12.23.2012 Songs of Christmas: Simeon's Song - How can we Love as Jesus Loved?

SermonAudio

May our focus be on You – may we revel and joy in Your coming. We pray for those who are struggling at this time – especially for those in Newtown, that You would comfort them in their grief. Our joy comes from You.
The wonders of His love – that shall be our focus – the Love candle is our advent candle today.
In order to understand God’s love, we’ll look to see how His love should influence our love for others. We need to see the big story of Christmas – this week’s Song of Christmas is Simeon’s song.
Luke 2: 25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking 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. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,
Simeon was waiting – like the song Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus –
Simeon was waiting faithfully – and for him – the day arrived – we look back to his first coming – but we look forward to His second coming.
28 then Simeon took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 "Now Lord, Thou dost let Thy bond-servant depart In peace, according to Thy word; 30 For my eyes have seen Thy salvation, 31 Which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 A light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Thy people Israel."
Joseph and Mary bring Jesus to the temple for His circumcision – and it is revealed to Simeon that this is the Messiah. And he connects Christmas to the story of Israel – the freeing from slavery to freedom. God is always working to deliver His people – and that is where Simeon is focusing his attention. Not only is it the salvation for Israel, but a light to the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. People often miss that the deliverance is for more than just them, but for all people. People who are not like us – those outside of community. And it is true today. It is for us, and for people who are not like us – who are different. And that was hard for them – and that is one of the reasons they didn’t get it. The story goes on:
33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this [Child] is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed-- 35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul-- to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. "
Listen carefully –
“Listen carefully: This child is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected. 35 Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul as well!”
In each of these songs is peace, salvation, joy, love – and in each one is violence, grief, pain, judgment. Christmas is a conflicted story – a contrast in opposition to itself.
Even John 1 – the hope, the Joy, the light! And those he came to rejected Him and they lived in darkness! Darkness and light/judgment and salvation!
We want the peace and love part – but many don’t want the other parts.
Because it is Christmas we can’t talk about judgment, right? But to understand from the Christmas story of love, joy, peace and hope, we need to fast forward to Good Friday and Easter. We won’t catch it in the Christmas story – to see the WONDERS of His love – until we view it from Good Friday and Easter.
It is like one of those movies where you don’t know where it is going – but plot elements to lead you down the wrong trail – until the detective lays it all out at the end. And after that – when you go back and read the book or watch the movie – you can see the other clues because you know the end of the story! That is how we should read the Bible – looking at the events at the end.
We three Kings
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume, Breathes a life of gathering gloom, sorrowing, sighing ,, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
We sometimes leave these verses out of the Christmas carols – because they can be very long – but they are the Christmas story and the Jesus story – Good Friday and Easter – fit into a bigger story.
Good Friday and Easter are the climax – the punch line – the detective sitting in the room explaining it all. We need to see it all in light of that.
I’m going to give you the Cliff Notes of this story – because it is our story.
As I was thinking through this – what a wonderful story! The story begins – I’ll use a little bit of theology – the Triune God – 3 in 1 – the Trinity – Three persons in perfect harmony, goodness, holiness – self-existing, no need for anything – self-sufficient, all there is rests in this God. We can’t picture it – but think about it and let your mind be amazed – to go back before the Universe and Black holes and all those things you see on the Discovery Channel – and there is God – Father, Son, Spirit – until one day – well, there weren’t days at that point – but God – 3 in 1 – wills, determines, predestines – to demonstrate and share His love fully. That is where this story begins. We will show something – we will reveal this wonder – and we are going to share it all. What does He do? He begins to create. We are entering into that which we know – He creates heaven and all these beings – and this universe – this amazing place we observe with our eyes through this world and telescopes –
We had Christmas with our kids in Columbus yesterday – they put on the Blue Planet in HD and surround sound – and it is amazing – this earth that God created. But in the center of all creation – He created Mankind – people – and He places people at the very heart of everything He has done. And these people are created in His image – unlike anything else. Not even the angels are created in His image. Those beings in Ezekiel are not created in His image – just these two people and all they become – are created in His image. But one other thing He did: He creates them with the capacity to choose and reject Him and His will and His purpose and all that He determined for them. We know the story – they do. They choose to reject Him. Now – in one sense – that is all they could do. It was to be – you could say – that is the only possibility they could have. They were created in His image – but they weren’t Him – there was only one being, when given freedom – who could be perfect, and that was God – the only One who could live perfectly. So we, the people, rejected God and His ways. The result is catastrophic, wasn’t it? I was watching a history thing – and we can look at history – and there have been over 14000 wars in the history of mankind. And over 3.5 Billion people have died in war. And that doesn’t include all the other terrible ways people have died.
Now – to move away from this – because this is the wonders of his love sermon! And the question is WHY?! Why in the world did God do that – to create creatures in His image who would reject Him and throw everything into chaos? Because He wanted to demonstrate and share His love fully. He could have created a creature to whom He could demonstrate love partially.
Tony and Janelle got a dog 6 months ago – like an African dog living in Ohio – they have to put clothes on it just to keep it warm – it looks like a gremlin with weird ears and enormous eyes. It is very affectionate – all it wants to do is lie on people. It pushes against you. It is affectionate. And with this dog – you can demonstrate love – but only to a certain extent – and God created dogs – lots of animals and creatures – but there is a difference – and I hope people understand this – there is no comparison with the love of dogs and the love of people – God knew the results and yet He went ahead and determined and purposed to create Man – because He wants to show love fully.
Christmas is God becoming Man. And mankind could not experience God’s love fully – because of this capacity Man has to reject Him. Because we are only image-bearers – and I mean only in the sense that we are not God because that is an amazing thing in itself. We are not God. That is what happened in the garden – the serpent tempted – you will be like God – but that can’t happen. God knew – the only way for Him to show His love fully is for God to become a person – a human , a part of the creation – and He determined – I will reveal My love – and there is only one way to do it. And that is for Me to leave this perfect goodness, love, holiness, peace – to become one of them and to live among them.
Hark the Herald says this –
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see – Hail the incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with men to dwell – I think God – it doesn’t say this anywhere e- but I think the son said – I cannot wait for that day – leaving heaven to die on a cross – but to just be with us.
Adam’s likeness now efface, stamp thine image in its place – God becomes Man – getting hungry – becoming sick – never sinning – going to the cross – dying – sharing in death with us –
We were created in the image of God – but those who believe in Him are a new creation – new creatures – and I think we are more than Adam and Eve –
Hebrews 2 – I love this –
2: 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one [Father]; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
That is really big. What is big about that? We were creatures in God’s image – NOW we are family – because He became a creature – we are brothers and sisters with Him!
12 saying, "I will proclaim Thy name to My brethren, In the midst of the congregation I will sing Thy praise." 13 And again, "I will put My trust in Him." And again, "Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me." 14 Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives…17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
God shared all that we are – so that He could share all that He is with us. And bring us into this very unique relationship where we can experience the wonders of His love.
Truly He taught t us to love one another – How? He left everything. And entered into our world – a dark, sick, dirty, filthy world. Imagine pure, love, holiness, joy, goodness, mercy – go through all the great things about God – entering into a world of 14000 wars – and the sickness, brokenness – the total destruction of this planet for all of its history.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother – and in His name all oppression shall cease.
How can we love as He taught us?
Read the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet – ask questions about every phrase Jesus says. He loved them to the end – and because of that – He put on the servants garb and washed the others’ feet. He reverses the roles of authority and submission – the master does not wash the slaves’ feet! That is why Peter said – you won’t wash my feet, because I don’t want to change my thinking about how the world works! And Jesus in effect replied, Oh yes you will – because you have been thinking wrongly.
Jesus was a light to the Gentiles – if we are to love like Jesus – who are our Gentiles? Those outside the community? We need to ask – we have gentiles in our world – not literally – but outsiders we would look at – and those are the ones God asks us to enter their world.
Finally we demonstrate His love by telling this wonderful story with as many as possible – sharing the story ! It is a great time to share the story – everyone is watching it - be it Charlie Brown or a full-length movie – and on every radio – but they are not connecting the story – and it is our job to connect it for them to their lives.
Lord, we ask You to help us understand this – to celebrate this amazing story. May it never lose its wonder in our minds. I cannot tell this story near the wonder it deserves – it is a weak shadow of reality that I can muster – but even that weak shadow is incredible and unbelievable – may we dwell in the reality of it!