; it was at this time, that Jesus publicly received His name. Then a little over one month after birth, and combined with the conclusion of Mary’s 40-day purification period and her ceremonial cleansing through the sacrifice of two doves or young pigeons, Jesus, her first-born Son, was presented to God at the temple. The purpose of the law was to turn God’s people continually back to Him, and to remind them of their inability to satisfy His perfect law, and their need for His forgiveness and grace. This passage functions to remind us, who belong to Jesus, that His Name means, “Yahweh Saves” or “The LORD is salvation”, and that we desperately and daily need the One who came to fulfill the whole law. If we have repented and placed our faith in His finished work, then He’s set us apart to God in Himself, and we must continually, faithfully, and obediently follow Him through His Word and our intimate relationship with Him. Only in following Him, and continually, faithfully, and obediently setting ourselves apart for Him, and trusting fully in His grace, mercy, and love, will we grow to know the true depth of the grace and peace for which He set us apart. (Vv. 21-24; Gen. 17:9-14; Exod. 13:2; Lev. 12:2-8; Numb. 18:15-17; Matt. 1:21; 5:17-20; John 17:17-21; Gal. 4:4-9; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 7:25-28; 1 Pet. 1:1-2)

II. Tis always the season to celebrate Jesus, so we must continually look for Him and praise Him for who He is (Vv. 25-35)

a. At the temple, we meet Simeon. Simeon lived a life before God and men in accordance with God’s righteous standards, he was filled with the Holy Spirit, he looked continually towards God’s reconciliation for all people through His Messiah, and he trusted God’s promise to him through the Holy Spirit that he wouldn’t die until he had seen the Messiah. Led by the Holy Spirit to go to the temple that day, he was obedient to listen and go. He knew Jesus to be the One who would reveal the light of God’s salvation to the Gentiles and the glory of God’s people in the world. He also prophesied that Jesus would be eternal salvation to many, but a stone stumbling to many others. He prophesied the agony in which Mary would endure as a result of Jesus’ sacrificial ministry. Simeon lived every day celebrating God’s promises, and looking forward to them. He was certain that God is eternally good, and that His plans for him and humanity are just as good and eternal. Because he believed God and continually looked for what He was doing and listened to Him, Simeon recognized Jesus immediately, and could praise God fully and enjoy Him for who He is. Too often we miss what God is doing, because we don’t set our minds on who Jesus is. There’s not a season when who Jesus is and what He came to do shouldn’t be the motivational foundation for all we do and who we are! If we desire the peace that Simeon had, we must be continually reminded of the eternal nature of Jesus and His work of salvation in our lives! (Vv. 25-35; Ps. 22: 12-18; 98:2-3; Isa. 8:14-15; 28:16; 40:1, 5; 42:6-8; 46:13; 49:6, 13; 51:3-4; 52:10; 53:1-12; 60:1-3; 66:13; John 1:1-5, 12-13, 29; 3:16-21, 36; 8:12; 1 Cor. 1:18-25; Phil. 2:5-8; Col. 1:12-14; 3:1-4; 2 Tim. 4:6-8; 1 Pet. 2:6-8; 2 Pet. 3:11-14; 1 John 4:14; 5:12-13)

III. Tis always the season to celebrate Jesus, so we must continually serve His will and purpose and share His gospel with all people (Vv. 36-38)

a. Also at the temple that day, and as Luke describes her, every other day, was an 84-year-old widow and prophetess named Anna. Anna was dedicated to keeping herself constantly in the presence of God and serving Him in prayer and fasting. Because she was continually serving God’s will and purpose in His presence, she was continually and daily looking to His promises and provisions which had faithfully sustained her for many years. She recognized God’s ultimate provision of reconciliation and peace for all people immediately, and reacted by thanking God and telling everyone else also looking for Hope! The message of Christmas, that Light and Life has come into the world, is a message that has no season. It’s always our directive to share the good news of great joy which is for all the people. A Savior was born, He lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death, defeated sin and death, He redeems those who turn repentantly and faithfully to Him, and makes intercession for all who belong to Him. Anna found all she needed every day in the presence of God; and we find all we need for every day and every season in Christ! (Vv. 36-40; Ps. 22; Isa. 53; Luke 2:10-11; Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 4:12, 19-20; 2 Cor. 4:13; 5:14-21; Eph. 2:1-10; 1 Pet. 3:14-17)