The Sword that Pierces John Kane

Luke 2:1-40: The Birth of Jesus and Simeon’s Prophecy

I'll begin reading at verse 1. And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea to the city of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David to be registered with Mary his betrothed wife who was with child.

So it was while they were there the days were completed for her to be delivered and she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were greatly afraid.

Then the angel said to them do not be afraid for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a savior who is Christ the Lord and this will be the sign to you.

You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger and suddenly there was in there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on earth peace goodwill toward men.

So it was when the angels had gone away from them into heaven that the shepherds said to one another let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass which the Lord has made known to us.

And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen him they made widely known the saying which was told to them concerning this child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. When the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things which they had heard and seen as it was told them. And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the child his name was called Jesus the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. As it is written in the law of the Lord every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.

And to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons. 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 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 and 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 pierce through your own soul also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Now there was one Anna a prophetess the daughter Ephanuel of the tribe of Asher. She was of great age and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity and this woman was a widow of about 84 years who did not depart from the temple but served God with fasting and prayers night and day.

And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of him to all those who had looked for the redemption of Jerusalem. So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord they returned to Galilee to their own city Nazareth and the child grew and became strong in spirit filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him.

May God add his blessing to the reading of his word. Let's open our service before Harold comes with some prayer. Father God it is with great joy that we gather together on this Sunday. Oh Lord to think about the birth of Jesus Christ.

To think about the promises that were kept on that beautiful evening father. To think of the responses of the people the shepherd's God running to Bethlehem God to see the child. The wise men traveling far from the east to come and to worship him God.

Father may this time of worship this morning God be a time of heartfelt praise and adoration of the king of kings the promised messiah God. God may our worship be in a manner that is worthy of your glory.

As we sing these beautiful carols as we remember the promised birth of Jesus Christ that we remember this time of the year. May this worship service every one of us be done in spirit and in truth for we ask it in Jesus name.

Amen. Amen. Thank you Harold. Well good morning.

And welcome again. We're grateful you're here where our hearts go out and our prayers go out to those that aren't here with us that are able to fellowship with with those that are here this morning. But our hearts are with you and we just pray that God has his hand upon you and that you are walking with the Lord and are blessed by today's service and blessed by the hearing of his word.

So we're just grateful all grateful to be here at this and Merry Christmas to everyone and it's such a wonderful thing that as a believer we can say that with the full heart with the whole heart. And if you haven't been with us here before I pray that you would be blessed and feel a sense of our love for for God and a love for the people of his church.

And because we do believe it's important to gather together. We do we know that in a small way we we try to go to life through life together and COVID hasn't helped that situation at all. But however best we can we we pray that we can do that and be a blessing to you.

So would you just join with me this morning? John already opened a prayer but let's continue praying for our country and for our church and so let's pray together. Lord God we thank you father that you have brought us together Lord by your purpose for your for your good Lord.

We are to worship you corporately is is such a privilege in this country father and we sell it and to be able to celebrate the birth of our savior father is just just almost overwhelming Lord. Father we know that we face many challenges in in our country Lord in our state in our and Lord even in certain respects in our church as we go through a kind of a transition time father but we know that we we are in your care that we can trust you that you love us that you love the people in this country Lord.

May your spirit touch our nation's leaders father we pray that you would give them wisdom to know what is right and courage to do the right thing father. Give us your light and your truth father to guide us in in your ways that we would be obedient to your calling that we would seek your will in our lives and personal lives in the life of this church in the life of this country father for it is in your hands.

Bless our service today again father and Lord we commit everything that we do to you this morning we pray in Jesus name amen. So let's uh you're gonna have to dust off your vocal cords a little bit this morning we have quite a lineup of christmas carols and what and what a joy that is that we can rejoice we have so much to be grateful for to be joyful for um and for those at home you might if yet you could start a fire in the fireplace that would be a blessing.

How about that pastor john i think you would probably agree with that um we don't quite have that benefit. I thought we could maybe put a little you know how they have those like fire on the on the wall but but we didn't get you know we didn't plan ahead that closely.

So anyway i'd like to read uh john uh passage from john 12 uh 44 through 50 to kind of set the the tone a little bit to to know why jesus came and jesus cried out and said whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me and whoever sees me sees him who sent me.

I have come into the world as light so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them i do not judge him for i did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge. The word that i have spoken will judge him on that last day. For i have not spoken on my own authority but the father who sent me has himself given me a commandment what to say and what to speak.

And i know that his commandment is eternal life. What i say. Therefore i say as the father has sent me. So praise god for that you can remain seated as we begin as we settle in now to to let's just sing together to lift our voices.

That's one primary way that we can express our our joy to the lord is is in song. So let us let's go to bethlehem and see this thing that has happened. We're going to sing. Oh come all ye faithful. There were shepherds in the fields keeping watch over their flocks.

We're going to sing the first noel and to be born.

Will be called the son of god. Oh holy night.

The stars are brightly we're going to sing. Who is in yonder stall.

The lamb is the lord of lords and the king of kings.

Let's stand together. Who is he whose feet the shepherds fall. Who is he in deep distress fasting in the wilderness. Tis the lord is the lord at his feet of gentleness he the sick and sorrow is the lord's rest.

Leave and saw.

They spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child what is this child.

Glory to god in the highest and on earth peace. Hark the heralds angels sing. Pastor john well praise the lord. When's the.

Last time you sang that much in church there is just something about christmas music that no matter what is going on in your life or the world it just lifts your heart doesn't it. It's just a wonderful thing.

Christmas as a Revelation of the Heart

So open your bibles to the gospel of luke gospel of saint luke. And we're going to be going to luke chapter 2 luke chapter 2 verse 34 in a moment but as we get started i think we would all agree that this is and will be and could even be more of one of the oddest christmases any of us have ever experienced in our lifetime.

I mean i know everybody's uh obeying the stay-at-home order and the the uh don't go anywhere because of all the traffic on the roads. And i'm still seeing christmas presents in cars which i'm thankful for.

But i know the online is is is i mean i wish i had bought amazon 10 years ago that stock. With each passing day it seems like it gets even stranger as the government exerts more and more control over our lives.

So you know what i want to do today. I want to examine a few ways by god's grace to have this christmas impact us in an encouraging and positive and uplifting way. Amen. You know hebrews chapter 4 verse 12 says.

For the word of god is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even down to the division of the soul and the spirit and of joints and marrow. And listen carefully and is the discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Now i want to give you the updated john cain 2020 translation of that verse. Okay call it the living cain if you want the living cain version. When someone reads or hears the word of god it impacts them in such a way that it reveals the thoughts and intentions of their heart.

When someone reads or hears the word of god it impacts them in such a way that it reveals their heart. Now take a look at luke chapter 2 verse 34 with me. Then simeon blessed them and said to mary his mother that is jesus's 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 pierce through your own soul also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

I want to encourage us today to purpose to allow christmas to impact our relationship with god in a positive way because this is one of the reasons why jesus christ was born. If you look at verse 10 in chapter 2 then the angel said to them to the shepherds.

Because if you look at verse 9 they were greatly afraid. As i read earlier the angel said don't be afraid. For behold i bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. So what we want to understand this christmas is that jesus christ is appointed by god's decree to the rise and fall of many meaning.

Some will hear the gospel and be saved. And some will reject the gospel and not be saved. Some will receive christ and go to heaven for all eternity. Some will reject him and say no. You see this christmas can be like any other christmas.

It can be one that we celebrate with a troubled heart. Or we can use this coming week to spend time with god to commune and fellowship with god in a deeper and a more meaningful way with joy in our heart.

And the message title today if you looked at your note is the sword that pierces. And that sword that sword beloved is jesus christ. And the word of god it is the sword that pierces. Let's pray father we want to commit so desperately this word to your care.

There are people watching by video father. Some have not been in church for months and months and months. There are some father god that have loved ones that have been touched by the various things going on in this world.

What a wonderful time of the year god to lay all that aside and to focus on christ. I pray and ask that the holy spirit might indeed empower your word today as it is preached god we need christ. We need jesus.

Please help us this morning we pray and especially those watching by video god we pray in jesus name amen. So i think we would all agree that christmas can reveal things reveal things about us and reveal things about others.

For example christmas tends to bring what's important to people out in them. I mean kids and their christmas lists. Right. What do you want. Have you heard about the fights over this thing called playstation 5.

I mean i read last week these guys a truck was delivering this thing whatever it is i know it's some kind of game that you play on the tv and the the car went the speed of the truck and these people jumped out of the car on the hood jumped on the back of the truck while it was driving in order to steal this thing off the back of the truck while it was moving down the road.

I mean christmas tends to bring out these kinds of things. Right. When we open our presents and our cards the first thing we look for in the card is what the check. Then we read the card. So for some people the gifts are the main attraction.

For others it's together being together with family. For some it's it's the fun of the food just the holiday itself. We have a man in our church that's what he says every year. What he looks forward to is just the holiday just being at home with his kids and grandkids and his wife.

That's every year he says that that's what he looks forward to the most you can have the presence he says. And for others it's remembering the birth of jesus christ and all that it means. And how the gospel the good news of jesus christ has impacted their life.

Now if you look at luke chapter one and just in your mind's eye there are details regarding the responses of those who encountered jesus upon his arrival on the earth and how it impacted him. You might know some of these off the top of your head.

For example herod. When herod heard about this messiah that was to be born he had heard about it through the jewish people of that day because he ruled over over modern day israel under the roman empire.

And if you if you know anything about the gospel of matthew and the christmas account of the birth of jesus herald was greatly troubled. That was his the impact of the birth of christ. He was greatly troubled.

And then what did he do. He set out to kill him. The all of the people of jerusalem were troubled with him it says in matthew chapter two. And then on top of that the religious leaders of the day that came to herald and to herod.

Sorry about that. Yeah came to that guy right there when they came to herod and he said where is this messiah to be born. And the religious religious leaders of that day said in bethlehem the prophet says in bethlehem what did they do.

Nothing just the facts. And then you come to zacharias here in luke chapter one the priest who didn't initially believe in the signs and what happened to him. He became a sign couldn't talk. Then there's mary the young lady.

And if you know anything about mary one of the things about her that's so remarkable is she knew hannah's song from the old testament because her magnificent which is in the gospels basically follows and parallels what hannah sang to the lord when samuel was born.

And then in chapter two we come to the shepherds. If you know anything about bible history you know that the shepherds were the outcasts of society. They smelled people looked down on them probably thought of worse than the homeless people we see camped along the interstates.

Now they became the first responders to the birth of jesus christ. And then look at how their encounter with christ impacted them in verse 16. And they came the shepherds with haste. They didn't make a slow leisurely stroll over to bethlehem.

They made with haste and found mary and joseph and the babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen him they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this child. So they're going all along.

And we saw this. This angel came and talked to us and we saw the heavenly host and we were scared to death. And the angel said don't be afraid for this day unto you. A child is to be born in bethlehem.

And they're telling everybody about it. All those who heard it marveled at those things which were told to them by the shepherds. See an encounter with jesus christ reveals one's heart. Harold was troubled.

Harrod was troubled and wanted to kill the child. The religious leaders of that day could have cared less. And then we come to simeon in verse 34. 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 shall be spoken again. Yes a sword will pierce through your soul. Also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. See an encounter with jesus christ will always reveal a person's true heart.

And jesus always impacted people everyone either positively or negatively. And the text says may be revealed. I don't know if you caught that the thoughts of many heart may be revealed. But actually the greek is it will be revealed.

It's not. Might be it will be revealed. Then you go to the gospel of john which harold read from john 1 1. In the beginning was the word and the word was with god and the word was god. Then you go to john 1 14.

And we beheld his glory the glory of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth. And then we go to the apostles and his impact on the apostles. And then we go all the way over to hebrews 4 12.

See an encounter with jesus christ will always reveal your heart. Hebrews 4 12. For the word of god is living and powerful. Some translations have active and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even at the division of the soul and the spirit and at the joints and the marrow.

And as a discerner of the thoughts and the intentions of the heart when someone is exposed to the person and the message of jesus christ whether for the first time ever. And please listen church. Whether for the first time ever or every sunday in church or every time they open up their bible or whether it's this christmas that impact on the person reveals their heart good or bad.

You look back at verse 21 and look at this the immediate context of the verse that we're going to be studying this morning about jesus being the sword. Verse 21. And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the child his name was called jesus the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Now when the days of her purification according to the law of moses were completed they brought him to jerusalem to present him to the lord as it is written in the law of the lord every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the lord.

Now there's a lot here but something interesting and significant here is that when mary and joseph bring the lord jesus to the temple as required under the law they encounter some people who we might call interesting.

And i don't know if you experience this. But sometimes when you go to walmart you might say to somebody i encountered some interesting people. Would you not say that sometimes. So they come to the temple and they encounter some interesting people.

And what is so revealing is that these interesting people were vessels. But they were willing vessels herod. Unwilling religious leaders. Unwilling. But these different people were very willing. And what's so revealing is that the most significant encounters that mary and joseph had when they got to the temple listen to me were not the religious people.

They were not the priests. Encounter number one. Imagine with me an elderly man from the community of jerusalem. His name is not victor. And look at chapter 2 verse 25. And behold there was a man in jerusalem whose name was simeon.

He's a friend of victor's. And this man was just and devout. Look carefully just and devout waiting for the consolation of 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 in the child jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law what was his response. How did seeing this child impact him. He took him up in his arms and he blessed god lord.

Now you're letting your servant depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation which you prepared before the face of all peoples a light to bring revelation to the gentiles and the glory of your people israel.

How did this encounter impact simeon. He took the child in his arms he held him up and he blessed the lord. That's encounter number one. Now encounter number two. Imagine with me an 84 year old woman who loiters at the temple night and day.

And we can almost imagine that anybody going to the temple here is this 84 year old woman. She's at the temple every day and the people come in to do their sacrifices and give their offerings and their temple tax and whatever business that they had at the temple.

And here is this woman. What in the world is she doing here day after day after day after day. You come at night you come in the morning and you can imagine the how they talk about it at the store. You know that lady what is it with her.

Every time i go to the temple she's there. What is going on verse 36. Now there was one anna a prophetess the daughter of fan you all of the tribe of asher. She was of great age and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity.

And this woman was a widow of about 84 years who did not depart from the temple but served god with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instance she gave thanks to the lord and spoke of him to all those who looked for redemption in jerusalem.

How did anna's encounter with jesus impact her. She immediately immediately verse 38 began giving thanks to the lord and she started witnessing and sharing the good news. So how is christmas going to impact you this year in terms of your relationship with god.

Two encounters with jesus. And the question we want to answer today is how by god's grace. How can christmas more fully impact our relationship with god. Or how we view jesus christ that this year as strange and as odd as it has been to count this christmas with all joy.

Right. Count it all joy. When you face various trials how can we count this christmas with joy number one if you have your notes by recognizing the one who fulfilled god's righteousness. How can christmas more fully impact our relationship with god.

Or how we view jesus christ this christmas for one by recognizing the one who fulfilled god's righteousness. See the shepherds in the fields recognized him. The wise men from the east recognized him even going so far as dropping everything in their lives and traveling a long distance to worship him.

But the religious leaders of that day that knew that knew where the messiah would be born didn't even bother to go visit bethlehem. Now typically when people go shopping around this time of the year there is traffic and a errand yesterday in fulsome and it's a difficult drive from our house to where she had to go.

And she was shocked because it was bumper-to-bumper traffic in fulsome. I mean if all the restaurants are closed and the stores are supposed to have 25 of whatever but it was just solid cars. Often there are lines at the registers.

But here's the thought who's in line for jesus. Why are people seeing. You think about how many years simeon waited in line for decades. Verse 26 tells us he would not see death before he had seen the lord jesus.

How many years did anna wait. Anna was 84 years old when she saw the messiah waiting in the temple after becoming a now. If she was a typical jewish girl she would have been married. Probably early teens.

Late teens. She's married. She's with her husband seven years he dies. She spends the rest of her life in the temple single. She's looking for the redemption of israel. So if she was widowed in her early 20s mid mid late 20s she had been waiting some 50 years.

These two individuals were looking for years when jesus arrived on the scene and they immediately recognized him. And it wasn't because mary's aunt martha weaved a sweater that said this is the messiah.

And that's what jesus wore to the temple that day. How did they recognize this baby. The text says the holy spirit was on him. And it says anna never left the temple. So something supernatural was going on.

And what was that. It was god's grace at work and see what we need to understand. And this is really where i'm heading with this text is this. They were looking. They were looking. They were waiting and friends.

That's what we need to be doing this christmas if we want it to impact us. If christmas is going to impact us in a positive way we need to recognize the one who fulfilled god's righteousness. Why do people look for something.

Why do people go to the stores or search online for things. Because they need something. What do these people recognize that they had a need for in their own words in verse 30 take a look not my words my eyes have seen your salvation.

In their own words they recognized they had a need for redemption or consolation or salvation. And luke inserts something kind of intriguing here about mary. Because if you look at verse 24 it says that they went to the temple to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the lord a pair of turtledoves or young pigeons.

Now under the law a woman who gave birth to a son was ceremonially unclean for 40 days. Leviticus chapter 12 says if it's a girl that is born it's 80 days. It doesn't mean they're in sin. They're just in ceremonially unclean.

So after that period of time was over. They were to go to the temple or the tabernacle if they were still in the wilderness. And they're to offer a yearling lamb or a dove or a pigeon. If they were poor they could offer two doves or pigeons.

So we see here this indication in verse 24 that mary and joseph were poor or they would have brought a lamb. Now what i want to point out to you is that mary and joseph were righteous people listen. And they recognized their unrighteousness.

If they had not recognized their unrighteousness they would not have gone to the temple with the turtledoves. And notice this refrain. It's it's mentioned five times in 20 verses in verse 22. Now in the days of her purification according to the law verse 23 as it is written in the law verse 24 what is said in the law of the lord verse 27 to do for him according to the custom of the law verse 39.

So when they had performed all things according to the law of the lord. Now what's the point. The law couldn't fulfill righteousness. You could. You could sacrifice a lamb seven days a week 365 days a year.

And that lamb would not satisfy the wrath of god. It was pointing to a greater lamb. This baby is the one who fulfilled the righteousness of the law and the word of the lord. And we know that he continued in that ministry for his 33 years on his life on earth.

And see what we need to be thinking about at this point. Is this. How can someone please follow my lamp my line of thinking here. How can someone recognize the one who would fulfill all righteousness if in their heart they had yet to see their own unrighteousness and their need for god's righteousness.

See. We can go. We can go deeper and deeper into this. For example does someone's lack of recognition of christ or their lack of appreciation or depth of appreciation of the significance of christmas reveal that their heart has yet to truly see its own unrighteousness.

You see you might think about this past week in your daily devotions or your daily activities or even this morning as we were singing these beautiful songs about the birth of jesus. Do we recognize him truly as the only one that is righteous.

Are we in some way hanging on to our own righteousness. If someone is struggling to recognize him part of the answer why is because they don't fully comprehend their own unrighteousness. And see this encounter with jesus even right now at this very moment should reveal our heart because every day people reject jesus not only just for salvation but professing believers that go to church reject jesus.

What better time of the year to allow by god's grace jesus to impact our hearts and to go to the lord in prayer and recognize he is the only one that can fulfill all righteousness. And encounter with jesus by someone with a humble heart brings comfort to those who know that their hearts are prone to wander.

That's why jesus started the sermon on the mount with that wonderful blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted and understand the word mourn there. The context has nothing to do with the loss of a loved one.

It has everything to do with a person recognizing their own unrighteousness and their need for the righteousness that only god can provide. Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. So how can christmas more fully impact our relationship with god.

Or how we view jesus christ this christmas. Number one by recognizing the one that fulfilled god's righteousness and number two by embracing the only one who brings god's deliverance. Now christmas can be more meaningful this year and it can impact us as as far as our relationship with god by embracing the only one who brings god's deliverance.

Verse 25. Verse 25. Simeon had been waiting all these years for what you notice what it says. It says the consolation of israel. Now this phrase comes from the prophet isaiah. And god willing we might get to the prophet isaiah depending on how the lord leads right sometime in spring.

But then we got easter. So we'll see about that. Right. But it comes from isaiah 40 and primarily from isaiah 40 verse 1 and it says comfort. Yes comfort my people says your god speak comfort to jerusalem and cry out to her that her warfare is ended that her iniquity is pardoned for she has received from the lord's hand double for all her sins.

And the context of isaiah 40 is the comfort that god would give them right after their enslavement to babylon. Because remember about 10 000 when after the babylonians invaded israel and wiped out the southern kingdom and overran jerusalem and all those people died and the women were in the streets.

You read about it and lamentations just an unbelievable picture of of famine because the babylonians set a siege around the walls in order to get jerusalem to surrender. And it's looking back to their enslavement to each to israel's.

Um enslavement in egypt. Their enslavement under the canaanites and the philistines in the book of judges. Their enslavement under the assyrians when the 10 northern tribes were wiped out. Their enslavement under the babylonians when the two southern tribes and then they go off.