Christmas, The Rest Of The Story
Kids have a hard time waiting for Christmas. Here are some actual letters that were written to Santa:
Dear Santa Claus,
When you come to my house there will be cookies for you. But if you are real hungry you can use our phone and order a pizza to go.
Dear Santa,
I want a Puppy. I want a playhouse. Thank you. I’ve been good most of the time. Sometimes I’m wild.
Dear Santa, (From a 4-year-old) I
I’ll take anything because I haven’t been that good.
Dear Santa,
I’m not going to ask for a lot. Here’s my list: The Etch-A-Sketch animator, 2 packs of #2 pencils, Crayola fat markers and the big gift...my own color TV! Well, maybe you could drop the pencils; I don’t want to be really selfish.
Christmas is often associated with waiting. Remember when you were a kid? Trying your best to be good, so you could get ???????? for Christmas. You fill in the blanks. As a matter of fact, we still wait for that special gifts for Christmas; don’t we? We just don’t try to be good anymore. Let me ask you; what are you waiting for this Christmas? Are you longing for anything? What are you expecting to receive? Are you looking forward to anything special this Christmas? Lots of people read what is called the “Christmas Story” in the Bible every year. But why stop at the end of the Christmas story instead of the end of the chapter? We get so caught up in reading what we know, but when was the last time you read until you found something that you don’t know. We read what we know, and we stop. Usually stopping just before something great; as s is the case today. We read the Christmas story and we stop reading. Who did we miss out on because we stopped?
In the Gospel of Luke, we come across two characters who make their appearance in the final acts of the Christmas drama. One is a man named Simeon; the other is a woman named Anna. They don’t appear in any nativity scenes or in any Christmas cards, but they are significant players in the first Christmas pageant. Both of these individuals were waiting for something; actually, they were waiting for someone.
Luke uses a Greek word of anticipation that identifies them as waiting with expectation for the coming of the Messiah, or Savior. It literally means that they were “alert to His appearance, and ready to welcome Him.” We see this word in Luke 2:25 in reference to Simeon where we read that “He was waiting...” and in 2:38 to describe a woman named Anna who was, “...looking forward for...”
Simeon was waiting For Comfort
We’re introduced to Simeon in Luke 2:25. And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon Him.” Simeon was righteous before people, and he was devout in His relationship with God.
Things weren’t going real well for the nation of Israel. They hadn’t heard from God for many years and were under Roman rule. They had lost their political independence and were living in fear of the capable, crafty, and cruel King Herod, and many were wondering if the Messiah would ever come.
Verse 26 shows us that Simeon had good reason for his hope and anticipation: It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Simeon’s expectation focused on the comfort that Christ would bring. Among Jews of Simeon’s day one of the popular titles of Messiah was Comforter. Like some of the Christmas songs sing about a longing for the Messiah to come and bring His comfort to them. Do you realize that when Jesus died, He sent the comforter to dwell on us after we receive Christ as our Savior? But do we just take it for granted? The desire to be comforted is a universal human need. We all struggle with loneliness, emptiness, insecurity, even desperation. In fact, the Christmas season is one of the major crisis times of the year for depression and suicide.
The Holy Spirit prompted Simeon to go to the temple courts at just the right time on just the right day that Joseph and Mary were bringing their infant to the Temple. God wants to give each of you a special blessing but He won’t do it if you aren’t interested in what He has to say. You say I do, but we won’t read our Bible or pray. When God speaks, we don’t hear Him because we have the music or the TV blaring, and He speaks in a still small voice. Or maybe He speaks and we say no God. All the miracles in the Bible have a common denominator. When God spoke; they obeyed. When Simeon looked at the baby Jesus, now about 6 weeks old, he knew that God’s promise had been kept. Here was Immanuel, “God With Us,” to make everything right, to provide significance by His presence, and to eliminate rejection, fear, and loneliness.
Verse 28 of Luke 2 says that Simeon reached down and took Jesus out of Mary’s arms and began to praise God. Let me pause here to make a comment. Parents, how would you feel if some old man came up to you, took your infant in his arms and started singing out loud? I’m sure this was a bit unsettling for Joseph and Mary. But Simeon didn’t look all that dangerous.
As he broke out into praise, he acknowledged that God had not only fulfilled the individual promise to him, but also the promises of the prophets to send the Anointed One to comfort both Jews and Gentiles.
I had a friend who was walking through Cortana Mall with his wife and infant child, when a man stood in front of them, reached down and took the child out of the stroller. He started to go bezerk until he saw that it was Red Skelton. Now think how Joseph and Mary felt.
Next we meet Anna who was waiting for Redemption. After her husband had died, she had dedicated herself to fasting and praying in the temple. In fact, the Bible says that she never left the temple but worshiped day and night. She was looking forward to the same person as Simeon was, but with a different reason. Instead of looking for comfort, Anna was looking for redemption. Take a look at verse 38: “And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
The word redemption is related to the idea of captivity. (We are held captive to the bonds of sin) The Old Testament Passover and the release of Israel from Egyptian slavery stood in Anna’s day as the ultimate redemption and the symbol of God’s power to release captives. Ultimately, Passover pointed ahead to that day when God would provide deliverance from the slavery of sin. Thank God that with Jesus there are no more sacrifices needed.
When Anna saw Jesus, she gave thanks to God and spoke of Him to all who were waiting for redemption. Here, at last, was the One who would save His people from their sins.
He provides what we need. When Jesus came, He provided the very things that Simeon and Anna were waiting for ;God’s comfort and His redemption. Let me ask you a question. What are you waiting for this Christmas? Whatever it is, Jesus can give it to you.
Can any of you identify with Simeon? Some of you are really hurting right now. You feel lonely, empty, afraid, and maxed out. Do you need some comfort? Some consoling? Do you need a fresh sense of God’s presence? If so, you can find what you’re looking for in Jesus. He came to console us right where we’re at.
Or, do you identify more with Anna? Are you plagued with guilt this Christmas because of something you’ve done or the way you’ve been living?
Do you feel like you’re trapped in a pattern of sin that you can’t break out of? If you need forgiveness, Jesus can give it to you. I can think of no better time than Christmas to do just that.
There are three action steps from this passage that will help you experience God’s comfort and forgiveness this Christmas.
1 -- Become a Marveler
Become a marveler. When Joseph and Mary tried to process everything that was happening, verse 33 says that they marveled at what was said about Jesus. According to the dictionary, to become a marveler is to be filled with wonder, astonishment, and surprise. Are you a marveler this Christmas? Or, are you too caught up in the busyness and stress of the season? Have you been running around because of the Holidays, or are you taking the time to make Christmas a “holy” day? Has Christmas become too predictable, too familiar? Have you heard the Christmas story so much that it no longer astonishes you?
Here’s an idea that may help you recapture the marvel of Christmas.
Pick one of the Christmas characters and put yourself in their sandals. Imagine what it must have been like to witness the Christmas story first hand. Go ahead; pick one -- Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, Simeon, Anna, or the Wise Men.
2 -- Become a Mover
Both Simeon and Anna were movers. When the Holy Spirit prompted them to move, they didn’t sit still. I wonder what would have happened if they had not responded? Actually, every one of the Christmas characters responded to the Spirit’s leading with the exception of Herod:
Joseph demonstrated that he was a mover when he woke up from his dream and Mary to be his wife
The Shepherds were movers as well when they said, “Let’s go to Bethlehem.
The wise men saw the star and moved out of their comfort zone to find the King of Christmas.
When God prompts you to do something, then you need to do it. It might mean salvation for some of you. It might mean full surrender for others of you. Or, maybe the Spirit wants you to be more involved in serving people.
Do you feel Him asking you to do something? Are you a mover? Are you willing to move? Don’t procrastinate when God prompts you to do something -- you may miss out on a miracle this Christmas.
Here’s the truth. Christmas splits people into 2 camps. Since Jesus has entered the world, He has divided the human race. Jesus will cause the falling and rising of many. Because of who Jesus is and what He came to do, He forces people to make a decision about Him. The Bible uses powerful imagery Jesus is either a rock that you build your life upon (that’s the sense of rising) or he’s the rock that you stumble over (that’s the meaning of falling). You can’t stay neutral about Jesus. You are either for Him or against Him. You’re moving closer to Him, or further away. You either have the Son or you don’t.
3 -- Become a Messenger
The angels brought the good news to the shepherds, who brought it to the people. Simeon couldn’t help but shout the good news, and Anna shouted it as well. Now the question is; will you?
As you and I become marvelers, the wonder of Christmas will astonish us. Then, as we become movers, our needs for comfort and forgiveness will be met. And, as we take our role as messengers seriously, we’ll be in position to introduce others to the Christ of Christmas so that they in turn can find what they have been waiting for.
So let’s get moving and tell the true meaning of Christmas to someone else, that whosoever takes the Son, can have it all.
Dear Santa Claus,
When you come to my house there will be cookies for you. But if you are real hungry you can use our phone and order a pizza to go.
Dear Santa,
I want a Puppy. I want a playhouse. Thank you. I’ve been good most of the time. Sometimes I’m wild.
Dear Santa, (From a 4-year-old) I
I’ll take anything because I haven’t been that good.
Dear Santa,
I’m not going to ask for a lot. Here’s my list: The Etch-A-Sketch animator, 2 packs of #2 pencils, Crayola fat markers and the big gift...my own color TV! Well, maybe you could drop the pencils; I don’t want to be really selfish.
Christmas is often associated with waiting. Remember when you were a kid? Trying your best to be good, so you could get ???????? for Christmas. You fill in the blanks. As a matter of fact, we still wait for that special gifts for Christmas; don’t we? We just don’t try to be good anymore. Let me ask you; what are you waiting for this Christmas? Are you longing for anything? What are you expecting to receive? Are you looking forward to anything special this Christmas? Lots of people read what is called the “Christmas Story” in the Bible every year. But why stop at the end of the Christmas story instead of the end of the chapter? We get so caught up in reading what we know, but when was the last time you read until you found something that you don’t know. We read what we know, and we stop. Usually stopping just before something great; as s is the case today. We read the Christmas story and we stop reading. Who did we miss out on because we stopped?
In the Gospel of Luke, we come across two characters who make their appearance in the final acts of the Christmas drama. One is a man named Simeon; the other is a woman named Anna. They don’t appear in any nativity scenes or in any Christmas cards, but they are significant players in the first Christmas pageant. Both of these individuals were waiting for something; actually, they were waiting for someone.
Luke uses a Greek word of anticipation that identifies them as waiting with expectation for the coming of the Messiah, or Savior. It literally means that they were “alert to His appearance, and ready to welcome Him.” We see this word in Luke 2:25 in reference to Simeon where we read that “He was waiting...” and in 2:38 to describe a woman named Anna who was, “...looking forward for...”
Simeon was waiting For Comfort
We’re introduced to Simeon in Luke 2:25. And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon Him.” Simeon was righteous before people, and he was devout in His relationship with God.
Things weren’t going real well for the nation of Israel. They hadn’t heard from God for many years and were under Roman rule. They had lost their political independence and were living in fear of the capable, crafty, and cruel King Herod, and many were wondering if the Messiah would ever come.
Verse 26 shows us that Simeon had good reason for his hope and anticipation: It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Simeon’s expectation focused on the comfort that Christ would bring. Among Jews of Simeon’s day one of the popular titles of Messiah was Comforter. Like some of the Christmas songs sing about a longing for the Messiah to come and bring His comfort to them. Do you realize that when Jesus died, He sent the comforter to dwell on us after we receive Christ as our Savior? But do we just take it for granted? The desire to be comforted is a universal human need. We all struggle with loneliness, emptiness, insecurity, even desperation. In fact, the Christmas season is one of the major crisis times of the year for depression and suicide.
The Holy Spirit prompted Simeon to go to the temple courts at just the right time on just the right day that Joseph and Mary were bringing their infant to the Temple. God wants to give each of you a special blessing but He won’t do it if you aren’t interested in what He has to say. You say I do, but we won’t read our Bible or pray. When God speaks, we don’t hear Him because we have the music or the TV blaring, and He speaks in a still small voice. Or maybe He speaks and we say no God. All the miracles in the Bible have a common denominator. When God spoke; they obeyed. When Simeon looked at the baby Jesus, now about 6 weeks old, he knew that God’s promise had been kept. Here was Immanuel, “God With Us,” to make everything right, to provide significance by His presence, and to eliminate rejection, fear, and loneliness.
Verse 28 of Luke 2 says that Simeon reached down and took Jesus out of Mary’s arms and began to praise God. Let me pause here to make a comment. Parents, how would you feel if some old man came up to you, took your infant in his arms and started singing out loud? I’m sure this was a bit unsettling for Joseph and Mary. But Simeon didn’t look all that dangerous.
As he broke out into praise, he acknowledged that God had not only fulfilled the individual promise to him, but also the promises of the prophets to send the Anointed One to comfort both Jews and Gentiles.
I had a friend who was walking through Cortana Mall with his wife and infant child, when a man stood in front of them, reached down and took the child out of the stroller. He started to go bezerk until he saw that it was Red Skelton. Now think how Joseph and Mary felt.
Next we meet Anna who was waiting for Redemption. After her husband had died, she had dedicated herself to fasting and praying in the temple. In fact, the Bible says that she never left the temple but worshiped day and night. She was looking forward to the same person as Simeon was, but with a different reason. Instead of looking for comfort, Anna was looking for redemption. Take a look at verse 38: “And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
The word redemption is related to the idea of captivity. (We are held captive to the bonds of sin) The Old Testament Passover and the release of Israel from Egyptian slavery stood in Anna’s day as the ultimate redemption and the symbol of God’s power to release captives. Ultimately, Passover pointed ahead to that day when God would provide deliverance from the slavery of sin. Thank God that with Jesus there are no more sacrifices needed.
When Anna saw Jesus, she gave thanks to God and spoke of Him to all who were waiting for redemption. Here, at last, was the One who would save His people from their sins.
He provides what we need. When Jesus came, He provided the very things that Simeon and Anna were waiting for ;God’s comfort and His redemption. Let me ask you a question. What are you waiting for this Christmas? Whatever it is, Jesus can give it to you.
Can any of you identify with Simeon? Some of you are really hurting right now. You feel lonely, empty, afraid, and maxed out. Do you need some comfort? Some consoling? Do you need a fresh sense of God’s presence? If so, you can find what you’re looking for in Jesus. He came to console us right where we’re at.
Or, do you identify more with Anna? Are you plagued with guilt this Christmas because of something you’ve done or the way you’ve been living?
Do you feel like you’re trapped in a pattern of sin that you can’t break out of? If you need forgiveness, Jesus can give it to you. I can think of no better time than Christmas to do just that.
There are three action steps from this passage that will help you experience God’s comfort and forgiveness this Christmas.
1 -- Become a Marveler
Become a marveler. When Joseph and Mary tried to process everything that was happening, verse 33 says that they marveled at what was said about Jesus. According to the dictionary, to become a marveler is to be filled with wonder, astonishment, and surprise. Are you a marveler this Christmas? Or, are you too caught up in the busyness and stress of the season? Have you been running around because of the Holidays, or are you taking the time to make Christmas a “holy” day? Has Christmas become too predictable, too familiar? Have you heard the Christmas story so much that it no longer astonishes you?
Here’s an idea that may help you recapture the marvel of Christmas.
Pick one of the Christmas characters and put yourself in their sandals. Imagine what it must have been like to witness the Christmas story first hand. Go ahead; pick one -- Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, Simeon, Anna, or the Wise Men.
2 -- Become a Mover
Both Simeon and Anna were movers. When the Holy Spirit prompted them to move, they didn’t sit still. I wonder what would have happened if they had not responded? Actually, every one of the Christmas characters responded to the Spirit’s leading with the exception of Herod:
Joseph demonstrated that he was a mover when he woke up from his dream and Mary to be his wife
The Shepherds were movers as well when they said, “Let’s go to Bethlehem.
The wise men saw the star and moved out of their comfort zone to find the King of Christmas.
When God prompts you to do something, then you need to do it. It might mean salvation for some of you. It might mean full surrender for others of you. Or, maybe the Spirit wants you to be more involved in serving people.
Do you feel Him asking you to do something? Are you a mover? Are you willing to move? Don’t procrastinate when God prompts you to do something -- you may miss out on a miracle this Christmas.
Here’s the truth. Christmas splits people into 2 camps. Since Jesus has entered the world, He has divided the human race. Jesus will cause the falling and rising of many. Because of who Jesus is and what He came to do, He forces people to make a decision about Him. The Bible uses powerful imagery Jesus is either a rock that you build your life upon (that’s the sense of rising) or he’s the rock that you stumble over (that’s the meaning of falling). You can’t stay neutral about Jesus. You are either for Him or against Him. You’re moving closer to Him, or further away. You either have the Son or you don’t.
3 -- Become a Messenger
The angels brought the good news to the shepherds, who brought it to the people. Simeon couldn’t help but shout the good news, and Anna shouted it as well. Now the question is; will you?
As you and I become marvelers, the wonder of Christmas will astonish us. Then, as we become movers, our needs for comfort and forgiveness will be met. And, as we take our role as messengers seriously, we’ll be in position to introduce others to the Christ of Christmas so that they in turn can find what they have been waiting for.
So let’s get moving and tell the true meaning of Christmas to someone else, that whosoever takes the Son, can have it all.