Luke 2:21-38
I chose this text to follow the events after the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
So we have seen Dr. Luke picks up some important aspects of the Lord Jesus’s infancy.
What happened here in these few verses was much before the visit of Magi, Joseph and Mary escaping to Egypt and coming back to Israel and settling down in Nazareth.
This passage is called the Presentation.
This portion of Scripture has three segments Verses 21-24; 25-35; 36-38.
Child Jesus meets three people in these three segments.
Moses, Simeon, and Anna
BABY JESUS MEETS MOSES THRU THE LAW
The consecration of baby Jesus was important for HE would become the High Priest.
The sacrificial ritual symbolized the commitment.
He too was subjected to the Law of Moses to save people under the Law.
The purification rites were according to Leviticus
12 The circumcision of male child of eight days old was required under the Law
The sacrifice of a pair of doves or 2 young pigeons was the final requirement.
This tells how poor the parents are.
The Redeemer is being redeemed according to the Law.
BABY JESUS MEETS SIMEON IN THE TEMPLE.
The consolation of Israel means the messianic hope.
Some of the faithful Jews had this messianic hope and were eagerly waiting for Messiah.
Pastor Wiersbe says Simeon was led by the Spirit of God, taught by the Word of God and obedient to the will of God.
He says in Verses 29-35 we see three songs Song of worship, Song of salvation and Song of prophecy.
Song of prophesy: Simeon prophesies three things, A Stone, A Sign, and A Sword.
Lord Jesus is the ROCK: The Jews stumble even today because they reject HIM still.
Lord Jesus is the Sign of divine presence and power.
Lord Jesus is a God’s miracle all thru, His Birth, His Ministry, and His death and Resurrection.
He is the revelation of divine truth yet people rejected Him and still reject Him.
The image of Sword was for Mary alone.
BABY JESUS MEETS ANNA, THE PROPHETESS.
She never left the Temple worshipping God day and night and fasting and praying.
She saw what was Simeon doing and immediately recognized that this was Messiah.
She not only praised God but also the spread the good news of God’s redemption.
Today we have seen that baby Jesus was subjected to Law of Moses as any normal Jewish child goes thru.
He fulfilled all that is required under the Law to redeem people under the Law.
He was recognized and affirmed by two Elders as Messiah in continuation to what the angels said.
Lord Jesus brought salvation to the whole humanity.
Whoever believes in HIM, will have eternal life.
That is the good news of great joy for all people.

There is so much of preparation involved for Christmas no matter where we live.
Today we will look at how God planned and prepared for the Christmas Day.
WHO IS THIS JESUS BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY?
The Bible tells that HE is the Creator God who created everything that exists.
Christ has no beginning and no ending because HE is God.
So HE existed before the creation of the world.
Christ Jesus existence does not start at Bethlehem on a Christmas morning.
Only that God became a man on Christmas day.
Jesus Christ lived for 33 ½ years, revealed the Invisible God to people, taught the way of Salvation, died on the Cross and rose again on 3rd day and lives forever now.
WHY GOD PREPARED AND PLANNED FOR CHRISTMAS?
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that HE gave HIS one and only Son, that whoever believes in HIM (Jesus) shall not perish but have eternal life.
Bible says God is love and HE loved us so much that HE planned for this day.
God planned for this day so that you and I can have eternal life with HIM.
Ephesians 1: 4
For HE (God) chose us (all humanity) in HIM (Jesus) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in HIS (God) sight.
This verse tells us that everyone needs to be holy before God.
Lord Jesus would provide that way to be holy before God not by any human means.
God planned all of this before HE created the human.
God of the Bible requires blameless and holy people to live with HIM in eternity.
The inborn nature of human sin courtesy of Adam and Eve prevented us from being blameless and holy in the sight of God.
So God Himself thru Jesus Christ redeemed and restored those sinful human who believed in HIM and accepted Lord Jesus as Savior of their life.
HOW GOD PLANNED AND PREPARED FOR CHRISTMAS?
God foretold the coming of the Messiah, the Anointed One through HIS prophets.
Prophet Isaiah and Micah prophesied about the birth of Jesus 700 years before HE was born.
Isaiah 7:14 & 9:6
God planned Lord Jesus birth through a genealogy of amazing people.
Lord Jesus genealogy includes two prostitutes, one murderer, and a non-Jewish woman.
Two prostitutes were Rahab and Tamar, One murderer was King David
Non Jewish woman was Ruth a Moabite, a gentile woman.
God sent HIS angels to announce and prepare some people for the birth of the Lord.
God prepared a Virgin to bear the Child through Holy Spirit.
Then God prepared Joseph who was betrothed to Mary to accept her and take her as his wife.
God planned and prepared a place so humble and in utter poverty for the Creator to be born.
Then God prepared the illiterate shepherds to visit the new born baby in the cattle shed.
Then God prepared few gentile wise men to travel thousands of miles to visit the baby and worship HIM with gifts.
WHAT IS GOD TELLING THE WORLD AT CHRISTMAS?
God is declaring once again that HE has given the greatest gift of a Savior to us.
God is declaring that Savior came to redeem us from our sin and restore us to God.
Those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord have the gift of salvation and hope of eternal life.
Christmas is the time to celebrate God’s Love, Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ.


 

Matt 2:8-20
The third candle represents the joy that we have at the birth of Lord Jesus.
Lord Jesus came to this world to fulfill Mosaic Covenant.
Through HIS shed blood on the cross Lord Jesus became one time sacrifice for sin.
The greatest joy of human history is a Savior was born at Bethlehem for all people.
Today all believers in the Lord rejoice and glorify God as the humble shepherds did.
Our joy is multifold because our Lord is coming back one day for the CHURCH.
That night was not just an ordinary night by any standards in and around Bethlehem.
Ordinary winter night in Bethlehem transformed into an extra-ordinary night because Creator God became a little baby in a manger.
Mary knew that this child is a king to sit on the throne of David, but she didn’t know how.
She also knew that this child was born to her while she was still a virgin and will be called the Son of the Most High.
She did not how this could happen but she knew that this birth was supernatural
No religious Scriptures ever recorded “good news of great joy for all people” in the human history
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; HE is the Messiah, the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
The angel announces the good news of great joy to all people.
The angel tells the place Bethlehem where this child is born.
Then the angel declares that HE is Messiah, the Lord.
The angel tells where to look for HIM in the city.
God chose a stable to be His birth place.
God chose a mange rto be His cradle.
God chose only the shepherds to know His birth.
God chose humble, social outcasts, the shepherds to visit this King of Kings and Lord of Lords for the first time before anybody knew about it.
Shepherds clearly understood that this must be great news because an angel from heaven came to tell them in the middle of the night.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
Angels never told them to go and see the baby.
The impact of the visit of angels and the good news was so great on their mind that they left the flock for brief moment to run to Bethlehem to see the baby.
They found exactly as it was described to them.
The humble shepherds were the first evangelists to announce the good news of a Savior to the whole world.
What a privilege God has given to them.
Today we are given a privilege and great opportunity to share the great news with others.
Our joy is not in the things we buy or receive during Xmas season.
Our joy is in sharing the good news of great joy with others that a Savior in Lord Jesus Christ.
May you all have the joy of the LORD in your hearts.

Today
we will focus on the Second Candle, the candle of Preparation
The Angels of God preparing the way for the 1st visit of Christ in human form.
WHO ARE ANGELS?
The angels do appear in Scripture from time to time to carry out varieties of tasks for God Almighty.
Basically the Angels in the Bible were assigned specific tasks perform.
1 Worship and praise God eternally
 Angels’ main activity is to worship and praise God all the time.
This is the main activity portrayed in heaven Isaiah 6:1-3 & Rev 4-5. 
2. Messengers – Angels carry messages and instructions from God.
They serve as messengers to communicate God's will to human beings. 
They helped to reveal the specific instructions from God to the Prophets.
God often uses angels to answer the prayers of His people
3. Providers - God has used angels to provide physical needs of humans at various times.
4. Protectors – Angels protect God's people in times of physical danger.
Daniel in the lions’ den, and his three friends in the fiery furnace Dan 3 & 6
5. Present at the moment of death- In the story of Lazarus and the rich man, we read that angels carried the spirit of Lazarus to “Abraham's bosom” when he died Lk 16.  
Angels play a great role during the birth of our Lord.
BEFORE THE BIRTH OF THE LORD
Angel Gabriel Appears to priest Zechariah in the Temple (Luke 1:11-20)
17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
John the Baptist was like fore runner or we may call him the Squad car before a VIP
He was preparing the way for the Lord.
First chapter of Gospel of John, we read about John’s testimony about Lord Jesus.
Angel Gabriel Appears to Mary (Luke 1:26-38)
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Gabriel’s crucial encounter with Mary and prepare her emotionally for the impossible.
She was just a teenager, not married, and a certain death for her to be pregnant before marriage.
More than anybody, preparing Mary is crucial for the visit of the Messiah.
Angel Appears to Joseph (Matthew1:18-25)
AFTER THE BIRTH OF THE LORD
Appears to Shepherds (Luke 2:8-14)
Appears to Joseph (Matthew 2:13-14)
Appears to Joseph (Matthew 2:19-20)