Let me give you a truth that a lot of people don’t like to hear: Waiting is a part of the Christian life. I’ll be the first to say that I don’t like waiting. I’m totally content eating the uncooked cookie dough! Who wants to wait on cookie, when the cookie dough tastes just fine?! Waiting is inevitable. Why? Because our timing is not God’s timing. So, in life, we wait. We wait on that relationship. We wait on that healing. We wait on that bondage to be broken. We wait on those feelings inside of us that never seem to go away. It often feels like when we wait, that God has forgotten us. Today, we come to a passage that usually isn’t a part of Jesus’ birth narrative. But this passage tells us at least two things, as it relates to waiting

1. God hasn’t forgotten us in our waiting.
   • Today will remind you of the truth we see in Isaiah 30:18:
     • “So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.”
2. How we wait.
   • If waiting is a part of the Christian life, then we have to learn how to let God change our priorities in a season of waiting.
   • Here’s what we are going to see today:
     • When you wait on God, wait with eagerness and openness.

We are in our current Sermon Series: Christmas List: Reordering our Priorities.  We’re in our 3^rd of 4 weeks looking at how the birth of Jesus changed priorities. Let’s open up our Bibles to Luke 2. Let’s read God’s Word with expectancy. Read Luke 2:25-35. Pray.  We’re learning what it means to wait. Here’s where we start: Wait with eagerness.

1) Wait with eagerness. (vs. 20-28) I want us to pick up in verse 20 to get a full picture of what’s happening in these verses. ²⁰ The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. The shepherds saw Jesus as the newborn King and when back to their flock. No doubt those men were changed forever. The story picks back up with two events that are customary for Jews. Joseph and Mary were practicing their faith faithfully. Jewish law stated a baby had to be circumcised on the 8^th day after birth and then 33 days later, the mother had to complete the purification process. We see the first event in verse 21: ²¹ Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived. And then, we see the second event in verses 22-24: ²² Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. ²³ The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.” ²⁴ So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” 

It was customary that the offering on the 40^th day was a lamb, but in this case we see two pigeons or two turtledoves (or a partridge in a pear tree – just getting in the Christmas spirit here…) The alternate offering was for those who were poor – and Joseph and Mary fit the bill. It’s another reminder that Jesus came in a way that no one expected. Nothing seems out of the ordinary until we get to verse 25: ²⁵ At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him ²⁶ and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. ²⁷ That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, ²⁸ Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, Joseph and Mary were standing in the temple with a bunch of parents just waiting in line to present their baby and this random guy holds their baby and starts singing a song! It’s one thing for an older lady to start getting all excited about a baby, but it’s not quite typical for an older man to do this. If I was Joseph, I would be taken back and would have said, “Can you at least go wash your hands?!” “What happened to the six-foot rule?” – There’s at least one good thing that came out of Covid… can I get an “amen” from the introverts on that one? Illustration: Taking my first-born son to Union Chapel Baptist Church. Everyone wanted to hold him, but no one was ready for him. They spent the week cleaning out their nursery, painting, getting new furniture, and new carpet. When we walked in to church that next Sunday, there were three grandmas holding their arms out, ready to hold my son. Their waiting lead to eagerness.

That’s exactly what’s happening in this scene, but for the Savior of the world. What do we see about Simeon? He’s righteous – he’s devout – he’s eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. This is a man who read His Bible. This is a man who loved God. This is a man who was anticipated God fulfilling His promises. And because of all that, we see the Holy Spirit was upon him. The Holy Spirit had told Simeon that he would see the Savior of the world. Don’t miss this. Simeon was probably older in age. We get the feeling that He had been waiting a long time to see Jesus. Simeon wasn’t just sitting around all day scrolling Instagram and playing Call of Duty. Simeon was on the move! Simon’s waiting lead to eagerness for God. Waiting on God doesn’t mean being idle for God. If you are waiting on God for something, you’ve got to keep moving. If you are praying the same prayers and waiting on the answers, you’ve got to keep praying. You have to live out Galatians 6:9. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

And don’t miss verse 27. How does it start? “That day the Spirit lead him to the Temple”. If Simeon wasn’t eagerly waiting, do you think it’s possible that he may have missed this moment? I think it’s fair to say it’s possible. God used Simeon’s eagerness for God to move. Simeon kept looking for God to show up. Eagerness for God leads to eyes that see God’s movement. If you are waiting on God, one of the best things you can do is to keep moving for God. What does Proverbs 3:5-6 tell us? He will “direct” your paths. It doesn’t say “move you down your paths”, it says “direct”. If you want God to start directing your path, then you have to start moving down your path. Let’s get back to the moment Simeon is holding Jesus in his arms. There’s a good chance this wasn’t the scene Simeon was expecting, which leads us to our second way that we wait: Wait with openness.

2) Wait with openness. (vs. 29-35) Verse 28 tells us that Simeon was holding Jesus and he starts to praise God. At this point, Jesus would have been around 5 to 6 weeks old. Jesus maybe was starting to smile. He could start holding His own head up. Somehow, Simeon convinced Mary to hold Jesus. I know most of the babies that come into church are locked in to their seat carriers with double velcro cover. Simeon holds Jesus and I get the sense that he’s overwhelmed with emotion. This moment, holding Jesus, had been what he was waiting for. That lump in his throat begins to grow – tears start to form in his eyes. And the only thing he can do in that moment is to sing a song of praise to God. Those moments when God shows up after waiting on Him are powerful.

This moment with Simeon was powerful, but it wasn’t what Simeon was expecting. Who Simeon was holding wasn’t what he was expecting. If you were looking for a king, even if it is newborn king, how do you think the king would arrive? Look at how our celebrities treat their babies. They have all the latest gadgets and gears. Illustration: “The Angel Monitor”. When I had my first kid, we bought this monitor that not only we could hear if he was crying, but it also monitored his breathing. And then when we had our second kid, they got the upgraded version of the monitor: audio, breathing, and video. As new parents, we tried to have the absolute best gadgets that we could have for our kids. Now, we also have a third kid. By the time they rolled around, they got the leftover broken gadgets. I also learned those things caused me way more anxiety than it actually helped. We try to do everything we can for our kids, even though they aren’t royalty. The expectation of a newborn king would have been like Aladdin rolling into Agrabah. All the entourage with all money with all the jams and tiny spoons.

What did Simeon see? A non-descript baby in the hands of two young people that are dirt poor. This probably wasn’t the scene had been imagining in his head for years. Simeon shows us what it means to eagerly wait on God, but he also shows us that our waiting must be with openness. In Simeon’s song, starting in verse 29, he also says something that he probably wasn’t expecting: ²⁹ “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. ³⁰ I have seen your salvation, ³¹ which you have prepared for all people. In those 3 verses, Simeon declares this baby is indeed the promised Messiah. But then in verse 32, he says something unexpected: ³² He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” That word “nations” could be translated “gentiles”. Jews and Gentiles were not friends. Jews had been under some form of Gentile rule and Jews were waiting for someone to politically deliver them from this oppression. What did Simeon say? Jesus, this baby, was to reveal God to both the Jews and the Gentiles. Simeon as a Jew, was standing in the Jewish temple, in front of two Jewish parents, holding a Jewish baby, saying that this Messiah will save the Gentiles. Jesus parents are standing there taking this all in. I think Simeon was shocked by what’s taking place as well. We Joseph’s and Mary’s reaction in verse 33: ³³ Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. As a parent, hearing these words had to be overwhelming, in a good way. To hear your child is destined to deliver your people had to be tremendous.

But then Simeon tells Mary and Joseph, that it might not go as they are imaging. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. ³⁵ As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” Jesus was coming to save people, but not everyone would accept Him. Even Mary was going to be forced with this reality. We see times when Mary would try to stop Jesus during His ministry years. Everything about Simeon’s, Joseph’s, and Mary’s expectant waiting was going to be challenged. But we see each one of them come to place where they embraced Jesus as the Messiah. Here’s what this means for our lives: When we wait, we must wait with openness. God may indeed answer your waiting with something or someone you aren’t expecting. Our eagerness and expectancy of God must not overtake our openness.

Let me ask you a question: In the end, do you think Simeon and Mary were disappointed in what Jesus brought to their lives? I think we can all say, Jesus wasn’t what they were expecting and it wasn’t easy. But I don’t think there were disappointed. God has never disappointed anyone that has waited on Him. Now, there is one more person that is about to come into this temple scene. And we find out she has been waiting a long time too. Here’s what we see last: Once the wait is over, don’t wait to speak about Jesus.

3) Once the wait is over, don’t wait to speak about Jesus. (vs. 36-38) In all of the business of the temple, there were only two people that saw Jesus for He really was. What a subtle reminder that we can’t let the traditions and rituals of religion get in the way of seeing Jesus. So, Simeon saw Jesus. And now we see a prophetess by the name of Anna see Jesus. ³⁶ Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. ³⁷ Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. We get a quick glimpse into the life of Anna. She was married for 7 years and then a widow. Some scholars believe the original text reads that she was a widow for 84 years. Either way, Anna is an elderly lady that has stayed at the temple. She probably stayed in some form of an apartment at the temple. Like Simeon, Anna had been waiting a long time to see the Messiah.

In verse 38, we see the moment she enters the scene with Simeon, Mary, and Joseph. ³⁸ She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. What did Anna do? She began shuffling all over the temple telling people about that baby. “He’s here! I saw Him with my own eyes. Simeon was there, holding Him. We all worshipped there together. Get ready. The Messiah is here.” Who did she tell? “Everyone who had been waiting expectantly.” She saw the hope that is Jesus and went to tell everyone. That’s our job too. God doesn’t show up so you can sit silently. When God shows up, it’s our time to speak out. 

You don’t know who needs your testimony of waiting. Think of the people Anna spoke t. Maybe, there was another widow hanging out in the shadows that needed to hear the news. Maybe there was a Pharisee whose heart was stirred by the news. Maybe there was a dad that was hurting because he couldn’t provide for his family and this changed his life forever. Think of people that you could speak to. Think about those around you who need the encouragement. Think about those around you are in a season of waiting and they need your testimony. When your eager and open waiting is over, it’s time to speak. Speak Jesus. Speak hope. Speak love. Speak the gospel.

Maybe some of you right now need to know about this Jesus that was born over 2,000 years ago. GOSPEL PRESENATION. Maybe some of you need to embrace Jesus the way Simeon did. I’ll close with your challenge as you go out this week: Whatever you are waiting on from God, start expecting the unexpected. Maybe the answer you are seeking doesn’t have to do with someone else, but it has to do with you. Maybe the answer you are seeking doesn’t have to with changing the scenario, but rather changing your perspective. Maybe the answer you are seeking is going to come in a way that you will only see when you get out of your traditions and rituals. Be eager. Be open. Be expectant. And when the time comes, speak the hope of Jesus. Let’s pray. 

Transition to Lord’s Supper and Prayer 

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