1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:04,720 I hope you’ll open your Bible with me at Luke and chapter 2 today. 2 00:00:04,720 –> 00:00:08,780 Our series is called Bearing Witness to Jesus. 3 00:00:08,780 –> 00:00:12,760 We’ve been looking at how the announcement that was made by the angels from Heaven was 4 00:00:12,760 –> 00:00:17,559 confirmed by various people that the prompting of God on earth. 5 00:00:17,559 –> 00:00:21,719 The angel announced to Mary that she would be with child and that the child she would 6 00:00:21,719 –> 00:00:28,240 bear would indeed be the son of God and then we followed the story of how she went to the 7 00:00:28,900 –> 00:00:34,700 relative Elizabeth and Elizabeth confessed the unborn Jesus as Lord. 8 00:00:34,700 –> 00:00:42,439 Then last week we came to the night of his birth in the scriptures and how angels appeared 9 00:00:42,439 –> 00:00:47,720 to the shepherds and then the shepherds went to the manger and they made known to Mary 10 00:00:47,720 –> 00:00:53,419 and to Joseph the saying that had been told to them by the angels and the distinctive 11 00:00:53,639 –> 00:00:59,419 witness that the shepherds bear to Jesus is that he would be the savior. 12 00:00:59,419 –> 00:01:02,419 Today a savior is born to you. 13 00:01:02,419 –> 00:01:05,879 He is Christ the Lord. 14 00:01:05,879 –> 00:01:11,760 Today we come to the third witness recorded in the gospel of Luke. 15 00:01:11,760 –> 00:01:17,779 This is the man Simeon who bears testimony to Jesus being the Christ which simply means 16 00:01:17,779 –> 00:01:23,239 that he is the Promised One of God the one promised, looked for throughout all the history 17 00:01:23,339 –> 00:01:28,459 of the Old Testament who would come as the great deliverer to God’s people. 18 00:01:28,459 –> 00:01:32,000 Now we don’t know very much about Simeon. 19 00:01:32,000 –> 00:01:38,919 We don’t know whether he was single, whether he lived life alone, whether he belonged to 20 00:01:38,919 –> 00:01:40,419 a large family. 21 00:01:40,419 –> 00:01:43,559 We don’t know specifically his age. 22 00:01:43,559 –> 00:01:45,120 We don’t know his career. 23 00:01:45,120 –> 00:01:47,580 We don’t know if he prospered. 24 00:01:47,580 –> 00:01:53,160 We don’t know if he struggled from one week’s end to another. 25 00:01:53,160 –> 00:01:56,959 What we do know about Simeon is in verse 25 and it’s very wonderful. 26 00:01:56,959 –> 00:02:03,639 It is perhaps the simplest and most marvellous bio you could ever read of a person. 27 00:02:03,639 –> 00:02:09,479 Simply we are told that there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. 28 00:02:09,479 –> 00:02:13,360 This man was righteous. 29 00:02:13,360 –> 00:02:17,320 Now that speaks to his relationship with other people. 30 00:02:17,320 –> 00:02:19,699 He was a man of his word. 31 00:02:19,699 –> 00:02:21,000 He did what was right. 32 00:02:21,160 –> 00:02:23,059 His yes was yes. 33 00:02:23,059 –> 00:02:24,259 His no was no. 34 00:02:24,259 –> 00:02:27,740 And he could be trusted in business. 35 00:02:27,740 –> 00:02:29,580 You could count on him as a friend. 36 00:02:29,580 –> 00:02:30,580 He was a man of character. 37 00:02:30,580 –> 00:02:32,539 He was a man of integrity. 38 00:02:32,539 –> 00:02:34,139 This man was righteous. 39 00:02:34,139 –> 00:02:36,440 That’s the first thing. 40 00:02:36,440 –> 00:02:39,740 Second, and devout. 41 00:02:39,740 –> 00:02:43,199 Now that speaks to his relationship with God. 42 00:02:43,199 –> 00:02:45,039 He loved God. 43 00:02:45,039 –> 00:02:46,979 He worshipped God. 44 00:02:46,979 –> 00:02:49,020 He served God. 45 00:02:49,020 –> 00:02:50,220 He prayed to God. 46 00:02:50,860 –> 00:02:54,839 God carried weight in his mind and in his heart 47 00:02:54,839 –> 00:02:56,460 and therefore in his life 48 00:02:56,460 –> 00:02:58,860 and therefore he gave himself to God. 49 00:03:00,500 –> 00:03:03,500 This man was righteous and devout. 50 00:03:04,380 –> 00:03:08,000 Notice by the way that these two belong together. 51 00:03:08,000 –> 00:03:09,899 Some people like to point out 52 00:03:09,899 –> 00:03:10,979 that they are honest 53 00:03:10,979 –> 00:03:13,979 and that they are upright, good. 54 00:03:13,979 –> 00:03:16,339 But what about your devotion to God? 55 00:03:16,339 –> 00:03:18,440 How does that show up in your life? 56 00:03:19,440 –> 00:03:20,699 Then there are other people 57 00:03:20,699 –> 00:03:24,820 who like to talk about their devotion to God, good, 58 00:03:24,820 –> 00:03:27,660 but how are you doing in regards to integrity 59 00:03:27,660 –> 00:03:30,080 towards others, doing right towards others. 60 00:03:30,080 –> 00:03:33,339 Simeon was righteous and devout 61 00:03:33,339 –> 00:03:36,360 and these two belong together. 62 00:03:36,360 –> 00:03:38,139 Then we’re told the third thing about him. 63 00:03:38,139 –> 00:03:42,979 He was waiting for the consolation of Israel 64 00:03:42,979 –> 00:03:45,339 and that speaks of his hope. 65 00:03:45,339 –> 00:03:46,860 His hope in his life 66 00:03:46,860 –> 00:03:50,380 and his hope as he looked forward to anticipated death 67 00:03:50,380 –> 00:03:54,419 was not in his devout or upright life. 68 00:03:54,419 –> 00:03:56,660 His hope, although he visited the temple, 69 00:03:56,660 –> 00:03:58,660 was not in the various rituals 70 00:03:58,660 –> 00:04:02,660 that took place within the structures of his religion. 71 00:04:02,660 –> 00:04:07,179 He was someone who was waiting and looking for the one 72 00:04:07,179 –> 00:04:09,139 on whom all the hopes 73 00:04:09,139 –> 00:04:12,699 of the Old Testament scriptures depend. 74 00:04:12,699 –> 00:04:16,540 The consolation of Israel, the Christ, the Messiah, 75 00:04:16,540 –> 00:04:19,140 the one who was to come, the promised one, 76 00:04:19,140 –> 00:04:21,619 here described as the consolation 77 00:04:21,619 –> 00:04:25,559 or the comfort of God’s people Israel. 78 00:04:25,559 –> 00:04:27,440 So he’s righteous, he’s devout. 79 00:04:27,440 –> 00:04:30,040 He’s looking for the Promised One. 80 00:04:30,040 –> 00:04:32,420 And then the fourth thing we’re told about him, 81 00:04:32,420 –> 00:04:36,459 and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 82 00:04:37,500 –> 00:04:39,279 What a great statement that is, 83 00:04:40,140 –> 00:04:43,059 that in some way the presence of Almighty God 84 00:04:43,459 –> 00:04:46,040 actually rested upon this man’s life. 85 00:04:47,000 –> 00:04:48,820 And so when people were with him 86 00:04:48,820 –> 00:04:50,779 they somehow felt that they were drawn 87 00:04:50,779 –> 00:04:52,160 into the presence of God. 88 00:04:52,160 –> 00:04:55,459 When they were with him, that God was near. 89 00:04:55,459 –> 00:04:57,000 There was something about him 90 00:04:57,000 –> 00:04:58,500 that just marked him, 91 00:04:58,500 –> 00:05:01,540 observably, as a person who walked 92 00:05:01,540 –> 00:05:04,320 particularly closely with God. 93 00:05:04,320 –> 00:05:06,600 The evidence of the presence of God 94 00:05:06,600 –> 00:05:09,140 was there for all to see in his life. 95 00:05:09,140 –> 00:05:10,700 So here’s this man, Simeon. 96 00:05:11,700 –> 00:05:14,200 And we really know very little about him 97 00:05:14,200 –> 00:05:17,399 and yet we know everything that really matters. 98 00:05:18,660 –> 00:05:19,859 Because at the end of the day, 99 00:05:19,859 –> 00:05:21,579 it does not really matter if this man 100 00:05:21,579 –> 00:05:23,519 was a priest or if he was a plumber. 101 00:05:24,420 –> 00:05:26,019 It does not really matter if this man 102 00:05:26,019 –> 00:05:28,959 was a mechanic or if he was a missionary. 103 00:05:28,959 –> 00:05:30,760 It does not matter whether he was young 104 00:05:30,760 –> 00:05:33,100 or old when he died. 105 00:05:33,100 –> 00:05:35,160 It does not matter at the end of the day 106 00:05:35,160 –> 00:05:36,980 what opportunities he might have had 107 00:05:36,980 –> 00:05:39,540 or might not have had in his short time 108 00:05:39,540 –> 00:05:40,619 in this world. 109 00:05:40,619 –> 00:05:41,779 What really matters, 110 00:05:41,779 –> 00:05:44,540 the bio that counts, 111 00:05:44,540 –> 00:05:46,160 is that he was righteous, 112 00:05:46,160 –> 00:05:47,660 that he was devout, 113 00:05:47,660 –> 00:05:50,019 that he was seeking the promised one 114 00:05:50,019 –> 00:05:53,140 and that the Holy Spirit rested upon him. 115 00:05:53,140 –> 00:05:55,899 Now, wouldn’t you like that to be your epitaph? 116 00:05:55,899 –> 00:05:57,480 Wouldn’t you like that these four things 117 00:05:57,480 –> 00:06:00,940 could be said about you at the end of your life? 118 00:06:00,940 –> 00:06:02,700 She was righteous. 119 00:06:02,700 –> 00:06:04,380 She was devout. 120 00:06:04,380 –> 00:06:06,339 She was always seeking Christ 121 00:06:06,339 –> 00:06:07,619 and it was evident to all 122 00:06:07,619 –> 00:06:10,660 that the Holy Spirit rested upon her, 123 00:06:10,660 –> 00:06:12,760 dealing uprightly with others, 124 00:06:12,760 –> 00:06:15,739 devout and devoted in the worship of God, 125 00:06:15,739 –> 00:06:18,559 looking for and trusting in the Son of God 126 00:06:18,559 –> 00:06:20,980 with the evidence of the Spirit of God 127 00:06:20,980 –> 00:06:24,380 resting upon your life. 128 00:06:24,380 –> 00:06:25,660 Well, this was the man 129 00:06:25,660 –> 00:06:29,720 who now comes into the Christmas story. 130 00:06:29,720 –> 00:06:31,660 And the connection between Simeon 131 00:06:31,660 –> 00:06:34,119 and the infant Jesus 132 00:06:34,119 –> 00:06:35,739 came about, verse 22, 133 00:06:35,739 –> 00:06:39,799 when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus up to Jerusalem. 134 00:06:39,799 –> 00:06:41,079 So they go the short journey 135 00:06:41,079 –> 00:06:43,000 from Bethlehem to Jerusalem 136 00:06:43,000 –> 00:06:46,200 to present him before the Lord. 137 00:06:46,200 –> 00:06:47,019 Almost certainly, 138 00:06:47,019 –> 00:06:49,140 this would have been before 139 00:06:49,140 –> 00:06:51,040 the time of the visit of the Wise Men 140 00:06:51,040 –> 00:06:52,040 and Herod’s fury, 141 00:06:52,040 –> 00:06:52,880 of course, at that time 142 00:06:52,880 –> 00:06:53,799 it wouldn’t have been possible 143 00:06:53,799 –> 00:06:55,779 for them to go up to Jerusalem. 144 00:06:55,779 –> 00:06:57,320 They had to flee to Egypt. 145 00:06:57,320 –> 00:06:59,660 And so, this is really between the shepherds 146 00:06:59,660 –> 00:07:00,839 and the wise men, 147 00:07:00,839 –> 00:07:04,359 this particular incident in the Christmas story. 148 00:07:04,380 –> 00:07:06,260 It happened, verse 22, 149 00:07:06,260 –> 00:07:09,059 when the time came for their purification. 150 00:07:09,059 –> 00:07:11,820 That would have been about 40 days 151 00:07:11,820 –> 00:07:14,640 after the birth of the child. 152 00:07:14,640 –> 00:07:16,619 40 days after that great night 153 00:07:16,619 –> 00:07:18,559 where the shepherds come 154 00:07:18,559 –> 00:07:19,940 and Christ is born 155 00:07:19,940 –> 00:07:21,679 and he’s laid in the manger, 156 00:07:21,679 –> 00:07:25,299 they go on this journey to Jerusalem. 157 00:07:25,299 –> 00:07:26,820 And when Mary and Joseph 158 00:07:26,820 –> 00:07:29,179 and the baby arrive in Jerusalem, 159 00:07:29,179 –> 00:07:31,880 they look like just any other couple 160 00:07:31,880 –> 00:07:34,019 to the vast majority of people, 161 00:07:34,640 –> 00:07:36,399 another couple, another baby 162 00:07:36,399 –> 00:07:38,440 coming to the temple to do 163 00:07:38,440 –> 00:07:41,380 what was the custom of the law. 164 00:07:41,380 –> 00:07:44,880 But Simeon, this man who’s righteous and devout 165 00:07:44,880 –> 00:07:47,359 and looking for the coming one 166 00:07:47,359 –> 00:07:50,440 and has the spirit of God resting on him, 167 00:07:50,440 –> 00:07:54,119 he identifies Jesus as the Christ. 168 00:07:54,119 –> 00:07:58,779 He bears witness to Jesus as the promised one 169 00:07:58,779 –> 00:08:02,299 on whom all the hopes of the world depend. 170 00:08:02,299 –> 00:08:05,880 And so along with Elizabeth, and along with the shepherds, 171 00:08:05,880 –> 00:08:09,839 Simeon takes his place as one who particularly to Mary 172 00:08:09,839 –> 00:08:14,399 bears witness to the glory of the child 173 00:08:14,399 –> 00:08:17,679 she has brought into the world. 174 00:08:17,679 –> 00:08:20,059 Now I want to pick up just two themes 175 00:08:20,059 –> 00:08:23,899 from this story today. 176 00:08:23,899 –> 00:08:26,739 They are the themes of the law 177 00:08:26,739 –> 00:08:30,140 which is why we need Jesus 178 00:08:30,299 –> 00:08:35,099 and the spirit, how we find Jesus. 179 00:08:35,099 –> 00:08:37,739 The law, why we need Jesus, 180 00:08:37,739 –> 00:08:41,659 and the spirit, how we find Jesus. 181 00:08:41,659 –> 00:08:43,039 These two things. 182 00:08:43,039 –> 00:08:45,119 Number one, then the law, which speaks to us 183 00:08:45,119 –> 00:08:50,119 about why we need Jesus and that’s in verse 22 to verse 24. 184 00:08:50,179 –> 00:08:53,619 Now you can hardly miss the importance of this theme 185 00:08:53,619 –> 00:08:56,859 because it is in each of these verses. 186 00:08:56,859 –> 00:08:58,799 Verse 22, when the time came 187 00:08:58,799 –> 00:09:02,200 for their purification according to the law of Moses 188 00:09:02,200 –> 00:09:03,880 they brought him to Jerusalem. 189 00:09:03,880 –> 00:09:07,099 Verse 23, as it is written in the law of the Lord 190 00:09:07,099 –> 00:09:10,119 every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy. 191 00:09:10,119 –> 00:09:13,440 Verse 24, to offer a sacrifice according to what he said 192 00:09:13,440 –> 00:09:15,440 in the law of the Lord. 193 00:09:15,440 –> 00:09:17,280 And then again in verse 27, 194 00:09:17,280 –> 00:09:20,020 the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him 195 00:09:20,020 –> 00:09:22,080 according to the custom of the law. 196 00:09:22,080 –> 00:09:24,159 Again and again, it’s quite obvious 197 00:09:24,159 –> 00:09:28,320 that this theme is of great importance in the gospel here. 198 00:09:28,359 –> 00:09:29,200 Why? 199 00:09:30,679 –> 00:09:33,840 Because friends, God has laws and they matter 200 00:09:35,919 –> 00:09:40,919 and the human race from Adam onwards 201 00:09:41,000 –> 00:09:44,679 has never produced a single person 202 00:09:44,679 –> 00:09:46,700 who has fulfilled the law of God. 203 00:09:47,640 –> 00:09:50,179 The whole of the Old Testament is in place 204 00:09:50,179 –> 00:09:53,440 to bear witness to that central fact 205 00:09:53,440 –> 00:09:55,919 that shows us why we need Jesus. 206 00:09:56,700 –> 00:09:59,700 We produce great athletes, 207 00:10:00,700 –> 00:10:04,280 Michael Jordan and how long he can hang in the air. 208 00:10:05,840 –> 00:10:08,479 We produce great business leaders, 209 00:10:08,479 –> 00:10:13,340 Steve Jobs and the phenomenon of the whole world 210 00:10:13,340 –> 00:10:16,239 of technology that he advanced. 211 00:10:17,260 –> 00:10:20,780 We produce extraordinary minds, 212 00:10:20,780 –> 00:10:25,119 Pythagoras, Newton, Einstein, 213 00:10:25,119 –> 00:10:27,820 the worlds of physics and mathematics. 214 00:10:27,820 –> 00:10:32,340 But friends we have never produced a single person 215 00:10:32,340 –> 00:10:34,080 who has fulfilled the law of God. 216 00:10:34,080 –> 00:10:35,219 Not a single one. 217 00:10:36,760 –> 00:10:38,440 And the whole of the Old Testament 218 00:10:38,440 –> 00:10:41,960 bears witness to that foundational fact. 219 00:10:44,239 –> 00:10:46,840 We like to flatter ourselves into thinking 220 00:10:46,840 –> 00:10:48,760 that we’ve made a pretty good attempt. 221 00:10:50,159 –> 00:10:52,239 Remember the story of the rich young ruler 222 00:10:52,239 –> 00:10:54,239 who came to Jesus. 223 00:10:54,260 –> 00:10:56,440 And he says, now what have I got to do to get into heaven? 224 00:10:56,440 –> 00:10:58,940 What must I do to inherit eternal life? 225 00:11:00,200 –> 00:11:02,840 And Jesus said to him, well you know the commandments. 226 00:11:03,840 –> 00:11:05,219 And listed them off. 227 00:11:06,520 –> 00:11:09,599 And the young guy says, well now you know 228 00:11:09,599 –> 00:11:11,500 I’ve kept all of these since my youth. 229 00:11:13,359 –> 00:11:15,960 And no doubt he sincerely thought he had. 230 00:11:17,799 –> 00:11:20,200 Jesus said to him, here’s what I want you to do. 231 00:11:21,159 –> 00:11:23,799 You sell everything you have 232 00:11:23,799 –> 00:11:25,080 and come and follow me. 233 00:11:26,719 –> 00:11:29,640 And the Bible says that man went away sorrowful 234 00:11:29,640 –> 00:11:32,559 for he had great possessions. 235 00:11:33,599 –> 00:11:36,099 Now think about the significance of that story. 236 00:11:37,099 –> 00:11:40,799 Here is a man who kids himself into thinking 237 00:11:40,799 –> 00:11:42,719 that he really has done pretty well 238 00:11:42,719 –> 00:11:44,520 in regards to the love of God. 239 00:11:45,799 –> 00:11:50,820 But the truth is that he hasn’t even kept the first one. 240 00:11:51,739 –> 00:11:53,979 What is the first commandment? 241 00:11:53,979 –> 00:11:57,919 You shall have no other Gods before me says the Lord. 242 00:11:57,919 –> 00:11:59,919 This man’s become his own god. 243 00:12:00,900 –> 00:12:02,179 He thinks he’s kept them all. 244 00:12:02,179 –> 00:12:04,539 He hasn’t kept the first one. 245 00:12:04,539 –> 00:12:08,500 His wealth has taken control of his life. 246 00:12:08,500 –> 00:12:10,820 He doesn’t love God with all his heart. 247 00:12:10,820 –> 00:12:11,979 He loves himself. 248 00:12:11,979 –> 00:12:13,159 He loves his own life. 249 00:12:13,159 –> 00:12:15,500 He loves what his money can buy. 250 00:12:17,380 –> 00:12:20,219 So here we are, a race, a globe. 251 00:12:21,000 –> 00:12:23,080 Of law breakers. 252 00:12:24,640 –> 00:12:26,780 It’s the fundamental truth with regards 253 00:12:26,780 –> 00:12:28,940 to the entire human family. 254 00:12:29,979 –> 00:12:33,059 We have not loved God with all of our hearts. 255 00:12:33,059 –> 00:12:36,140 We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. 256 00:12:36,140 –> 00:12:39,659 We have not fulfilled what is required of us by God. 257 00:12:41,619 –> 00:12:43,940 And Jesus comes, 258 00:12:45,280 –> 00:12:46,859 to fulfill the law. 259 00:12:47,739 –> 00:12:50,500 He came, in other words, to do on our behalf 260 00:12:50,719 –> 00:12:53,780 what we had not done and what we could not do for ourselves. 261 00:12:53,780 –> 00:12:55,919 This is the great significance, friends, 262 00:12:55,919 –> 00:12:57,419 of the virgin birth. 263 00:12:57,419 –> 00:13:00,840 He did not come from the human race. 264 00:13:01,859 –> 00:13:06,179 He was not produced like Michael Jordan, or Steve Jobs, 265 00:13:06,179 –> 00:13:07,900 or anyone else you want to list, 266 00:13:07,900 –> 00:13:10,599 people of genius and ability in particular spheres 267 00:13:10,599 –> 00:13:14,200 or were produced from the genetic pool of the human race. 268 00:13:15,859 –> 00:13:17,880 He did not come from the human race. 269 00:13:17,880 –> 00:13:19,619 We did not produce him 270 00:13:19,760 –> 00:13:21,520 because all of the Old Testament bears witness 271 00:13:21,520 –> 00:13:24,299 that we could not produce such a person. 272 00:13:26,039 –> 00:13:27,880 He came to the human race. 273 00:13:28,799 –> 00:13:31,239 He is the gift of God to us. 274 00:13:32,239 –> 00:13:33,799 That is why the Apostle Paul says 275 00:13:33,799 –> 00:13:35,419 in this most marvelous summary 276 00:13:35,419 –> 00:13:37,159 of what was happening at Christmas 277 00:13:37,159 –> 00:13:39,659 in Galatians, chapter four, and verse four, 278 00:13:39,659 –> 00:13:42,080 that when the fullness of time had come, 279 00:13:42,080 –> 00:13:43,039 what that indicates 280 00:13:43,039 –> 00:13:45,799 is when there had been abundant proof over centuries 281 00:13:45,799 –> 00:13:48,599 that we could not produce such a person ourselves 282 00:13:49,820 –> 00:13:50,739 what did God do? 283 00:13:50,739 –> 00:13:53,059 God sent forth his son 284 00:13:54,299 –> 00:13:57,219 born of woman, 285 00:13:57,219 –> 00:14:00,020 born under the law. 286 00:14:00,020 –> 00:14:00,840 Why? 287 00:14:00,840 –> 00:14:02,559 To redeem those who were under the law. 288 00:14:02,559 –> 00:14:05,380 That’s us so that we might receive the adoption of sons. 289 00:14:05,380 –> 00:14:06,700 You see what this is saying? 290 00:14:06,700 –> 00:14:08,840 God sent his son. 291 00:14:08,840 –> 00:14:11,020 He came to us. 292 00:14:11,020 –> 00:14:12,780 He is the gift of heaven, 293 00:14:13,900 –> 00:14:17,179 and he was born of woman. 294 00:14:17,179 –> 00:14:19,340 He really became one with us. 295 00:14:20,179 –> 00:14:21,940 He really took our flesh. 296 00:14:21,940 –> 00:14:24,260 God became a man in Jesus. 297 00:14:24,260 –> 00:14:25,099 Why? 298 00:14:25,099 –> 00:14:26,859 He took his stand with us 299 00:14:26,859 –> 00:14:29,299 so that he could take action for us, 300 00:14:29,299 –> 00:14:31,979 so that he could do as our representative 301 00:14:31,979 –> 00:14:33,760 and on our behalf 302 00:14:34,979 –> 00:14:35,979 what we had not done 303 00:14:35,979 –> 00:14:39,880 and what we could not do for ourselves. 304 00:14:39,880 –> 00:14:41,820 He came as one of us 305 00:14:41,820 –> 00:14:43,520 to do for all of us 306 00:14:43,520 –> 00:14:46,739 what none of us could do for ourselves, 307 00:14:47,619 –> 00:14:51,119 and that is why it says he was born under the law. 308 00:14:52,239 –> 00:14:54,900 He freely came and put himself there. 309 00:14:54,900 –> 00:14:55,859 Think of this. 310 00:14:55,859 –> 00:14:58,320 He entered this human life 311 00:14:58,320 –> 00:15:02,200 and he placed himself under his own commands, 312 00:15:03,380 –> 00:15:06,380 and he fulfilled the law as one of us, 313 00:15:06,380 –> 00:15:08,359 as the man, Christ Jesus, 314 00:15:08,359 –> 00:15:10,859 and then he laid down the sacrifice 315 00:15:10,859 –> 00:15:12,159 of a perfect human life 316 00:15:12,159 –> 00:15:15,940 on behalf of all who would receive him. 317 00:15:17,140 –> 00:15:18,940 And the coming of Jesus, therefore, 318 00:15:18,940 –> 00:15:20,460 shows that God is love. 319 00:15:20,460 –> 00:15:21,940 What kind of a gift is this 320 00:15:21,940 –> 00:15:25,299 that God would give his very self? 321 00:15:25,299 –> 00:15:26,460 But it does more than that. 322 00:15:26,460 –> 00:15:29,799 It also shows that God is righteous. 323 00:15:29,799 –> 00:15:31,780 It shows this very important truth 324 00:15:31,780 –> 00:15:33,219 that there is justice 325 00:15:33,219 –> 00:15:37,099 and that the one who upholds it is God. 326 00:15:37,099 –> 00:15:38,460 It points to the fact that God 327 00:15:38,460 –> 00:15:41,440 will judge the world in righteousness, 328 00:15:41,440 –> 00:15:42,900 that we must all stand 329 00:15:42,900 –> 00:15:45,880 before the judgment seat of Christ. 330 00:15:45,880 –> 00:15:48,440 God does justice and he loves mercy, 331 00:15:48,440 –> 00:15:51,400 and here’s how he holds the two together. 332 00:15:51,400 –> 00:15:53,559 Here’s how he reaches out in love 333 00:15:53,559 –> 00:15:57,200 to people like us who have not kept 334 00:15:57,200 –> 00:15:59,200 his law and have not fulfilled 335 00:15:59,200 –> 00:16:00,559 what he requires of us. 336 00:16:00,559 –> 00:16:02,159 He sends the promised one, 337 00:16:02,159 –> 00:16:07,159 the Lord, the Savior, Jesus Christ, 338 00:16:07,520 –> 00:16:09,080 so that as Paul says in Romans, 339 00:16:09,080 –> 00:16:12,880 God is just and at the same time 340 00:16:12,880 –> 00:16:15,280 he is the justifier. 341 00:16:16,320 –> 00:16:21,239 Of those who have faith in Jesus, 342 00:16:22,359 –> 00:16:26,559 the law, why we need Jesus, 343 00:16:27,539 –> 00:16:29,559 thank God that he came, 344 00:16:29,559 –> 00:16:30,840 that the Father sent him, 345 00:16:30,840 –> 00:16:32,059 that he was born of a woman, 346 00:16:32,059 –> 00:16:35,119 that he was under the law to do for us 347 00:16:35,119 –> 00:16:36,640 what we had not done 348 00:16:36,640 –> 00:16:39,760 and could not do for ourselves, 349 00:16:39,760 –> 00:16:42,559 to fulfill all the law of God 350 00:16:42,559 –> 00:16:45,320 and to lay down that perfect life 351 00:16:45,340 –> 00:16:49,400 as the only sacrifice for our sins. 352 00:16:50,539 –> 00:16:53,039 Second, the Spirit. 353 00:16:53,039 –> 00:16:53,960 The Law and the Spirit, 354 00:16:53,960 –> 00:16:55,760 these two themes in this story. 355 00:16:56,859 –> 00:16:59,859 The Law tells us why we need Jesus. 356 00:16:59,859 –> 00:17:03,559 The Spirit, how we find Jesus. 357 00:17:03,559 –> 00:17:04,880 How we find Jesus. 358 00:17:05,780 –> 00:17:07,959 Now, again, you could hardly miss 359 00:17:07,959 –> 00:17:10,060 the person and work of the Holy Spirit 360 00:17:10,060 –> 00:17:12,900 in these verses from verse 25. 361 00:17:12,900 –> 00:17:14,079 Look at it here. 362 00:17:14,079 –> 00:17:15,339 We’re introduced to Simeon, 363 00:17:15,339 –> 00:17:17,400 and we are told that, verse 25, 364 00:17:17,400 –> 00:17:20,180 the Holy Spirit was upon him. 365 00:17:21,140 –> 00:17:23,880 Verse 26, it says it had been revealed to him 366 00:17:23,880 –> 00:17:27,760 by the Holy Spirit, that he would not see death 367 00:17:27,760 –> 00:17:30,719 before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 368 00:17:30,719 –> 00:17:32,119 And verse 27 says, 369 00:17:32,119 –> 00:17:37,119 and he came in the Spirit into the temple. 370 00:17:38,160 –> 00:17:40,479 Now, just three very simple observations here 371 00:17:40,479 –> 00:17:43,839 about the work of the Holy Spirit. 372 00:17:43,839 –> 00:17:46,459 The first is, that very obviously in this story 373 00:17:46,459 –> 00:17:49,199 and very wonderfully still today, 374 00:17:49,199 –> 00:17:53,359 the Holy Spirit brings people to Jesus. 375 00:17:53,359 –> 00:17:55,719 Do you notice that, in verse 25? 376 00:17:55,719 –> 00:18:00,199 He came in the Spirit into the temple. 377 00:18:01,219 –> 00:18:03,800 The Spirit so caused it to happen 378 00:18:03,800 –> 00:18:08,380 that Simeon prompted, led in the Spirit, 379 00:18:08,380 –> 00:18:11,800 comes into the temple just at the moment 380 00:18:12,040 –> 00:18:16,800 where Joseph and Mary and the baby, Jesus, 381 00:18:16,800 –> 00:18:18,520 are also there. 382 00:18:20,300 –> 00:18:21,400 Now, Simeon did not know 383 00:18:21,400 –> 00:18:23,359 when he got out of his bed in the morning 384 00:18:23,359 –> 00:18:25,119 that this day of his life 385 00:18:25,119 –> 00:18:27,199 would be so loaded with opportunity. 386 00:18:28,640 –> 00:18:30,900 On this day, walking in the Spirit 387 00:18:30,900 –> 00:18:32,380 he would meet the Son of God. 388 00:18:33,640 –> 00:18:35,560 On this day, walking in the Spirit 389 00:18:35,560 –> 00:18:39,260 he would speak the Word of God to Mary and to Joseph. 390 00:18:40,099 –> 00:18:42,459 On this day, walking in the Spirit 391 00:18:42,459 –> 00:18:45,780 he would announce on earth the glory 392 00:18:45,780 –> 00:18:49,699 of the Christ who had come from heaven. 393 00:18:50,859 –> 00:18:54,060 He was led into all of this as he was, 394 00:18:54,060 –> 00:18:57,939 specifically we’re told, in the Spirit. 395 00:18:58,800 –> 00:19:01,079 As he followed with faith and obedience 396 00:19:01,079 –> 00:19:04,000 the impulse of the presence of God 397 00:19:04,000 –> 00:19:06,719 by the Holy Spirit in his life. 398 00:19:06,739 –> 00:19:09,979 I want you just to see this 399 00:19:09,979 –> 00:19:11,819 and for us to take it into our hearts 400 00:19:11,819 –> 00:19:13,180 at this point this morning. 401 00:19:14,400 –> 00:19:16,719 You cannot afford, Christian believer, 402 00:19:16,719 –> 00:19:19,699 to spend one single day walking in the flesh. 403 00:19:21,040 –> 00:19:22,020 You just can’t. 404 00:19:23,020 –> 00:19:25,739 Simeon must be walking with God. 405 00:19:25,739 –> 00:19:29,540 He must be responsive to the Spirit. 406 00:19:30,459 –> 00:19:32,180 Because on this day there is work 407 00:19:32,180 –> 00:19:35,579 that God has prepared in advance for him to do. 408 00:19:37,040 –> 00:19:39,599 It really matters that you, Christian, 409 00:19:39,599 –> 00:19:42,560 should be walking in the Spirit today, 410 00:19:42,560 –> 00:19:44,760 that you are ready today, tomorrow, 411 00:19:44,760 –> 00:19:47,359 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, every day, 412 00:19:48,380 –> 00:19:51,160 to do the work that he has prepared in advance 413 00:19:51,160 –> 00:19:52,079 for you to do. 414 00:19:52,079 –> 00:19:55,119 Friend of mine often said that every Christian 415 00:19:55,119 –> 00:19:57,319 should be like a pilot light, 416 00:19:58,439 –> 00:20:03,439 always lit and therefore ready to ignite a larger flame. 417 00:20:03,859 –> 00:20:05,140 It was a great picture. 418 00:20:06,979 –> 00:20:11,979 You cannot afford to leave unconfessed sin, 419 00:20:12,160 –> 00:20:15,280 unresolved conflict, cluttering up your heart 420 00:20:15,280 –> 00:20:17,260 so that you become a blocked channel 421 00:20:17,260 –> 00:20:20,280 that the Holy Spirit no longer will use 422 00:20:20,280 –> 00:20:23,420 in relation to the lives of other people. 423 00:20:23,420 –> 00:20:25,560 You do not want to become like Jonah, 424 00:20:25,560 –> 00:20:27,420 remember him, asleep in the boat 425 00:20:27,420 –> 00:20:29,479 when there are unconverted people 426 00:20:29,479 –> 00:20:31,359 who are in a crisis all around him, 427 00:20:31,359 –> 00:20:33,640 but he’s in his own fight with God 428 00:20:33,660 –> 00:20:36,839 and he’s just not in a position to speak. 429 00:20:36,839 –> 00:20:38,560 You want to be like Simeon, 430 00:20:38,560 –> 00:20:40,400 in the spirit, prompted, 431 00:20:40,400 –> 00:20:44,800 led to exalt Jesus and to serve his people. 432 00:20:44,800 –> 00:20:47,079 And here’s this man and he’s walking with God 433 00:20:47,079 –> 00:20:48,420 and he begins another day. 434 00:20:48,420 –> 00:20:51,160 He’s going to the temple as doubtless he had done 435 00:20:51,160 –> 00:20:54,839 dozen scores, perhaps hundreds of times in his life, 436 00:20:54,839 –> 00:20:56,939 and yet God orchestrates events 437 00:20:56,939 –> 00:21:00,520 that as this man is walking in obedience to the Lord, 438 00:21:00,520 –> 00:21:03,300 there is an opportunity that opens to him 439 00:21:03,300 –> 00:21:06,020 that is absolutely marvelous. 440 00:21:06,020 –> 00:21:07,459 One writer says it this way, 441 00:21:07,459 –> 00:21:11,479 there are critical moments in life 442 00:21:11,479 –> 00:21:15,339 when everything depends on immediate submission 443 00:21:15,339 –> 00:21:17,099 to the impulse of the spirit. 444 00:21:18,780 –> 00:21:19,939 Does that describe you? 445 00:21:21,180 –> 00:21:24,000 Life of walking with God. 446 00:21:26,660 –> 00:21:30,380 No one confessed sin still hugged to. 447 00:21:31,380 –> 00:21:35,619 No one resolved conflict still churning away. 448 00:21:35,619 –> 00:21:37,439 No coming to God. 449 00:21:38,819 –> 00:21:40,900 Looking in faith to God. 450 00:21:40,900 –> 00:21:43,979 Dealing with that which needs to be brought to God 451 00:21:46,020 –> 00:21:48,540 in order that you may be in the spirit. 452 00:21:49,780 –> 00:21:53,000 And, therefore, at the critical moments of life 453 00:21:54,339 –> 00:21:58,219 to be in a position of immediate submission 454 00:21:58,260 –> 00:22:03,260 to the impulse of the Spirit of God, 455 00:22:05,060 –> 00:22:10,060 you cannot afford Christian to dither around 456 00:22:11,800 –> 00:22:13,560 walking in the flesh. 457 00:22:13,560 –> 00:22:14,420 You just can’t. 458 00:22:17,140 –> 00:22:20,319 And how wonderful that God orchestrated events 459 00:22:20,319 –> 00:22:22,599 so that this man arrives at the temple 460 00:22:22,599 –> 00:22:25,420 not only on the same day as Joseph and Mary 461 00:22:25,420 –> 00:22:28,660 but it seems at the same time as Joseph and Mary 462 00:22:28,660 –> 00:22:33,359 and the Baby Jesus and how wonderful that he was there. 463 00:22:34,719 –> 00:22:37,699 Because you notice that as Mary and Joseph 464 00:22:37,699 –> 00:22:40,300 bring the baby to the temple, I mean here it is, 465 00:22:40,300 –> 00:22:43,160 the great temple, the great center of religion, 466 00:22:43,160 –> 00:22:46,540 all of its priests, all of its rituals. 467 00:22:48,260 –> 00:22:49,979 And as far as the official structures 468 00:22:49,979 –> 00:22:51,099 of the temple are concerned, 469 00:22:51,099 –> 00:22:53,160 there isn’t a single person who knows 470 00:22:53,160 –> 00:22:55,300 that the child in the arms of this young girl 471 00:22:55,300 –> 00:22:58,359 Mary is the son of God, nobody recognizes it. 472 00:23:00,680 –> 00:23:04,640 The world of religion seems blind to his coming 473 00:23:04,640 –> 00:23:06,079 because in the temple, 474 00:23:06,079 –> 00:23:08,160 nobody knows who he is or that he’s there. 475 00:23:09,579 –> 00:23:11,199 He is undiscerned. 476 00:23:13,280 –> 00:23:15,439 So thank God that there was just an ordinary man 477 00:23:15,439 –> 00:23:18,239 in Jerusalem who did have the spirit on him, right? 478 00:23:20,060 –> 00:23:22,400 And it had been revealed to him, verse 26, 479 00:23:22,400 –> 00:23:24,239 by the Holy Spirit, that he would not 480 00:23:24,260 –> 00:23:27,939 see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 481 00:23:27,939 –> 00:23:31,219 And so picture this, Simeon arrives at the temple 482 00:23:31,219 –> 00:23:36,219 and the Holy Spirit prompts him, this is the one. 483 00:23:36,959 –> 00:23:38,640 This is the one. 484 00:23:40,180 –> 00:23:41,839 And while to everyone else, 485 00:23:41,839 –> 00:23:44,520 and no doubt there were hundreds there, 486 00:23:44,520 –> 00:23:47,380 Mary was just another young mother with another baby. 487 00:23:48,719 –> 00:23:51,939 The Holy Spirit opens this man’s eyes 488 00:23:51,939 –> 00:23:54,260 to see that Jesus is the promised one 489 00:23:54,260 –> 00:23:58,660 on whom the hopes and comfort of the world depend. 490 00:23:58,660 –> 00:24:03,199 He is the Christ, he is the promised one, 491 00:24:03,199 –> 00:24:04,760 he is the consolation of Israel. 492 00:24:04,760 –> 00:24:08,520 And so he comes and he gives this confirmation 493 00:24:09,640 –> 00:24:11,560 of the word spoken by the angel 494 00:24:11,560 –> 00:24:14,680 that had been confirmed by Elizabeth 495 00:24:14,680 –> 00:24:18,260 and had been confirmed by the shepherds and now by Simeon. 496 00:24:19,359 –> 00:24:20,199 He is the Christ. 497 00:24:20,339 –> 00:24:21,939 Can you imagine the impact of this on Mary? 498 00:24:21,939 –> 00:24:25,819 She walks in with the baby and there’s Joseph 499 00:24:25,819 –> 00:24:29,420 and nobody knows nor says anything at all 500 00:24:29,420 –> 00:24:30,719 except here’s one man 501 00:24:30,719 –> 00:24:32,300 and the spirit of God is upon him, 502 00:24:32,300 –> 00:24:34,939 says, that’s the Christ, how did you know? 503 00:24:37,540 –> 00:24:39,099 And now she’s looking at the baby 504 00:24:39,099 –> 00:24:41,359 and she’s saying, you’re the son of God, 505 00:24:43,020 –> 00:24:47,540 you’re the Lord, you’re the savior 506 00:24:48,000 –> 00:24:53,000 and you are the Christ, the promised one of Israel. 507 00:24:56,160 –> 00:24:59,160 This is the great work of the Holy Spirit, isn’t it? 508 00:24:59,160 –> 00:25:02,079 To bring people to Jesus 509 00:25:02,079 –> 00:25:06,160 and to open people’s eyes with regards to Jesus. 510 00:25:07,920 –> 00:25:09,199 You know, on this Christmas Sunday, 511 00:25:09,199 –> 00:25:11,339 this has been my biggest single prayer 512 00:25:11,339 –> 00:25:12,880 for our services this week, 513 00:25:12,880 –> 00:25:15,560 that that would be your experience today. 514 00:25:15,560 –> 00:25:20,079 Why are you here today, why are you here today? 515 00:25:20,079 –> 00:25:23,800 Could it be that actually the Holy Spirit 516 00:25:23,800 –> 00:25:28,280 has drawn you here with a purpose of opening your eyes 517 00:25:28,280 –> 00:25:32,420 to who Jesus Christ really is, 518 00:25:33,560 –> 00:25:36,199 the Lord, the Savior, the Christ, 519 00:25:36,199 –> 00:25:39,920 and that God is actually drawing you to him. 520 00:25:41,359 –> 00:25:44,540 Well may that be the experience of many, many, 521 00:25:44,599 –> 00:25:48,420 here in this place even today. 522 00:25:49,439 –> 00:25:51,079 This is the great work of the Holy Spirit. 523 00:25:51,079 –> 00:25:53,939 This is how people come to the Lord Jesus Christ. 524 00:25:53,939 –> 00:25:56,939 The Spirit brings people to Jesus. 525 00:25:56,939 –> 00:25:59,060 Second, notice this, that the Spirit, 526 00:25:59,060 –> 00:26:02,920 the Spirit gives peace through Jesus. 527 00:26:02,920 –> 00:26:05,380 Simeon, these wonderful words that he speaks, 528 00:26:05,380 –> 00:26:08,420 having recognized the Christ, he says, verse 29, 529 00:26:08,420 –> 00:26:13,400 Lord now you are letting your servant depart in peace 530 00:26:15,400 –> 00:26:18,619 wouldn’t you just love to be able to say that. 531 00:26:20,420 –> 00:26:23,380 Now that I’ve come to know Jesus, he says, 532 00:26:23,380 –> 00:26:25,760 now that I’ve recognized the Christ, 533 00:26:25,760 –> 00:26:27,140 now that I’ve seen him, 534 00:26:27,140 –> 00:26:29,420 now that I’ve held this Christ in my arms, 535 00:26:29,420 –> 00:26:31,300 now that the Christ is given, 536 00:26:33,339 –> 00:26:35,640 I have peace to live my life. 537 00:26:37,540 –> 00:26:40,680 And I have peace when I come to face death. 538 00:26:41,579 –> 00:26:45,439 How marvelous to live as the Lord’s servant, 539 00:26:45,439 –> 00:26:47,339 which is how he describes himself, 540 00:26:47,339 –> 00:26:49,719 and then to depart in peace. 541 00:26:49,719 –> 00:26:51,859 Lord, let me live as your servant, 542 00:26:51,859 –> 00:26:53,800 and then let me depart in peace. 543 00:26:55,079 –> 00:26:57,140 Wouldn’t you love to be able to say that. 544 00:26:59,319 –> 00:27:03,380 Bishop Ryle says that Simeon speaks like one 545 00:27:03,380 –> 00:27:06,140 for whom the grave has lost its terrors, 546 00:27:06,140 –> 00:27:08,420 and the world has lost its charms. 547 00:27:08,420 –> 00:27:09,459 Isn’t that beautiful? 548 00:27:10,900 –> 00:27:12,760 The grave has lost its terrors. 549 00:27:14,000 –> 00:27:15,540 And the world has lost its charms. 550 00:27:15,540 –> 00:27:17,140 I’m not living for that. 551 00:27:18,880 –> 00:27:20,339 Why, because of Christ. 552 00:27:21,819 –> 00:27:23,420 And this man can face death 553 00:27:23,420 –> 00:27:24,959 and he can live life how? 554 00:27:24,959 –> 00:27:26,439 Because of Jesus Christ. 555 00:27:26,439 –> 00:27:29,119 That’s the source of his peace. 556 00:27:29,119 –> 00:27:32,439 And you see it’s so significant that Simeon says this 557 00:27:32,439 –> 00:27:35,579 when he has Jesus in his arms. 558 00:27:36,540 –> 00:2737,380 That’s the thing. 559 00:27:37,400 –> 00:27:41,119 He took him up in his arms on blessed God saying, 560 00:27:41,119 –> 00:27:43,859 now you are letting your servant depart in peace. 561 00:27:45,359 –> 00:27:46,199 Here he is. 562 00:27:46,199 –> 00:27:49,020 Jesus, he’s proceeded from the father. 563 00:27:49,020 –> 00:27:51,479 He has been born of a woman under the law. 564 00:27:51,479 –> 00:27:53,579 He’s now placed in the arms of this man 565 00:27:53,579 –> 00:27:56,300 in whom the spirit of God lives. 566 00:27:56,300 –> 00:27:57,420 And he’s now lifted up 567 00:27:57,420 –> 00:27:59,459 and he’s presented before the father. 568 00:28:00,339 –> 00:28:01,439 He’s your son. 569 00:28:02,680 –> 00:28:04,359 And he’s our Christ. 570 00:28:05,420 –> 00:28:07,180 And he’s your great gift to us 571 00:28:07,180 –> 00:28:10,140 and because of him, I have peace to live 572 00:28:10,140 –> 00:28:12,359 and I will have peace when I die. 573 00:28:13,859 –> 00:28:16,540 Matthew Henry says this very beautifully. 574 00:28:16,540 –> 00:28:21,439 When we receive the good news of Jesus with faith, 575 00:28:21,439 –> 00:28:25,439 we take him up in our arms. 576 00:28:25,439 –> 00:28:27,119 That’s how you take Jesus in your arms. 577 00:28:27,119 –> 00:28:31,260 That’s how you do what literally Simeon did on that day. 578 00:28:31,260 –> 00:28:34,660 You take Christ to yourself by believing the good news 579 00:28:34,699 –> 00:28:37,739 with regards to him, that he is the son of God, 580 00:28:37,739 –> 00:28:41,260 that he is the Lord, that he is the Savior, 581 00:28:41,260 –> 00:28:44,280 and that he is the Christ. 582 00:28:44,280 –> 00:28:46,260 And then here’s the very last thing today, 583 00:28:46,260 –> 00:28:50,300 the Holy Spirit, he brings people to Jesus, 584 00:28:50,300 –> 00:28:53,260 he gives peace through Jesus 585 00:28:53,260 –> 00:28:58,000 and he changes hearts towards Jesus. 586 00:28:58,000 –> 00:29:00,060 I just want you to notice the default response 587 00:29:00,219 –> 00:29:04,780 of people to Jesus that’s at the end of this story. 588 00:29:04,780 –> 00:29:07,760 Verse 35 says that through his coming, 589 00:29:07,760 –> 00:29:12,000 the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. 590 00:29:12,979 –> 00:29:17,180 In other words, Jesus will bring your true attitude 591 00:29:17,180 –> 00:29:19,359 towards God out into the open. 592 00:29:20,260 –> 00:29:21,400 That’s very important. 593 00:29:23,939 –> 00:29:27,719 We like to speak well of God. 594 00:29:28,420 –> 00:29:33,140 The prevailing idea in our culture still is that God, 595 00:29:33,140 –> 00:29:34,540 this is how the culture thinks of it. 596 00:29:34,540 –> 00:29:37,660 God, whoever he, she, or it may be 597 00:29:37,660 –> 00:29:39,859 is generally a good thing and we want whoever he, 598 00:29:39,859 –> 00:29:42,260 she, or it may be on our side. 599 00:29:42,260 –> 00:29:44,319 So we print it on the money. 600 00:29:44,319 –> 00:29:46,040 In God, we trust. 601 00:29:46,040 –> 00:29:48,199 We want him for us, especially for the economy. 602 00:29:48,199 –> 00:29:49,199 We don’t want the money going down. 603 00:29:49,199 –> 00:29:50,260 We want the money going up, right? 604 00:29:50,260 –> 00:29:51,819 So we want God on our side. 605 00:29:51,819 –> 00:29:54,020 Say a prayer for me, pastor! 606 00:29:55,219 –> 00:29:56,680 Want God with me? 607 00:29:58,640 –> 00:30:00,979 We tip our caps to God. 608 00:30:03,839 –> 00:30:06,800 But the coming of Jesus brings to the surface 609 00:30:06,800 –> 00:30:08,939 what we really think about God, 610 00:30:10,479 –> 00:30:12,119 what we really think about God, 611 00:30:14,260 –> 00:30:15,560 because in the coming of Jesus, 612 00:30:15,560 –> 00:30:18,680 God has actually come to us and that’s where it’s discovered 613 00:30:18,680 –> 00:30:21,380 are we really for Him, or are we actually against Him? 614 00:30:22,760 –> 00:30:24,699 The thoughts of many hearts are revealed. 615 00:30:24,699 –> 00:30:27,920 One writer says, through the acceptance or rejection 616 00:30:27,920 –> 00:30:29,819 of Jesus it will become clear 617 00:30:29,819 –> 00:30:32,619 what everyone’s real bend and bias is, 618 00:30:32,619 –> 00:30:35,660 what he thinks of himself whether humble or arrogant, 619 00:30:35,660 –> 00:30:37,060 and what he thinks of God, 620 00:30:37,060 –> 00:30:39,939 whether he really loves Him or not. 621 00:30:42,020 –> 00:30:45,300 And you could talk all you want generically about God, 622 00:30:46,800 –> 00:30:49,540 but when He comes near to you in Jesus Christ 623 00:30:49,540 –> 00:30:51,680 and actually lays claim to your life, 624 00:30:51,680 –> 00:30:54,500 then what you really feel about God will be revealed. 625 00:30:54,819 –> 00:30:57,000 The thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. 626 00:30:58,420 –> 00:31:01,020 And what is revealed here is clearly not encouraging 627 00:31:01,020 –> 00:31:05,219 because the default of the human heart is not good. 628 00:31:05,219 –> 00:31:06,699 He’s assigned, verse 34, 629 00:31:06,699 –> 00:31:08,439 that we’ll be opposed. 630 00:31:09,439 –> 00:31:12,020 He came to his own and his own received Him not. 631 00:31:12,020 –> 00:31:13,459 The secular world hated Him, 632 00:31:13,459 –> 00:31:15,380 the religious world hated Him. 633 00:31:16,319 –> 00:31:19,219 Bishop Riles says, men who agreed on nothing else 634 00:31:19,219 –> 00:31:22,260 managed to agree in hating Jesus. 635 00:31:22,260 –> 00:31:23,540 You see that in the gospels. 636 00:31:24,660 –> 00:31:27,199 The Pharisees and the Herodians, 637 00:31:27,199 –> 00:31:29,280 Mark, chapter three and verse six, 638 00:31:29,280 –> 00:31:32,199 nothing in common, Pharisees and Herodians, 639 00:31:32,199 –> 00:31:33,599 nothing in common, 640 00:31:33,599 –> 00:31:35,199 but they managed to conspire together 641 00:31:35,199 –> 00:31:36,880 in order to crucify Jesus. 642 00:31:38,959 –> 00:31:41,079 Pilate and Herod hated each other, 643 00:31:41,079 –> 00:31:43,079 they had been enemies, the Bible says, 644 00:31:43,079 –> 00:31:44,719 but on the day Jesus was crucified, 645 00:31:44,719 –> 00:31:46,579 that was the day they became friends. 646 00:31:48,319 –> 00:31:49,839 A sign that is opposed. 647 00:31:50,560 –> 00:31:54,119 And therefore, a child that is, verse 34, 648 00:31:54,119 –> 00:31:58,479 appointed for the fall and rise of many. 649 00:32:00,520 –> 00:32:01,920 The fall of many. 650 00:32:03,319 –> 00:32:04,199 You see, there are many who, 651 00:32:04,199 –> 00:32:05,439 like that rich young ruler, 652 00:32:05,439 –> 00:32:07,119 just assume that they’re standing, 653 00:32:07,119 –> 00:32:08,739 that the life that they’ve lived 654 00:32:08,739 –> 00:32:11,760 is gonna be just marvelous and impressive to God, 655 00:32:11,760 –> 00:32:14,319 and the coming of Jesus Christ 656 00:32:14,319 –> 00:32:17,839 means their ultimate collapse and fall, 657 00:32:18,640 –> 00:32:20,400 because in their arrogance, 658 00:32:20,400 –> 00:32:23,180 they reject the Son of God and see no need of him, 659 00:32:24,479 –> 00:32:27,660 and rather, stand on their own and therefore must fall. 660 00:32:28,959 –> 00:32:32,359 But the coming of Jesus will also mean the rising of many, 661 00:32:32,359 –> 00:32:35,000 and it’s gonna mean one or other for every one of us. 662 00:32:36,180 –> 00:32:38,660 It will lead to the rising of many. 663 00:32:38,660 –> 00:32:40,959 It will lead to a great company 664 00:32:40,959 –> 00:32:43,359 of the redeemed from every race and culture 665 00:32:43,359 –> 00:32:46,760 and language group, every generation of history, 666 00:32:48,839 –> 00:32:51,739 what are the thoughts of your heart about Jesus? 667 00:32:51,739 –> 00:32:55,060 Really, are you for him? 668 00:32:56,500 –> 00:32:59,579 Could you say that you are devoted to him? 669 00:33:01,819 –> 00:33:06,719 Are you walking in the spirit and in fellowship with him? 670 00:33:08,699 –> 00:33:11,099 And if you find yourself today saying, you know, 671 00:33:13,060 –> 00:33:14,180 I look back on this year, 672 00:33:14,180 –> 00:33:16,680 I have not lived in a way that is upright. 673 00:33:18,500 –> 00:33:21,280 And I have not been devoted to God. 674 00:33:21,280 –> 00:33:22,920 I could not really say that 675 00:33:22,920 –> 00:33:26,359 I have lived day-by-day as a worshiper of God. 676 00:33:26,359 –> 00:33:27,680 I’ve really been devoted to 677 00:33:27,680 –> 00:33:30,400 myself and to other things. 678 00:33:30,400 –> 00:33:32,339 And if you would say today, 679 00:33:32,339 –> 00:33:33,880 honestly you know what the truth is, 680 00:33:33,880 –> 00:33:36,599 I have not been walking in the spirit. 681 00:33:36,599 –> 00:33:40,359 I’ve actually been walking in the flesh. 682 00:33:40,359 –> 00:33:43,060 What can I do? 683 00:33:43,239 –> 00:33:46,680 Well, you can do what Simeon did. 684 00:33:46,739 –> 00:33:52,160 You can take up Jesus Christ in your arms. 685 00:33:52,160 –> 00:33:54,400 That is, you can embrace Him, 686 00:33:54,400 –> 00:33:55,859 that’s what faith is. 687 00:33:55,859 –> 00:33:58,780 You can cast yourself upon Him. 688 00:33:58,780 –> 00:34:02,719 You can say, I need the son of 689 00:34:02,719 –> 00:34:05,180 God to be my Lord and to be 690 00:34:05,180 –> 00:34:08,979 my Savior and to be my Christ. 691 00:34:08,979 –> 00:34:11,179 And in giving yourself to 692 00:34:11,179 –> 00:34:13,699 Him and in taking Him to yourself, 693 00:34:13,699 –> 00:34:16,159 you can thank Him that 694 00:34:16,159 –> 00:34:21,419 such a Savior has come into the world for you. 695 00:34:21,419 –> 00:34:23,500 Let’s pray together. 696 00:34:26,120 –> 00:34:28,780 Father, we pray that the Holy Spirit 697 00:34:28,780 –> 00:34:30,139 will do His marvelous work 698 00:34:30,139 –> 00:34:32,620 of bringing people to 699 00:34:32,620 –> 00:34:36,899 Jesus across the services today. 700 00:34:37,879 –> 00:34:40,699 That’s as we come facing 701 00:34:40,699 –> 00:34:42,260 many troubles that he will