Simeon's Song of Peace

Luke 2:22-35 ESV

And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 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. 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. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,  “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;  for my eyes have seen your salvation   that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,   a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”  And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 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 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Rev. Charles Han

Jesus has been born and there are sacrifices that need to be made for this birth. They go to Jerusalem to offer these sacrifices. There is a man who has been waiting for the coming Messiah. He has been told by prophecy that he will see the Savior in his lifetime. He then blesses both Jesus and his parents.

The peace that Christ brings

Simeon says that now he has seen Jesus he can die in peace. We usually say this in a playful way. But this reveals something of our hearts. But Simeon is not being playful. This is more of a heavenly peace. What does this mean? He is ensured peace with God. He has been delivered from the fear of death. He is assured that when he dies and meets God, he will be live in heaven and find favor from God. Since we do not control when and how we die, there will be  plenty loose ends. But in Jesus all the necessary work has been done. There are no loose ends that needs to be done. This peace comes from eyes of faith. Simeon held baby Jesus and saw salvation.

How this peace is brought

When Simeon blesses the couple, he speaks of conflict. Rising and falling of people in Israel. A sword piercing Mary. He brings peace in the midst of conflict. What a paradox. He brings this peace by expanding the kingdom of God. We find peace when Jesus reigns in more and more of our lives. When Christ comes, there is opposition. Whether Jerusalem or our hearts, when Jesus comes in there will be conflict. When we become a Christian, there will be opposition and rebellion within our own hearts.

Are you like the Jews trying to find peace in your life by having God improve your circumstances? Or are you trying to submit more of your life to the Lord Jesus? Jesus doesn't come to change our circumstances. He comes to save us from our sins. It is a spiritual struggle. That is what constitutes a Christian life. A spiritual war within as well as an inward peace. That is what is necessary for heavenly peace.

Mary's Magnificat

Luke 1:46-56 ESV

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever." And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Rev. David Skinner

Mary hears that her old aunt is pregnant. They are together in miraculous pregnancy. This is a tumultuous time. Mary is a virgin. She's pledged to be married. And then along comes an angel, who says she is pregnant. Rumors and gossip are starting to circulate in her town. Joseph is planning to quietly divorce her, otherwise she might be killed. What is the first thing she heard upon coming to visit her aunt, Elizabeth? Blessed. There are many troubling things, but she is favored by God. God is here and in our lives. Jesus is not just a baby in a manger. Jesus is in the world, permeated throughout every aspect of our lives. But we don't see it, we often live as functional atheists. But God is there in our everyday lives.

Mary is greeted by the angel... And there is no freaking out on her part. There are plenty of people who freak out when an angel appears throughout scripture. But she is calm, she's more troubled by what the angel says then the appearance of an angel. The angel tells her that she's pregnant. She takes the angel at his word. She believes that she was pregnant and then says how she could be pregnant, being a virgin? She's wondering if this angel knows how pregnancy works... Just a conversation with an angel. Nothing amiss here. The angel replies, the holy spirit will be the father of her babe. Mary says, okay.

Mary applies the scripture in her life. She sees God in the everyday. Her song includes words from various parts of the bible. Her reaction to the angel is the reaction of one who assumes the world has angels and a God who intervenes. On earth as it is in heaven so to speak...

When she sings of God, she exalts in God. One who gives mercy and raises the lowly. She is familiar with how God works. This is just like God to do something like this. She is a simple young girl from a small town. And God comes to save the world through her.

Do you fear God? God can give us wrath and death beyond imagination. He can destroy both body and soul. He gives grace to the humble and fearful. God humbles the proud. He lifts up the humble. Repent of our self glorification. The instagrams. The pictures of food. Stop trying to make our mark on the world. God is against such people.

God feeds the hungry. He offers food, true food and pure living water. Not food that does not satisfy. Mary lives in a world where God provides for those who are his. Where angels are normal. And babies can come from virgins, if God wills it.

God gives his perfect son through a virgin. To die upon a cross so that we who are lacking will have enough; those who are afraid will be given courage; those who don't live god fearing lives, will have help. So that sinners will have a great help.

The songs of Christmas: Zachariah's praise

Luke 1:57-80 ESV

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John." And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name." And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us  from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Rev. Dan Whang

Advent is a good time to draw close to God through the story of the incarnation, Jesus' coming. To take time away from all the shopping, food, and celebrations... And celebrate the coming of the Christ.

The passage speaks of Zacharia's response to the coming of Christ. Benedictus is the name given to his response. This word came after a long period of silence. The prophets had stopped. The people had only the old testament words to study and wait for the coming Savior.

Reasons to live with hope

Christ's visitation had a saving purpose

When Jesus came, it was to save. To save his people from soon and death. It was to bring redemption and deliverance. He is God's compassion and love to sinners. This should give us an enduring hope.

Christ's visitation was predicted and fulfilled

Christ came to fulfill the word of the prophets. He is the one to complete the covenant. He is a promise from God. This is not a promise from people, but God. This is a guarantee from God. This means there are things that we can build our lives on. That God will be with those who love and follow Him. That there is always grace for the day. God works for those who love him. We have hope regardless of how our lives or faith is doing. We can stand on the authority and promises of God.

Christ's visitation brought a transforming enablement.

Perhaps we are stuck by fear. That we must serve to keep people happy, to keep God happy. Or we are afraid to serve, we think we are unworthy or not good enough. But Jesus is our acceptance and worth. He brings love and grace. Jesus is the fulfillment of the whole law. Something that we sinners cannot do. He justifies us and clothes us in His righteousness. For those who serve, we fail constantly. But we are covered by His righteousness. We can serve confidently because we are covered by Christ.

Christ's visitation leaves an eternal impact

He brings light to those in darkness. Pardon for those condemned. And guidance for those walking in the shadow of death. He comes for those in shadows and doubt, He brings light. For those caught in sin, he brings life and freedom. For those lost and wandering, there is a shepherd who will guide you.