This is our last of five broadcasts that we are looking at together coming up to Christmas. We are looking at five components of the incarnation:
1. It was prophesied in the Old Testament.
2. It was anticipated by the saints in the gospels prior to the incarnation.
3. It was announced by the angels.
4. It was received and pondered by the shepherds who rejoiced and Mary who treasured these things.
5. Simeon and Anna worshiped.
We are looking at Simeon and Anna, two Old Testament saints who very much anticipated the coming of the Messiah. It would seem they knew much about the coming of the Messiah, the incarnation of Christ, more than perhaps almost anybody. So, the Lord puts them in the gospel of Luke to bring them to our attention.
In Luke 2:28, we find that they worship and that is going to be our final word today. They worshiped at the incarnation. Luke 2:28 says, “then he took Him into his arms and blessed God and said…” So, we find him taking the baby Jesus in the temple and he blesses God because of the incarnation. He knows what has happened. He knows who this is, this little child, is no little normal child. This is the gift of God to humanity. He blesses God. He worships God. The word “blessed” here is where we get our word for eulogy. It means “to speak well of.” He is speaking well of God and praising God for what He has given at this time.
We look at Luke 2:29-30 which says, “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bondservant to depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation.” He knows what he was seeing here. He wasn’t just talking about the releasing of the Jews from bondage. He was talking about the salvation that the Messiah had come to bring. He had seen it! It would be many years, about three decades, before this would happen that Christ would die for them, but he knew what was coming. He knew he wouldn’t be around, but he had seen it and he knew what was coming.
In Luke 2:31 he continues, “Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A Light of revelation to the gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” This is way before his time in a sense, although it was prophesied in the Old Testament that the gospel of salvation would be for the Gentiles as well, if you know your New Testament at all, the Jews were not prepared for that. Most Jews had very little interest in God’s plan of salvation coming to anybody but Israel. Simeon was way ahead of his game here. He knew exactly why Jesus had come and it was not just for the salvation of Israel. It was for them, but it was also for the Gentiles, and he mentions that very particularly here . . .
