Luke 2:25-35

ONLY ONE CHRISTMAS

 

People celebrate Christmas in different ways. Some of you will have big Christmas dinner at home. Others will go out to eat either to a restaurant or someone’s home. Some of you will open presents Christmas Eve, others will open them Christmas morning. Some will read the Christmas story. Some will have a real tree, while some will have an artificial tree. Some have no tree. Many will hang stockings and/or mistletoe. Some of you will Christmas carol and/or visit shut-ins.

 

However, how would you celebrate Christmas if it you only had one? That’s right. You would know in advance that say, this Christmas would be the only Christmas that you would ever celebrate?  In the Bible there is such a man. His name was Simeon, who was promised that he would not die until he saw the Lord’s Christ, that is the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. Most of us believe that Simeon was an old man. After seeing the Lord Jesus he proclaimed, Now let thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word.

 

This can be said for Simeon: He was a man with only one Christmas, but he was a man who celebrated Christmas in a way that was honoring and pleasing to God. Simeon’s Christmas is a model of how you and I, who have more Christmases than he did, can and should celebrate.

 

SIMEON HAD A CHRISTMAS CHARACTER – Vss. 25-31

SIMEON HAD A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE – Vss. 32-35

Tonight we will examine Simeon’s Christmas Character and think about making it our own character.

Let’s set the scene from earlier verses in Luke 2.

 

Vss. 1-3 – Caesar Augustus, Roman Emperor, issued a decree that the whole world should be registered for taxation.

 

Vss. 4-5 – Joseph and Mary went together to be taxed in the city of Joseph’s ancestors, Bethlehem.

 

Vss. 6-7 – Mary had the Baby in a stable, and laid Him in the manger, because there was no room in the local inn.

 

Vss. 8-17 – Shepherds received the message of Jesus’ birth, made a visit, and told others.

 

Vs. 21 – Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day.

 

Vss. 22-24 – The wife was considered ceremonially impure for 40 days after the birth of a male child. She could not enter the temple. A sacrifice was to be offered. In this case, it was the sacrifice of a poorer person.

 

Also, Jesus was presented or dedicated in the temple, redeemed by a payment of 5 shekels.

 

Now Simeon enters the picture.

We do not know that he was a priest, or a Levite, or a scribe, or a ruler.

We only know that he was a godly man.

Very possible, he was what we would call a “layman”.

 

This reminds me that one does not have to have a bunch of degrees in the back of his name, or a title in front of his name to be used of God.

 

Be Godly! Serve Him faithfully, and God will use you.!

 

SIMEON HAD A CHRISTMAS CHARACTER – Vss. 25-31

 

Have you notice how people get what we call “Christmas Spirit”?

 

People who are grouchy all year round manage to be jolly at Christmastime. People who are stingy all year round, find some generosity at Christmastime. People who never go to church show up on Christmas Eve.

 

Simeon had Christmas spirit, but I’d call it Christmas character. He didn’t just have it at Christmastime. He had it all year round. We should follow Simeon’s example. God would be pleased if you and I had Christmas Spirit or character 365 days a year.

 

Let’s analyze this character:

 

·        SIMEON WAS RIGHTEOUS

 

Luke 2:25 - And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

 

The word in the KJV is “just”. This means “righteous”.

 

A man who is righteous in the Bible is not sinless. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are sinless. Man is not.

 

A man who is righteous is a man who is first right with God. What better way to celebrate Christmas than to be right with the one who sponsors Christmas, God the Father.  He sponsored Christmas by sending His Son.

   

You probably realize that nobody is naturally righteous in God’s eyes. You probably realize that we’ve all failed God.

 

Isaiah 64:6 - But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

 

It is only a person’s faith that makes a person righteous.

Four times in the Bible the statement is made, “The just shall live by faith.”

 

It is faith in Christ that saves.

Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

 

Those of us who have trusted Christ as Savior should not stop living righteously by faith.  The walk of faith is to be a daily experience.

 

2 Corinthians 5:7 - (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

 

Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

Read over Hebrews 11 sometime.

You will discover that Noah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David and others were people of faith. They were people had faith in God. 

 

Abraham is a prime example of this faith.

Genesis 15:6 - And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

 

As we try to live the Christian life, we should try to live it by faith.

As we try to share God’s Word it should be by faith.

 

If we try to witness, it should be by faith.

As we pray or even praise we should do it by faith.

The more we live by faith, the more righteous we will be.   

 

O for a faith that will not shrink,
‘Tho pressed by every foe,
That will not tremble on the brink
Of any earthly woe!

 

That will not murmur nor complain
Beneath the chastening rod,
But, in the hour of grief or pain,
Will lean upon its God;

 

A faith that shines more bright and clear
When tempests rage without
That when in danger knows no fear,
In darkness feels no doubt.

- William H. Bathurst Source unknown http://www.bible.org/illus/f/f-05.htm#TopOfPage

SIMEON WAS RIGHTEOUS

·        SIMEON WAS DEVOUT

 

According to W.E. Vine, this word means “Taking hold well, primarily cautious, signifies in the N.T. careful as to the realization of the presence and claims of God, reverencing God, pious.  

 

He was serious about his commitment to God.

He was reverent.

 

In our modern society it is so easy to start taking the things of God lightly. With all the non-religious books and television programs, and all the emphasis on shopping wrapping, cooking, and running errands it is easy to forget to be devout or reverent around the holidays.

 

We need to practice the presence of our Savior, listening for Him, and talking to Him, 365 days a year, but especially around the celebration of His birthday.

 

We sing a great hymn, “In the Garden”.

However do we practice what we sing?

 

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

 

John 15:3-4 - Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

 

I think of being devout as practicing the presence of God in my life. The more I am cognizant of Christ’s presence in and through me, the more devout I will be.

 

SIMEON WAS RIGHTEOUS

SIMEON WAS DEVOUT

·        SIMEON WAS WAITING

 

Who was Simeon waiting for?

He was waiting for the “consolation of Israel”.

Who or what was that?

 

It is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

The prophecy in Daniel 9 concerning Israel’s Messiah was close to the time of fulfillment. Simeon evidently knew this. So, he was waiting for Israel’s Messiah.

 

Just as Simeon was waiting for the first coming of Jesus, the Messiah, we should be waiting for the second coming of Jesus the Messiah.

   

John 14:2-3 - In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 

Titus 2:11-13 - For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 

A tourist who visited an exquisite garden on a lovely estate in Italy spoke to the caretaker: “How long have you been here?” he asked.

“Twenty-five years.”

“And how often has the owner been to see the estate?”

“Four times.”

“When did he come last?”

“Twelve years ago.”

“Who comes then to look after things?”

“I am left pretty much alone.”

“Yet you keep the garden so spic-and-span that one would think you were expecting the owner tomorrow.”

“Today, sir, today! replied the caretaker.”

Source unknown, http://www.bible.org/illus/nt/nt-733.htm#TopOfPage   

 

SIMEON WAS RIGHTEOUS

SIMEON WAS DEVOUT

SIMEON WAS WAITING

·        SIMEON WAS HOLY SPIRIT CONTROLLED

 

and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

 

The Holy Ghost rested upon Simeon. Today, each child of God has the Holy Spirit living inside of him.

 

John 14:16-17 - And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

 

Today we are to be filled or controlled by the Holy Spirit.

 

Ephesians 5:18 - And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

 

Galatians 5:16 - This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

 

Luke 2:26 - And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

 

The Holy Ghost had told Simeon that death would not come until he, Simeon, had seen the Messiah.

Today God’s Holy Spirit has a teaching ministry.

As we study God’s Word, hear it preached and pray, the Holy Spirit will instruct us.

 

John 16:13 - Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

 

Luke 2:27 - And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

 

God’s Holy Spirit guided Simeon to be in the right place at the right time and led him to the right child.

 

As we are guided by God we will be at the right place at the right time.

I remember getting a call from a friend of mine saying that his wife’s brother and sister in-law who were missionaries, had just had an accident in the Albany area of New York where we were pastoring. One of the children was killed. The family was in two different hospitals. The Lord led me to another son, and gave me an opportunity to minister to him.   

   

SIMEON WAS RIGHTEOUS

SIMEON WAS DEVOUT

SIMEON WAS WAITING

SIMEON WAS HOLY SPIRIT CONTROLLED

·        SIMEON WAS GRATEFUL  

 

Luke 2:28 - Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

 

He blessed God!

He showed his gratitude.

He had seen the Lord’s salvation in a person, the Lord Jesus Christ.

   

He knew that God was faithful to Israel.

He knew that God was faithful to keep His promises.

He had much for which to be grateful, and knew it.

 

I fear that this is one part of the Christmas character that we often overlook.

We fail to say “thank you” to God and to praise Him.

We forget to be truly thankful for the gift of His Son at Christmastime.

 

But we also forget to be grateful year round. Things go wrong and we do not give thanks or worship. If we look around at what others are facing, very often we recognize God’s good hand upon us.

 

When we fail to look around and God continues to bless us, we often fail to recognize just how good God has been to us and we fail to say thank you.   

 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 

SIMEON WAS RIGHTEOUS

SIMEON WAS DEVOUT

SIMEON WAS WAITING

SIMEON WAS HOLY SPIRIT CONTROLLED

SIMEON WAS GRATEFUL

·        SIMEON WAS SUBMISSIVE

 

Luke 2:29 - Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

 

The word “now” is stressed here. He was ready to go according to the plan of God. There were no complaints, no begging God for more time. He had seen what God had promised and he was satisfied.

 

The word “Lord” here is not one which is frequently used in reference to God. It is only used 4 or 5 times.

 

“It carries the idea of being absolute owner of a man who had no rights against the owner, and is a slave.”   

 

In other words, Simeon recognized that God was his absolute owner.

Think of yourself.

Can you say that God has rights of ownership in your life? Of course He does!

But do you admit it? Do you submit to it?

 

God owns you because of creation.

God owns you because of redemption.

 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

 

The best gift we can possibly give to God is to recognize and accept His ownership and absolute rule in our lives.

 

Simeon only had one Christmas.

But He celebrated it with a Christmas charcter.   

 

SIMEON WAS RIGHTEOUS

SIMEON WAS DEVOUT

SIMEON WAS WAITING

SIMEON WAS HOLY SPIRIT CONTROLLED

SIMEON WAS GRATEFUL

SIMEON WAS SUBMISSIVE

 

Let us follow His example and display a Christmas character all the year round.