Advent24 - Day 23
Monday – December 23
Read: Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 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. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Israel.
(Luke 2:25–38)
Reflect
Looking for the Consolation of Israel
by John Piper
At the beginning of this text we meet an old man named Simeon and at the end of the text we meet an old woman named Anna.
According to verse 26, it had been revealed to Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah, the Lord's Christ. And so when Jesus was brought to the temple at eight days of age, Simeon was moved by the Spirit to come also. And he recognized the child and took him into his arms and blessed God.
According to verse 38, at that very hour Anna came near also and recognized the child and began to thank God and speak about the babe.
So here we have two old Jewish saints, representing as it were the very best of the old covenant which is now giving way to the new with the coming of the Messiah. And the question I have asked is, “Why these two?” Of all the Jews that might have been chosen to recognize the child-Messiah and take him into their arms and speak of his coming, why these?
The thought that jumps off the page because of its similarity in verse 25 and verse 38 is that both were looking and hoping for God to do something for Israel. Verse 25: Simeon was righteous and devout, "looking for the consolation of Israel." Verse 38: Anna spoke of the child "to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem."
It seems that Luke wants to emphasize by this repetition in verses 25 and 38 that what made Simeon and Anna especially fit to recognize and receive the Christ was their longing for God to break into history again to console and redeem his people by sending the Christ.
Looking for Consolation and Redemption in Christ
How is the heart prepared to receive Christ for who he really is?
The answer: God prepares a person to receive Christ by stirring up a longing for consolation and redemption that can come only from Christ.
In Relation to the First Coming
We can see in this text that this was true of his first coming—Simeon and Anna were longing for the consolation and redemption of God's people, and they were granted the privilege of recognizing and receiving the Christ into their arms.
In Relation to the Second Coming
And we can see the same truth in relation to Christ's SECOND coming to complete the redemption he began about 1,986 years ago. For example in Hebrews 9:28 it says, "So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him."
Paul said something very similar in 2 Timothy 4:8, "Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."
And Peter turns it into a command: "Set your hope fully on the grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:13).
So I think we can say that not only in relation to the first coming of Christ, but also in relation to the second coming, it's true that God prepares us to receive Christ by stirring up a longing for consolation and redemption that can come only from Christ. Simeon and Anna saw Christ and welcomed him because they were longing for his coming and his redemption. They knew that was Israel's only hope. The same is true for professing Christians today: we will welcome Christ at his coming if we love his appearing and eagerly await the consummation of his redemption.
And this is what God does again and again. He may be doing it for you in this advent season—graciously and tenderly frustrating you with life that is not centered on Christ, and filling you with longings and desires that can't find their satisfaction in what this world offers. Let me point you to the source and goal of those longings and show you why it makes sense to set your heart on Christ this Christmas.
Jesus Is the Consolation of Israel
First, it makes sense because Christ is the consolation of Israel. The hope that Simeon had for consolation comes from Isaiah 40:1–2, "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and cry to her that her warfare is ended, and her iniquity is pardoned."
Of Israel
The consolation Jesus brings in fulfillment of Simeon's hopes is the application of God's tenderness to a war-weary people. It is the application of God's pardon for a sin-sick and guilty people. When Jesus was born, the voice of God became flesh and dwelt among us. And what the voice said was, "Console, console my people."
The consolation that God's anger is past . . . the consolation that our heavenly Father has a tender affection for us in our weakness . . . the consolation that our sins are pardoned and "cast into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:19)—this is the "consolation of Israel" that Simeon was looking for. And it is the consolation that you are looking for too, if you haven't found it yet in Christ.
Of Gentiles
Don't be kept away from this consolation by saying, "I am not a part of Israel, so there is no reason to think that this consolation is for me." This would be a terrible misunderstanding. Luke wrote this book for Theolphilus, a Roman official and a non-Jew.
God made sure that we desperate Gentiles would not rule ourselves out of this consolation. Look at how Simeon blesses God in verses 29–32,
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation [i.e., consolation] which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel.
God's consolation shines the light of Jesus Christ not only for the people Israel but also for the Gentiles. The point is that the blessing of God's consolation is now available to all who will receive it.
So it makes sense to set your heart on Christ because if there is any deep longing in your heart for a consolation and comfort that this world cannot satisfy, it is because God is preparing you to recognize and receive his gift: Jesus Christ, the consolation of Israel. Don't seek it anywhere but in him.
Jesus Is the Redemption of Jerusalem
Secondly, it makes sense to set your heart on Christ because he is the "redemption of Jerusalem." Anna spoke of him (v. 38) to all "who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem."
It is almost as though Luke meant for us to see in the hope of Simeon and Anna the fulfillment of Isaiah 52:9.
Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem; for the Lord has consoled his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
In the coming of Christ the prophecy was fulfilled. The Lord has "consoled his people"—that's what Simeon was looking for; and the Lord has "redeemed Jerusalem"—that's what Anna was looking for.
Is There a Difference?
Consolation probably speaks to those longings for healing and restoration from all the past losses and miseries of life. In Isaiah the people had experienced judgment and exile with all its guilt and fear and loneliness and death. Consolation is when God comes to heal and restore and revive all that has been thrown away or lost.
Redemption probably speaks to our need to be delivered from powers that still hold us bondage. Redemption is a work of power to save from enemies that still threaten us.
You can see this if you look at the one other place in this gospel where the word redemption is used, namely, Luke, 1:68. John the Baptist's father, Zechariah, prophesies with these words,
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed [literally: made redemption for] his people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies, and from all who hate us.
So the second reason that it makes sense to set your heart on Christ is that he will fulfill your longings for victory over the forces of evil in your life.
If there is a longing in your heart today for something that the world has not been able to satisfy, could it not be God's Christmas gift preparing you to see Christ as consolation and redemption, and to receive him for who he really is?
https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/preparing-to-receive-christ-looking-for-the-consolation-of-israel
Respond
How is the heart prepared to receive Christ for who he really is?
The heart must become disenchanted with the praise of men. "For how can you believe who receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from God?" (John 5:44; 7:17–18).
The heart must become disenchanted with the sufficiency of money and things to satisfy the soul. "The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this and scoffed at him" (Luke 16:14).
Then alongside this disenchantment with the praise of men and the power of money, there must come into the heart a longing for consolation and a redemption beyond what the world can give.
And finally, there must be a revelation from God the Father, opening the eyes of the heart so that it cries out, like a man who stumbles onto an incredible treasure, "You are the Christ the Son of the living God, the consolation of my past, the redemption of my future. Now I see you. Now I receive you—for who you really are."
May this be your testimony. Amen!
Rejoice
O Holy Night
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night divine! O night, O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from the orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, to our weakness no stranger.
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, your King, before Him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!
Read: Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 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. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Israel.
(Luke 2:25–38)
Reflect
Looking for the Consolation of Israel
by John Piper
At the beginning of this text we meet an old man named Simeon and at the end of the text we meet an old woman named Anna.
According to verse 26, it had been revealed to Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah, the Lord's Christ. And so when Jesus was brought to the temple at eight days of age, Simeon was moved by the Spirit to come also. And he recognized the child and took him into his arms and blessed God.
According to verse 38, at that very hour Anna came near also and recognized the child and began to thank God and speak about the babe.
So here we have two old Jewish saints, representing as it were the very best of the old covenant which is now giving way to the new with the coming of the Messiah. And the question I have asked is, “Why these two?” Of all the Jews that might have been chosen to recognize the child-Messiah and take him into their arms and speak of his coming, why these?
The thought that jumps off the page because of its similarity in verse 25 and verse 38 is that both were looking and hoping for God to do something for Israel. Verse 25: Simeon was righteous and devout, "looking for the consolation of Israel." Verse 38: Anna spoke of the child "to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem."
It seems that Luke wants to emphasize by this repetition in verses 25 and 38 that what made Simeon and Anna especially fit to recognize and receive the Christ was their longing for God to break into history again to console and redeem his people by sending the Christ.
Looking for Consolation and Redemption in Christ
How is the heart prepared to receive Christ for who he really is?
The answer: God prepares a person to receive Christ by stirring up a longing for consolation and redemption that can come only from Christ.
In Relation to the First Coming
We can see in this text that this was true of his first coming—Simeon and Anna were longing for the consolation and redemption of God's people, and they were granted the privilege of recognizing and receiving the Christ into their arms.
In Relation to the Second Coming
And we can see the same truth in relation to Christ's SECOND coming to complete the redemption he began about 1,986 years ago. For example in Hebrews 9:28 it says, "So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him."
Paul said something very similar in 2 Timothy 4:8, "Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."
And Peter turns it into a command: "Set your hope fully on the grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:13).
So I think we can say that not only in relation to the first coming of Christ, but also in relation to the second coming, it's true that God prepares us to receive Christ by stirring up a longing for consolation and redemption that can come only from Christ. Simeon and Anna saw Christ and welcomed him because they were longing for his coming and his redemption. They knew that was Israel's only hope. The same is true for professing Christians today: we will welcome Christ at his coming if we love his appearing and eagerly await the consummation of his redemption.
And this is what God does again and again. He may be doing it for you in this advent season—graciously and tenderly frustrating you with life that is not centered on Christ, and filling you with longings and desires that can't find their satisfaction in what this world offers. Let me point you to the source and goal of those longings and show you why it makes sense to set your heart on Christ this Christmas.
Jesus Is the Consolation of Israel
First, it makes sense because Christ is the consolation of Israel. The hope that Simeon had for consolation comes from Isaiah 40:1–2, "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and cry to her that her warfare is ended, and her iniquity is pardoned."
Of Israel
The consolation Jesus brings in fulfillment of Simeon's hopes is the application of God's tenderness to a war-weary people. It is the application of God's pardon for a sin-sick and guilty people. When Jesus was born, the voice of God became flesh and dwelt among us. And what the voice said was, "Console, console my people."
The consolation that God's anger is past . . . the consolation that our heavenly Father has a tender affection for us in our weakness . . . the consolation that our sins are pardoned and "cast into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:19)—this is the "consolation of Israel" that Simeon was looking for. And it is the consolation that you are looking for too, if you haven't found it yet in Christ.
Of Gentiles
Don't be kept away from this consolation by saying, "I am not a part of Israel, so there is no reason to think that this consolation is for me." This would be a terrible misunderstanding. Luke wrote this book for Theolphilus, a Roman official and a non-Jew.
God made sure that we desperate Gentiles would not rule ourselves out of this consolation. Look at how Simeon blesses God in verses 29–32,
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation [i.e., consolation] which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel.
God's consolation shines the light of Jesus Christ not only for the people Israel but also for the Gentiles. The point is that the blessing of God's consolation is now available to all who will receive it.
So it makes sense to set your heart on Christ because if there is any deep longing in your heart for a consolation and comfort that this world cannot satisfy, it is because God is preparing you to recognize and receive his gift: Jesus Christ, the consolation of Israel. Don't seek it anywhere but in him.
Jesus Is the Redemption of Jerusalem
Secondly, it makes sense to set your heart on Christ because he is the "redemption of Jerusalem." Anna spoke of him (v. 38) to all "who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem."
It is almost as though Luke meant for us to see in the hope of Simeon and Anna the fulfillment of Isaiah 52:9.
Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem; for the Lord has consoled his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
In the coming of Christ the prophecy was fulfilled. The Lord has "consoled his people"—that's what Simeon was looking for; and the Lord has "redeemed Jerusalem"—that's what Anna was looking for.
Is There a Difference?
Consolation probably speaks to those longings for healing and restoration from all the past losses and miseries of life. In Isaiah the people had experienced judgment and exile with all its guilt and fear and loneliness and death. Consolation is when God comes to heal and restore and revive all that has been thrown away or lost.
Redemption probably speaks to our need to be delivered from powers that still hold us bondage. Redemption is a work of power to save from enemies that still threaten us.
You can see this if you look at the one other place in this gospel where the word redemption is used, namely, Luke, 1:68. John the Baptist's father, Zechariah, prophesies with these words,
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed [literally: made redemption for] his people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies, and from all who hate us.
So the second reason that it makes sense to set your heart on Christ is that he will fulfill your longings for victory over the forces of evil in your life.
If there is a longing in your heart today for something that the world has not been able to satisfy, could it not be God's Christmas gift preparing you to see Christ as consolation and redemption, and to receive him for who he really is?
https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/preparing-to-receive-christ-looking-for-the-consolation-of-israel
Respond
How is the heart prepared to receive Christ for who he really is?
The heart must become disenchanted with the praise of men. "For how can you believe who receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from God?" (John 5:44; 7:17–18).
The heart must become disenchanted with the sufficiency of money and things to satisfy the soul. "The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this and scoffed at him" (Luke 16:14).
Then alongside this disenchantment with the praise of men and the power of money, there must come into the heart a longing for consolation and a redemption beyond what the world can give.
And finally, there must be a revelation from God the Father, opening the eyes of the heart so that it cries out, like a man who stumbles onto an incredible treasure, "You are the Christ the Son of the living God, the consolation of my past, the redemption of my future. Now I see you. Now I receive you—for who you really are."
May this be your testimony. Amen!
Rejoice
O Holy Night
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night divine! O night, O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from the orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, to our weakness no stranger.
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, your King, before Him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!
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