Sermon: Faith Opens the Way by Rev. Jessica Johnson
Date: December 30, 2018
Key Scripture Passages:
Sermon:
Introduction
Hebrews 11:1 states, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is not a “seeing is believing” philosophy. Rather, faith is belief that precedes sight.
Purification vs. 22-24
Every culture holds traditions when a couple has a new baby. Today, we have things like baby showers or gender reveal parties. Religious families have either baby baptisms or dedications, consisting of a promise from the parents to raise their child with faith. When Jesus was born, the Jews took special notice of firstborn sons, and they would present them at the Temple.
Also, following giving birth to a baby, a woman went through a purification and healing process. Leviticus 12:6-8 states, “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.” This is what Joseph and Mary were doing when they were offering a sacrifice at the Temple. It was the end of Mary’s purification process. However, while there they met two people, Simeon and Anna.
Simeon vs. 25-35
Simeon was a very devout man of God. We often think of Simeon as being an older man or even a priest at the Temple. Yet, the Scriptures do not say that he was a priest, simply that he was righteous and devout. They also do not give us a hint about his age. Simeon was simply a believer who was waiting for the promised Messiah. He kept watch and was prepared for the coming Messiah, even though he did not know if it would happen in his lifetime or not.
Due to his faith, the Holy Spirit was upon Simeon guiding him to the Temple that day. Simeon saw this baby in the arms of his parents and knew that he beheld the Messiah. How did he know? No angels came to him in the fields or in his dreams. Joseph and Mary had not taken Simeon into their confidence. Simeon’s knowledge came from the Holy Spirit because of his faith.
Simeon blessed God, and then he blessed Joseph and Mary. Simeon’s blessing also contained a prophecy that the hearts of many would be revealed by the light of Jesus.
Anna vs. 36-38
In the temple that day, there was also Anna, who had been widowed at the age of 84. She was a prophetess, who worshiped and prayed at the Temple continuously since the death of her husband. She also was a devout believer who was waiting for the promised Messiah. We do not know if she overheard Simeon’s conversation with Joseph and Mary, or, if like Simeon, the Holy Spirit allowed her to recognize the baby Jesus. However, her immediate reaction was to thank God and then tell everyone else who was waiting for the Redeemer that He had come.
I want you to notice three things about Simeon and Anna. First, their first reaction to seeing Jesus was to talk to God about it, blessing and giving thanks to God. The second thing is that regardless of their age, gender, or life situation, God had a purpose for them. Third, their faith preceded their sight.
Final Thoughts
This is a story about revelation. The language used in this story of light, a sign, and “my eyes have seen” all construct the theme of revelation. We often think of Jesus’s identity as the Messiah as having been revealed through His ministry. But to those who had been waiting for the promised Messiah, they saw Jesus for who He was. Their faith preceded their seeing. We often hear that seeing is believing, but it is really that believing is seeing. Belief does not create. It is not that I just see what I want to see or hear what I want to hear, though that can be possible. Rather, belief opens our eyes and allows us to see and recognize what has been there all along, such as God’s presence in our lives, or what has suddenly appeared before us, such as a new baby in the Temple. Simeon and Anna had probably seen hundreds of babies in the Temple, and, yet, they knew Jesus for who He was, Israel’s promised Redeemer.
This is also a story about purpose. Simeon’s purpose was to acknowledge or affirm the identity of Jesus and to prophesy about Jesus’s purpose. And much like the shepherds, Anna’s purpose was to serve as witness and to tell others who Jesus was and that the Messiah had come.
The birth of Jesus was a hope revealed, a promise made true. Having faith is choosing to see all of that; it is choosing to believe in the hope of God’s promises and knowing that God has a plan for us all, despite our age, gender, or life situation. We may not know what God has in store for us, but it is faith that provides the way forward.
Further Suggested Study:
Faith Gives Sight!
Date: December 30, 2018
Key Scripture Passages:
- Luke 2:22-38
Sermon:
Introduction
Hebrews 11:1 states, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is not a “seeing is believing” philosophy. Rather, faith is belief that precedes sight.
Purification vs. 22-24
Every culture holds traditions when a couple has a new baby. Today, we have things like baby showers or gender reveal parties. Religious families have either baby baptisms or dedications, consisting of a promise from the parents to raise their child with faith. When Jesus was born, the Jews took special notice of firstborn sons, and they would present them at the Temple.
Also, following giving birth to a baby, a woman went through a purification and healing process. Leviticus 12:6-8 states, “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.” This is what Joseph and Mary were doing when they were offering a sacrifice at the Temple. It was the end of Mary’s purification process. However, while there they met two people, Simeon and Anna.
Simeon vs. 25-35
Simeon was a very devout man of God. We often think of Simeon as being an older man or even a priest at the Temple. Yet, the Scriptures do not say that he was a priest, simply that he was righteous and devout. They also do not give us a hint about his age. Simeon was simply a believer who was waiting for the promised Messiah. He kept watch and was prepared for the coming Messiah, even though he did not know if it would happen in his lifetime or not.
Due to his faith, the Holy Spirit was upon Simeon guiding him to the Temple that day. Simeon saw this baby in the arms of his parents and knew that he beheld the Messiah. How did he know? No angels came to him in the fields or in his dreams. Joseph and Mary had not taken Simeon into their confidence. Simeon’s knowledge came from the Holy Spirit because of his faith.
Simeon blessed God, and then he blessed Joseph and Mary. Simeon’s blessing also contained a prophecy that the hearts of many would be revealed by the light of Jesus.
Anna vs. 36-38
In the temple that day, there was also Anna, who had been widowed at the age of 84. She was a prophetess, who worshiped and prayed at the Temple continuously since the death of her husband. She also was a devout believer who was waiting for the promised Messiah. We do not know if she overheard Simeon’s conversation with Joseph and Mary, or, if like Simeon, the Holy Spirit allowed her to recognize the baby Jesus. However, her immediate reaction was to thank God and then tell everyone else who was waiting for the Redeemer that He had come.
I want you to notice three things about Simeon and Anna. First, their first reaction to seeing Jesus was to talk to God about it, blessing and giving thanks to God. The second thing is that regardless of their age, gender, or life situation, God had a purpose for them. Third, their faith preceded their sight.
Final Thoughts
This is a story about revelation. The language used in this story of light, a sign, and “my eyes have seen” all construct the theme of revelation. We often think of Jesus’s identity as the Messiah as having been revealed through His ministry. But to those who had been waiting for the promised Messiah, they saw Jesus for who He was. Their faith preceded their seeing. We often hear that seeing is believing, but it is really that believing is seeing. Belief does not create. It is not that I just see what I want to see or hear what I want to hear, though that can be possible. Rather, belief opens our eyes and allows us to see and recognize what has been there all along, such as God’s presence in our lives, or what has suddenly appeared before us, such as a new baby in the Temple. Simeon and Anna had probably seen hundreds of babies in the Temple, and, yet, they knew Jesus for who He was, Israel’s promised Redeemer.
This is also a story about purpose. Simeon’s purpose was to acknowledge or affirm the identity of Jesus and to prophesy about Jesus’s purpose. And much like the shepherds, Anna’s purpose was to serve as witness and to tell others who Jesus was and that the Messiah had come.
The birth of Jesus was a hope revealed, a promise made true. Having faith is choosing to see all of that; it is choosing to believe in the hope of God’s promises and knowing that God has a plan for us all, despite our age, gender, or life situation. We may not know what God has in store for us, but it is faith that provides the way forward.
Further Suggested Study:
- Luke 2:22-38
- Hebrews 11
Faith Gives Sight!
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