12/28/25 “A Beautiful View”
“A Beautiful View”
Luke 2:21-40
I love taking pictures of beautiful views…
Sweeping mountain vistas…colorful sunsets…early morning steam rising up from lakes or rivers…sandy beaches along the ocean…waterfalls cascading down rocky cliffs…
…I am by no means a professional photographer, but I do love trying to capture an image on my phone that will inspire me whenever I look at it in the future…
Over the years, Lisa & I have been blessed with numerous opportunities to visit places of immense beauty….
….places where God’s marvelous handiwork is on full display…
….places that remind both of us that – despite this world being deformed and twisted by the effects of sin – there is still immense beauty amidst the fallenness of nature…
This paradox can be seen to a great extent at Grand Canyon National Park in Northern Arizona..
On one hand, the Grand Canyon – which many biblical Scientists believe was carved out by the great flood of Noah’s day…is an enormous scar on the surface of the earth…
It reveals the results of floodwaters so intense that they formed a gash into the earth a mile deep…
When standing on the rim overlooking the canyon, one gets a feeling of how destructive the effects of sin can be…and the devastation that it produces…
And yet…within the walls of the canyon there is beauty…
Beauty amidst the colorful tapestry of layered rock…
…Beauty as one contemplates the huge expanse of open space right in front of you.
…Beauty on the canyon floor as the Colorado River winds its way through various areas of green vegetation and outcroppings…
Beauty against a backdrop of corruption is a blessing to humanity…
Despite what sin has done to this world, we nevertheless see God’s love for His creation through the beauty that still remains from the fall of man…
Our passage for today also deals with beauty against a backdrop of sin…
But this time, beauty is in the form of a person…
…And that person is Jesus Christ.
…Like a colorful, brush mark of joy on a black, tattered tapestry of sin, Jesus miraculously came into this world of darkness…
…He left a mark that shines brighter, and is more beautiful, than any other mark that has ever appeared on the tapestry of this world…
Today’s passage tells us about a man named Simeon who was given the ability to recognize the beauty surrounding baby Jesus…
We meet Simeon in verse 25 of today’s reading.
But first, let’s set the scene.
Verse 22 (Luke 2:22) mentions “purification rites required by the Law of Moses.” This specifically has to do with Mary.
….According to Mosaic law, Hebrew women were to go through a time of purification after delivering a baby.
….The time required of this ceremonial purification would depend on whether the child was a boy or girl.
Since Jesus was a boy, Mary would need to abstain from touching anything sacred or holy for 33 days after the circumcision of her baby, and she would not be allowed to enter the temple for that same amount of time.
…This sounds strange to us today, but we need to remember that this law, like so many others in the OT, was designed to provide a way for the faithful in Israel to demonstrate their trust in God before other Israelites and to set them apart from the Gentiles.
…So, 41 days after Jesus’ birth, Joseph and Mary obediently take their baby to the Temple to be “Presented to the Lord” (v. 22) or “Consecrated” as we read in verse 23.
…This would be very similar to a baby dedication here at our church today.
…It would be a time for the mother and father of the baby to pledge to raise their child in accordance with God’s Word and His Will.
…It also provides a time for the family of faith to pledge to help raise the child in a godly way.
…The sacrifice consisting of 2 doves and 2 pigeons mentioned in verse 24 (Luke 2:24) was meant to symbolize that Mary was once again ceremonially clean and she would now be able to participate in temple activities.
…While Mary & Joseph are attending the consecration ceremony in the Temple that day, they meet a very interesting man from Jerusalem by the name of Simeon.
Verse 25 (Luke 2:25) describes Simeon as “righteous and devout.”
…These are strong words by Luke that were rarely used to describe people in scripture.
…To be ‘righteous’ would mean that Simeon was a man of faith, and to be ‘devout’ would mean that he took his faith seriously.
…So often today, we encounter people who describe themselves as Christians, but they really don’t take their faith seriously.
…Pastor and author Kyle Idleman refers to these people as fans of Jesus, as opposed to genuine followers of Jesus.
For example:
If Sunday morning worship service is the only time of the week you read or hear God’s Word – You’re a fan of Jesus, not a follower of Jesus.
…If you never pray – ever - You are a fan of Jesus, not a follower of Jesus.
….If you don’t consistently show love toward others – You are a fan of Jesus,
….If you (And here’s where it may get uncomfortable)…If you consistently engage in worldly activities on Sunday mornings rather than consistently worshipping with other believers – You are a fan of Jesus, not a follower of Jesus.
We are told in scripture that if we can physically come and gather with other believers on a consistent basis, then we need to do it.
Remember, attending worship service isn’t about what you can get out of it, like it’s a theatrical production or a movie or a sporting event.
…Coming to church regularly is about how you can bless others with your gifts, how you can encourage others, how you can sympathize with others, how you can laugh with others, how you can cry with others, how you can motivate others to remain strong in their faith. You are needed here!
Simeon was a follower of Jesus and scripture says that he was “Waiting for the consolation of Israel.”
….The phrase “Consolation of Israel” refers to the fulfillment of the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants that we read about in the Old Testament…and the national deliverance that God promises through them….
….Consolation in this context also has to do with the idea of “comfort” or “encouragement.”
Verses 25 & 26 tell us that Simeon was given special insight by God concerning the timeframe in which the long-awaited Messiah would finally arrive.
….In fact, verse 26 (Luke 2:26) informs us that the Holy Spirit reveals to Simeon that he will not die before seeing the Lord’s Messiah with his own eyes.
….We don’t know how old Simeon is when we meet him in this account, but the text gives the impression that he is probably in the final chapter of his life.
………Simeon would have known that, given his advanced age, his time on this earth was running short.
….The Holy Spirit’s revelation to him regarding the Messiah would have undoubtedly provided him with a great deal of joyful anticipation with every passing day!
Verse 27 (Luke 2:27) describes the Spirit of God nudging Simeon to go to the Temple courts on the same day that Mary and Joseph are there with baby Jesus.
….Then, in verse 28 (Luke 2:28) Simeon has found what he has been looking for – The Holy Spirit reveals to him that the child belonging to Mary and Joseph is indeed the long-awaited Messiah.
Simeon is experiencing the unparalleled beauty of the Christ child - the promised Messiah – against the backdrop of a Jewish religious and cultural timeframe in which God was increasingly being relegated to tradition and apathy…
…Sounds a lot like today, does it not?
…Simeon takes the baby Jesus in his arms and an outpouring of praise begins to burst forth from his lips…
…When is the last time you were so moved by the Spirit that you experienced an outpouring of praise?
….I wonder why we don’t see this much anymore….
Maybe it’s because many of us were raised to value things like order, structure, stoicism, contemplation, etc. – and nothing is inherently wrong with these things. ….In fact, I’m probably much more naturally reserved than many of you. Bursting forth in a song of praise just isn’t something that many of us normally do – Kind of like unexpected singing in a movie that you didn’t know was a musical when you began watching it! 😊
….However, when the Holy Spirit lifts your soul, don’t be afraid to hold back…don’t “hide it under a bushel”, so to speak.
…Let others see the joy that fills your heart just like Simeon does here in today’s passage.
In verse 29 (Luke 2:29) Simeon begins his song with recognizing the sovereignty of God.
….To be sovereign means to be all powerful, all knowing, and ever-present. These attributes describe the overall nature of God, His “Omni’s.” God is Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent.
….After recognizing God’s greatness & power, Simeon recognizes God’s faithfulness.
…Simeon speaks of the covenant that God made with him – that he would have the opportunity to see the Messiah before he dies….
….Simeon is now at peace with his impending death.
It begs the question for us….How many of you are at peace with your impending death?
For some of you, death may be years away. For others of you, God may take you home tomorrow…or later today.
….I have to admit, there are times that I recoil at the thought of death.
There is so much I’d like to do yet while in this body of flesh.
I’d like to someday write a book, or spend precious time with my grandchildren (maybe buy them their first order of Culver’s cheese curds…yum….that’s a right of passage in our family….
Some families observe constructive rights of passage traditions - such as going hunting for the first time…or riding a bike without training wheels…
…Then there’s Papa J – it’s like “Congratulations, kid…you’re growing up…here’s your - cheese curds! 😊)
…But – if we’re not careful - we can get sucked into the world’s system of hopelessness concerning eternity…
…Sometimes, we lose sight of the fact that our home is in another place, another dimension.
….As Christ followers, we are exiles here; we are living in a foreign land. That is why we have the constant feeling of not “fitting in” with the natives and their way of life.
Some of you attended Shelly Schyvynch’s funeral a couple months back. There were tears of sadness- but there was also hope.
…Hope Because Shelly knew Jesus Christ as her personal Lord & Savior, she is now in His presence…. She is home.
Brothers & Sisters, let us not fear death. If you are in Christ, death is simply a doorway to your true home.
Many of us love the song “I’ll Fly Away.” …we sing it here on occasion.
…“Some glad morning when this life is o’er, I’ll Fly Away…to a Home on God’s Celestial shore, I’ll Fly Away.”
….If you notice, there’s no sadness in the words of that song, there’s no mourning, there’s no despair – and that’s for good reason!
….Death, for the believer, is a doorway to a place that Jesus describes as ‘Paradise’ while speaking to the thief on the cross.
Simeon is at peace…He is ready to go home.
The final two verses of Simeon’s song (Luke 2:31-32) deal with praising God for His plan of salvation.
….Up to this point, people in earshot of Simeon’s words would have undoubtedly nodded their heads with agreement and affirmation.
These 2 verses, however, would have caused a very different reaction in people. ……They would have undoubtedly been shocked to hear what was now coming from the wise old sage’s mouth.
….Simeon was now talking about the Messiah (Their Messiah) as if he would deliver not only the Israelites, but the Gentiles too!?!?!?
They probably thought that Simeon had completely lost his mind!
….How could he say that this little Jewish baby would be “A light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Verse 32)
After all, the Messiah was supposed to go to war with the evil Gentile nations and rout those worthless dogs from the entire region.
…Messiah was not supposed to bring peace and light to these evil people! These words would have represented nothing less than blasphemy to Simeon’s fellow Jews….many of whom would have had hearts like Jonah when it came to expressing love & compassion toward Gentiles…
….Simeon was simply revealing what the Holy Spirit had revealed to him – that the long-awaited Messiah would come to redeem people of “All Nations”, not just the nation of Israel.
It’s the same message the shepherds received from the angel when he told them about the good news of great joy that was for ALL people…
Even Mary and Joseph were surprised by the words coming from this devout man. In verse 33 (Luke 2:33) we’re told that Mary & Joseph “Marveled” at the words of Simeon.
………Even they did not grasp the depth and breadth of what their child would someday accomplish…
In verses 34 & 35 (Luke 2:34-35) of our passage for today, Simeon has a message for Mary that will somewhat temper the euphoric atmosphere that had prevailed up to this point.
……..Simeon informs Mary that her child will “Cause the falling and rising of many in Israel” This was a way of telling Mary that her child would be the determiner of people’s destiny.
….Jesus’message of the Kingdom would require people to make a decision that would affect their future beyond the grave.
People – Jews or Gentiles - would have to make a choice in what they believe and how they would choose to live out their faith.
Anyone here been to Tomah lately?
…If you’re traveling West on the interstate you come upon a split in the road.
….You are forced to take either I94 toward Eau Claire or I90 towards Lacrosse.
….A driver must choose one road or the other – you cannot go straight…well you could, but you’ll wind up in a cranberry bog….probably wouldn’t be the best life decision…
When people heard Jesus’ message that one must be born again to inherit eternal life, they were forced to make a decision….a decision to either accept his teaching or reject it.
2,000 years later, mankind is still faced with a decision to accept Jesus Christ - or to reject him. If you haven’t accepted the offer of salvation through Jesus Christ, you have an opportunity to right now.
You can begin 2026 with the best decision that you will ever make….
better than any flimsy New Year’s resolution.
…New Year’s Resolutions are only as strong as our own willpower (Which, if we’re honest, really isn’t that strong – the typical New Year’s resolution only lasts a week!)
When you give your life to Christ, however, you aren’t dependent upon your own strength any longer, you are dependent upon the strength and power of almighty God.
….The Holy Spirit will come to abide within you, and it will be through His willpower that you will become a new creature –
2 Corinthians 5:17 says: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!”
Verse 35 (Luke 2:35) also refers to a sword piercing Mary’s soul. There is a special bond between a mother and a son, just as there is between a father and a daughter. In my life, I have been blessed to experience both of these special bonds.
Mary would soon begin to realize that her son would be unlike any other son. Her son would begin to distance himself from her at an early age.
Luke 2:49 describes the young boy Jesus as preferring to be away from his mother and in His “Father’s house”, or in other words, the temple.
…It was here the young Jesus felt at home because he was in the presence of God the Father…His Father.
33 years later, Mary would of course feel the unimaginable pain of losing her firstborn son while watching him die a horrific, agonizing death.
….Yes, a sword would most definitely pierce Mary’s soul.
….The burden of being the Messiah’s mother would indeed weigh heavily upon this woman for the rest of her life.
Like Simeon…You and I have been given the insight to understand the significance of the coming of the Messiah – Jesus Christ.
You and I have been given instructions on what to do with this insight that has the power to save souls from hell….
Before he ascended to heaven, Jesus told his followers to “…Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you….” (Matthew 28:19-20)
We need to proclaim the gospel to others…
Next Sunday will be a historic day in our church.
12 people (12!) will be up on this stage providing a public proclamation of their faith in Jesus Christ…
All ages and back stories will be represented…
Some have been believers for a long time and were baptized as infants in a different faith tradition…
….but now they’ve been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a proclamation of faith as an adult along the lines of a more biblical framework of baptism…
..others have come to Jesus recently and have been believers for a just brief period of time.
Either way…its cause for celebration.
So here’s your homework:
Let others know what will be happening next week here at LaValle Advent Christian Church…
Let’s pack these pews with family, friends, co-workers, neighbors…let’s allow the holy Spirit to work in the hearts of many individuals who may not have been inside a church for a very long time – if ever.
Let’s follow the words of our savior in Matthew 28:19-20….
…then stand back…and watch Him do what He did for you…draw people to Himself in repentance, faith, forgiveness, and redemption!
Let’s Pray.
