The Christmas Story

Dedication of Jesus
Luke 2:21-38 December 2 2018
I. Introduction:
A. This Christmas season we want to look at the story of Jesus’ birth in light of one of
the key people in this story, in fact outside of Jesus this person played the biggest
role in the Christmas Story that is His mother Mary.
1. We are going to see how Mary was a woman of faith, praise and depth even
at a very young age.
2. Then we will come back on Christmas Eve and take a quick look at how this
story of Mary fits into the larger story of what God was doing as His
fingerprints and His purposes are all over these stories.
B. We are going to do this by looking at the account of the story of Jesus’ birth in the
book of Luke. He wrote this book so an official named Theophilus and we, as well,
could know the exact truth of what happened with Jesus as he wrote an orderly
account of the events of Jesus life.
C. This morning, since it is child dedication Sunday, we are going to be looking at the
dedication of Jesus about 40 days after His birth.
1. While it is chronologically out of order in Jesus’ story, it does fit thematically
with our dedications this morning. We are actually beginning with the end
of the birth account rather than the beginning.
a) There is an advantage to that because the conclusion of the story really
helps us understand a bit more of why Jesus was born, which had been
becomes a bit clearer with every story.
2. So as we come to this story this morning remember that already a few things
have happened – the angel appeared to Mary to announce to her that she
would be the mother of Jesus, Mary responded with a strong statement of
praise that revealed her heart and God’s purposes for all that fear Him and
finally the actual birth of Jesus and what Mary had heard from the shepherds
who had a visit from an angel announcing the birth of Jesus to them.
• So here is the story on
II. Dedication Day for Jesus
A. Setting –
1. It was forty days after the birth of Jesus. Mary and Joseph went from
Bethlehem to Jerusalem, about six miles, to the temple to do two things that
the Mosaic Law had required – dedicate Jesus to God and also to offer the
sacrifices for the purification of Mary that was required of mothers who gave
birth.
2. The same day that Joseph and Mary were heading to the temple so was a man
from Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. As the story continues, we will see
that it was no coincidence that they both showed up on the same day, at the
same time. But rather a divine appointment from God.
a) Turn to Luke 2 and read v25-27
b) There are four things we learn about Simeon here
(1) Righteous and devout man
(2) Looking for the consolation of Israel – consolation means comfort,
that time when Israel would be comforted, especially by the
Messiah, the Christ. Listen to these OT passages (Is 49:13; 51:3;
52:9; 66:13)
(3) He was anointed by the Holy Spirit
(4) God had revealed to him that he would not die until he saw the
Messiah
B. Listen to what happened next as Simeon takes Jesus in his arms and blesses God!
1. Read v28-32
2. He basically says – God I can die now because I have seen the Messiah, the
one who will be Savior of all peoples – Jew and Gentiles
C. Listen to the response of Joseph and Mary. Read v33
1. Were amazed – they marveled and wondered at what they just heard
2. Not only about what Simeon said but I also believe everything they have
heard over the last ten months from the angels, shepherds and now from
Simeon. Read the second half of v33
D. Then Simeon directly addressed Mary, listen – read v34-35
1. He told her that Jesus had a special assignment from God that would result in
the rising and falling of many in Israel – the rising to salvation of those who
accept Him as Messiah and the downfall of those who reject Him
2. Also, that she herself will bear deep pain in her soul because of Jesus.
3. Maybe a little more information than the typical mom wants to hear at their
child’s dedication but of course, Jesus was not the typical child with a typical
calling on His life.
E. It appears that at the very moment that God sent another affirmation for Mary and
Joseph regarding everything they had been hearing.
1. Listen read v36-38
2. Anna gave thanks to God and began to speak about this baby Jesus to all of
those who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem!
• So what does this story mean for you and me? I think there are
III. Two Main Takeaways
A. The first has to do with the whole meaning of Christmas, or even more so the
ultimate purpose for Jesus coming to earth!
1. We see in this story that Jesus is the Messiah and as the Messiah He has
come to bring comfort to Israel and salvation to the entire world, both the
Jews and the Gentiles!
2. Jesus’ presence, the Messiah they have been waiting for, was not going to be
an easy ride either for Israel or for Mary as His mother. Many in Israel were
going to fall because of Him and Mary was going to experience deep pain
herself.
3. Bottom line we learn from this that the story of Jesus coming to earth was
about redemption, redemption for all mankind, both Jew and Gentile and the
redemption of the city Jerusalem – its waste places, wilderness and desert.
B. The second takeaway has to do with you and me! Simply we should all have the
same attitude of Simeon.
1. First, he spent his life looking forward to the comfort of Israel and God
blessed him by allowing to see the one who was going to do that – the
Messiah, the Christ – Jesus Christ
a) But what he did not see was the actual fulfilment of that time of comfort
as that is yet to come both in the kingdom here on earth for 1000 years
and in eternity!
b) But the attitude of looking forward to the return of the Messiah Jesus to
fulfill this consolation is something that God is seeking to work in each
one of us by His grace. Read Titus 2:11-13
2. Secondly, the response that naturally flowed out of Simeon was blessing God
and from Anna it was to thank God. That is what we are going to do now as
we start this Christmas Season.