Luke 2:25-35 Songs of Christmas

Upon His birth, Jesus Christ was welcomed and introduced by a few different people described in Luke 2. Each of them had praises or songs for Jesus. One of those that had a Christmas Song was Simeon.

Simeon is described in v.25 as “just and devout” meaning he was justified in the eyes of God and devout or reverent and respectful of God. He was a believer in the Lord.

He also was waiting on the Lord and looking forward to the coming of the consolation of Israel. Consolation means comfort, removing distress of mind.  The prophets of Israel said a Savior would be coming and Simeon looked forward to that day of comfort.

And we can see when He did find Christ, he was ready to leave Earth and go to Heaven. Death caused no anxiety for Simeon because of his Heavenly expectation.

Simeon’s faith in the Lord and expectation of the coming Christ and leaving earth to be with the Lord in Heaven all describe him as a fitting representative of the righteousness of the Old Testament. Consider how Paul describes the righteousness of the saints we read of in the Old Testament and hear the expectation of a promise of a Savior to come and a Heavenly home they looked forward to: These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:13-16)

The faith of the saints in Hebrews 11 is the faith of Simeon. And in Luke 2, we read that Simeon, the representative of the righteousness of the Old Testament held the Christ, who gives the righteousness of the New Testament!

There are no coincidences in the Bible! God ordained the events we read of for a reason! He is almighty and just!  You can trust God's Word.

Regrets of Secret Disciples

Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus prepared Jesus' body for burial.  In John 19, Joseph is recorded as a disciple who followed Jesus in secret and we are reminded once again that Nicodemus came to Jesus by night.  Both feared the Jews and their retaliation if they owned Christ publicly.  But when they saw Jesus hanging on the cross, they regretted being a "secret disciple" and not walking with Christ and serving him when He was alive.  They came to Pilate publicly and buried him, no longer caring what people thought of them and their stand for the Savior.  They regretted their lack of a walk with Christ and did something about it.  Do you have regrets about your current spiritual life?  What are you doing to change it?  You'll never regret taking a public stand for Christ and living for Him!

Your World

Jesus hung on the cross and declared "It is finished."  What was finished?  He was the perfect sacrifice that was finished for the whole world.  In John 19, he hung on a cross for all humanity. 

But it was also finished for your world.  All prophecies throughout the Old Testament pointing towards this moment were fulfilled at Calvary and yet, Jesus, in his agony, hung there and continued to show concern for individuals that stood at the foot of the cross.  Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus, stood there looking up at her dying son. It is believed that Joseph, her husband, was dead and now her eldest son would soon be dead too.  What would she do?  How would she care for herself?  Her little world was crumbling around her, but Jesus knew that and took care of her too.  He looked at John, the disciple standing next to her and appointed him to care for her in our Lord's absence.  If someone is missing in your life, Jesus can fill the hearts and places that are now empty.  It was finished for the whole world, but it was also finished for your world.

Evil Used for Good

The river Pharaoh ordained for the destruction of Moses was the river God ordained for the deliverance of Moses! The Egyptian household that sought to destroy Israel would now educate and raise the leader God would use to deliver Israel! That's my God! (Exodus Chptrs 1&2)

Genesis 49: The Costs of Instability

Jacob spent his last days in Egypt. It was there that he called his sons to him to bless them as recorded in Genesis 49. Consider first what he said of Reuben:

Genesis 49:3-4 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

Reuben had many advantages and privileges. He was the firstborn child, the oldest, entitled to the birthright. Jacob had great expectations for Reuben and counts him as the beginning of his strength, a man of great dignity and power. He had a lot going for him and there was no reason to expect him to ruin himself.

But Reuben disgraced himself. In Genesis 35, we learn that Reuben slept with Bilhah, Jacob’s concubine. Why did Reuben do this? Jacob describes him in Genesis 49 as “unstable as water.”

How is water unstable? Here, “unstable” means: recklessness, wantonness and unbridled license. Water does not control itself or deny itself from flowing. You can’t stop it. My garden hose sprung a leak and I put electrical tape on the hose, but the water would not be denied, it just leaked around the edges of the tape. When a dam breaks and the river valley is flooded, the water will not be denied – it goes wherever it pleases and fills every nook and cranny. Water knows no limitations.

How was Reuben unstable as water?  On the one hand, Reuben could do right: He attempted in Genesis 42 to spare Joseph’s life. But on the other hand, he lay with his father’s concubine. Reuben lacked self-control, had no respect for boundaries or limits to self-will and selfish desires. Unstable does not like “no” for an answer.  He had no respect for his father, was consumed by his lust and was not thoughtful in his decision-making.

What did Reuben’s instability cost him? His strength, his dignity and power. He had great promise, he could have excelled or done well considering his advantages as the firstborn; but he threw it all away because he would not allow his flesh to be denied. No judge, prophet or ruler ever came from the tribe of Reuben.

He fostered an attitude of settling for less in the hearts of his descendants. Later, all the tribes of Israel were promised land on the west side of Jordan, but the enemies on the west side had to be defeated in battle to get it. And God promised the victory. The tribe of Reuben had no desire to excel and essentially told Moses, “the grass is green on the east side, we’ll help the other tribes fight on the west side, but let us have our portion on the east side.” So much for might, power and strength! The tribe of Reuben was lazy and took no initiative to get the best God had for them. They settled for less!

He lost his reputation. It had been forty years since Reuben went into Bilhah, but it was not forgotten. Proverbs 6:32-33 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

What can Christians learn from Reuben? Like Reuben, Christians have a lot of advantages in our salvation through faith in Christ, the Bible, the opportunity to have a prayer life, join a church and serve God. We have much potential there for the taking – IF WE DESIRE IT!

Respect the boundaries God puts in your life. If there is something you want and God said “no”, leave it alone. Why hurt yourself? Many a Christian failed to excel because they did not respect the boundaries God established. They would not allow themselves to be denied what they want and they sidelined themselves in the work of the Lord.

Remain stable and steadfast. Stability is a hallmark of Christian maturity. The mature Christian is stable, steadfast, diligent, consistent and dependable. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Many a Christian could have excelled, but, like Reuben, they were unstable. They walked with Christ for a little while and then stopped. Proverbs 24:21-22 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

II Samuel 12: When God Says "No"

In II Samuel 12, God told David that his son would die. Like any loving parent, David wanted his son to live and prayed that God would spare him. He fasted and prayed for seven days and then the child died. God did not heal the him as David asked in prayer. Essentially, God said “No, your child will not live.”

How did David respond when God said “No”? How should we respond when God says “No”?

First, when David heard that God did not chose to heal the child and his son was with the Lord, David rose up from fasting and praying, washed and anointed himself, went home and had something to eat.

In other words, he continued on with his life even though God did not answer his prayer like he hoped God would. He did not sulk, reach for a gallon of cookie dough ice cream and a ladle and watch an Andy Griffith marathon.

When God makes it clear that he’s not going to answer your prayer just the way you want it, don’t let yourself go; rise up and move on with life following the Lord’s leading.

Second, David worshipped the God that did not answer his prayer as he desired. He didn’t get angry with God, he didn’t stop believing in God, he continued to trust the Lord and give God praise. When your prayers are not answered, don’t blame God, trust in Him. Why chose to get angry with God? What good does that do? God doesn’t desire you to do that. If you let yourself get angry at God for not answering your prayer and forsake the Lord, the Devil is the only one that wins.

Notice also that David didn’t decided he needed to take time off from worshipping the Lord to figure out what to do next. On the contrary, he realized a great need to praise God for the Lord’s sovereignty in his life.

Third, David’s servants did not understand his walk with the Lord – praying when the child was alive, but not praying when he was dead. Don’t require and don’t expect others to understand a faithful walk with the Lord.

Fourth, David did not become selfish and withdraw from his family. That child that died was also Bathsheeba’s. It’s one thing for a father to lose a seven-day-old baby, but far more difficult for a mother. She was distraught and he comforted her.

If David chose to sulk, have a pity party and watch Andy Griffith all day, he would have no time or interest in comforting his wife during that time of grieving. Even though David didn’t get what he prayed for, he continued on with life, thinking about others.

David consoled Bathsheeba, but who consoled David? No one. David only had the Lord to lean on. And so it is for many a husband/father that needs to be strong in the Lord themselves in order to be a comfort and encouragement to the rest of the family. After seven days of prayer and fasting, David had the quiet strength to be an asset to his family, rather than a selfish and sulking liability.

Next time God says "no", remember the example of David.

John 14: Looking Forward to My Father's House

At the last supper, the apostles were very concerned about Jesus leaving them and what they were supposed to do in His absence. Their first cause for alarm was Jesus’ announcement that one of them would betray him (John 13:21). The second was his declaration of his departure to a place they could not go to (John 13:33).

As our loving God, Jesus recognized their hearts were troubled: (14:1-2) and he encourages them by declaring that in His Father’s House, there are many mansions. Or, in Heaven, there is plenty of room for all believers to join Him when they exit this earth.

But even for believers that have the assurance of a Heavenly home, we don’t really look forward to the end of this life. The circumstances of death, our lack of experience with exiting this world for Heaven, the silence and distance between ourselves and loved ones that have gone on before us all rob the promise of eternal life of the excitement we think it really deserves.

But how all that fear melts away when we consider Heaven as “My Father’s House”!

Can you remember your childhood in your Mother and/or Father’s house? Not all childhoods were the same, but if you had a fond childhood, you can remember not having any worries or cares like you now have in adulthood. You had all your needs met and felt very secure. As you flip through pictures of yourself when you were four years old, look at the activities: playing, eating, getting and giving hugs, opening presents or petting an animal. You had no responsibility to provide meals, income, fixing things broken in the house, keep a schedule or pay bills. And your health was probably a lot better too!

Chapter 14 is a continuation of the conversation started in Chapter 13 where we find Jesus addressing the Apostles as “little children” in v.33. Christ had a great concern for them as a parent does for their children.

And Jesus reminds these grown men that he calls “little children” of that simple, worry-free childhood, that is similar in some sense to eternity in our Father’s house, a blessed homestead for the family of God forever! No schedule, worries, no responsibilities, no deadlines.

I watch my four year old and six year old playing around the house – they have no cell phone alarm ringing to tell them what they need to do, they don’t know the pressure of finances, health concerns, they don’t know what the President is doing, they don’t understand how wicked this world really is. I don’t mean to humanize or trivialize our Father’s House in heaven, but it certainly is a much simpler and uncomplicated eternal life believers have to look forward to.

Those simple childhood days on earth may be long past, but believers can look forward to their renewal in a far greater form in Heaven where no evil can come to us, all wants are supplied, the battle with sin and the flesh is over and we’ll be “Little children in our Father’s House” forever more!