Title: Jesus to come (Luke 2:22-35)
I hope you will have Jesus in the hearts and homes of all the members who come to Chungnam Jeil Church on Christmas Day. Today's text is about those who worshiped and glorified Jesus when Jesus was born, and they can be divided into three types. Therefore, today, we will look at who worshiped the baby Jesus, and we would like to share grace with them about their meaning and the lessons of faith that appear in their confessions.
Who were the three kinds of people who worshiped the baby Jesus?
Second, astronomers (Matthew 2:1-12). The Magi were knowledgeable scholars who studied the stars at the time, and while they were studying the stars, they learned that the Messiah was coming to this earth. So they brought their gifts and came to worship Jesus. They had the knowledge to see salvation, to know God, and to know the kingdom of heaven. But the scribes studying the Bible did not worship Jesus. They studied the Bible, but that knowledge was not knowledge of God. It was dead knowledge. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Now we live in a knowledge society. I don't know how much knowledge has increased in this world. But human beings are being destroyed, and society is increasingly littered with sin and disorder. Because this knowledge is dead knowledge, this society is dying.
Third, Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:22-39). Simeon is a righteous and devout man who lives in Jerusalem. In today's text, it is said that the Holy Spirit always remained upon him. The Holy Spirit moved Simeon to wait for the Messiah. He longed to see the Messiah before he died. In the midst of that, the scene where he met the baby Jesus who came to the temple according to the liturgy of the law and praised God is the content of the text. Who Can Meet Jesus Christ? Just like Simeon, he is the one who waits until the end. An old woman named Anna appears. She is a prophetess. After 7 years of marriage, I lost my husband, and for 84 years, I served God while fasting and praying without leaving the temple. I am now 91 years old. It is said that Anna will become a blessed grandmother who sees baby Jesus, glorifies God, and meets the Messiah.
Then, what is the confession of faith of those who met Jesus?
In today's text, Luke 2:30-32, Simeon's confession, "My eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people, a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory to your people Israel." You can look at important religious attitudes.
First, he confesses, "I have seen the salvation of the Lord." He saw God's salvation. We are seeing the appearance of the Messiah, whom God sent to save mankind, in the form of the baby Jesus. This confession should be our confession.
Second, he confesses, "You have prepared it before all people." It is the word that the Old Testament has been answered. To sum up the whole flow of the Old Testament in one word, it is the promise that the Messiah will come to this earth. Therefore, this confession saw the fact that the Messiah promised by God in the Old Testament was fulfilled through Jesus Christ. The word 'prepared' means that Christmas is the sure event that God has taught and prepared through prophets and prophets throughout history. This is what Simeon sees.
Third, he confesses, "He is a light that illuminates the Gentiles." Jesus came to this earth as the true light. He came as the light of God who overcomes the forces of darkness, the power of darkness, and gives salvation and peace. He came as the light of God who saves not only Jews but also Gentiles. I pray that the Holy Spirit will work in your hearts to be filled with the light of grace when you come before the Lord today and worship before God.
Fourth, he confesses, "The glory of your people Israel." God's omnipotence, holiness, faithfulness, greatness, greatness, and creation are revealed through Christ in glory. And He is saying that He is the Messiah who will suffer. Jesus came as the second Adam. Because of the sin of Adam, the ancestor of mankind, all mankind fell into sin. The problem of mankind is the problem of sin. He is showing that He came to this earth as the second Adam to solve this sin, to die on the cross and to die as a sacrifice. I hope you believe that Jesus came to this earth and died on the cross because of me. This is the interpretation of the first coming of Jesus that we have talked about so far.
Then how will Jesus come again? This is a fact that we, who face Christmas, should be challenged and nervous in faith. Revelation 1:7 says, “Behold, he is coming with clouds, and every eye will see him, and those who pierced him will see him, and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him, amen.” It is the fact that the Second Coming Jesus will come to this earth as the King of Judgment. We believe that the Lord will come to this earth as the Lord of judgment, the God of sharing, and the God of salvation. That is what the New Testament teaches us to welcome Christmas like that. Only those who have accepted Jesus Christ and have served Christ can be saved and become the people of the kingdom of heaven. It is the fact that no matter what rituals were performed on Christmas Day, those who did not receive Jesus Christ will be subject to judgment when Jesus Christ returns.
Dear brothers and sisters, we must honor God on this Christmas with Jesus Christ. And we must witness the gospel of Christ to our families and our neighbors. In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus speaks of judgment and salvation at His Second Coming. The parable of the five wise virgins is explained. In the last days, it explains that only those who believe like the five wise virgins among the ten virgins will meet the bridegroom Jesus. The content is not only the form of faith, but the content, which is oil. It means to have a change of heart and a real life as a Christian. And to be awake means to live a life that believes, hopes, and waits for the sure return of Jesus Christ in human history. Let's have the tension of faith this Christmas. Awake and long for the Lord. And are we filled with the Holy Spirit? Is there any content of faith? Is there any gospel content? Let me take another look at my heart and my life.
Dear saints who came to the Christmas service today, I pray in the name of the Lord that you and all of us will continue to serve the Lord on Christmas this year, be full of grace, and have the joy and hope of salvation.