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e e e e e e e e e e e and full welcome to the visitors that are amongst us this morning uh we have a couple of announcements before we get started with our worship service our evening service that us as usual will be at 5:00 p.m. and Pastor Porter will be preaching this evening pastor this morning there will be no Wednesday night bible study this week or next both of course folling on Christmas Day and New Year's Day this year so there'll be no Wednesday night bible study the next two weeks we have applications for baptism membership already announced uh silus and Janelle Neils as well as uh Sean conect are going to be baptized Lord willing on Sunday January the 5th that's 2 weeks from today so we look forward to that and one other wonderful announce is that Julian van and railen Hutchings are engaged congratulations we're going to turn now in our Bibles to Micah chapter 5 for our call to worship Micah chapter 5 we'll just beginning reading in verse one to the first part of verse five mic 51 now gather yourself in troops oh daughter of troops he hasle Siege against us they will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek but you Bethlehem EPA though you are little among the thousands of Judah yet out of you shall come forth to me the one to be ruler in Israel whose goings forth are from of old from Everlasting therefore he shall give them up until the time that she who is in labor has given birth then the remnant of his Brethren shall return to the children of Israel and he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord in the Majesty of the name of the Lord his God and they shall abide for now he shall be great to the ends of the Earth and this one shall be peace amen for our first hymn this morning we're going to sing 3:19 Oh Come All Ye Faithful please stand with me as we sing together 319 [Music] Jo [Music] and oh to let Behold Him for king of Angel oh let us adore oh come let us adore him oh come let us adore in Christ Lord [Music] [Music] our cre oh come let us adore him oh come let us adore oh let us [Music] adore sing of angels singing exal sing all sing of [Music] glor to God glory in [Music] highest let us adore him let us adore him let us adore Christ [Music] we for this happy GL Jesus to be all [Music] GL of the in fles ofing oh come let us adore oh come let us adore come let [Music] us let's turn to the Lord in prayer our gracious Heavenly Father we thank you that we can come and adore this king of kings and Lord of lords not in a Manger any longer but exalted on high at the right hand of the father where he ever lives to make intercession for us his people and we thank you that because of the Incarnation because Christ came into the world and took on our flesh and went through his life in perfect obedience to the father died a sacrif acial death on the cross was buried and raised again for us we can have peace in our hearts this day we know that it is not because of our own doings but because of the Holy Spirit and his workings in our life that we are here this day thank you that you have drawn into this building people from all around that are going to hear the gospel today those who are your your children who are going to be reaffirmed in their faith and those who are yet outside of Christ and we pray today would be the day of salvation we thank you oh God for the good that you have been doing in our church we thank you that you are continually causing the church to grow you are adding new members you're causing us to grow in knowledge and understanding and and in the truth we thank you Lord that within these four walls every week Sunday after Sunday the gospel is preached and people are under the sound of that gospel and the Holy Spirit is doing his work we thank you for the young children in this church we pray that as they are reared in the fear and admonition of the Lord you would give their parents much wisdom we pray oh God that every Young Heart in this audience today and throughout the year would be turned toward the scriptures and would come to embrace the truth and by the work of your spirit would also be regenerated and brought into the kingdom of God Lord we pray that you would continue the good work you're doing in our young people in the young adults we thank you for this engagement we thank you that you are adding couples and young families and new babies to this church we pray oh God that we would continue to see not only numerical growth but uh a strengthening in the faith and a strengthening in our unity and our our bonds of love one with another we pray the same thing for our sister churches and church plants we pray oh God that you'd be gracious to our Brethren up and Armstrong today as they meet where you'd bless pastor malar and Pastor kru as they lead that congregation we pray Lord that you would continue to work in their midst and they make them a light and a beacon in the north Okanagan and I pray Lord that you'd give them many connections to other Bible believing churches in that Valley we pray as well for our brethren in Su today as they meet we pray that you would bless them bless Pastor Kirkpatrick as he preaches and as he encourages the flock there continue to add to their number continue to bless them we pray for the church plant out in dren Ontario be merciful to to Dan and Jos Josh as they lead that congregation we pray oh God that you would continue to work there and that they too would would be a light and a beacon to many in that area of Ontario we thank you for the many churches that you have put us in contact with across western Canada that are of like mind we thank you as well for our Brethren down in the Honduras we pray that you would encourage the congregations there and bless them bless the work in Kenya today Lord we pray that as the gospel Goes Forth all over the face of the Earth and as Sinners are drawn into the the church are re uh rejuvenated re um born again and brought into the faith we pray oh God that we would see entire societies changed entire countries Changed by the the work of the Living God Lord we pray as well for the the Brethren out there in Myanmar in this very difficult situation with the civil war going on be gracious to them today pray you'd give Peter and his co-workers much wisdom much strength to continue on as they help the orphans and the ones that they are assisting Lord we pray that the gospel would also penetrate that country cause this Civil War to cease we pray and we pray oh God that there would be a complete reversal of the situation there be merciful oh God to your people in difficult places in places where they are being persecuted this day where the church is is under s severe dur rest because of the authorities because of the religious leaders of false religion Lord we pray you'd be merciful to your Saints especially those who today are in prison for the sake of the Gospel be gracious to them and cause them to look to Jesus for their hope and their their long-term uh security we thank you oh Father for the freedom that we have here we thank you that you have granted us many years of Peace as a church we pray oh God that you would continue to do so we pray that we would use our liberties uh wisely and we pray oh God for the magistrates in this nation of Canada that you would cause them to to lead in the fear of the Lord and Lord those who are bent on destruction who hate the church and hate the truth we pray oh God that you would restrain them and remove them from office and give your church boldness to speak the truth into our society I pray Lord continue with us this day bless Pastor Butler as he comes to preach to us Pastor Porter this evening we pray that you would anoint them both with your spirit and cause them to speak the words of truth to our ears we pray this in Jesus name amen we're now going to turn to Psalm 2A in our Suter Himel Psalm 2A is in Alpha and we will stand to sing again e e e e e e for our New Testament scripture reading this morning we are now in Mark 12 we'll read the first part of the chapter through the end of verse 17 Mark 12 beginning in verse one then he began to speak to them in Parables a man planted a Vineyard and set a hedge around it dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower and he leased it to vine dressers and went into a f country now at vintage time he sent a servant to the vine dressers that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vine dressers and they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed again he sent them another servant and at him they threw Stones wounded him in the head and sent him away shamefully treated and again he sent another and him they killed and many others beating some and killing some there therefore still having one son his beloved he also sent him to them last saying they will respect my son but those Vine dressers said among themselves this is the air come let us kill him and The Inheritance will be ours so they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do he will come and destroy the vine dressers and give the vineyard to others have you not even read this scripture the stone which the builders rejected has become the Chief Cornerstone this was the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes amen well Christ who is our Prophet priest and King came in the vein of the prophets of the Old Testament who of often also used Parables to address and upgrade the nation of Israel when they had gone astray and this is what Christ is doing here he's using a able and it's quite obvious not only to us but even to his hearers that these Vine dressers are the leaders of the nation of Israel the religious leaders of Israel who throughout the centuries had stoned and killed the prophets that God had sent to them when they were going astray and of course the greatest Prophet The Son of God himself is standing before them and him too they will kill just as he says in The Parables now the reason Christ used parab Parables is so that to some the truth would be hidden and to others the truth would be revealed we can thank the Lord that in his mercy and his kindness he Delights in opening our eyes and the Holy Spirit Delights in bringing us to the truth and we pray that he would do that even this day let's pray gracious Father in heaven we thank you for christ who is our great high priest who took on human flesh that he might offer himself as a sacrifice in our place because we are law Breakers and we deserve the punishment that fell upon the entire race when Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden and we have continued in his line by rebelling against you and yet in your mercy and your kindness you sent Christ while we were yet sinners to die for us and to bring us back to fellowship with you and one day into Glory we thank you for that hope of heaven we pray Lord that each and everyone here in this place today would leave with that hope that they will one day see your face not as the judge who will send them off into Eternal punishment but as the judge who will pardon them for the work of Christ and we thank you for this in Jesus name amen for our final hymn this morning we'll sing 311 in the Himel please stand as we sing Hark the Herald Angels [Music] Sing Sing glory to the new morning peace on Earth and mercy God [Music] Andor [Music] Nation the tri of the Christ is born in the Angels Sing glory to the newr my highest andore Christ the Everlasting Lord holding of the building flesh [Music] the Jesus you the Angels Sing glory to the [Music] oface the S of [Music] rightousness to all be PR his he his glory [Music] for the sons of Earth [Music] to the Angels Sing glor to the new [Music] will you can turn with me in your Bibles to The Gospel According to Luke Luke chap 2 God willing will'll return to our studies in John's gospel in a few weeks we'll finish up the upper room discourse the last several verses in John 16 and then take up jesus' high Priestly prayer but this morning our Focus will be on this man called Simeon that takes up the Babe Christ in his arms and makes a wonderful confession and a prophetic statement so I want to read chapter 2 in Luke's gospel veres 25-35 and behold there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon and this man was just and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him and it had been revealed to him by the holy spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ so he came by the spirit into the temple and when the parents brought him uh brought in the Child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said 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 a light to bring Revelation to the Gentiles the glory of your People Israel and Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him 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 yes a sword will PE piercer your own soul also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed amen well let us pray Our Father in heaven thank you for the Lord's day thank you for the house of God where the people of God can gather together as we come to the father through the son in the power of the Holy Spirit we pray that you would be enthroned upon the Praises of your people here you would send the spirit now to guide us and lead us into all truth cause us to reflect upon this glorious scene cause us to reflect upon the Lord Jesus Christ who is the very salvation of God most high forgive us now for all sin and all unrighteousness and all those things that darken our minds and our hearts and our understanding we pray that you would cause us with fresh appreciation to Marvel at what our Lord Jesus Christ has accomplished on our behalf we thank you for his life of perfect obedience to The Father's Law that death as a sacrifice and substitute on the cross and that Resurrection again the third day in the current session where he now lives to make intercession for his people we look forward to his return again in glory to judge the living and the dead and we pray that all here every one under the sound of the Gospel here and elsewhere would come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ that they would be cleansed in his blood and clothed in his righteousness and ready to meet him on that great day and we ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ amen well as we come to this particular passage of scripture last week in John's gospel we noted the two comings of our Lord Jesus Christ that he speaks of in John chapter 16 he says I came forth from the father and there he's speaking about the Eternal generation of the son there never was a time when the son was not the Lord Jesus Christ is the Divine word we see that in John 1 verse one in the beginning was the word the word was with God and the Word was God and then Jesus goes on to speak in that passage in John 16 that he came into the world we call that the Incarnation so back to John 1 after saying what John does in verse one he said says in John 1:14 the word became flesh and dwelt Among Us and it's a glorious and a wonderful truth of the Christian religion that God the son came into this world took on our Humanity with all the essential properties and the common infirmities thereof yet without sin such that he could live for us and die for us and be raised again for us I think that as we move through this passage you'll understand why Simeon This Old Man is rejoicing and now he has laid his eyes upon the very salvation of God Almighty so I want to look first at the confession of Simeon in verses 25-28 and then secondly we'll look at the prophecy of Simeon in verses hang on that's 25-32 the confession and then the prophecy in verses 33-35 so confession and then prophecy by confession I don't mean father forgive me for I have sinned but a confession of his faith in our great God who had fulfilled the promise to send the Messiah to save his people from their sins so let's look first at the confession in verses 25-32 there is first revelation given to Simeon when we look at this brief section concerning Simeon himself we notice in verses 25-28 it indicates something about who he is now notice the nature of his religion verse 25 says and behold there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon and this man was just and devout and I think this captures what is well spoken in Micah chapter 6 verse 8 he has shown you oh man what is good and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly to love mercy and to walk humbly before your God or with your God this is something that we see all throughout the old Old Testament it is an app description of the remnant of the Believers of those who took seriously the promises of God in the Old Testament and looked forward in faith to the coming Messiah and so this old man and I call him an old man because he speaks about departing in peace he's probably not 20 he's probably not 25 he had been waiting a long time to see the consolation of Israel so he's an old man and so this old man had a robust faith in all that God had spoken in the Old Testament scriptures some suggest that this Simeon was a pretty prestigious man that perhaps he was the son of helle who was a famous Rabbi and the father of g g galel rather that Paul refers to I like P Matthew P says the revelations of Christ were to none of the Pharisees but to Joseph A carpenter to Mary a despised virgin though of the House of David to an ordinary priest Zacharias to Shepherds and why should we fancy this Simeon a principal doctor I cannot tell I think he's right there's an obscurity about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ the fact that he assumes our Humanity later the the fact that he'll ride into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey we know of course all of this fulfills scripture but he didn't come with the Fanfare that we expect at his second coming when he comes to judge the living and the dead now note as well with reference to his character he's waiting for the consolation of Israel and specifically what that means is that he has a confidence in the promises of God he has a confidence in the promises of God we know that God is Not silent in the Old Testament scriptures about the coming of messiah in Greek we call that Christ God is Not silent and all throughout the scriptures he reveals that plan purpose and intention to send the son of his love in order that he might save his people from their sins and so that Simeon is waiting for the consolation of Israel indicates that confidence that he has in the promises of God say for instance Genesis 3:15 that first giving of gospel promise where the seed of the woman is going to crush the head of the serpent we see it in types in Genesis CH 22 when Abraham is told to take Isaac up to mount Mariah the son the only son the son that he loves and sacrifice him before the Lord we know that from that passage Abram understands well the significance he says that the Lord will provide that Ram caught in a Thicket is a type of our blessed savior the Lord Jesus Christ we have that levitical priesthood and the sacrifice is offered up we see that without the shedding of blood there is no uh remission for sin we've got the announcement throughout the prophets and throughout the Salter in fact our brother Mark read from 52 the prophet Micah and one has well uh observed there in the setting of Micah that Deliverance for Israel both past under David and future under David's greater son the Lord Jesus Christ originate from a cradle in Bethlehem and so Simeon had this desire Simeon understood Simeon expresses the confidence of his God or in his God rather in terms of the promises of God which are y and amen Simeon is not unique in this turn to the book of Acts in Acts CH 28 acts 28 there are several other passages that indicate this but I love the way Paul puts it when he's basically on trial he's been arrested he's in Rome he's appearing before the unbelieving Jews he's ultimately on house arrest or rather arrest in a prison from ad60 to 62 that's where acts ends with 283 and 31 but prior to that notice what he says with reference to these Jews that have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ notice in verse 17 of chapter 28 it came to pass after 3 days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together so when they had come together he said to them men and Brethren though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans who when they had examined me wanted to let me go we've seen that in our studies in the Gospel of John we saw that in our studies in the book of Acts the first primary enemy of the Christian Church wasn't the Roman Empire it was unbelieving Israel they had rejected the Son of God and therefore rejected the church that he had founded notice in verse 19 but uh but when the Jews spoke against it I was compelled to appeal to Caesar not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation for this reason therefore I have called for you to see you and speak with you note because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain and I think there in Acts 28 something that is emphasized throughout the entirety of the book of Acts by the author Luke under inspiration of the holy spirit is to show us that the true interpreters of the Old Testament scriptures are the apostles not the unbelieving Jews who missed Jesus the Old Testament is all about Jesus Remember on that road to Damascus the Apostle Paul at that time Saul of Tarsus he knew the Old Testament but he didn't have that interpret ative key namely the Lord Of Glory even Jesus Christ the son of God and so this hope of Israel or this consolation for Israel sustained old Covenant Believers they were looking forward by faith in the the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and that was fed by the Old Testament scriptures so back to Simeon we notice as we continue to look at his character he's filled with the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit was upon him as Jes with what we've seen in the upper room Jesus speaks about the sending of the spirit have tried to encourage us to think this way that the Old Testament Believers had the spirit the Old Testament prophets spake by the spirit but Jesus is promising in the upper room discourse is the Pentecostal pouring out of the spirit the sending of the spirit on Pentecost which is a fulfillment of the Old Testament prophets but now Simeon has the spirit Simeon a Godly Man Simeon is also going to receive Revelation from the spirit and notice that particular content says in verse 26 it had been revealed to him by the holy spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ he's going with the eyes the physical eyes to set them upon the consolation of Israel he's going to set the physical eyes upon the very salvation of God most high now it's at this point that it's probably okay not to Envy but to be a bit jealous of Simeon in this instance he's at a unique period in Redemptive history he is at a unique uh uh Pinnacle in Redemptive history the fullness of the time had come God sent forth his his son born of a woman born under the law to redeem those under the law Simeon is an old Covenant Saint his character cized by a justness and a devoutness he knows the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit and that presence and power of the holy spirit is revealed to him that his physical eyes are going to set upon the Lord Of Glory the promised Messiah now note then his conduct verses 27- 28 he enters into the temple by the prompting of the spirit and who of course does he meet there but Joseph and Mary and the Child Jesus why are Joseph and Mary there because Jesus in the fullness of the time was sent forth by his father born of a woman and born under the law Luke records the circumcision of Jesus and Luke records the coming of Joseph and Mary to the temple to pay the Redemption price for their firstborn son and so all of this right place right time the spirit prevails upon Simeon not prevails that's probably the not the best word prompted is better moves Simeon to that place and we see then the taking up of the child notice in verse 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said I've I've said this before you've heard it Mary must have been prompted or Mary was the most charitable woman on the face of the Earth if some Rando dude comes up to grab your child out of your arms lady I suspect we'll see mama bear bear her fangs and pause this is of god this is that blessed blessed Pinnacle in the history of the world this is the Incarnation of the Son of God this is The Obedience of Mary and Joseph this is the prompting of the Holy Spirit such that Simeon goes in fulfillment of what had been revealed to him that he would not die until laid eyes upon the consolation of Israel he takes the child out of her hands again there's no resistance there Mary doesn't go mother bear and start to Claw at him or to start to bat at him but he does this and it made me think about the the use of language that we utilize with reference to the the Incarnation of Our Lord I think there have been many instances where we've tried to encourage you don't use the language of addition it's not as if Christ added human nature it kind of suggests that there's something added to the Divine he certainly didn't subtract some take that faulty reading in Philippians chapter 2 and they suspect that Jesus divested himself of deity when he became man I think Wesley got it right there veiled in flesh the godhead sea hail the Incarnate deity pleased as man with men to dwell Jesus our Emmanuel our Our God With Us the Lang anguage that the scriptural writers employs that he assumed or he took to himself he took to himself our Humanity you see this in Philippians chapter 2 and you see it as well in Hebrews 2 he doesn't take on Angels but he takes on man why does he take on man well all those essential properties and common infirmities thereof and yet without sin so that he could live for us so that he could die for us so that he can be raised again for us so consider the one who took on our humanity is now picked up took up by a Godly Man in the temple it really is a glorious picture not physically painting but in terms of the significance of this particular event the old man had been waiting informed and nurtured by the promises of the faithful God all throughout the Old Testament the time has come the spirit has prompted him he now holds the Babe Christ in his arms and that brings us to the confession of Simeon and there's three points here that we should observe first his departure in peace secondly the salvation of God and third the blessing upon the Nations note the depart excuse me the departure in peace and this departure has reference to his death verse 29 Lord now you are letting your servant depart in peace this is language that we're familiar with Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5 to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord Paul says in Philippians 1:23 he says I'm hardpressed between the two it's much better to be present with the Lord than to continue on or carry on with you brethren in Phil in Philippi so you see this man who had been nurtured on the Promises this man who is now holding the promise this man says I can depart in peace it's kind of like Jose Jacob when he sees Joseph I I can die now perhaps you've said that in your life life my my children are converted my my grandchildren are converted my happy man I can depart in peace that's the significance of the statement again Brethren what we have in the entirety of our Bibles is the entirety of our Bibles and some of us have them Bound in beautiful calf skin leather with with great big margins for copious notetaking Simeon didn't have that what did he have he had the promises that were preached by the prophets inscribed by the prophets given in the altar he had the Torah he had the law he had all these things but he didn't have necessarily all the things that we have and so for him it was okay now that he di for him it was okay that he depart because it's going to be in peace then notice he speaks concerning the salvation of God in verses 30 and 31 for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared be uh before the face of All Peoples for my eyes have seen your salvation it's kind of like in that reading in Micah 5 verse 5A tells us that Jesus is peace just like Paul does in the book of Ephesians in Chapter 2 he says Christ himself is our peace Christ embodies it Christ is about it Christ is the sum and substance of it such that Paul can write in Romans 5 therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God well in the same way that Christ is about peace in the same way that Christ is about the embodiment rather of Peace so is he the salvation of God remember the naming of Jesus in Matthew chap 1 you shall call his name Jesus which is the New Covenant equivalent of the word Joshua which means salvation is of Yahweh or Yahweh saves it's his name was given to him for a particular reason and purpose because that's his function as the mediator of the New Covenant so he says for my eyes have seen your salvation Matthew P again says for my eyes have seen thy salvation that is thy Christ according to the Revelation I had from thee Simeon had a special revelation of a corporeal sight of God that means physically he had a special revelation of a physical sight of Christ he could not die happily till he had had that then he makes this observation and if you're not a Believer here this morning I want you to hear what he has to say he says none of us can die in peace till we have seen the Lord's salvation with a spiritual eye and made application of the promises of the Gospel in the more General revelation of his word so you've got this scene where Simeon takes the child Simeon has the baby in his arms Simeon blesses God that means to speak well of God or magnify God for the reason that he is now able to depart in peace for my eyes have seen your salvation So what had been revealed what had been waited for had come to pass he's now ready to depart in peace and stand before God it's a good question for all of us are we ready to depart in peace and stand before God Butler's not becoming the Prophet this morning prophesying your sudden or imminent Doom I don't have that prerogative nor do I want that prerogative to be quite candid with you but I do know this that we're not to boast about tomorrow according to James we're kind of like that Vapor that comes out of the teapot it's here for a time and then it's gone it's kind of like Moses that man of God who composed Psalm 90 by virtue of strength our years are 70 or 80 and then what where will we fly away to are you prepared to go before the living and the true God and give an account of Deeds Done in the body whether good or ill it's not the Corporal or physical sight that you need or that you can have but it's rather that sight by faith it is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ it is to look to him and live going back to John's gospel just as the son of man was lifted up in the wilderness so also must the son of man be lifted up that who whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life could we die simeon's death right now could we die simeon's death tomorrow could we die simeon's death in 15 years the only way that we can die with peace is by God's grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ that's what the brother is musing on the promises are yeah and Amen in Jesus the Fulfillment is y and Amen in Jesus the very embodiment with reference to the to the physical Jesus he is holding is God's salvation that's why this is so significant now notice what he goes on to say in verse 31 so it says he says in verse 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared before the face of all the all peoples that kind of connects with what we saw there in verse 25 waiting for the consolation of Israel other words he says that the father God Almighty prepared for this brother Cam's going to preach from Galatians 4 tonight so I don't want to steal any of his Thunder but in the fullness of the time God sent forth his son born of a woman born under the law to redeem those under the law there was a plan there was a purpose there's a power this isn't a halfhazard random series of events wherein God just happened to get lucky and notice that Simeon Muses on that reality that God had prepared for this this very occasion when he's holding this child when he's musing on the fact that this very child is the Salvation of God so just a little bit more expansively how did he know that he knew that from Genesis 3:15 he knew that from the types that we have in scripture I mentioned that Ram caught in the thicket in Genesis 22 I men mentioned the levitical priesthood there's no surprise in John 1:29 when announcing jesus' purpose and Mission the Incarnate one it's the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world people weren't puzzled by that I mean the unbelieving Jews rejected it and resisted it but the Baptist confessed that because that's why he had come he's the Lamb of God that that ironic priesthood or that levitical priesthood pointed forward to in terms of sacrifice and in terms of Priestly activity so Simeon fed himself on the truth as it is in Jesus he fed himself on the Salter he fed himself on the prophets he fed himself on the his what we call the historical books better to call them the the the the former prophets fed himself on the truth of God's holy word such that when he saw Jesus he's able to say mine eyes have seen your salvation and as I was thinking through this it types for those of you in our church you heard that word before hopefully for those not in our church you've heard that word before as well types are something we see in the Old Testament that prefigure certain aspects of New Covenant blessing for instance the Tabernacle and the temple those were not ends in and of themselves and they're certainly not to be sought out again but the Tabernacle and the temple preached God's dwelling with his people through his son the Lord Jesus it's why Jesus uses that language in John two destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up well Lord it took us 46 years to build the temple what are you talking about John the Theologian tells us he was talking about the Temple of his body you got that Ram in the thicket that points forward to or prefigures the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world you've got a David certainly David is typological of our blessed savior there's one other type that I just felt the need to bring about not suggesting that this was in simeon's head but I think that Judges 13 to 16 give us something typological about our Lord Jesus Christ in the life of Samson you probably all know that Samson's one of my heroes but think about the life of Samson in the brief Compass of Judges 13-16 you find four times that the spirit of the Lord came Came Upon Samson Spirit of the Lord Came Upon Samson the spirit of the Lord Came Upon Samson the spirit of the Lord Came Upon Samson there's this narrative out there that he was this big bumbling o o he had big muscles but he had even bigger lusts and I don't know why God used him I think that narrative is false Judges 13 records a supernatural birth with a particular Mission remember Mrs Manoa hadn't had children yet I'm not suggesting virgin birth manoah was altogether involved but the scriptures in the Old Testament has this motif of the barren woman getting pregnant the barren woman getting pregnant you have it in that that particular passage you've got Sarah brings forth Isaac you've got Rebecca bringing forth Jacob you've got Rachel bringing forth Joseph you've got Hannah bringing forth Samuel and you've got Elizabeth bringing forth John the Baptist there's a motif there's layers you're reading your Old Testament you should think Jesus you read Genesis 3 and Jesus specifically is called the seed of the woman not a denigration of Joseph and his instrumentality but an emphasis upon virgin birth an emphasis upon the fact that the deliverer will be a man born of a woman and that his delivery will be uh decisive he will crush the head of the serpent so we've got this Supernatural birth with reference to Samson and then the mission is specified in judges 13:5 it says and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines sounds just like Matthew 1:21 for he it is who will save his people from their sins and then lo and behold you turn to Chapters 14 and 15 and what do you get with Samson victory over his enemies and even lion what does Peter caution Us in 1 Peter 5 behold your adversary the devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour and then what about the defeat of Samson in terms of the gites in chapter 16 it says he goes into the into the Harlot at Gaza I don't believe he had relations with her I believe he was hiding the way the spies Joshua dispatched in Joshua chapter 2 were hiding when they went to Rahab the harlot's house but but uh Samson does something significant in chapter 16:3 he takes up the city Gates and he takes them over to Mount Hebron to show that the Judah sites ought to join him in battle to subjugate their enemies it's language in Genesis 22:17 and Genesis 2460 with reference to Abraham and Isaac you're going to possess the gates of your enemies huh what does Jesus say to ma uh to to Simon Peter in Matthew 16 blessed are you Simon bar Jonah for Flesh and Blood did not reveal this to you but but my father was in heaven and I say to you you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church and what the gates of Hades shall not Prevail against it does Samson have something to teach us about the Incarnation and the salvation of God yes and then what's the sort of Pinnacle moment with reference to the Samson narrative it's conquest by death again I'm not saying Simeon mused on this and had this particular angle but it was there it was available it was for him and it is for us as well types do not become types when you and I figure them out Paul speaks of Adam being a type in Romans 5:14 that's not when Adam became a type Adam became a type as soon as God made him and planted him in the garden judges 13-6 and me telling you so doesn't mean that Samson is now a type he was always a type and what about that promise in Genesis 3:15 he will crush the head of the serpent which we know is the devil do you know how many head shots kill shots there are in the Old Testament is it insignificant that David takes the head off of Goliath is is it insignificant that at the time of the judges the enemies of the Lord often fall because of fatal head shots my point is simply this we look at these people old Covenant Believers and we think man how'd they do it they did it the same way we do they trusted in the promises of God most high and lived in light of them that's the encouragement for all of us but we have it a bit better in terms of a new testament and so if our faith is lacking and a Simeon is abounding then the obvious response is get your face in the scriptures get yourself to church get under the teaching of God's holy word and learn it for your encouragement for your admonition for your correction for your reproof and for your character so that you like a Simeon can be just and devout just toward man devout toward God a Micah 68 religion a Deuteronomy 10:12 religion the kind of religion Jesus commends in Matthew 23 when he rebukes the Pharisees you tithe the mint and the Anis and the cumin but you neglect the weightier matters of the law Justice mercy and Faith sounds like a trend there sounds like these are the things that please our blessed God you see them embodied in Simeon the spirit is upon him he's a believer in the things of the Lord and it causes him to reflect upon the glory of the Lord and to take up this babe in his arms and to Rejoice to bless to say my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared before the face of all peoples but then notice he goes on to speak of the blessing of God upon the Nations and again how does he know this well the Oracle of Noah about japheth coming into the tents of Shem he knows this based on the Promises of God to Abraham look North look South look East look West all this is going to be yours he knows this by virtue of the promise to Abraham to to look at the sand on the seashore and God says your descendants are going to be more numerous he knows it by virtue of the fact that the old Covenant Prophet specifically Isaiah announces the coming of the servant of the Lord and in that composition there are four servant songs which show us the glory of Jesus in Isaiah 42 Isaiah 49 Isaiah 50 Isaiah 53 and in Isaiah 42 and 49 at verse 6 we learn concerning the promised Messiah that he's not only going to save those in Israel but he is going to be a light under the Gentiles in fact turn to Isaiah 49 just to get a a bit of a feel of what the prophet is speaking and what Simeon has picked up on in terms of his Blessing of God Isaiah 49 we'll pick up at verse 5 and now the Lord says who formed me from the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him so that Israel is gathered to him for I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and my God shall be my strength indeed he says it is too small a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob do you know what he means d a enough if God's purpose with reference to this Cosmos is to demonstrate his glory and his power and the salvation of Sinners through his son the Lord Jesus Christ one little place on the map ain't enough it is too small a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel I will also give you as a light to the Gentiles that you should be my salvation to the ends of the Earth the Lord Christ in John is demonstrated as the savior of The World God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son you've got that testimony of the Samaritans themselves we're here not just because of the testimony of Samaritan woman because now we have seen we have heard we believe and we know that you are the savior of the world that bit in John CH 12 where the Pharisees are all concerned about the knowledge of Jesus going out to the world and these Greeks come and they say to the disciples s we would see Jesus the prophecy of Caiaphas and in John chap 11 that he would not only save the people of Israel but he would save in other nations the statement of the Good Shepherd in John chapter 10 I I have other sheep he's not a Mormon Jesus their whole take on that is is bizarre and odd at best he's talking about Gentile inclusion in the Covenant Promises of God and that's what Simeon is highlighting here as he holds the Babe Christ as he testifies concerning the fact that he is the Lord's salvation the fact that he is the one prepared by God for the coming into this world Sinners to save and he highlights that I will he's a light to bring revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of your People Israel in fact this text is what Paul Silas uh Barnabas invoked rather in pidan Antioch in Acts chapter 13 when they rejected and resisted by unbelieving Jews they say that very thing they take that text applied to the Savior as the servant of Yahweh and they see it as applicable to them as well by virtue of their Union with the servant through Grace or by grace through faith they're going to be a light to the Gentiles that's what kicked off the missionary Enterprise that's what made them go was this understanding that jath who's Gentile according to Genesis 101:3 finds inclusion in shems 10 that we have these Psalms Psalm 117 is all about the Gentile inclusion in the Covenant Promises of God Abraham Isaac Jacob same thing Salter same thing all the ends of the Earth shall hear and and and what they'll fear be still and know that I am God I will be exalted among the Nations I will be exalted in the earth then you get to the Book of Revelation what do you see assemble before that that Throne of God and the lamb who sits upon the throne well there's just a few of these people here that have trickled out of the land of Israel no it's every tribe it's every tongue it's every people it's every nation this made Simeon happy this encouraged Simeon this was the impetus for which Simeon could say I'm ready to go I've seen how you're going to do it I've seen with my own eyes how you're going to orchestrate it I know for my own reading and my own hearing of preaching how you prepared it it's come to pass and now I'm ready to depart and in that was involved the recognition and expectation of a great multitude that no man can number through the Victorious power of this babe that he's holding in his arms it really is interesting isn't it at babe in his arms never was without Divinity that babe in his arms was the word made flesh he doesn't get rid of the Divinity he doesn't put the Divinity on the back burner but while he's cradled in the arms of that man this is indeed the God man and Simeon has hope Simeon has peace Simeon knows that God has been faithful to his promises well let's look down quickly at the prophecy look at his prophecy in verses 33 to35 first He blesses Joseph and Mary verse 33 Joseph and his mother some say well it's not indicating his parents but the rest of the context does there's nothing wrong with calling Joseph the parent of Jesus according to his Humanity in fact as Luke will say in Luke 3 he was supposed to be the son of Joseph not that he's not but Luke is saying but but we know the whole story Jesus doesn't start in the womb of the Virgin Jesus the Divine word never starts contr to Aras and his modern representatives and Jehovah's Witnesses when they say there there was a time when the sun was not no there's never been a time when the sun was not he is from Everlasting to Everlasting so Luke assumes that we know of the Incarnation of the Divine word but with reference to this statement Joseph and and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him not because they were shocked it's not like you walking into Aunt Bessie's house one night and your kid can say what 2 plus 2 equals and Aunt Bessie says physicist physicist I'd Marvel especially with my kids kidding just just kidding just a joke they're not marveling because they're shocked they're not marveling because they've never heard something like this remember the angel has announced to them the uniqueness of this son the angel Gabriel announces in Luke chapter 1 that he will sit on the throne of the highest he is taking David's Throne his kingdom will have no end so so Joseph and Mary have been instructed along the way with reference to the angel announcement but Moses and Mary or I'm sorry Joseph and Mary had as well I'm thinking of our brother and Elder Moses and Mary uh uh the uh Joseph and Mary they had the Old Testament as well they had Genesis 3:15 they had the ram caught in the thicket in Genesis 22 they had Yahweh said to my Lord sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your foot stol in Psalm 1101 they had the one whose goings forth are from Everlasting of Micah 52 they had all those promises the marveling isn't shock oh he he's going to do this the marveling is confirmation recognition of fulfillment the realization of what's happening it it's just not our secret now Joseph and Mary but this man Simeon knows Anna knows soon Jerusalem's going to know and the faithful are going to receive him the Unfaithful are going to crucify him and unwittingly accomplish the very purpose and plan of God Almighty so they understand that and they're marveling as a result of it and then Joseph or rather Simeon blesses that this isn't a Priestly benediction by any stretch it's prophetic blessed are you for these things that are going to happen and it's a charitable blessing may the Lord continue to bless you we've already seen Mary blessed because she was favored among women so note with reference to our text verse 34 then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother so he goes from this blessing to now prophecy he going to tell them what's going to happen with reference to this son and there's first a corporate reference notice in 34b behold this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign which will be spoken against I think the language that he's employing is from the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah chapter 8 he will be as a sanctuary but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem M and many among them shall stumble they shall fall and be broken be snared and taken so note again what Simeon says behold this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel that simply speaks to the response to our lord Jesus in the days of his Earthly Ministry the fall is damnation the rising is salvation in other words when Jesus comes he comes to bring division he says this in Matthew's gospel in chapter 10 he comes to bring separation we see that the preaching of the Baptist in Matthew's gospel in chapter 3 he's going to bring division not everybody's going to receive him John prepares us for that in John one he came to his own his own received him not it was his own nationally that cried away with him away with him crucify him so what is Simeon prophesying he's prophesying the real effects of the real gospel connected to the real salvation of God it's not going to be the case that everybody just says wow he's here let's bow down and confess him no he's destined for the fall and rising of many there will be those who reject there will be those who resist there will th be those who invite and invoke the Wrath and fury and Judgment of God Almighty and there will be those who Rise by grace face looking onto the Lord Jesus Christ the author and finisher of Faith the one the bride describes describes as alt together lovely and chief among 10,000 so this is the nature of his prophecy he's speaking in terms of the the effects of the Gospel behold this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign which will be spoken against again the Earthly Ministry of Our Lord Life Death Resurrection what does Paul tell us that unbelieving Israel father about the death of Messiah a crucified Messiah are you crazy are you nuts Paul says the Jews seek signs the Greeks seek wisdom but we preach Christ and him crucified he says to the Jews a stumbling block a scandal remember in John 6 when Jesus multiplies the bread and the fish and feeds people they try to take him by force and make him a king why is that because they wanted bread and fish they didn't want justification by faith they didn't want the essence of eternal life which is the knowledge of God most high and Jesus Christ whom I sent they wanted their tummies filled they wanted political Prestige they wanted to be something again they wanted something of Solomon's Glory when borders are extended and peace is given and defense is sure it's not what they wanted a crucified Messiah for unbelieving Israel that that's a scandal that's a stumbling block that's what Simeon is telling us that's what's going to happen Mary or Joseph don't think that the arrival of the one promised by God in the Old Testament is only going to ever be good there's going to be a lot of resistance there's going to be a lot of opposition there's going to be a lot of hatred and enmity again not silent about that in the Old Testament Psalm 2 how do we start off why do the Nations rage why do the people's plot ofan things why do the rulers and the Kings take counsel together against Yahweh and against his Christ because man's sinful man's wretched man's Wicked and not just man out there men in here women in here children in here okay that's too much Pastor this is why Jesus came it's for Sinners this is why Paul can say in 1 Timothy chapter 1 this is a a faithful saying it's worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into this world Sinners to save and then Paul says of whom I am chief if you've ever thought you're too sinful to go to the Savior that's the devil's logic it's because you're so sinful that you must go to the Savior it's like being too hungry to eat being too thirsty to drink it makes about as much I'm too sinful to go to Jesus isn't that the point of Jesus if we could fix ourselves I think Paul summarizes this well in in Galatians 2:21 says I don't set aside the grace of God for if righteousness comes to the law then Christ died in vain if we could fix ourselves if we could mend ourselves if we could throw a coat of paint on ourselves and be commendable before God then when the cross why that Jesus came for this very purpose and then notice he references the personal pain involved for Mary specifically in verse 35 yes a sword will pierce through your own soul also Brethren we're not papists but sometimes Protestants don't always meditate upon the true Humanity of Our Lord doesn't true Humanity necess necessitate a true bond with one's mother I mean there's exceptions to be sure you know not every woman is mother of the year they don't all deserve the cup but there is that special bond and so Simeon here preaching the Glory of Christ is the Light of the Nations prepared by God for this glorious task and the fact that within his own Earthly Ministry there's going to be resistance there's going to be oppression there's going to be this crying out away with him away with him crucify him Mary you're going to have some pain too think about that Simeon moved by the spirit prompted by the spirit has a spe a specific prophetic word for her this ain't going to be fun for you Mary necessarily at at least not every jot and tit of it I think Gil gives the sense well he says as he Jesus was a Man of Sorrows so was she a woman of Sorrows from his cradle to the cross and his Sorrows like so many darts or javelins rebounded from him to her and pierced her soul through going to mention that earlier we love our spawn don't we we we love our children we want to protect them we want want to hold that we we don't want anything to hurt that well the Man of Sorrows is a title given to him in the prophet in one of those servant songs Isaiah 53 I I think Gil's right on he says as when Herod sought his life Matthew 213 when she had lost him for a whole day Luke 248 and when she was or when he was frequently exposed to Danger among the spiteful and malicious Jews but never more more than when she stood at his cross and saw him in his agonies extended on the tree bleeding gasping and dying he's right Mary this babe who is the Salvation of God prepared by God for this very reason the reason I should bless God for it's going to cause a great deal of pain to you Mary see something truly humanizing about this whole event as we see it In this passage and then he ends with the universal scope verse 35b that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed if you skip the parenthetical statement it would end thus and for a sign which will be spoken against that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed this is it two types of people in the world Believers and unbelievers those who are with Christ or those who are against him Matthew 12:30 he who is not with with me is against me there only one legit response to jesus' question in Matthew 16 to Simon Peter who who do men say that I the son of man am oh they say this out there and then Jesus looks at them and says but who do you say that I am the correct answer is given by Simon Peter you are the Christ the son of the Living God see that's the revelation of men's Hearts universally wherever there are men they are either with Christ or they are against Christ so the question is all important for each and every one of us now what do I think of Christ who do I say is Christ who do I confess is Christ am I going to resist am I going to reject am I going to be one of those along with the the multitudes in the first coming of our Lord Jesus who fell who were crushed who suffered judgment and Punishment and even to this day this is a very important question for each and every one of us what does this time of the year signify and I lean with Spurgeon over and against some of the fathers we don't know what day Jesus was born not saying this Wednesday you know I have a special candle party for for Jesus say but it's a good time of the year when person's minds are on this subject to preach the Incarnation and to sing veiled in flesh the godhead sea hail the Incarnate deity or as we did in Oh Come All Ye Faithful basically rehearse the Ning Creed God of God light of light true God from true God begotten not made one in substance with the father this is the reason I don't want to get really cheesy and say for the season I feel like I set myself up for that wasn't intentional there's no notes set yourself up for this re but what is it that you think of this time of the year I know it's common place for people to think about food and presents and family there's nothing wrong with food and presents and family at all those are good things but to not get a dose of this salvation of God to not look at this one who was with God and was God who became flesh and dwelt Among Us is to miss it by a million miles I want to leave you with this can you with Simeon look at Jesus in faith and bless God for his salvation that he prepared and that he has brought to pass and that now is that that gospel is going forth as a light to the nations of the world may the Lord bless each and every one of us and cause us not to miss what is an obvious time for us to reflect upon the person of our Lord Jesus the Incarnate Son of God and the work of our Lord Jesus Christ Visa his life of obedience to the Father which we desperately need his death on the cross which we desperately need and his resurrection again from the dead Paul summarizes it well in the Book of Romans 4:25 he says that Jesus was delivered up because of our offenses and he was raised for our justification don't miss this Don't Close Your Eyes and don't fall with the multitudes who have resisted and rejected both Yahweh and his Christ to their own Everlasting shame come to him and you will be saved let us pray Our Father in Heaven thank you for your word and thank you for this wonderful scene that we have in the temple with Simeon taking up the Babe Christ in his arms we thank you for that one who came into this world to save us from our sins and we pray wherever the gospel is proclaimed today you would send it forth powerfully send it forth gloriously conquering and to conquer and we pray that from every tribe and every tongue and every people and Nation many would be effectually called to come to the Lord Jesus Christ and we pray that for our own place this morning for any and all here that are dead in their trespasses and sins we pray that you would awaken them and cause them to see and to Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and we pray this in jesus' name amen well let us stand and sing number 572 in praise to our Triune God 572 [Music] [Applause] oh Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is Mercy and with him is abundant Redemption and he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities amen will please be seated for a brief time of meditation e e e e for