By Grace She Saw the Face of God and Lived - Luke 2:36-38 - May 8, 2022

 Luke 2:36-38 By Grace She Saw the Face of God and Lived

Good morning! Turn with me in your Bibles to Luke chapter 2, verses 36-40, page 858 in the pew Bibles.

It was wonderful having the crew from BICS here last week, next Saturday we will be traveling down for Daniel’s graduation from the program. But today we are going to go back to the Gospel of Luke and the day that Mary and Joseph presented baby Jesus in the Temple at Jerusalem.

You may remember from our last time in Luke that a man named Simeon sang a song of worship to God for allowing him to see the Lord’s Christ, and today we are going to look at one who came alongside and sang the harmony to his song.

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. 

Let’s pray.

Well, what do we know about Anna? This is pretty much it, this is the only time she is mentioned in Scripture, there are no other references to her at all. She’s pretty obscure but there is still much we can learn from her.

In our world today there is so much vying for our attention, TV and movies are shaping how we live, our phones are listening to us to target us with the right kind of marketing so we’ll see the types of products that fit our conversations and interests. 

We are constantly bombarded with influences outside of the Word of God. And think what you will about that, whether it is good or bad, but we do have to be careful to measure who and what kind of people we allow to influence us.

The people that have the most influence on our lives are the ones of whom we think the most. And if it’s people that we think the most of that have most influence on our lives we have to ask ourselves, what is it about them that garners our respect?

In the world’s system, those that garner the most respect are those with money, and power, and talent. 

Maybe respect isn’t the right word but “attention” certainly is. There is a constant battle for our attention in this day and age, and who we give our attention to affects the way we see the world and how we act while in the world.

I’d like to contend today that the world’s system of who and what should have our attention is the exact opposite of that of the Kingdom of God in Christ. Today’s text is an example of that.

Luke didn’t write an account of some billionaire, socialite, politician, movie star, athlete. He wrote about a little old lady who got to meet Jesus.

Anna is not an example of wealth, and power, and privilege, she is an example of faithfulness, godliness, and chastity. John Calvin said, “These are the qualities that justly give to men [and women] weight and estimation.”

There is much we can learn from the character of Anna, and much we can adopt of her example.

St. Ambrose wrote, “Christ received a witness at his birth, not only from prophets and shepherds, but also from aged and holy men and women. Every age, and both sexes, and the marvels of events, confirm our faith. A virgin brings forth, the barren becomes a mother, the dumb speaks, Elizabeth prophesies, the wise men adore, the babe leaps in the womb, the widow praises God … Simeon prophesied; she who was wedded prophesied; she who was a virgin prophesied; and now a widow prophesies, that all states of life and sexes might be there.” 

Luke wrote that Anna was a prophetess, she was an inspired teacher. The strict definition of a prophetess is a woman who proclaims inspired utterances on behalf of God. Also, her name means, “grace.” It is not at all coincidental that the Lord chose to speak the Gospel of grace through a woman whose name means, “grace.”

It’s interesting to note that though we know Anna was a widow, her husband’s name wasn’t mentioned but her father’s name was, his name was Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. While this is the only time this particular Phanuel is mentioned in Scripture, his name is not without meaning either. He was named after Jacob’s Phanuel, in Hebrew pronounced Peniel where Jacob wrestled with the angel in Genesis 32:30 which says, So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” Peniel, Phanuel, means, “the face of God.”

Phanuel’s daughter Anna, by God’s grace, also saw the face of God in the child Jesus that day in the Temple in Jerusalem.

While those are interesting facts, it is Anna’s example and her character that we can all learn the most from. She had the qualities that justly give her weight and estimation.

Anna was long a true widow. She wasn’t a widow for eighty-four years as some translations have it, she was eighty-four years old and became a widow after being married only seven years, she was somewhere between 19-23 years old when her husband died.

The Apostle Paul gave us the definition of a true widow and how to care for them in 1 Timothy 5:3-16.

3 Honor widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. 5 She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. 7 Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 

9 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, 10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. 11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry 12 and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. 13 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. 14 So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. 15 For some have already strayed after Satan. 16 If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.

Getting married again after being widowed was not forbidden clearly, nor was it a sign of weakness of character, but for Anna to remain a widow for so long does speak to the strength of her character.

She put a priority on worship of the Lord over her own desires and affections. She decided to worship the Lord continually in the Temple night and day. Her pattern of self denial is also evidenced in that she added fasting to her prayer.

A quick note on fasting. Fasting is denying yourself food for periods of time for no other purpose than to help oneself focus solely on prayer. Fasting is often mentioned in conjunction with prayer in the New Testament. It is not designed to be a public display but a private and personal act only to aid prayer. It is also not a requirement but rather it is a personal act of devotion and worship. 

Verse 37 says that she didn’t depart from the Temple, worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day. This is a bit of hyperbole, we would say, “she’s there all the time,” or, “she never leaves the Temple,” even if we just meant that she’s just there a lot. 

Either way, she put a priority on communing with God in the Temple, pouring out her heart to Him, praying for the redemption of Jerusalem that the coming of Messiah would bring.

Anna also communed with the saints, verse 38 says, “And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.”

Her praises joined Simeon’s and she spoke to all those around her that were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. 

These were the Old Testament saints, just as we are New Testament saints, we are looking back in faith to the first coming of Messiah, but they were looking forward in faith. 

They weren’t hoping for a political or temporal Messiah as the Pharisees were and many Jews today still are, they were hoping for a spiritual Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world by faith.

And Anna’s faith was rewarded, her faith became sight that day when she got to see Jesus Messiah with her own eyes.

Anna is a saint worth imitating, her consistency, her holiness, her prayerfulness, and her self-denial. 

She was rewarded because she was faithful with so little, we now have the whole canon of Scripture, the testimonies of the saints, the witness of His church, and the indwelling Holy Spirit, may we be as faithful as Anna was as we hope for Messiah’s Second Coming!

Anna’s name meant, “grace.”

The Good news of grace is that Messiah has come, His Name is Jesus, and He has taken away the sins of the world, if we turn from our wicked ways and trust in Him. For it is by grace through faith in Jesus Messiah that we are saved.

May we all, like Anna, by grace through faith, see the face of God in Jesus and live.

Amen.

Simeon's Song of Salvation - Luke 2:22-35 - April 24, 2022

 Luke 2:22-35 Simeon’s Song of Salvation

Good morning! Turn with me in your Bibles to Luke chapter 2 and verse 22, that’s page 857 in the pew Bibles.

There have been a number of songs sung in these first two chapters of Luke’s Gospel. Songs sung by angels, and Mary, and Zechariah, and now we have the last song sung around the time of Jesus’ birth and infancy, the song of Simeon. 

There’s some things to talk about before we get to the song, lots of Old Testament today, so let’s look at the text and jump in.

22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 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. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” 

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Let’s pray.

You may remember from our last time together in Luke’s Gospel that we considered Jesus’ circumcision and naming on the eighth day and how significant that was. Circumcision was a Jewish ritual that identified baby boys as members of the nation of Israel as well as symbolized the putting off of sin. And as a member of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Judah, it was natural that Joseph and Mary would subject Jesus to this ritual.

Fast forward another 33 days or so to what is now Jesus’ fortieth day in the flesh and that’s where Mary and Joseph take Him to the Temple in Jerusalem for the first time.

They were doing this to be obedient to the Law of God from Exodus 13:1-2, and Leviticus 12:1-8.

Exodus 13:1-2 says, The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.”

There is a significant reason for this command, it isn’t arbitrary at all. God commanded all the firstborn of Israel, people and animals, to be set aside for Him in remembrance of the tenth plague in Egypt, the final plague when the all the first born of Egypt were killed by the angel of death at the first Passover. You can read about that on your own from Exodus chapter 12.

And as far as obedience to the Law for purification, that comes from Leviticus 12:6-8.

6 “And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, 7 and he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. 8 And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”

We can see from this proof of Joseph and Mary’s poverty. They couldn’t afford a lamb so they had to bring two turtledoves to the Temple for their sacrifice. 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Paul also wrote in Galatians 4:4-5, when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Why are these things important? Why does it matter that Joseph and Mary would make sure that Jesus got circumcised according to the Law, that they would present Him at the Temple on His fortieth day according to the Law, that Mary would go through the rites of purification according to the Law? Why does that matter?

I think the principle is simple: they didn’t worship God according to their imagination but according to His instruction. They knew God’s Word, they trusted God’s Word and they obeyed God’s Word. 

There’s a lesson there for us.

So that’s what got them to the Temple in Jerusalem, obedience. 

But then along comes Simeon. What got Simeon to the Temple that day was hope.

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 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.

Simeon is a unique character, actually he wasn’t unique at all but he had a unique experience. Simeon sort of represents the Old Testament faithful. 

Verse 25 says that he was righteous and devout. This is a reference to the two tables of the Law. You remember from last week I mentioned the Ten Commandments. And in the Ten Commandments there are two tables, two sections. 

The first four Commandments are all concerned with man’s relation to God, or devotion: Having no other gods, not making idols, not taking the Lord’s Name in vain, and keeping the Sabbath.

The second table of the Law is Commandments 6-10 which all have to do with man’s relation to other people: honoring your mother and father, not murdering, not committing adultery, not stealing, nor lying, nor coveting our neighbor’s possessions. 

So when Luke says that Simeon was righteous and devout he means that Simeon generally kept the commandments, not perfectly as that is impossible for anybody but Jesus, but he did pretty well as far as other people were concerned.

Luke also says that he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. We understand this to mean that he was waiting for the coming of Messiah. It literally means that he was waiting for Israel’s prayers to be answered. Jesus is the answer to that prayer!

JP Lange wrote, “Simeon is in the noblest sense the eternal Jew of the Old Covenant who cannot die before he has seen the promised Messiah. He was permitted to fall asleep in the peace of his Lord before His crucifixion.”

Simeon spent his days in hope, confidently looking forward to Messiah’s coming, and today was the day.

26 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. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” 

The salvation that He has prepared in the presence of all people. Messiah was not to be Messiah to the Jews only, but for everybody. A light for revelation to the Gentiles is a beautiful picture of the people living in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone from Isaiah 9:2.

It is that salvation that is the light. The veil of ignorance has been lifted and the light of the grace of God in Christ has illumined our hearts.

That salvation is also for the glory, or for the splendor, of Israel. Messiah was promised to Israel, Messiah was born to Israel, Messiah died for Israel, and was raised again for Israel. 

Would that Israel would listen to the Gospel and come to faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins along with ours and accept the glory that is theirs through faith in Him!

By the Spirit Simeon could see what would come for this baby he held in his arms.

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Jesus was and still is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel. They fall by rejecting Him and rise by faith in Him.

Matthew 21:42-44 records Jesus saying: “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 

43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

Peter and Paul both called Jesus “a rock of stumbling and a stone of offence.” He is only that who choose to reject Him, it’s them that fall. 

But as Jesus said, He will give the kingdom of God to those who produce its fruit, those who have faith in Him. It is them that will rise.

The fall and rise of many on account of Christ means that there is no lasting neutrality. 

The day is coming when every person will have to decide what to do about Jesus, to accept Him as He is and all the ramifications that go with that or to reject Him for who He is and accept the ramifications that go with that. Salvation or destruction, there is no middle ground.

Simeon also warned Mary of the heartache that was to come for her, the sympathizing motherly anguish during the rejection, suffering and crucifixion of Jesus her Son, a sword piercing her own soul.

So what can we learn from Simeon? First, hope in God’s Word and trust in His promises. And second, hope in God’s salvation by trusting in His Son.

John Calvin wrote, “If Simeon, when holding a little child in his arms, could stretch his mind to the uttermost boundaries of the world, and acknowledge the power of Christ to be everywhere present, how much more magnificent ought our conceptions regarding Him to be now that He has been set up as a standard to the people and revealed Himself to the whole world?”

As Simeon patiently hoped for Messiah’s first coming, so too must we, His church, patiently hope for His second coming.

Amen.

Easter 2022 The Completion of the Great Exchange - April 17, 2022

 Easter 2022 The Completion of the Great Exchange

Good morning and welcome! Happy consummation of penal substitutionary atonement day… I mean happy Easter!

People all over the world are gathering today to celebrate the resurrection of Christ, Jesus has risen from the dead, the stone was rolled away and the tomb is empty because Jesus is alive! Hallelujah!

I’d like to welcome all of you that have joined our church family this morning to celebrate along with us this morning!

Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, over two thousand years ago, is one of the best attested facts in human history. It was predicted in the Old Testament, predicted by Jesus Himself, and after he rose from the dead He appeared over the course of forty days to over five hundred of His disciples, eating and drinking with them. He was no ghost, He is alive!

On Easter Sunday we celebrate the event of Jesus rising from the grave, but there is significance, not only in the event itself, but in the meaning of His resurrection. 

What does it mean that Jesus rose from the dead? That’s what we are going to talk about today.

But first, let’s pray.

So what is it that makes today special?

The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the central event in all of history and it is definitely worth celebrating. And while the event itself is amazing, that someone who was dead would come back to life, it’s the meaning behind Jesus’ resurrection that has the most profound impact on all of humanity.

The old song says, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives all fear is gone…” But why? Simply because Jesus is alive? Well, yes and no.

The reason to celebrate Easter really is the consummation of penal substitutionary atonement!

I know how much you all like to show off your vocabulary to your friends!

When Jesus rose from the dead He proved His last words from the cross as recorded in John 19:30, “It is finished.”

What was finished is what the scholars call, “The Great Exchange.”

The idea is based on 2 Corinthians 5:21, which says: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

This is the definition of penal substitutionary atonement. 

The word, “penal,” has to do with punishment.

“Substitutionary,” means that Someone took the place of someone else.

“Atonement,” means to reconcile or to right a wrong.

Jesus was punished in our place so that we could be made right with God through faith in Christ. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead was the consummation of that work, the proof that it was completed.

So now you can with your friends and family a happy Consummation of Penal Substitutionary Atonement Day! Together we can celebrate the completion of the great exchange.

John Piper wrote, “God lays our sins on Christ and punishes them in Him, and in Christ’s obedient death, God fulfills and vindicates His righteousness and credits it to us. Our sin of Christ; His righteousness on us.” That is the great exchange.

If you’re sitting there listening to this and thinking something like, “I came to church to feel good and here this guy is telling me about sin, saying that I’m a sinner…”

Yup. Actually it’s God that defines sin, and He recorded that definition in the Bible. He gave us His Law so that we would know what sin is and so we would seek His forgiveness for our sin. The Bible also tells us that if we break one part of the Law we are guilty of breaking all of it. God summarized this Law in what we know of as the Ten Commandments.

If you want to know if you are a sinner try this out, see if you can make it through this little test.

1st Commandment: You shall have no other gods before me. Have you ever considered anything or anyone more important in your life than God?

2nd Commandment: You shall not make any idols. Have you ever considered your stuff more important than God or tried to change God to fit your opinions of who He should be or do or think?

3rd Commandment: You shall not take the Lord’s Name in vain. Have you ever used God’s Name as a curse word? Or have you claimed to follow God when you really don’t?

Shall I go on? That’s only three! Pick a number!

This is what  God calls sin and we are all guilty of it and that is what makes the great exchange so great.

If you are feeling bad because of your sin, start feeling good because of God’s great love for you that in Jesus he exchanged your sin for His righteousness.

John Piper also wrote, “This is the gospel – the Good News that our sins are laid on Christ and His righteousness is laid on us, and that this great exchange becomes ours, not by [good] works but by faith alone.” 

Romans 4:24-25 says, Righteousness will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord  who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Martin Luther was credited with introducing the idea of the great exchange and wrote about it this way, “Therefore, my dear brother, learn Christ and Him crucified. Learn to pray to Him, and despairing our yourself say: ‘You, Lord Jesus, are my righteousness, but I am your sin. You have taken upon yourself what is mine and given me what is yours. You have taken upon yourself what you were not and have given to me what I was not.’”

I asked before, like the old song says, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives all fear is gone…” But why? Simply because Jesus is alive?  Do we celebrate simple because Jesus is alive? The answer was, yes and no.

I’ve tried to answer, “no,” because we celebrate what Christ’s resurrection from the dead means in that His work on earth was completed, He had taken our place on the cross, bore our sins, and died the death that we deserved. By rising from the dead he showed that the work was in fact completed.

But the answer is also, “yes,” we also celebrate today simply because Jesus is alive! 

By rising from the dead, Jesus Christ demonstrated that he has cleansed the guilt of our past and is able still to help us in our present because he is alive!

In John 14:18-21 Jesus said, 

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and clearly reveal myself to him.”

Because He lives, He continues to guide those that love Him and gives us eternal life.

And because He lives, He continually intercedes for us.

Hebrews 7:23-25 says,

23 The former priests [meaning the Old Testament priests] were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Because He lives He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, sine He always lives to make intercession for them.

The Old Testament priests offered sacrifice after sacrifice for the atonement of the people but they were never really enough. But Jesus, the Great High Priest, offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for us and continues as our Great Intercessor.

That is what Jesus is doing right now, alive and standing before the Father interceding for us, praying for us. When the Father, in His holiness, looks at us, He no longer sees our sin on us, he sees Christ’s righteousness on us His dearly loved children.

I think we can all agree with Martin Luther, whether you’ve had faith in Jesus for years, or are just believing in Him for the first time today.

“Learn Christ and Him crucified. Learn to pray to Him, and despairing our yourself say: ‘You, Lord Jesus, are my righteousness, but I am your sin. You have taken upon yourself what is mine and given me what is yours. You have taken upon yourself what you were not and have given to me what I was not.’”

Amen.