Simeon's Song

Thank you choir, let's pray together. Father we are grateful that you sent your son Jesus Christ to be the Savior of the world and we thank you Lord that as we gather together on this Lord's day we can study about his coming to this earth and what took place when he arrived, what happened during his ministry and Lord begin to understand more the character and nature of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. So we ask that you would open our eyes that we might behold wonderful things out of thy law this day in Jesus name, Amen.

Turn with me in your Bible if you would to Luke chapter 2, Luke chapter 2 and we're going to study one of the least recognized characters of the Christmas story.

We know about the shepherds and we know about Mary and Joseph and we know about the wise men and for the most part Elizabeth and Zacharias but very few of us know about Simeon and today we're going to study this man and understand how God uses him in a great and mighty way and we're also going to understand why it is he's not preached on very much in churches today but he helps us understand something very significant. Remember back in Psalm 73 the psalmist said this, whom have I in heaven but thee and besides thee I desire nothing on earth.

Now Simeon is a man who embodies that verse Psalm 73 verse number 25. He was a man who longed and looked expectantly to the coming of the Messiah. His whole life was about the arrival of the Messiah. The Bible goes on to say in Psalm 73 26 my flesh and my heart may fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Verse 28 but as for me the nearness of God is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge that I may tell of all thy works. The psalmist had made the Lord God his refuge because it was about the nearness of God that was the goodness of the psalmist.

Today we see Simeon who understood the goodness of God because he longed for the coming of Messiah. Let me read to you the story about this man.

It's very brief. We know nothing about him except what Luke tells us here in verses 25 down through verse number 35. Let me read them to you then we'll discuss them together.

It says in verse 25 and behold there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon and this man was righteous and devout looking 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 and he came in the spirit into the temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to carry out for him the custom of the law then he took him into his arms and blessed God and said now Lord thou dost let thy bondservant depart in peace according to thy word for my eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel his father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about him and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother behold this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel and for a sign to be opposed and a sword will pierce even your own soul to the end that the thoughts from many hearts may be revealed that's all we have on Simeon and as far as we know after he said that he died because his life was over I mean after all he had longed for the coming of Messiah he had been promised that he would not die until he saw the Messiah well once he saw them him there was nothing else to live for so maybe he passed off the scene maybe he died we don't know but what we have here is a story about a man that tells us a lot about the Christmas story let me look with you at number one his person and then we'll look at his promise his praise and then his prophecy first of all his person and there are three things I want you to note his character who he was his creed what he believed and his call what he would do all right notice the text says and behold there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon Luke says I want you to be amazed when you see the word behold it's a word of astonishment it's a word of wonderment it's a word of amazement and Luke says behold in other words can you get this can you believe this think about this this is unimaginable there was a man in Jerusalem who was looking for the consolation of Israel meaning that there were not very many people looking for the consolation of Israel Luke says I want you to stand amazed at this there was a man in Jerusalem who truly expected the coming of the Messiah his name was Simeon that's his name which means God has heard his parents named him that because they would cry out to God that he would hear their voice and he would send the Messiah to come and redeem his people and their prayer for their son is that he would be the kind of young man that would call on the name of God and cry out to his God and that God would hear the voice of their son and send the Messiah and here was a man who took the Bible literally who took the Bible sincerely Luke says I want you to stand amazed at something there was somebody who really believed what the Bible said because for the most part the people in Jerusalem didn't believe they weren't literalists in fact if you go to Israel today there is less than 10 percent of Jewish people who take the Bible literally most of them don't and unfortunately as I read in the August issue of Newsweek magazine I came to realize that Billy Graham does not take the Bible literally anymore either in fact he says and I quote he says I am not a literalist in the Bible that every jot and tittle is from the Lord that's a direct quote now how do you tie that into Matthew chapter 5 where the Lord said heaven and earth will pass away but not one jot or tittle will pass away my word will last forever you see I stand amazed when there truly is somebody who takes the Bible literally who believes at face value what it says and takes every aspect of the Bible and believes it because very few people even today in America don't take the Bible literally or sincerely and so when Luke says I want you to be amazed at what I'm going to tell you we can even say that today and understand where he's coming from because there are very few people in America like that who look at the Bible say the Bible says that I believe it no questions asked I'm going to follow what God says that's the way Simeon was that's the kind of man he was and that's why he could cry out to God and expect God to hear his voice because he believed in what God had already said he was an expectant Jew he was a Jew who trusted in what God had said let me tell you something about his character the Bible says very clearly that this man was a righteous and devout man that's his character now when the Bible says that someone's righteous it means they have been made right with God they are justified before God not because of their own righteousness because the Bible says in Isaiah 64 that all of our righteousness is as filthy rags it's not because he did enough good things to get right with God it's because God declared him righteous it's that God made him right before him like he did with Zacharias and Elizabeth as we looked about that in Luke chapter one as he did with Mary and Joseph you see it's not by works of righteousness which we have done it's by the washing of regeneration and by the renewing of the spirit of God where a man is converted Titus 3 verse number 5 it's not our own works it's God's work that saves a man it's God's work in a man that transforms his life and Simeon was a man who was made righteous before God that is he believed in the word of God he believed in the coming of the Messiah he believed in the coming of a lamb that would ultimately be sacrificed for his sins did he understand all that it entailed no he didn't because he didn't have the new testament like we do but he understood that there was one coming who would die for his sins and would cleanse him from all of his sins he believed in the Abrahamic covenant he believed in the Davidic covenant he believed in the new covenant and committed his life to trusting God forever that why that's why he was a righteous man before God the Bible says not only was he righteous he was devout it's a word that means cautious and concerned you see a righteous man is very cautious about what he believes about the Bible and very concerned that he never messes it up that's a righteous man Psalm 97 verse number 10 says oh how I love thy law it is my meditation all the day a righteous man has a deep concern for the law of God a great love for the law of God because he knows that it's the law of God that transforms his life he knows it's the word of God that empowers his life he knows it's the word of God that brings life and so he has a unique love for the law of God and this man was devout he was very cautious and very concerned about every detail of the word of God and he wanted to follow what God said that was his character what was his creed what is that he believed about the law of God the Bible says there was a man whose name was Simeon this man was righteous and devout looking for the consolation of Israel that's his creed that's what he believed he was looking for the the comforter he was looking for the consoler he was looking for the pericles and the one who would come alongside his people and deliver them from their enemy and deliver them from their iniquity deliver them from their enemy nationally and deliver his people from their iniquity personally this was the kind of man who knew what the Bible said in the Old Testament let me read to you Isaiah chapter 40 verses 1 and 2 he says comfort oh comfort my people says your God speak kindly to Jerusalem and call out to her that her warfare has ended that her iniquity has been removed that she has received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins verse number 10 behold the Lord God will come with might with his arm ruling for him behold his reward is with him and his recompense before him like a shepherd he will tend his flock in his arm he will gather the lambs and carry them in his bosom he will gently lead the nursing ewes you see Simeon knew those words he knew about the comfort of Jerusalem and that's what he longed for that's what he wanted over in Isaiah chapter 49 Isaiah 49 verse number 8 it reads as follows thus says the Lord in a favorable time I have answered you in a day of salvation I have helped you and I will keep you and give you for a covenant of the people to restore the land to make them inherit the desolate heritage saying to those who are bound go forth to those who are in darkness show yourselves along the roads they will feed and their pasture will be on all bare heights they will not hunger or thirst neither will the scorching heat or sun strike them down for he who has compassion on them will lead them and will guide them to springs of water and I will make all my mountains a road and my highways will be raised up behold he shall come from afar and these will come from the north and from the west and these from the land of sin him shout for joy oh heavens and rejoice oh earth break forth into joyful shouting oh mountains for the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted then over in Isaiah chapter 66 Isaiah 66 verse number 10 says be joyful with Jerusalem and rejoice for her all you who love her be exceedingly glad with her all you who mourn over her that you may nurse and be status satisfied with her comforting breast that you may suck and be delighted with her bountiful bosom for thus says the Lord behold I extended peace to her like a river and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream and you shall be nursed and shall be carried on the hip and followed on the knees as one whom his mother comforts so I will comfort you and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem you see Simeon knew those verses he knew about the consolation of Israel he knew that the comfort of the menachem would come that was another name for the Messiah the comforter of Israel he would come and he would rescue his people and he would deliver his people and he would care for his people and that's why he kept crying out to God and was convinced that God would hear him because he believed in what the Old Testament said about coming the coming of Messiah see that was his creed that's what he believed he truly believed Messiah would come listen and it governed how he lived his life it governed how he lived his life he was a he was a focused man and you see like Simeon so should we be we should be focused on the return of the Messiah we should be longing for the coming again of Messiah that he would take us home to be with him there should be that longing in our heart when you read through the New Testament you read about all these men who had a deep hunger and a deep longing for the return of the Messiah they would come and take us home to be with him and when you have that expectancy when you have that anticipation it governs how you live your life just like it did Simeon and his whole purpose for living was to look for the coming of the Lord and when you think about that and you think about our lives and what it is we're anticipating tomorrow this week or what it is we are looking for to have happened this fall or early next year we begin to see how how temporary or how temporal our thinking is concerning the things of this life Simeon was a man who was focused on the coming of Messiah he longed for the consolation of Israel he got all of his information from the Old Testament he took the Bible literally you see in in Jerusalem there was just a remnant of people who believed anymore what the Bible said it had been 400 years since since Malachi had spoken remember what Malachi said back in chapter 3 verse number 1 behold I am going to send my messenger and he will clear the way before me and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple the Lord will suddenly come to his temple now what does Simeon think about that I don't know but he knew that the Lord the Messiah would suddenly come to his temple and how would he come we didn't know but that's why he was at the temple on this day because he kept looking and longing for the arrival of the Messiah he knew that the son of righteousness would arise with healing in his wings as Malachi 4 would state and that's what he believed and that's what he lived for I ask you this question what is it you believe and what is it you live for Simeon becomes that model for us of anticipation of a life of expectancy centered around the coming of the Lord so our lives would reflect his glory thirdly his call the Bible says this and the Holy Spirit was upon him the Spirit of God was upon him he was called to do something the Spirit of God would move him to the temple the Spirit of God would speak through him remember we saw this was Zacharias when the Holy Spirit would come upon him and he would speak in in his prophecy or that great song of Zacharias in Luke chapter 1 same thing with Elizabeth when she gave forth a song of praise same thing with John the Baptist when the Spirit of God was upon him from the time he was conceived and he would leap in his mother's womb the Spirit of God would speak through the unborn child you see the Spirit of God was moving and you'll notice as we study the book of Luke that the Spirit of God is very prominent because the Spirit of God is moving in the hearts and lives of people to get them to do what God is asking to do and we're going to see the ministry of the Spirit of God upon the Son of God as well as the Spirit of God drives him into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for 40 days as the Spirit of God moves the Son of God to accomplish the works of God and here was Simeon who was called of God in a specific way and the Holy Spirit of God was upon him see Simeon was one of those little people in the Christmas story a person we know very little about and yet he was used in a in a significant way because he was subject to the Spirit's control he was called by God to be used of God in a very specific way and he was willing to be used and we got to ask ourselves are we the kind of people that want to be used of God are we letting God's Spirit direct our lives so we can live a life that brings glory to his name because we are called to be energized by God's Holy Spirit you see people in the Old Testament were saved the same way people in the New Testament are saved not saved any different somebody talked about the Holy Spirit wasn't around in the Old Testament except for certain days and on certain people but the Holy Spirit was on the present in the Old Testament like he's on the present in the New Testament he was always around it was the Spirit of God that would convict the soul it was a Spirit of God that would that would bring a soul to God the Spirit of God has always been working in the souls and hearts of men the Spirit of God was on Simeon in a very unique and special way that he would begin to speak for God which leads us to his promise in verses 26 and 27 it was foretold to him and then fulfilled in him on this day in Luke chapter 2 it 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 now you think about that Simeon you're not going to die Spirit of God revealed this to him Simeon you're going to live until you see the Messiah so you can imagine Simeon as a young boy outside playing and climbing trees Simeon be careful we don't want you to fall and get hurt God forbid that you should fall and die don't worry mom I'm not gonna die because I was promised I won't die until I see the Messiah or or make sure you eat all your vegetables Simeon we don't want you to you know grow up and and die before your time mom don't worry I'm not gonna die before I see the Messiah my whole life is centered around seeing the Lord's Christ that's what I'm looking for see it was foretold to him by Spirit of God can you imagine living that kind of way see we don't know when the Lord's going to return right we know he's coming back we just don't know when he's going to come back he didn't know when the Messiah was going to arrive he was just promised that he wouldn't die until he saw the Lord's Christ what a way to live your life so every day was a day of anticipation every day was a day of eagerness is this the day can you imagine waking up thinking wow how is he going to come today maybe the Messiah is going to come out of heaven on some white horse and he's going to come like a big general a commanding officer he'll come right into Jerusalem I don't know or or or maybe he'll just just drop out of the sky with a crown on his head on a royal throne we didn't know how he was going to see the Messiah it was just told to him that he would not die until he saw the Lord's Christ he didn't know how it was the Lord was going to arrive he just knew he had this assurance but on this day in Jerusalem it was fulfilled verse 27 and he came in the spirit into the temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to carry out for him the custom of the law then he took him into his arms and blessed God now you think about that if you've been to Israel you've been on top of the temple mount you know how large that temple mount area is it's a huge huge plot of land and with the temple there and and all kinds of women come women coming for their purification and for the dedication of the children as Mary and Joseph were doing they were carrying out the law of God now Mary and Joseph had no idea about Simeon none whatsoever they were not told that there's going to be a guy you're going to meet in the temple courtyard his name is Simeon he's going to come up to you he's going to take the child out of your arms and he's going to give a prophecy for God they didn't know that they had no idea no one warned Joseph and Mary about Simeon they were just doing what they were called by God to do as Simeon was doing what he was called and led by God to do they walked in obedience to God and so Mary and Joseph are in that that temple area somewhere in that courtyard having fulfilled the the law of the Lord and wondering what was going to happen next and all of a sudden this guy comes up to them it wasn't like Mary and Joseph you know they walked to the temple area and everybody moved away and oh there's the Messiah and oh back away there's the Messiah and everybody was backing away from Mary and Joseph and Simeon said oh that must be the Messiah that's not how it happened but the Spirit of God led him to Mary and Joseph how I don't know it wasn't that Jesus had a halo around his head big old shining glowing halo and and Mary and Joseph were walking his little son our son here's got a halo around and it's cute and oh that must be the Messiah he was just a baby like any other baby except he was a sinless son of man but no one knew that they said Mary and Joseph and here they cradle this baby in their arms and they walk in a temple area and all of a sudden this man comes up to them and takes the baby out of their arms now can you imagine that ladies here you are walking in the mall you have your baby and someone comes up to you and rips the baby out of your arms you're not gonna let that happen but this man comes up to them and blesses God speaks well of God and praises his God because on this day it was fulfilled the promise that had been foretold Simeon being sensitive to the Spirit of God being led by the Spirit of God would walk up to Mary and Joseph the Spirit of God would direct them to him and can you imagine this old man and what must have been going through his heart and mind at the time finally the Messiah is here finally I can hold him in my arms and that leads us to the third point his praise and two things I want you to notice it's contentment and it's amazement it's contentment and it's amazement it says that he took him into his arms and blessed God and said now Lord thou dost let thy bondservant depart in peace according to thy word now Lord I can die now Lord I can go home to be with you because what I've lived for has been accomplished what I've longed for has happened and now let your bondservant depart because now I have seen the salvation of the Lord now Lord it's over he's lived his whole life for this moment he has lived his whole life in anticipation of this very day and now it's there and and and what he did and and you know and how he did it I don't know but I know what he said and and and just the the contentment in his voice now Lord thou dost let thy bondservant depart in peace according to thy word Lord I've served you faithfully all these years every day I've looked for the coming of Messiah because you promised that I wouldn't die until he arrived and now he's here and now I can die according to your word oh Lord let your servant depart in peace for my eyes have seen thy salvation the the word for Lord despot is a word that talks about him as the creator the originator the designer of life now Lord you have designed this moment you you have orchestrated the events of life that you have brought us together at this very moment and here we are and now Lord I have seen for my very eyes thy salvation which I was prepared in the presence of thy people see Simeon knew that the Messiah was a savior because God is a savior there is no other name unto heaven given among men whereby you must be saved Simeon knew that when Messiah came salvation for his people would arrive and that would add to his contentment right that would add to the to the to the peace of his soul Messiah is here the comfort of Israel has arrived they can experience consolation for the first time and God had promised that I would never die until this day happened and now it's happened and now Lord I can go home to be with you that's its contentment that I want you to notice its amazement verse 32 a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel and his father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about him they were amazed now remember Mary and Joseph knew nothing about this day they knew nothing how it was all going to play itself out and here was this old man who come comes up to them takes the baby in his arms and begins to bless God and to bless this family and they are absolutely amazed at what he says why because he knew the Old Testament he knew that the Messiah he held in his arms would be the light of revelation to the Gentiles he knew that the Messiah would be a savior of Gentile people how did he know that way back Isaiah chapter 9 verses 1 and 2 it says this but there will be no more gloom for her who had who was in anguish in earlier times she treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt but later on he shall make it glorious by the way of the sea on the other side of Jordan Galilee of the Gentiles when Messiah comes something's going to happen to the Gentile people verse 2 the people who walk in darkness will see a great light those who live in a dark land the light will shine on them Simeon knew that the Gentile nations would be saved when the Messiah arrived over in Isaiah chapter 42 verse number 6 it says this Isaiah 42 verse number 6 I am the Lord I have called you in righteousness I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you and I will appoint you as a covenant to the people as a light to the nations speaking of the Messiah he will be a light to the to the nations that is to the Gentile people over in Isaiah chapter 59 I'm sorry Isaiah chapter 60 it says this arise shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you for behold darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples but the Lord will rise upon you and his glory will appear upon you and nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising you see Simeon knew that when the Messiah arrived he would be a light of revelation to the Gentile people so why are Mary and Joseph amazed because when they knew that the name of the child should be called Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins they're thinking Jewish people when the shepherds come and they relate the story to Mary and Joseph there in Bethlehem they said to Mary and Joseph behold this day there has been born for you a savior well the shepherds are saying that's us we're Jewish people there's been born for you a savior that's that's the Jewish nation so Mary and Joseph are pondering all these things in their hearts knowing that the Jewish people will be saved and now this old guy comes along and says wait a minute not only is he going to be a savior of the Jewish people but he's going to be a light of revelation to the Gentile people as well Gentiles will be saved and that's why Mary and Joseph are absolutely amazed at what he says because what they have in their arms is not just the savior of the Jewish race but the savior of the world now think about that I mean they are absolutely dumbfounded they can't believe what they're hearing that our baby this little baby boy this Messiah this long awaited one not only is going to redeem us he is going to redeem the Gentile race as well what kind of love is that what kind of incredible mercy and kindness is that it's the it's what John expressed in John 3 16 for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son he didn't just love the Jews although he does love the world and say send his son to be the savior of the world and that's the amazement and contentment in his praise but now comes his prophecy now comes his prophecy and this is why Simeon is so rarely preached on at Christmas time because of his prophecy he gives everything up to this point has been pretty good we got peace we got comfort we got salvation we got good news and we got great joy I mean if that's not what the Christmas story's about then what is it about right and so that's what we got up to this point but now for the very first time we get the other side of the coin now we're going to get all the negative aspects of the Messiah and that's why people don't like to preach on this part of of the Christmas story because for all practical purposes what Simeon prophesies is about division opposition affliction and revelation and people don't want to hear that but that's what Messiah came to do let me read it to you his father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said to him and Simeon blessed them and said to who Mary here is Simeon holding this child in his hands he blesses mother and father and then he turns his back to father and speaks only to mother you know why because Joseph will not be around when the things he foretells happen the last we read of Joseph is later on in Luke chapter 2 when they leave Jesus in Jerusalem and go off without him and come back and they find him in the temple don't you know how to be about my father's business that's the last time we read of Joseph he was not at the cross when our Lord died his mother was his father wasn't and so that's why he entrusted his mother to his beloved disciple John there are many times in the in the gospel accounts where you read about how Mary is outside with her sons and her daughters but never is Joseph outside with Mary and the sons and daughters and that's probably because Joseph dies sometime after the 12th birthday of our Lord we don't know when we don't know how the Bible doesn't tell us we do know that the gospel records give us no account of him after Luke chapter 2 so when you read about Simeon's prophecy he speaks to Mary because Joseph won't be around so Mary's going to have to be prepared for what's going to happen in the future now can you imagine this mom someone come up to you taking your child and say I'm going to tell you about what's going to happen in the future of your child wow that's pretty amazing isn't it and you think that if someone would give you the future of your children it'd all be good things right people would be one to the Lord and great things would happen be good health he'd have a great job and have a great family and children walk with the Lord great things would happen but no mother wants to hear what Simeon's going to say what does he say he says first of all behold again the word behold stand amazed be confounded about what I'm going to say dumbfounded this is unbelievable this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel he's appointed for something he has a destiny and that is his destiny is the division of many in Israel the separation of many in Israel because of him some will fall some will rise but know this your son will divide Israel now think about that how did Simeon know that Isaiah chapter 8 verse number 14 says this that he should become a sanctuary but to both the house of Israel a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over and a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem and many will stumble over them then they will fall and be broken they will even be snared and caught Simeon knew the Bible he was the literalist and if you're a literalist of the Bible says you just don't give the good parts you give all the parts he says listen this is the this is the truth Mary you need to know this your son will become a stumbling block a rock of offense to many people some will rise others will fall because of the ministry of your son wow what did John say John 1 12 he came into his own in his own what received him not they received him not why because he was the dividing line he was the mark or the line of demarcation he was a turning point he was the one who would divide the nation remember what Christ said in Matthew chapter 10 verse 34 did not think that I came to bring peace on the earth I did not come to bring peace but a sword for I came to set a man against his father and a daughter against her mother and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law and a man's enemies will be the members of his own household Christ said you think I came to bring peace wait a minute wait a minute what did the angel say peace on earth goodwill toward men and now Christ said I didn't come to bring peace I came to bring sword I came to divide your families what kind of messiah is that says 37 Matthew 10 he who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me and he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me he who has found his life shall lose it and he who has lost his life for my sake shall find it it's no wonder he was the dividing line in Israel you don't go around preaching a message like that and say I haven't come to bring peace I've come to bring the sword I'm going to divide your families and people say hey hallelujah they just don't do that kind of stuff the rise and fall of many he will be the cause of the division of many in Israel not only that there will be opposition against the messiah opposition against your son Mary what's he say he says and for a sign to be opposed he will signify what people hate people will look at your son and he will be a sign of everything that they hate because he is the light of revelation to the gentile people he's the light of the world and when the light penetrates the darkness it exposes everything that's there and those who do not want their sin exposed will not embrace him they will reject him and they will hate him he will be opposed by those in Israel the bible says Mary let me help you understand that the life of your son will not be a smooth life it will be a life of insult life of mockery a life of hatred a life of ridicule a life of rejection a life of plotting a life of execution because he will be a sign to be opposed opposition will come towards you or your son now you think about that Mary and Joseph are completely caught off guard in the temple area this man gets up to begin to prophesy and blesses them and they are utterly amazed about how the gentile world will come to faith and then this man turns to Mary and says but you need to know something Mary you need to know that your son will divide the people of this land and you know that the people of this land will hate your son why because men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil men don't love the light they love the darkness he'll be a sign to be opposed and then he says to Mary and a sword will pierce even your own soul oh wow division of many opposition of the messiah and the affliction of Mary is all wrapped up in his prophecy even your own soul Mary will be afflicted and you can see how that happens right you can you'll be able to see it when we get further on Luke chapter 2 and when they go find him in the temple he says don't you have to don't you know I have to be about my father's business in my father's house carrying on my father's business and he begins to slowly show Mary that he is no longer her son but he is her savior and when she would hear the words when she and her her sons and daughters were outside the house and they would say hey hey Jesus your mother and your brothers and your family are outside and he says well who is my mother and my brother but those who do the will of my father who was in heaven she hears the words of her son saying that those who are true mothers true brothers true sisters to him are those who follow his words and as she goes through life and she begins to see how people treat her son and how they begin to ridicule him and mock him and not believe him and even in her own family where the brothers of Jesus had brothers of Jesus didn't even believe on him how it must have tore her family apart how she had this one son who was perfect sinless the messiah of the world and the other sons who who who didn't believe in him and how that must have caused hurt in the entire family there'd be affliction that would pierce even her own soul and of course the ultimate rejection of her own people toward her son every mother wants to have a son that everybody's proud of that everybody looks to and says mary you got a great son oh he's he follows the lord he's just he's a great model he's a great testimony you did a good job raising him instead said mary we hate your son and we're going to kill your son we're going to hang him on a tree because he's blaspheming god he thinks he's the messiah he thinks he's god in the flesh and mary saying he is the affliction of her own soul that would culminate at calvary's cross that she stood there at the base of the cross hearing the the jeers and the mocks and the mocking and the cursing of the people who walked by all this would be fulfilled in the ears of mary and there's one more and that is the revelation of man he says to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed in opposing him there would be the revelation of the hearts of man the word for thoughts deal a good boy is a word that basically deals with beliefs that the beliefs in the heart of man would be exposed you see when christ came he exposed man's hypocrisy he exposed man's sinfulness he was the light of the world and so wherever he was he would shine in darkness and those who heard him those who saw him would be exposed for who they were that's why they hated himself because he told the truth he told them how they really were on the inside and they wanted nothing to do with that when messiah came he initiated hostility in israel you see this is why the message is not preached at christmas time because you see when you when you begin to preach the message of jesus and you begin to live the life of jesus there is division separation affliction and opposition and people don't want to hear that and yet that's what happened when christ came when we go through the book of luke you're going to see that you're going to see the separation you're going to see the division you're going to see the affliction you're going to see the opposition why because you're going to see the revelation of man on display that's what he came to do to expose man and sinful man does not want to be exposed one author said it this way to be saved by jesus your sin has to be exposed if you hate it you'll reject christ for doing so and go to hell but if you embrace it and realize your need for a savior you'll be saved and go to heaven see that's the ministry of our lord that's what he came to do yes there's joy there's peace there's comfort there's good news there's celebration there's great joy because messiah has come but what did he come to do yes he came to die but before he died he became the one who was opposed he was the one who caused much affliction in families much division in families why because he came to save men from their sin and those who want to be saved will follow him and those who don't want to be safe in their sin won't follow him and that was simeon's prophecy but it all came true as we will see as we study the book of luke let me ask you today how about you been saved from your sin do you know that jesus christ the messiah came to save you from your sin i trust that you do let's pray together father we are grateful for today and the truth of your word and the joy we have in understanding this man simeon he longed for the coming of messiah and like simeon lord we should long for your coming again and pray that it even be today that we could go home to be with you forever and pray lord that any soul here today that has yet to give their life to christ may this be the day of their salvation in jesus name we pray amen