Title: The Waiting Christmas/ (Luke 2:25-39)
Contents Today's worship service will be divided into three subjects. The first hour will be very short in English, and the next hour will be a little shorter in speaking time. The third and final hour will be appropriate for a church school Christmas celebration. then! We will have our first English class.
Now, let's end our English class with this before it gets too long. Let's move on to the second time.
Now for the second time, it's talk time.
In the case of Simeon and Anna in today's text, these people have been waiting for Christ with all their lives. Anna was said to have been a widow for 84 years, so she is probably at least a hundred years old. The moment they saw the baby Jesus, they knew the purpose of their lives was in him. Simeon sings in verse 29. “Lord, now you are letting your servant go in peace, just as you said.” The first Christmas service of those who waited their whole lives to see the baby Jesus was a truly beautiful and precious service. Their Christmas had no selfish motives, such as to receive blessings or to fulfill their personal wishes. Rather, they waited a lifetime for the worship of the baby Jesus only once. Their Christmas is truly a beautiful worship offered in spirit and in truth! It was itself.
Simeon and Anna also looked into the future at the first Christmas.
They worshiped after seeing God's plan and providence to save mankind from the baby Jesus. You can find this in the song of Simeon. Verses 30-33. “My eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before all peoples, a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Simeon saw a child, but he sings, "I have seen the salvation of the Lord." Anna also saw Jesus in the temple together. This is the second half of verse 38. He said, "I spoke of this child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem." Anna had told everyone that this baby would be the Redeemer of Jerusalem. In other words, they saw the Christ with the power to work out the salvation of all mankind in a weak baby. They had the insight to foresee the future of history. Not everyone has the insight to see the future or the spiritual ability to see the spiritual world.
Simeon was "a righteous and devout man waiting for the consolation of Israel, with the Holy Spirit upon him." Anna was "a man who did not leave the temple, fasting and praying day and night." These were the people who had an insight into God's work of salvation and waited for it. They could confirm the future of God's salvation through the baby Jesus, and it was only natural that they participated in the first Christmas.
Our faith today must also learn the faith of those who have had these first Christmases. Even if it seems that I have nothing right now and no benefit is given to me, I should never be discouraged and receive Jesus, who was born to us as a baby, so that I have a firmer hope for the future. Those who spent the first Christmas worshiped the baby Jesus and took turns enjoying indescribable joy. Not because they received any material blessings right now, but because they experienced the more precious work of salvation from God. This is a great gift from God that is invaluable to all of us. No matter how hard, difficult and difficult our lives today, remember the Lord who came as the baby Jesus, and just as Simeon and Anna waited for the Lord with faith, if we possess such perfect faith and go out relying only on the Lord in this turbulent world, the Lord Through this country, through this Suseo Church, and through the students of this church school, God will allow us to see the amazing works of God.
I will pray.
The Lord came to plant love, reconciliation and peace on this earth! At this time, we lay down our ugly and ugly parts before the Lord. Looking back, we cannot even raise our faces before the Lord, but thank you for coming to cleanse us and save us. Indeed, let us know the right Christmas, and let us live that way. I pray in Jesus name. Amen!