Luke 2.21-52 What must You Do?

Intro: It has been said, 'Life is like a coin. You are free to spend it any way you wish...but you can only spend it once!

  1. The Lord gave a Challenge thru the prophet Haggai to "Consider your ways! It was a Challenge not to live unexamined lives,
    1. but self-evaluation does not come easily.
  1. The hectic pace of our lives makes it difficult. Some are too busy !
    1. Others are just too comfortable with the way things are. Others shy away from it, knowing that it will be painful / but is necessary.
  1. I came across Five good questions that can help us examine our lives and see what changes are needed:
    1. Is your life consistent with your beliefs? In other words does Your lifestyle should match your theology.
    2. What do you find most enjoyable in life?
    3. Do you offer God your best or just the leftovers?
    4. What do you want people to remember you for?
    5. If you knew you had only one year left to live, how would your life be different?
  1. These are good questions to ponder - because the things that hold our passion - will be the things that we make our priorities.
    1. The things that we make our Priorities will determine how we will spend our lives .
  1. In the passage we are going to look at today we see 3 different scenes that will challenge us to consider our ways before the Lord .
    1. In the first scene we see a young couple coming to the temple v.21-24

Here we see that Joseph & Mary made following the Lord & Living according to the ways of the Lord a priority in their lives

  1. After 8 days - circumcision - Instructed by the Lord - also time of naming their son - Jesus - ( Lord instructed )
  1. Then 32 days latter they made the trip again from Beth. To Jerusalem for

the ritual of Purification- Lev. 12

  1. It was Required 40 days after birth go up & offer sacrifice of a lamb or two turtle doves - if poor -An act of dedicating first born to the Lord.
    1. Fact that they offered to Doves - Jesus parents were poor.
  1. Here we see Mary & Joseph Making it their priority to walk in His ways They are to be commended - for being obedient to the Lord -.

1) As a result they were blessed - for we read in v. 25 -38

In v. 25-38 we see that God had two people for them to meet - two people whom God would use to Bless & encourage them.

  1. These two stand out in scripture as great examples of how to grow old.

How to have Godly Priorities in our old age !

  1. Growing old is tough for almost everyone . Been said that old age is when you get out of the shower in the morning & you are glad the mirror is fogged up

1) Our society doesn’t look favorably on the aging process. -

  1. Arnold Twangby - historian declared on his 80th B. day I am glad that I am aging in England & not in America. America is the only society in History where the older he gets the more he is esteemed .
  1. Sad but true - More than any other society we are a culture that is infatuated w/ youth - feeling young / looking young staying young.
    1. And people start to get depressed when they get old - some start to give up - Not Simeon & Anna
  1. These two elderly saints are a great example to us of what it means to grow old gracefully . Lets consider them.

 

1st Simeon we want to look at who He was & then at what He said

  1. Tradition tells us that Simeon was 113yrs old - & we are told in v. 25 that he was a just & devout man.
  1. Just speaks of his relationship to other men / Just = dependable
    1. Devout speaks of his relationship to God. Devoted or devotional

Great combo - Dependable w/ People - Devoted to God.

  1. 2nd thing to note about Simeon was he was waiting for the Messiah. He was waiting for the Consolation of Israel = Messiah.
    1. 3rd He was filled w/ the Spirit.
    2. 4th thing to note is He hung out at the temple.
  1. So here is this old guy who is a just man - people liked him because he could be counted on - he said he would be there he would do this do it.
    1. And he was devoted to the Lord - He was a man of God , man of prayer . Filled w/ the spirit. H.S. was upon him.
  1. And he was a man who was waiting for the coming of the Lord .

1) He wasn’t hung up by a lot of peripheral things.

    1. And he hung out at the temple.
  1. So blessed by some of the older men in this body - who are always here soaking in the word . Donate time
    1. Who are not distracted by the World but waiting for Messiah.

Next lets look at what Simeon said to Mary & Joseph v. 27 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,

28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation

31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel." 33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.

34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against

35 "(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

Here was a man who was led by the Spirit of God, taught by the Word of God, and obedient to the will of God; waiting for the promise of God

  1. and he was privileged to see the salvation of God.

Result he began to praise the Lord.

A) Simeon’s song is a Song of Salvation.

1) Simeon declared 29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

  1. Simeon holds this baby in his arms and rejoices that he has seen the salvation of God .
    1. Now I can depart in peace he says - indication of his advanced age
  1. The word depart in the Greek has several meanings, and each of them tells us something about the death of a Christian.
    1. It means to release a prisoner, to untie a ship and set sail, to unyoke a beast of burden and to take down a tent

What a great description of what it happens to a person who gets saved.

  1. Released from the prison of sin & guilt - set free by the blood of Jesus!
  1. But not only set free but untied - like a ship that is now ready to sail.
    1. Before we came to Christ we were like a boat tied up at the dock - unable to please God - unable to really enjoy life the way God intended
  1. But in Jesus we have been untied & let lose to sail & like the wind empowers the sail boat to cruise through the water
    1. God’s spirit - empowers us to live our Christian lives & leads us to really enjoy & experience the kind of life that God has intended for us
  1. Spirit lead & Spirit empowered !

 

Salvation is also like taking the yoke off a beast of burden .

A) Jesus said in Matt. 11 28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

  1. People are burdened down by so many things these days - Finances / relationships / cares of this world / loneliness / fear of death.
    1. And the most burdening thing of all is Sin & its guilt
  1. Did you hear Jesus’ words to the burdened down - He didn’t say - If your burdened & weary do this or that - follow these 12 steps
    1. Live by these 4 principles - NO JESUS SAYS COME TO ME!!!!!

( Amy wants a drink - directions to fountain of climb on)

  1. Come to Christ - burdens are lifted - because he takes them and carries them for you . Jesus is our burden bearer !

Donald Grey Barnhouse & his wife were Leaving Honolulu for Japan when a woman on the plane asked them why they were traveling . Missionary trip to preach the gospel

"And why are you travelling?" he asked her.

"To get away from it all," was her reply.

But, "How can you get away from it all, when you have brought it all w/ you?"

"That's just the trouble," she answered. See This woman had brought her

unhappy self along.

  1. Christ says don’t try & run away - but come to me - and he lifts the burden off like the yoke being taken off of a oxen.

Salvation is also like a tent being taken down. How so ?

  1. This applies a great deal to what Simeon was experiencing in his old age.
  1. See the bible tells us that these bodies are a tent - that house our spirits / the real you .
    1. these bodies are merely the instruments that allow us to express ourselves to one another.
  1. Guess what - these bodies are going back to the dust - these tents are going down - but Jesus said in my fathers house are many mansions I am going to prepare a place for you .
  2. Not a bad trade - tent for a mansion - What is I were to take you show you a mansion - Yours / lit. dwelling places - new body - perfect unfallen -
    1. Simeon was saying now I can let down my tent in peace I’ve seen…..
  1. What about you today - what if today was your day - hope of Heaven.
  1. Are you experiencing the life the Lord intended for you ? Are you free or are you bound in sin - & guilt
    1. Are you sailing under the power of the spirit - or are you still tied up at the dock or rowing in the energy of your flesh
  1. Have you given your burdens this day to the burden bearer or are still carrying them.

1) So Simeon’s song is a salvation song - Salvation in every way.

Then Simeon stopped praising and started prophesying (34-35),

  1. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel.
  1. Now Peter declared in 1Pet.2: 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone," 8 and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
  1. Really two reactions to Jesus - stumble over Him & be saved - fall but rise up - or you can be crushed in unbelief.
    1. To the Jews Jesus was a stone of stumbling / & to the gentiles a rock

of offense

  1. Because of Jesus Christ, many in Israel would fall in conviction and then rise in salvation.

1) (Simeon seems to be speaking about this prophetically.)

  1. Then Simeon speaks of the sword that would pierce Mary’s heart -
    1. What would happen to this child would Lit. break her heart.

 

After Simeon Mary & Joseph have an encounter w/ another precious older Saint - Anna

  1. Anna was a prophetess who was a widow. She had only been married for seven yrs & since people in that culture married young

1) She probably became a widow at a young age.

  1. And having gone through a tragedy like that she could have become bitter - but instead of becoming bitter she became better & blessed.
    1. Rather than becoming old, fatigued & frustrated she kept about her a vitality & a spirituality about her.
  1. And she ended up being blessed w/ this opportunity to see the Messiah
    1. Why was this woman so special ? Luke gives us some hints

Some insights into some things she made priorities in her life.

1st after her husband died we read that she gave herself to fasting & prayer night & day in the temple.

  1. She didn’t give into the temptation to get caught up in self pity.
  1. Nor did she result in turning to worldliness.
    1. She wasn’t hanging out at the Jerusalem Disco - she wasn’t a member of the Jerusalem singles club.
  1. But She gave herself whole heartily to the Lord!
    1. There was now a void in her life & she turned to the Lord to fill that void & not to man.
  1. She just sought the Lord & served the Lord .
    1. Hung out at church - maybe figuring if God wants me to meet someone else - That would be a good place to do it.
  1. Isaiah 54:5 "For your Maker is your husband--the Lord Almighty is his name." It seems that Anna was content to live in that reality
  1. She gave herself wholeheartedly to the Lord - great advantage in serving the Lord for single people. ( Less distractions )

2nd thing we see about Anna is she Looked for the Lord . Like Simeon Anna was waiting & watching Looking for Messiah.

  1. She wasn’t looking for a new mate - she was looking for the Lord - his will / His purpose / His coming.
  1. Q. What do you want to be doing when the Lord comes - what do you want your focus to be on.
    1. What do you desire that your passion would be?
  1. Seek after that now ! Make it your Priority now ! Seek first the kingdom of God & His righteousness & all these things will be added unto you.
    1. David one thing I desired that I will seek / Mary: One thing is needed

& Mary has chosen the better part - not taken away !

So Anna Prayed to the Lord / she was looking for the Lord / 3rd She talked about the Lord.

  1. Not only did she worship w/ Simeon but she spoke to all who looked for redemption. Redeem - Release those who in Prison by paying price
    1. There are a lot of people - out there looking to be redeemed - set free

( Why so many counselors / support groups -

A) Jesus answer ! He is the one who sets people truly free!

  1. If single - great way to scare off - those who might be interested in you for the wrong reasons - Let your conversation be about the Lord.
    1. What He has done for you - what He has showed you in the word . What you are learning in studies .
  1. Just talking about Him ! He is so great anyway. Good word for all of us .
  2. Talk to non believers like they are already saved. What I mean is instead of initially telling them they are sinners & they better repent
    1. Talk to them about your relationship w/ the Lord .
  1. Try this at lunch tomorrow - I was reading my bible today before work & I read the coolest thing- mind if I share it w/ you.
  1. They will begin to wonder why the Bible doesn’t speak to them - why church is boring - ( Why you are so different - Happy enjoy life )
    1. Then you can tell them - You have to be born again . the bible is a spiritual book - you need to be alive spiritually to discern it

So Anna special lady - Prayed to the Lord - hung out in the house of the Lord - She was looking for the coming of the Lord . And she talked about the Lord . ( Worshipped & Witnessed )

Side note - Just think how these two encounters must have encouraged Joseph & Mary

  1. They were not Mr. & Mrs. Popular in Naz. - Most thought that the baby was illegitimate.
  1. And since - Joseph stayed w/ Mary & married her - most assumed that he was the father. ( That Joseph & Mary - little hanky panky before marriage)
    1. Now in our society where people advocate - living together before marriage & sex is such a casual thing - seem like no big deal.
  1. But in that culture - it was unheard of & looked upon w/ great disdain in the eyes of the people.
    1. Which ment Joseph & Mary were looked upon in disgust

But here we see they are encouraged - Where ? in the temple.

 

Now the last thing that we want to note is seen in v. 39-52 as Luke gives us a unique look at Jesus in His teen yrs./ this is 12 yrs later - read

  1. Now at first glance it would be easy to look at this story & think Joseph & Mary were horrible parents .

B) How could they leave their son in that crowed city. How could they be so irresponsible. I would never do that.

    1. That is because we travel a lot different from those people.
  1. We hop in the van or car - everyone here seat belts on - lets go.
    1. If we were to lose our teenagers - it would be on purpose.
  1. In those days almost everyone would travel to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover - whole villages would travel together. A lot of people.
  2. Huge Caravan Women & Children Lead - set the pace - men would follow

behind

  1. Easy to see Joseph thought Jesus was w/ Mary - vice versa- or friends
    1. Went a days journey - camp - where is Jesus / back another days journey - one day searching - so after 3 days found Him
  1. Where was He ? In the temple - talking & listening to the teachers

Now in closing today I want us to focus in on what Jesus says in v. 49 very intriguing 49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"

  1. It was a statement spoken w/ great respect yet - it was very insightful - Jesus said I must be about my fathers business.
  1. This verse gives us a true indication of His heart even at an early age.
  2. I MUST BE DOING MY FATHERS WILL. HIS BUSINESS.

Jesus life was consumed by 4 passions : Fathers will / heart / way / time

  1. His attitude wasn’t I know I ought to be doing my Fathers will but… or I know I should be about His business but - I am too busy
  1. Jesus attitude was I must ! Meaning the fathers will / heart / way/ time were his priority & His passion.
  1. Guys this is a great example of how we are to live our lives! Young/ old or in between / This is what it truly means to live in the fear of the Lord.
    1. It is living w/ an overwhelming desire to please Him & not do anything to hurt Him.
  1. How do I do that ? it is when I realize how much He loves me - it is when I begin to comprehend what He did for me. How good He is too me.
    1. How He wants only the best for me - that is why He wants to lead me & guide me - ( to grow me & Bless me )

When I realize that suddenly life takes on a new perspective concerning the guidelines He has given in His word for us to follow.

  1. It is no longer an attitude of I know I had better do this or else - I am going to get it ! ( Not a fear of getting whacked )
  1. Nor is it I know I ought to do such -BUT- not today !
    1. No doing His will becomes the Priority & the Passion when I truly

understand all that He has done for me. Respond to it !!!!!
  1. Precious people : Is your relationship w/ the Lord a have to as in obligation / or is it a ought to as in I know I should but ……
    1. Or is it a must as in I can’t do anything else - No other Passion/ No other Priority
  1. Because He is so loving - I love Him so much./ I just want to please Him - I am living my life in response to His Love !

Consider for a moment some of the things that Jesus said I must do

Luke 4: 43 but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent."

Luke 9:23 "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day."

Luke 17:25 He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

Luke 19:5 "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." Divine appointment w/ a sinner

A) said something similar in John 4 I must go thru Samaria - same reason.

John 9:4 "I must work the works of Him who sent Me

Jesus desires that we would live our lives in that same manner !

  1. I must be about my Fathers business ! What is the Fathers Business?
  1. Things of the Kingdom. Things that matter in eternity.
    1. But I have to make a living - true - do it unto the Lord. All things

But don’t live for that.

Don’t live for the things that are going to perish but for that which will endure to everlasting life. What must you do today ?

  1. Honey we must get home by 12 to watch the football game

I must go shopping - Or I must see that movie

  1. I must buy that car - or I must get that work done - I must get that new house - what is it that you find yourself saying I must to.
  1. Lets go back to those five questions at Beg. Of the study
    1. Is your life consistent with your beliefs? Do you call Him Lord ? Do you live like He is?
    2. What .. most enjoyable in life? Is fellowship w/ Him High on list?
    3. Do you offer God your best or just the leftovers? ( Time energy etc)
    4. What do you want people to remember you for? Success ? Hard working / good looking / or resembled Jesus - full Grace & truth

5)If you knew you had only one year left to live, how would your life be

different?