Luke 2:25-35 – A Rude Awakening Sermon by Andy Rupert

Tyler52 said:

At the beginning of the chapter, there was great joy when the angel announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds. The shepherds visited Joseph and Mary and told everyone about what they had heard and seen. When we left them, they were praising God for allowing them to see the new-born Savior of the world.

When we come to Luke 2:25-35, a number of days have passed since Jesus was born. He was circumcised on the eight day and about a month later was brought back to the temple with the required sacrifice. The new parents are still learning how to cope with having a new-born and they are trying to figure our how to support themselves while away from home. When they arrived at the temple to offer their sacrifice, they were surprised by another God-appointed conversation.

1. What does it say?
   
   There was a man named Simeon in Jerusalem. He was just, devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before seeing the Lord’s Christ. The Spirit led him to the temple that day. When Joseph and Mary brought the Child to the temple to offer the appropriate sacrifice, Simeon took the Child in his arms and blessed God. He said,
   
   “Lord, you are now allowing Your servant to depart in peace
   According to what You said.
   My eyes have seen Your salvation,
   Which You have prepared before all people,
   A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
   And the glory of Your people Israel.”
   
   Joseph and Mary were surprised at the things which were said about Jesus. Then Simeon blessed them and spoke to Mary His mother. “Look, this child is destined to cause the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will also pierce your own soul), that the thoughts of many hearts might be revealed.”
   
   
2. What does it mean?
   
   Simeon knew the Lord well (Luke 2:25-27a).
   
   Simeon lived in Jerusalem around the time that Jesus was born. He is described in four ways. He was righteous in the sense that he did what was right and wanted to please the Lord. He was devout in that he faithfully carried out God’s commandments. He was waiting for the Consolation of Israel. This is another name for the Messiah who would eventually console Israel after all her troubles (see Isa. 40:1-2). He was filled with the Holy Spirit. This means that the Holy Spirit was actively directing him, and he willingly followed his leading.
   
   The last thing Luke tells us about Simeon was that the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. I am not sure how old Simeon was at this time, but he seemed to be ready to go (2:29). So, I would imagine that he must have been fairly old. Year after year, he waited for the Christ to appear with no results. And then one day, the Spirit led him to the temple.
   
   Simeon knew who Jesus was (Luke 2:27b-33).
   
   Mary and Joseph were “required by the Law not only to have Jesus circumcised (Lev. 12:3), but also to present their firstborn to God (Ex. 13:2, 12) 33 days later and to bring an offering for Mary’s purification after childbirth (Lev. 12:1-8).”1 On this particular day, they were bringing the sacrifice when Simeon met them. It may seem strange today for an old man to pick up someone else’s baby in his arms, but this was a different time and place. This was a godly man who was known for his godliness, and he may even have been part of the ceremony.
   
   After picking up the Baby, Simeon recognized who He was. The Spirit must have revealed this to him. He then blessed God and gave a short speech about the Child. He recognized that Jesus was the Lord’s Christ.Remember how the Spirit had told him he would not die until he saw the Lord’s Christ. The Spirit now told him that this Child was the Christ. Simeon knew that he could die now that he had seen the Baby. He recognized that Jesus was the promised Savior. He had seen the Savior with his own eyes. This brings to mind what the angel told Joseph (Matt. 1:21). Jesus would be the One who would save His people from their sins. He recognized that Jesus was for all people.To this point, the Jewish people seemed to be the only focus of God’s blessing. They were His promised people. However, there were a number of instances when God worked in the lived of people outside of Israel (Rahab, Ruth, Naaman, Nebuchadnezzar, Nineveh). But this Child would change that as “all peoples” would be affected and a light would bring revelation to Gentiles and glory to Israel.
   
   All of this brought great joy to this man of God. But Joseph and Mary were amazed at what Simeon said. What could all this mean?
   
   Simeon knew the future of the Child (Luke 2:34-35).
   
   After praising God for bringing the Christ into the world, Simeon turned to the parents and blessed them. This involved talking directly to the Child’s mother, Mary. He told her that the Child was destined to cause many in Israel to fall and rise. “Throughout His ministry Jesus proclaimed that the only way to the kingdom … was to follow Him. The ones who did so would receive salvation; they would ‘rise.’ But the ones who did not believe Him would not receive salvation; they would ‘fall.'”2 Consider several example on both sides. “Judas despairs, Peter repents; one robber blasphemes, the other confesses.”3 The Pharisees rejected Him, while the disciples believed Him.
   
   He also told her that the Child would be a sign that would be spoken against. What did this mean? Simeon said that He would be a sign spoken against, a sword would pierce Mary’s soul, and the thoughts of many hearts would be revealed. Jesus’ life would be a sign to many people. Sadly, many would not understand this sign and would reject Him. “That this is what actually happened is clear from Luke 4:28, 29; John 6:41, 52; 8:13, 31-59, to cite but a few references.”4 This (along with His future death) would be like a sword through the heart for Mary. But their response to Jesus would reveal the thoughts of each individual heart.
   
   Think of how Joseph and Mary must have responded to Simeon’s revelation. “Hitherto Mary (and Joseph) had heard only the glorious part of Jesus’ work, now she hears also the painful part, which is almost unbelievable and yet sure to come, for by the Spirit Simeon spoke true words of revelation and prophecy, they were uttered under divine inspiration.”5 All of the hopes and dreams of being the mother of the Messiah were now clashing with what Simeon has said. Was Jesus’ birth something that would bring peace on earth or division?
   
   
3. How does it apply?
   
   Are you a Spirit-filled believer like Simeon?
   
   Simeon was a godly man whom the Spirit filled. He willingly lived his life for the Lord as conscientiously as he could. And on this occasion, the Spirit used Simeon to reveal the future of Jesus to Joseph and Mary. Whenever we see someone being used by God in a special way, it is often the result of that person being filled with the Spirit. This is an act of God but is also a response of the individual. God wanted to use them and the person voluntarily allowed God to use him.
   
   Are you willing to allow the Holy Spirit to use you? Christians are challenged to “be filled with the Spirit.” This means that we must allow the Holy Spirit to direct us to do His will rather than our own. Are you allowing the Spirit to direct you today? This begins with the simple tasks of reading your Bible and praying on a regular basis. And it continues with actively being ready to do God’s will at any moment. Are you willing?
   
   Do you believe that Jesus is for all?
   
   Simeon mentioned that the Baby would be “a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles.” For the Jewish people, this may have been a shock. The Messiah was to be their Savior, the Consolation of Israel. Why were the Gentiles included? But this was God’s plan. Jesus was to be the Savior of the world not just for Israel.
   
   While we often look down upon ancient Israel for not caring for Gentiles, I wonder if we act that way sometimes. Are there some people who seem like they should be outside the circle of God’s care? What about the drug addict, the drunkard, the lazy person at work, the terrorist, the criminal, and the enemy soldiers? Do you really believe that Jesus came to die for all? Then act like it.
   
   Are you willing to face opposition for Jesus?
   
   When Simeon told Mary about the coming difficulties involving her Son, there must have been some surprise and many questions. After all the angels had promised, how could it be that the Child would cause such division. Some would rise and some would fall. He would be a sign spoken against. A sword would pierce her own soul. This was more than she had expected.
   
   This is something that we should remember as well. As we speak for the Lord in the coming week, there will be some who will stand against us. It will not be easy when some reject what we tell them. It might even be a painful experience. But are you willing to go through that rejection for the Lord? It will be difficult but as we present Christ to the sinful world, their response will not always be enjoyable. But don’t give up. Keep speaking and allow the gospel to penetrate the hearts of those who need the Savior.

Conclusion
After all the excitement from the first part of the chapter, the message of Simeon seems to be a downer. The angel wasn’t wrong. The shepherds weren’t wrong. It was right to respond with joy and praise to God. But Simeon brings us back to reality. There are some hard things to consider at Christmas. There are some who don’t want to hear about the Savior because they don’t like to hear that they are a sinner needing a Savior. But we, like the shepherds, shouldn’t focus on the response of people. Instead, we should focus on the wonderful gift of Jesus as the Savior of all who believe. Some will reject Him but others will receive Him. So, let’s get the message out so that some will respond in faith.
Bibliography
Hendriksen, William, Exposition of the Gospel According to Luke, Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004, orig. 1978.
Lenski, R. C. H., The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel, Columbus: The Wartburg, 1951, orig. 1946.
Martin, John A., “Luke” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, USA: SP Publications, 1983.
Plummer, Alfred, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel According to S. Luke, Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1975, orig. 1896.
Footnotes

1. Martin 209. ↩︎
2. Martin 209. ↩︎
3. Plummer 70. ↩︎
4. Hendriksen 170. ↩︎
5. Lenski 155. ↩︎

Luke 2:25-35 – A Rude Awakening – Calvary Baptist Church of Willard

calvarywillard.org

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