“The Gifts of Christmas: The Lord’s Christ”
Christmas Eve Advent Candle Lighting
December 24, 2005
Luke 2:21-40
“Advent” means “coming.” Christmas is coming–tomorrow. Jesus has come and is coming again.
This Advent season we have been preparing our hearts for Christmas and for Jesus by delighting in a few of God’s great gifts.
On the first Sunday of Advent, the Lockwoods lit this candle [First Candle] to remind us of God’s gift of prophecy–showing us who He is and what we are to do about it. Long before He came, Jesus was foretold. On the second Sunday of Advent, the Schiefers lit this candle [Second Candle] to celebrate the gift of prophecy fulfilled; prophecy fulfilled in Jesus, the Christ. What a good gift! The Kellers lit the third candle for us [Third Candle] which stood for the gift of the Lord’s humility and all that we gain from it. Our great Lord had every right and ability to be born in a fabulous palace with the bells of every city in the world pealing out His birth announcement. Instead, He humbled Himself and chose a stable and a manger–a feeding trough. His birth announcement was made to a little group of frightened sheep herders. But He came! The McKnights lit the fourth candle [Fourth Candle] last Sunday to celebrate the gift of Immanuel, God with us.
Veiled in Flesh the Godhead See, Hail the Incarnate Deity
Pleased as Man with Men to Dwell, Jesus Our Immanuel
Jesus is God with us.
Tonight, we light the Christ Candle [Light Center Candle], the center candle that puts all of these “Gifts of Christmas” together. It reminds us that Christmas is all about Christ, what the Gospel of Luke calls, “The Lord’s Christ.”
Just after the part in Luke chapter 2 which Stacey read for us, is a lesser known but very powerful Christmas story: the story of Simeon & Anna.
Listen as I read it to you. Luke chapter 2, verse 21.
“On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’),” Pause there.
Does that sound familiar? That’s Exodus chapter 13. It was instituted with the Passover and the Red Sea Rescue. Jesus was the fully consecrated firstborn Son! V.24
“and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons.’”
They were very poor.
“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 upon him. [This man loved the Lord and longed for the Kingdom.] It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.”
The Lord’s Messiah. The Messiah, the Savior, the Rescuer, that the Lord promised to His people.
“Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. [It just so happened!] When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’
The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.” (NIV)
Christmas Eve Advent Candle Lighting
December 24, 2005
Luke 2:21-40
“Advent” means “coming.” Christmas is coming–tomorrow. Jesus has come and is coming again.
This Advent season we have been preparing our hearts for Christmas and for Jesus by delighting in a few of God’s great gifts.
On the first Sunday of Advent, the Lockwoods lit this candle [First Candle] to remind us of God’s gift of prophecy–showing us who He is and what we are to do about it. Long before He came, Jesus was foretold. On the second Sunday of Advent, the Schiefers lit this candle [Second Candle] to celebrate the gift of prophecy fulfilled; prophecy fulfilled in Jesus, the Christ. What a good gift! The Kellers lit the third candle for us [Third Candle] which stood for the gift of the Lord’s humility and all that we gain from it. Our great Lord had every right and ability to be born in a fabulous palace with the bells of every city in the world pealing out His birth announcement. Instead, He humbled Himself and chose a stable and a manger–a feeding trough. His birth announcement was made to a little group of frightened sheep herders. But He came! The McKnights lit the fourth candle [Fourth Candle] last Sunday to celebrate the gift of Immanuel, God with us.
Veiled in Flesh the Godhead See, Hail the Incarnate Deity
Pleased as Man with Men to Dwell, Jesus Our Immanuel
Jesus is God with us.
Tonight, we light the Christ Candle [Light Center Candle], the center candle that puts all of these “Gifts of Christmas” together. It reminds us that Christmas is all about Christ, what the Gospel of Luke calls, “The Lord’s Christ.”
Just after the part in Luke chapter 2 which Stacey read for us, is a lesser known but very powerful Christmas story: the story of Simeon & Anna.
Listen as I read it to you. Luke chapter 2, verse 21.
“On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’),” Pause there.
Does that sound familiar? That’s Exodus chapter 13. It was instituted with the Passover and the Red Sea Rescue. Jesus was the fully consecrated firstborn Son! V.24
“and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons.’”
They were very poor.
“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 upon him. [This man loved the Lord and longed for the Kingdom.] It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.”
The Lord’s Messiah. The Messiah, the Savior, the Rescuer, that the Lord promised to His people.
“Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. [It just so happened!] When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’
The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.” (NIV)
Isn’t that a beautiful story? These two older saints who are given the privilege of seeing and recognizing [!] the Lord’s Christ. [Note: Yes, I am assuming that Simeon is old. As some have pointed out, the text does not say so, but it "feels" like it when you read the passage.]
Imagine how Simeon and Anna must have felt. All of those years of waiting and hoping and longing for God’s kingdom to come.
And then being told by the Holy Spirit Himself that God’s King had come!
Simeon and Anna had waited in their own Advent Season for Jesus to arrive. And then they saw Him with their own eyes!
I love what Simeon says about Jesus as he cradles Him in his arms:
‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’
Simeon knows that God is sovereign. He rules over all things.
Simeon knows that God keeps His promises. This was the fulfillment of prophecy.
And Simeon knows who this child is:
He is Salvation. He is Light. He is Glory.
Simeon says, “My eyes have seen your salvation.”
He can see in this little baby that rescue has finally come. This baby is a rescuer.
He is rescue personified!
Jesus has come to proclaim the kingdom of God, to live a perfect life, and to die on the Cross for the sins of the world.
He is salvation. And Simeon can see it!
And He is light. “The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16).
This candle for the Lord’s Christ shines a great light in the darkness.
Not just a light, but a “light for revelation to the Gentiles.”
Who are they? They are we!
We are Gentiles, non-Jews. And by all rights, we should be excluded from celebrating Christmas. It should be a Jewish holiday!
But Simeon could see into the future. He could see that Jesus was to be a light for the people of America, too. For the people of Pennsylvania, too. For the people of Philipsburg, Clearfield, Lanse, Kylertown, Drifting, Winburne, Grassflat, Frenchville.
“The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16).
The light of the Lord’s Christ! And He is also glory.
“Glory to your people Israel.” Simeon said.
He came “down from His glory” as Blair and Lita sang for us. And He lived for the Father’s glory in His condescension and incarnation. And He was glorified for His Cross work.
“God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
The glory of Israel. Jesus brought the glory of God to His people Israel.
He was the promised glorious King. Anna could see that. She was one godly lady! She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
And she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem–the glory of God’s people Israel.
The question for us tonight is, “How do we respond to the Lord’s Christ?”
Simeon recognized Him as Salvation, Light and Glory.
But Simeon also recognized that Jesus would divide people. That Jesus would bring controversy. That Jesus would demand a decision. There would be no neutrality about Who He is.
Simeon said, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against (there will be opposition), so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.” And a sword will pierce your soul, too, Mary. When her grown son would be crucified before her eyes.
One man has said, “No one will be able to take up a neutral attitude towards [Jesus]. He will serve as a clear sign by which God makes known to man that everyone in himself is doomed and guilty and that there is salvation for the penitent only in Christ. But many will refuse to accept the sign and to seek salvation through Him; they will contradict the sign and resist Him. This will bring about their everlasting fall.” (Geldenhuys, The Gospel of Luke, NICNT, pg 120).
But others will put their trust in this Jesus. And He will be for them salvation, light, and glory. They will put their faith in the Lord’s Christ. And this will bring about their everlasting rise!
What is our response to the Lord’s Christ?
What is your response to the Lord’s Christ?
Is it one of faith and joy and thanksgiving like Anna?
Is it one of trust and joy and love like Simeon?
Or is it one of distrust and unbelief?
You don’t believe that Jesus is salvation, light, and glory.
Everyone must decide. Jesus is the “Inescapable One” (Geldenhuys, The Gospel of Luke, NICNT, pg 122).
Everyone must respond to Him.
I pray that our response would be like Simeon’s and Anna’s, rejoicing that the Lord’s Christ has come.
Advent means coming. Christmas is coming. Jesus has come and is coming again.
Let us give thanks to God!
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