Remember When (Message 2)

Two Lessons for This Series:

1. The people in the Christmas story are marked by WISDOM and OBEDIENCE, which is what makes this account so powerful and effective.

2. One of the best ways to celebrate Christmas is to “remember when” Jesus was born into your HEART, and then to LIVE in obedience.

A Few Reminders:

The early Christians celebrated Christmas on December 25 because it aligned with a ROMAN holiday, even though the Bible teaches that Jesus was born in SEPTEMBER.

The Christmas story actually CONTINUES for 40 days past the BIRTH of Jesus.

One of the PURPOSES of this account is to give people EVIDENCE of the birth of the Lord. A Jewish principle was the “testimony of three witnesses.” (Shepherds, Simeon, Anna)

Deut. 19:15 . . . A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Matt. 18:16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’

And a Review of Last Week’s Study

The shepherds were the FIRST witnesses to the birth of the Messiah on the VERY NIGHT He was born.

At the age of 8 days, the baby was CIRCUMCISED and given the name JESUS or “God (Jahweh) is salvation.”

At the age of 40 days, Jesus was taken to the TEMPLE to be dedicated and Mary offered a SACRIFICE for purification.

Simeon — The Second Witness

Luke 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

Simeon is a FASCINATING character and this passage is the ONLY place that he is mentioned in the Bible. (He was in the LATTER years of his life as were others in the Christmas story.)

The name “Simeon” means “the Lord has HEARD.”
Gen. 29:33 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.

Simeon was RIGHTEOUS and DEVOUT.

Righteous — TRUSTING in God ALONE.
Matt. 1:19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
Mark 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. . . .

Devout — Living a life of OBEDIENCE.

Acts 10:2 He (Cornelius) and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.

Simeon was waiting for the CONSOLATION (παράκλησις paraklēsis) of Israel. Consolation indicates a “CONSOLER” or a “counselor” (another term for the Messiah).
John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor (παράκλητος paraklētos) to be with you forever— (NIV 1984)

Simeon was a UNIQUE individual because of his relationship with the HOLY SPIRIT.
Luke 2:25 . . . and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.

— The Spirit was “ON HIM.” — Before the Holy Spirit was given to believers, the Holy Spirit would “rest on” a person for a particular MINISTRY or event. (Have you ever thought about how many people of the Christmas story were filled with the Spirit?)

— The Spirit had “REVEALED to him.” — Somehow the Holy Spirit had SPOKEN to Simeon and revealed to him what would happen BEFORE he died. This is highly UNUSUAL!

— The Spirit “MOVED him” to the right PLACE. — When a person is obedient, the Holy Spirit GUIDES them to their “God appointments” or “GOD-INCIDENCES.”

At the same MOMENT that Simeon arrived in the temple courts, Mary and Joseph ARRIVED with their baby. NONE of these people were EXPECTING this meeting!

Mary and Joseph were looking for a PRIEST to dedicate the baby, Jesus, because this was what the LAW required. So, was Simeon a PRIEST?
Luke 2:27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,

— NO one KNOWS for sure.

— But the Bible does not CALL him a priest, he was moved by the Holy Spirit to GO to the TEMPLE, and he does not offer the baby a BLESSING (although he does bless the parents).

— However, he was most certainly a PROPHET.

Simeon TOOK the baby into his arms, and praised God. His actual words were “My Absolute RULER (Lord), you have fulfilled your PROMISE to me so now you can allow me to DIE.”

Simeon’s next words were even more ASTOUNDING . . .

Walk the Talk

What are some new things that you have learned about the Christmas story in our study of the Gospel of Luke?

Why three witnesses?

What was the most interesting thing you read or learned about Simeon? Why?

What did you learn about the work of the Holy Spirit?

Do you think that Simeon was a priest? Why did God use him this way?

How could this study and Scripture be applied to your life?