January 5, 2025

Did we celebrate Christmas with/ singularity, simplicity, and sincerity, focusing on our Savior? Let’s evaluate how we did so we get it right.Long before we met Luke, we see in the First Books of the Bible, aka The Five Books of Moses, the essential need for credible witnesses to confirm God’s Word and, therefore, God’s will. The number one goal of the Bible is to discover what is and isn’t true. Incredible witnesses, yes, but more than that, they are credible witnesses! • Deut. 19:15-16; Numbers 35:30; Matthew 18:15-16; John 8:12-18; Acts 10:35-43; II Cor. 13:11; I Tim. 5:17-19; I John 5:6-12; Rev. 11 - Two olive trees / Two lampstands Luke & Matthew confirm the Christmas Truth over and over again with credible witnesses - with character witnesses.I. The Two or More Witnesses of Christmas - 1. Zechariah & Elizabeth 2. Mary & Joseph - 3. Multiple Shepherds - 4. Multiple Magi - 5. Simeon & Anna - dealt with devotion, with death, “If a man dies will he live again?”; last week we ended the Lord’s Supper with Matthew 26:29 (Jesus was emphatically saying to His disciples, “See you on the other side”)II. The Obedience of Faith of Mary & Joseph - 2:21-24III. The Witness/Testimony of Simeon - 2:25-34 1. The Credibility of Simeon (4) a. He was righteous, devout, and was waiting in the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him - 2. The Commitment of Simeon - “waiting for the consolation” - Reminds me of I Thess 1:8-10 3. The Conviction of Simeon - Holy Spirit revealed to him a. He would not see death until he saw the Lord’s Christ - b. Like Jesus & Paul - Simeon wasn’t afraid of death - Are you • John 14:1-3; 17:1-5: I Cor. 15 (no more sting in death); II Cor. 5:6-8; Phil. 1:21-24; II Tim. 4:6-8; Rev. 12:11 c. Simeon blesses God - v. 28 d. Simeon “blesses” them - vv. 34-35 4. The Commission w/in Simeon’s Prophecy - One of the evidences of the Spirit speaking through Simeon is that he quotes the prophecy of Gentile inclusion “a light to the nations” (something Luke does frequently)(1) This Child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel - • Who fell? • Who rose?(2) And for a sign that is opposed -(3) (And a sword will pierce through your own soul also) - “so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed” • Some 30-plus years later Luke tells us of another heart that was pierced (Simeon didn’t know this) and that is the heart of Jesus Himself • Triumphal Entry context for 2 passages depicting the rise and fall of Israel(1) Luke 19:37-48 - Jesus weeps over a nation, over a city, over the holy city (2) Matthew 21:33-46 (from Psalm 118; also quoted in Acts 4:11)From the Cradle to the Cross - We will meet Anna next week!