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Celebrating Martin Luther King

Ronna Tyson

CELEBRATING THE KINGLuke 2:25-35

CELEBRATING THE KINGLuke 2:25-35

What day should we celebrate Christmas?

CELEBRATING THE KINGLuke 2:25-35

BIG IDEA: We celebrate King Jesus best by seeking Jesus, by seeing Jesus and by speaking of Jesus.

Simeon Seeks Jesus

Luke 2:25-27a 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 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. 27a And he came in the Spirit into the temple…

Simeon Seeks Jesus

Luke 2:25-27a 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 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. 27a And he came in the Spirit into the temple…Active Waiting

Simeon Seeks Jesus

Luke 2:25-27a 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 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. 27a And he came in the Spirit into the temple…Spirit-Led

Simeon Seeks Jesus

Luke 2:25-27a 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 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. 27a And he came in the Spirit into the temple…Are you seeking Jesus?

Simeon Seeks Jesus

Luke 2:25-27a 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 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. 27a And he came in the Spirit into the temple…Are you seeking Jesus?

Simeon Sees Jesus

Luke 27b-30 27b …and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,    according to your word;30 for my eyes have seen your salvation…

Simeon Sees Jesus

Jesus himself spoke of two kinds of seeing. He said of the uncomprehending crowds, “Seeing they do not see” (Matthew 13:13). One kind is seeing with physical eyes, and the other is with spiritual eyes. When we see with our spiritual eyes, we see the truth and beauty and value of Jesus Christ for what they really are. Thus a blind person today may see Christ more clearly than many who have eyes.

Simeon Sees Jesus

Everyone can read the stories of Jesus and “see” the portraits painted by the words of those who knew him. But not everyone sees truth and beauty and infinite value. Some see only myth. Some see foolishness. Some see offense. “Seeing they do not see.” It is as though a child should look at a Michelangelo and prefer a comic strip.

Simeon Sees Jesus

Savoring Jesus Christ is the response to this second kind of seeing. When you see something as true and beautiful and valuable, you savor it. That is, you treasure it. You cherish and admire and prize it. Spiritual seeing and spiritual savoring are so closely connected that it would be fair to say: If you don’t savor Christ, you haven’t seen Christ for who he is. If you don’t prize him above all things, you haven’t apprehended his true worth.

- John Piper in Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ

Simeon Sees Jesus

Luke 27b-30 27b …and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,    according to your word;30 for my eyes have seen your salvation…

Are you seeing Jesus?

Simeon Speaks of Jesus

Luke 2:31-32 31     …that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,    and for glory to your people Israel.”

Simeon Speaks of Jesus

Luke 2:31-32 31     …that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,    and for glory to your people Israel.”

Isaiah 49:6 “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Simeon Speaks of Jesus

Luke 2:33-35 33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Simeon Speaks of Jesus

Luke 2:33-35 33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Good AND Bad News

Simeon Speaks of Jesus

Luke 2:33-35 33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Are you speaking of Jesus?

The Favor of God on Jesus

Luke 2:39-40 39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor (charis = grace) of God was upon him.

CELEBRATING THE KINGLuke 2:25-35

BIG IDEA: We celebrate King Jesus best by seeking Jesus, by seeing Jesus and by speaking of Jesus.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O come, Desire of nations, bindAll peoples in one heart and mind;Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease,Fill all the world with heaven’s peace.Rejoice! Rejoice! EmmanuelShall come to thee, O Israel!

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