SALT AND LIGHT: March 2013

Monday, March 25, 2013

SIMEON AND ANNA

Luke 2:22-24 ( ESV )

²²And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord

²³(as it is written in the Law of the Lord,^£“Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)

²⁴and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, ^£“a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

· This purification was for the woman after childbirth. According to the Law of Moses in Lev. 12:3 a mother was declared unclean after birth, she would remain that way for a period of 33 days. She would then have to present a burnt offering and sin offering for herself. It was a reminder to them that the sin nature was transmitted. (Yet, this one was perfect.)

· Only a blood sacrifice could take away the defilement. We also see how poor Mary and Joseph were in that Lev. 12:8 stated that smaller pigeons could be used by the poor instead of a lamb. (The pigeons were numerous and would pair for life; they became a symbol for purity.)

Luke 2:25-26 ( ESV )

²⁵Now 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.

²⁶And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

· We are now introduced to Simeon. His name means the Harkening one which seems to fit him well. He was a man who was known to be right in his judgments, a pious man who was devoted to the cause of expecting the coming Messiah. His heart longed for the day in which he would see the comforting one who would be the Messiah. One other mark of this godly man was that the Holy Spirit was upon his life.

· He was told by the Spirit of God that he would not see death until he would see the Lord’s Christ face to face. (Tradition tells us he was at least 110 or more at this time.) Do we long to see His return and to see him face to face?

Luke 2:27-32 ( ESV )

²⁷And 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,

²⁸he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

²⁹“Lord, now you are letting your servant^£ depart in peace, according to your word;

³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation

³¹ that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

· Note how often the Spirit worked in Simeon’s life in just these few verses. (2:25, 2:26 and 2:27) He was devoted to His coming but also devoted to the Spirit of God.

· Can you imagine the peace in his heart as his arms bent to take the Messiah into his hands. His first reaction was that of praising and blessing. (Think about it, he was holding the creator of the universe in his arms.) He had been like a watchman who now welcomes his hour of dismissal as it had been worth it all too just see the promised one of Abraham and the Fathers now in his very sight.

· He calls Him Salvation. He would be the one who would be God’s perfect plan for fallen man. Even though he sees Christ as a child yet he saw Him as Lord. He not only sees Him as the one who would bring glory to Israel, the promised one of the tribe of Judah. He also saw Him as the salvation for all peoples. This light would even shine upon the Gentiles and offer them hope.

Luke 2:33-35 ( ESV )

³³And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.

³⁴And 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

³⁵(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

· When Mary and Joseph heard these words they were awestruck by the reaction and the words of Simeon. Yet, Simeon was not yet done as he also brings up some other things that would happen to their son and Mary.

· Many because of Christ would be brought down to ruin but there would also be those who would be able to rise up or be blessed. This one who would bring salvation though would also be opposed in doing so. There would be those who would have nothing to do with him. Inward thoughts of a person would be laid bare. They would be exposed for who they really were as the Light would shine upon them.

· Heart break would also come to His mother. It would feel like the piercing of her very soul. Mary would suffer great anguish as she would watch Jesus be put to death before her very eyes. (The word for sword here is like that of a large one almost like a javelin.

Luke 2:36-38 ( ESV )

³⁶And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,

³⁷and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.^£ She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

³⁸And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

· Now enter into our scene a woman who had served her Father faithfully as a prophetess or one to whom future events may have been revealed to. Her name was Anna or Grace and she would be shown that now as an older woman who would look into the very face of God.

· She had been so devoted to God that she did not depart from the temple . She worshiped or ministered in the house and had been known for her life of service. She was a woman who prayed continually. It was at that very moment she began to give thanks to God and speak of the one who would bring redemption to Israel. Both her and Simeon’s service were honored by being those who would see the Hope of their salvation. (One day as believers we also will see the Hope of our salvation not through a mirror darkly but face to face.)

Luke 2:39-40 ( ESV )

³⁹And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

⁴⁰And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

· Mary and Joseph just like Simeon and Anna had honored the Lord by performing what the Lord had required of them to do and this is the house that Jesus would grow up in and God’s mighty grace would be thus shown forth as the Savior would grow up in a world in which He would soon give His life for.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

THE KING'S BIRTH AND HIS SHEPHERDS

Luke 2:1-2 ( ESV )

¹In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

²This was the first registration when^£ Quirinius was governor of Syria.

· Caesar Augustus-Augustus means the exalted one. He had this title as he saw himself as one who was worthy of religious veneration. It was during this time that Roman was at a time of peace or what was known as Pax Romana. Yet, a savior would be born during this time that would give an even greater peace. That of peace with God.

· Registration-This was a census that took place about every 14 years. Its purpose was to number each family member and tribe and the results could also be used for poll taxes.

· Quirinius served as governor in Syria at 2 different times.

Luke 2:3-5 ( ESV )

³And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

⁵to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,^£ who was with child.

· Every tribe went to their own hometown of tribal origin. Joseph and Mary being both descendants of David needed to go to Jerusalem. The journey would have been about 70 miles long through the mountains and troubled roads filled with criminals. (A side thought to keep in mind, nowhere are we told of the comfort of Mary having an animal to ride upon. We simply do not know.) What a journey it must have been especially this late in her pregnancy. Thy may have also been aware of the prophecy of Micah 5:2 which talked about the savior being born in Bethlehem.

· Apparently Joseph had taken her into his house by this time but had not consummated the marriage until after the birth of Jesus. (Matt. 1:25)

Luke 2:6-7 ( ESV )

⁶And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

· The fullness of time had come according to the book of Galatians and the savior would be born at the perfect time, as well as the perfect place. A king who would leave all the glories of heaven, take upon flesh and humble himself so that we could have life eternal.

· Note the phrase her Firstborn Son according to the scriptures in Matthew 12:46 Mary had other sons through Joseph later on. How did she clothe him? With swaddling clothes, these were often strips of cloth that were used to bind a baby tightly. It was used to protect the baby from injuring itself and believed to strengthen their limbs. (Sometimes they were used to mummify a body for burial. This could be a picture of the burial or that Jesus was born to die.)

· There was no place for them to stay but in the same area where animals were kept and laid in a manager or a feeding trough for animals. What marvelous love is this!!

Luke 2:8-9 ( ESV )

⁸And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.

· The scene now shifts to a group of shepherds who were in the same general area. Bethlehem was nearby Jerusalem and the sheep would largely be used for temple sacrifices. The shepherds would work both day and night all year round. They would stay near their flock and watch out for predators.

· Can you imagine how they must have felt when the glory of the Lord shone around them? The shock, the fear the sheer awe of the moment. The glory that had appeared to Abraham at Ur, at the tabernacle in Exodus, and that had appeared to Solomon at the temple. Their knees were literally knocking as the announcement was made.

Luke 2:10-12 ( ESV )

¹⁰And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people.

¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

¹²And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

· Our God is the God of all comfort and that is the first thing that He does here for the shepherds. He has not come as a minister of death but of life and proclaiming the greatest life that has ever been born. It was a news of GREAT JOY to a people who were oppressed. What beauty in that this message would first be shared with lowly shepherds. Yet, it was not just good news for the Jews but for ALL PEOPLE. The Gospel was meant to be shared with all of mankind.

· Bethlehem was to be the place where the king of kings was to be born. What an incredible God we serve as he chose not only shepherds to be the first who would hear but according to the scriptures little lowly Bethlehem was to be the place he would be born. He is called here a Savior only one of the two places in the Gospel where this title is used. The other would be with the Samaritains in Jn. 4:42.

· Would he be robed in the finest of linens? No, but rather in swaddling cloths and lying in a manager.

Luke 2:13-14 ( ESV )

¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”^£

· I love this scene it as though not even the highest of heavens cannot keep its voice quiet. The term host has the idea of an incredible number or for that of armies. The great part here is that it is used of an army declaring peace to men. God receives all the glory as he brings peace to the earth. Not just for nations but a peace for individuals to have.

· God’s peace is not a reward for those who have good will but a gracious gift to those who are objects of His good will. Better Greek rendering would be peace towards men on whom God’s sovereign will rest upon.

Luke 2:15-20 ( ESV )

¹⁵When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

¹⁶And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

¹⁷And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

¹⁸And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

¹⁹But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

· What was the shepherd’s reaction? The same reactions that we should have one of expectation and the willingness to share the message that Christ has come. They had to see what the Lord had told them about and they could not wait one more minute. They saw Messiah just as they had been told lying in a manager. When they saw Him they could not keep it to themselves they had to tell somebody. The people who they told were knocked senseless with awe over what the shepherds had seen and testified to. They had to go out and as the old spiritual song said, “They had to go tell it on the mountain.” THE KING HAS COME.

Friday, March 8, 2013

THE PROPHECY OF ZECHARIAH

Luke 1:57-58 ( ESV )

⁵⁷Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.

⁵⁸And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

· The prophecy had come true as the angel had told them it would. Everyone had come out to see this little one. They all had heard about the barren one who now gave birth. Only a God of great mercy could allow such a thing to take place.

Luke 1:59-60 ( ESV )

⁵⁹And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father,

⁶⁰but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.”

· On the 8^th day the act of circumcision was a sign of separation from the world and dedication to God on the 8^th day. During this time it was custom to also have picked a name. It was tradition that the child bear ancestor’s name. Zechariah could not speak so relatives wanted to honor the child’s father.

· Think about it in a male dominated culture this woman stood up and said no. His name would be John which meant Jehovah is gracious or the grace of God. This did not make any sense to those gathered there.

Luke 1:61-63 ( ESV )

⁶¹And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.”

⁶²And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called.

⁶³And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered.

· Don’t you understand Elizabeth this has never been done before. Yet, John was the name chosen not by man but by God. He would represent the Grace of God in their lives. Not satisfied they now go to the father to force their point. So imagine their dismay as he wrote JOHN.

Luke 1:64-66 ( ESV )

⁶⁴And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.

⁶⁵And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea,

⁶⁶and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

· As soon as he wrote the word John down he now spoke and his first words was that of exalting his God. He had to shout it to the mountains and Matthew 3:5 tells us how many from this hill area would be some of John’s followers.

· A supernatural act had taken place what kind of man would this John be? Yet, even from birth the name of Jesus would be exalted in his life. The strength of the Lord would be upon Him. Eph. 6:10

Luke 1:67-75 ( ESV )

⁶⁷And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

⁶⁸“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people

⁶⁹ and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

⁷⁰ as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

⁷¹ that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;

⁷² to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,

⁷³ the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

⁷⁴ that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,

⁷⁵ in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

· Just as Mary and Elizabeth had been. What would Zechariah speak about? His son, Yes, but he would speak about Jesus even more. His son would prepare the way.

· Redeem has the idea of one who is in prison and can’t escape has redeemed us or bought us out of captivity and set us free from the bondage of sin.)

· Horns were used to defend oneself from their enemies. It became a symbol for strength. A powerful savior had now come forth to save sinful man. He would act like David in being a servant and still a king.

· This one would complete the prophecies. He would not fail in keeping one promise. Part of the promise was that the Messiah would deliver them from their enemies. Messiah would come and deliver them us more importantly from our sins. Why does He want to deliver us? So that we may serve Him without fear.

· The Romans mocked and despised Israel like the Egyptians had done. Zechariah talks about a day in which they would be able to worship without fear. We have been freed from our sins as well though to serve Him. As the church Father’s would ask, “What is the whole duty of Man? Answer to glorify God.” We have been saved to glorify God.

Zechariah now talks about his son.

Luke 1:76-80 ( ESV )

⁷⁶ And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

⁷⁷ to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,

⁷⁸ because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us^£ from on high

⁷⁹ to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

⁸⁰And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

· I bet he was holding his boy at this time. He said he would be a prophet. His son would be the one who would proclaim him to be the king and God Almighty. The one whom Isaiah had spoken of as one who would prepare the way of the Lord. He would trumpet His coming.

· He would show the way of salvation to his people. He would preach to them their need to repent of their sins and be free from the bondage of sin. He would see God as one who was a God of compassion, the first rising of the sun and the stars and how the Messiah would one day come to give light to those who sat in darkness. They would be directed to a way of peace.

· Zechariah’s tribute to his son would be that He would exalt the name of Jesus. The utmost part of his character was his spiritual life.

Why the desert? Because until that point when he was to talk of the Messiah to come he would be away from the crowd or men may have exalted him instead of Christ. Secondly, he would be alone with God and his focus would be more on Him.

Friday, March 1, 2013

MARY'S SONG OF JOY

Luke 1:39-40 ( ESV )

³⁹In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah,

⁴⁰and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

· You can almost sense the joy of this moment as young Mary had to meet with her cousin over the future birth of John and tell her about Gabriel’s message that he gave to her about Jesus. She had to rejoice with someone as she made this trek of about 60 miles to visit. (Something that gets lost in all of this is how that Elizabeth would believe her story. She herself was getting ready to give birth to a miracle in her old age. Who would believe a virgin birth? Joseph even had a problem with the story until the angel had to tell him. Yet, God in His wisdom allowed Mary to find comfort with Elizabeth.)

· Can you imagine the joy and hope that was given to Mary when she saw Elizabeth with child? What a time of greeting this must have been.

Luke 1:41-45 ( ESV )

⁴¹And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

⁴²and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

⁴³And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

⁴⁵And blessed is she who believed that there would be^£ a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

· Joy filled the room and the Lord met with them in a special way. Luke 1:15 was fulfilled right before their eyes as the John leaped inside of her womb. Not only was the baby filled with the Holy Spirit but also Elizabeth. How else did Elizabeth respond? The Messiah is coming!! With a loud cry has the idea of at the top of her voice. Focus though was not on John but on Jesus.

· She also repeats Gabriel’s words at this moment. She did not see Mary as above other women but among them. Literally, Mary you are honored to have this child.

· Note Elizabeth’s humility. Why should I see the Holy One and be in His mother’s presence?

· The word for Lord is that of KURIOS or Lord a title for master or as in Ps. 110:1 the O.T. title for Messiah.

· She noted a difference in the movement of her baby John as it was joy in his mother’s womb over this news.

· Mary, happy are you because you committed yourself in your belief that God could do the impossible.

NOT ONLY IS JOHN AND HIS MOTHER FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT BUT ALSO MARY AS SHE NOW BRINGS FORTH PRAISES TO GOD.

Luke 1:46-48 ( ESV )

⁴⁶And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,

⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

⁴⁸ for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

· Mary now says how that all that is within her brings glory to God at this moment. I will exalt His name above all names. Why could she magnify the Lord? Look at verse 47 and following…

· She rejoiced in God her Savior. Mary was like us she needed a Savior as well to redeem her from her sin.

She needed a deliverer. Though she was small in the world’s eyes. As a sinner God would still look upon her and bless her in such a way that all of the world would call her blessed. He will lift up those who have a humble and contrite heart.

Luke 1:49-53 ( ESV )

⁴⁹ for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

⁵⁰ And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

⁵² he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;

⁵³ he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.

· We can praise Him not only because He is our Savior and has shown us mercy. We can also praise Him for the great things He has done for us. (Think about how he daily works in our lives.)

· His name is HOLY. You can say you love God but watch how the world reacts when you say that you love Jesus. Why do they respond so negatively? It is at the name of Jesus that every knee shall bow. Phil. 2:5-11

· The word for mercy has the idea of one who is miserable and afflicted and is helped out.

· You and I must see ourselves for who we are. We are in NEED of mercy. We cannot rely upon ourselves. We should fear Him and see our need of His tender mercies. What will happen to those who are proud and not call on His mercy? God will gain victory over the proud ones. He will spread out His enemies like the chaff from the wheat or like a defeated army.

· Those who need not God will have it all taken away. They will have nowhere to run to or as the old song said, “You’ve got nowhere to run to Baby, Nowhere to hide.” Only the one who is humble will He lift up in the end.

· How are we filled with good things and not sent away? 1) Physically, one day saints who died will never hunger or thirst again. 2) Spiritually, Matthew 5:6 tells us, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” God will feed our spiritual needs. I Cor. 1:26-27, “For you see your calling brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.” WHY? So that according to I Cor. 1:29 NO FLESH SHOULD GLORY IN HIS PRESENCE.”

Luke 1:54-55 ( ESV )

⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

⁵⁵ as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

· Mary now closes her time of praise remembering that He is a God who keeps His promises. He had kept His promises to His people Israel. He would come and reign forever and ever and the promises that he made to Abraham and others will remain true.

Luke 1:56 ( ESV )

⁵⁶And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

· Mary was a faithful person and for three months she helped Elizabeth until the time John was born. Remember, the same God who would make a barren womb bring forth a son would surely bring forth the Messiah into the world.

SALT AND LIGHT