(December 12, 2023) Richard Winter challenges…

It’s the Christmas season… many stores are playing carols, advertising specials, sales increasing through the selling of Christmas gifts or seasonal tucker.

Churches are preparing, or have already prepared, expected Christmastime presentations centring on God’s greatest gift – the birth of His Son Jesus who would redeem the world from sin freeing people from guilt and eternal punishment when they genuinely repent and accept Christ as Saviour… and freedom from Satan’s clutches.

Our attention will be on that special day regarded as when Jesus came into the world – but let me remind about some other interesting, important happenings linked with God’s great gift…

• Jesus and His parents participated in three traditional Jewish ceremonies –

(i) Circumcision
Every new-born Jewish male was circumcised: So scared a rite that the day was controlled… eight days after birth and on this day the name was officially given.

When pregnancies are confirmed we usually choose birth names. Sometimes it’s not until enroute to the hospital on the day of birth. Or in the hospital after the birth… but Mary the chosen young virgin was given Jesus’ name by the angel Gabriel way before she conceived!

Luke 1: 26-38NLT tells about the incident. Verses 30-31 read: ‘“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favour with God!  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name Him Jesus.”’ Verse 36 tells of the startled Mary’s famous response: ‘I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.’

Then in Luke 2:21 we read the outworking of that naming after Jesus was born: ‘Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, He was named Jesus, the name given Him by the angel even before He was conceived.’

(ii) Consecration
God’s command in Exodus 13:2  was ‘Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me.’ Joseph and Mary obeyed this law, which had been confirmed in verse 12: ‘… you are to give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb.’

This law was an honouring remembrance of God’s preserving Israel’s firstborn, when the firstborn of the Egyptians were slain. In gratitude first-born boys were consecrated to God.

Interestingly, ‘Consecrate’ is qâdash, to dedicate. Jesus’ life was definitely dedicated to His Father’s will… even onto death on Calvary’s cross!

(iii) Cleansing
Cleansing– purification – was a Jewish religious law requiring fulfillment by every woman 40 days after the birth of a boy child (Leviticus 12:2,4Mge), 80 days if a girl (v5).

Luke 2:22-24 tells that ‘When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”’ 

In symbolism they represented a sin offering and a poor offering. Usually it was a lamb (Leviticus 12:6) but many people were so poor they couldn’t afford a lamb so they substituted birds. We can rejoice in knowing that although Mary may have been poor, her son was rich in God! He was the perfect lamb of God who would be sacrificed for all people! (John 1:29, Revelation 12:11).

⭐Connection
Something very important that is often missed or overlooked happened on that day when Joseph and Mary took baby Jesus to be presented to the Lord (Luke 2:25-28Mge)…

 ‘… there was a man, Simeon by name, a good man, a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him. The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God before he died. Led by the Spirit, he entered the temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brough Him in to carry out the rituals of th Law, Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God.’

• Simeon found Jesus!
• Here’s five observations regarding Simeon finding God’s gift to the world…

1. Those who look will find (v25)
It doesn’t matter whether it was 2000 years ago or today – if you look for God, you will find Him. Looking is not a passive activity – it is an active intention. Simeon was out there that day looking for the Christ and His help for God’s people.

Many times what we look for is right in front of us… one reason we don’t see it is that we may be preoccupied. Many can come to church and say what a wonderful service it was; others will say I didn’t even feel God let alone enjoy the service.

• The difference? Those who enjoyed the service were looking for God; the ‘others’ weren’t!
• Simeon saw Jesus because he was looking for Him!

Was Simeon was the only righteous Jew in Bethlehem? Surely others were as concerned about the Messiah as he was? For that matter, are you looking for Jesus?

There are times when we know something is about to happen before we receive the answer. Yet we can move in faith as did Simeon.

• People are very ‘busy with Christmas’ but they may not be as ‘busy with Christ’!
• Giving of gifts is seen as the important thing, as is the office or job party, and the family dinners – but can’t we put Jesus at the top of the list?

2.  Assurances come before the answer (v26)
The Holy Spirit had shown Simeon that he would see the Messiah of God before he died.

People have prayed for years and believed God for an unsaved son, daughter, or spouse and God has assured them that He will answer their prayers.

If that’s you, keep believing that right now our God is at work answering prayers. Remember that His timetable is different from ours… the main thing is that we seek God (find God) and hear the Holy Spirit whisper assurances in our hearts.

3. We must come to the  right place to find Him (v27)
Simeon knew that he needed to go to the right place to find the Christ – this verse says he went to the temple.

Many will stay away from church because…

• Church has no purpose for them.
• They don’t expect to meet the Lord and so they won’t.
• That’s their expectation and they write their own answer.

As for Simeon, he came to the temple with the right heart and expectation… and mind attitude. If you come to church with these three attributes you will see God, He will be real and present!

The church exists…
a) For the Father, it’s a worship centre
‘Since we are receiving a kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshipping Him with holy fear and awe’ (Hebrews 12:28NLT).

b) For each other, it’s a nurturing centre
Hebrews 10:25NLT warns ‘Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.’ In gathering together we can –

• Joyfully encourage each other.
• Learn more about Father God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
• Teach our children to know and love God.
• Grow spiritually in Christ together.
• Prepare for that final journey in life.

c) For the world, it’s a redemption centre
Here we the forgiven – the redeemed by Jesus – can not only assist other believers to know why they’re here, but plan together to reach out to the unsaved and seek to lead them to Jesus.

Church is where great truths about Jesus is taught, where the unsaved can find redemption. Let’s not only attend our church ourselves but invite others along… the unredeemed, the depressed, the sick, the troubled… those for whom Jesus died for.

And… let’s believe and expect that they will find their redemption and great joy.

4. Finding Jesus makes a difference (v29ff)
Having found Jesus, Simeon was a very happy person as Luke 2:29-32 tells us: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.’

In view of what I’ve written in 3c above, I’ll be blunt here… Simeon was overjoyed at having found Jesus, even though our Saviour was only a baby at that time. He knew that he had found God’s prepared salvation for the whole world!

Have you, dear reader, found Jesus and such joy?

Some folk will claim to be Christian because their parents were Christians… but although you may be born into a Christian home you do not automatically become a Christian! If your father is a doctor or an engineer that never automatically makes you a doctor or an engineer!

Faith and belief are personal. We all must allow the Holy Spirit to work within us, and allow the word of God (the Bible) to speak to us. As an individual you must ‘find’ Jesus and with genuine repentance for sins accept Him as Saviour and Lord.

Then you’ll be among the converted, genuine Christians, and a new creation. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul gives you this assurance – ‘… anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!’ Then you too will be joyous!

5. In finding Jesus, like Simeon we’ll be ready for death and eternity (v29)
Filled with joy, a contended Simeon was able to truthfully say before the amazed parents, ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.’ 

Now Simeon was waiting expectantly not to die but to see God. That is, he knew that God had answered his prayers and now everything else was a little ordinary to him… he was ready to go to be with God.

Depart is apoluō, one meaning of which is ‘let die.’ Luke 2: 29NLT reads ‘… now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.’

But this doesn’t mean that everyone should ‘receive Jesus and immediately die.’ Rather, that in finding and receiving Jesus as our redeeming Saviour, you will be ready to die in peace!

• While we’re still here, let’s really be involved in whatever ‘temple’ – church – we attend.
• Let’s grow in our Christianity.
• Let’s reach out to those who don’t know Christ (God’s greatest gift), presenting this gift personally.

⭐Comfort
A suggested Christmas prayer:
Father God, how wise and gentle you are. You could have come in power and might but you came in the tender flesh of a new-born babe.  You could have come with heaven’s army but, secure in your will and promises, you came instead as a helpless infant so we could see you in every facet of human life.

You, Almighty God who hung the stars in space, now lies in a manger dependent on angels, lowly shepherds and a star to lead people to your arrival. While we were still sinners you came to redeem us (Romans 5:8).

Most of us were so preoccupied with the busyness of life that we didn’t see you or even know of your presence. Thank you, Father, for arranging it so when individuals find you we are accepted… received, redeemed and rejuvenated!

⭐Challenge
If God is not real in your life then another miracle of Christmas can occur!

He can be real to you as you invite Jesus into your heart. He will indwell you personally and your life will never be the same again and… you will be ready to face the future both here and in eternity.

May the love of the Father, the grace of Jesus and the comfort of the Holy Spirit be yours… in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Remember: If you don’t know Jesus, I urge you to look for and find the best Christmas gift of all!

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Dr Richard Winter pastors The Connection Church, Huntington Beach, California. Link: OnlinerConnect@gmail.com
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