His Sheep

His Sheep

John 10:27

Many voices call out for our attention.

Many would-be shepherds call out, “Follow me!”

For example, Google, in an effort to scan every book in existence, calculated that there are 129,864,880 unique books in the world. Each of these books represents a voice calling out to be heard. Not all say, “Follow Me,” but many do.

Another example would be political campaigns. How many candidates run for office and call out “FOLLOW ME”?

Of course, I am myself a preacher and must include my voice in our considerations. Many preachers call out “Follow Me!”

Which voices do you choose to listen to?

How do we know which voices are reliable guides?

John tells us that Jesus was the Word, was with God in the beginning and He was God. He came and dwelt among us. This is found in the first chapter of John as John introduces his subject. This means that God, our creator, was living among us. John 1:14 says:

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. (John 1:14 NLT)

Jesus’ voice is unique among all the voices that call out, “Follow Me!” He also calls out, “Follow Me,” but His voice alone has the authority and power of Heaven behind it. This claim to be the only voice with the authority of heaven behind it is backed by evidence. This evidence is from a number of sources. While many sources could be listed, I will mention only four. First, history provides evidence. Second, creation provides evidence. Third, reason provides evidence. And fourth, people provide evidence.

However, even with the abundance of evidence, much confusion exists. This is explained to us in the Bible when John says:

Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this, we know that the last hour has come. (1 John 2:18 NLT)

The confusion exists because of the spirit of antichrist that is in the world. In 1 John 4:3, John repeats his warning about the antichrist and adds to it saying:

But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here. (1 John 4:3 NLT)

In this second passage about the antichrist, we see that the spirit of antichrist is “indeed already here.”

It is important to make a distinction between Antichrist, the person, and the spirit of antichrist. Let’s look at 1 John 2:18 again.

Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. (1 John 2:18 NLT)

Notice, it says, “You have heard the Antichrist is coming...” In this case, “the Antichrist” is singular and is referring to a unique individual. However, as the text continues, it says, “...many such antichrists have appeared.” In this second case, “antichrists” is plural and refers to many such or of like nature. The spirit or nature of antichrist is found in the name, antichrist. “Anti” which means “over against, opposite, instead of,” and “Christ” which means “God’s Anointed One.” The confusion exists then because many would be “instead of” Christ. In other words, many would stand in His place.

Jesus warned us that this would happen. When speaking to the Jewish people and their leaders, Jesus used the illustration of a shepherd and said:

I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! (John 10:1 NLT)

In this passage, those who would be in the place of Christ are termed “thieves and robbers.” These are said to “sneak over the wall.”

Then Jesus gives some clarifying teaching. He says:

I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. (John 10:7-9 NLT)

As has been noted, Jesus’ is the only voice with the authority of Heaven. Now we see Jesus stating that He is the gate for the sheep. He specifies that the true sheep do not listen to the thieves and robbers. However, the thieves and robbers sneak over the wall posing as shepherds. These are voices that call for attention, but Jesus said the true sheep do not listen to them.

Jesus warns:

Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. (Matthew 7:15 NLT)

Of all the many voices calling for attention, which do you listen to?

Do you know the voice of the Savior?

The leaders of the Jews during Jesus’ time were controlled by the spirit of antichrist. They confronted Jesus on many occasions. One such incident is recorded for us in John 10:22-27.

It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:22-27 NLT)

In this confrontation, we get a glimpse of the conflict of voices, the voice of antichrist or the voice of Christ. We see the reference Christ makes to evidence. He says, “The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name.”

Jesus said, “Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.” (John 10:7) He offered many convincing proofs to back up such a statement. But, there was a heart problem. He says, “But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep.”

Do you want to be one of His sheep?

A sheepfold is a place of safety. The shepherd guides and protects the sheep. In this illustration, we are all sheep. The question is who we will follow not whether or not we are sheep. The Bible tells us “All we like sheep have gone astray.” (Isaiah 53:6) The voice we choose to follow is a matter of life and death; consider that false prophets are like ravenous wolves. Jesus promises, “Those who come in through me will be saved.”

In John 10:27, Jesus gives three marks of His sheep. If we have these marks, we will know that we are His sheep, and we will also know which voices to listen to.

He says:

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

The first mark of His sheep is that they “listen to His voice.” 

In John 10:5, He says,

They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice. (John 10:5 NLT)

Do you listen to His voice? He says:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29 NLT)

I fear lest by listening to the many voices in the world around us, we should fail to enter into His rest. There are practical steps each of us can take to listen to His voice.

First, we can spend time alone with Him each day. There are things that we make time for each day. We shower, and we eat each day. We are too busy not to make time to be alone with Jesus. Working, living and rushing about life without making time to be alone with Jesus is like working, living and rushing about without taking time to eat. Either one leads to death.

The second practical step we can take to listen to His voice is we can choose carefully both what we listen to and what we read. Books, articles, videos and music that point us to Jesus are plentiful.

The third practical step we can take to listen to His voice is we can choose to be in church, Sunday school and Bible study. 

The more we listen to His voice the more familiar it becomes. Then the more the second mark of His sheep enters into our consciousness. 

Jesus says the second mark of His sheep is “I know them.”

Do you like to be recognized? How does it make you feel when you get up each morning and your loved one, your spouse, child or parent is glad to see you and says “Good morning,” and hugs you?

Jesus tells a parable about a shepherd with 100 sheep. When the shepherd gathered his sheep at the end of the day, one of them was missing. So, the shepherd left the 99 safe in the fold and went out and searched for the one until he found it. The point of that story is that as His sheep, we are precious to Him. In John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (NASB) When Jesus says, “I know them,” He is also saying that He is willing to die for them. Jesus knows His sheep. He is glad to see them in the morning and hug them. He will keep them safe.

Jesus says the third mark of His sheep is “they follow me.”

Do you follow Jesus?

Have you followed Him in baptism?

Have you followed Him in service?

When Jesus called some of His Apostles, He said:

Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matthew 4:19 ESV)

This happens naturally when we follow Jesus. We are like a city set on a hill whose light cannot be hidden. When the Apostles followed Jesus, they had different roles. Peter was the spokesperson. John was the friend. Judas managed the money, and so on. When we follow Jesus, it does not mean that we all serve in the same way. Some serve by giving, some by working and others by teaching. However, everyone has a place. All Jesus’ sheep follow Him.

Of all the voices calling out, “Follow me,” which have you chosen to follow? If you have decided to follow Jesus’ voice, these three things will mark your life:

1. You will listen to His voice.
2. He knows you.
3. You will follow Him.

The Voice of the Father

Isaiah 49:6

"It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6 ESV)

I frequently see a sign “John 3:16” held up at sporting events. For those of us who know John 3:16, this has some meaning, but what about those who do not know what John 3:16 says?

John 3:16 tells us of God’s love for the world, and how He demonstrated that love. However, many people have not read or heard John 3:16, and for them the sign held up with just the words “John 3:16” printed on it could be confusing. If these signs were the only testimony or voice people ever heard of God’s love, then people would be lost and without hope.

However, these signs are not the only testimony or voice that speaks to people. God has spoken and He is not silent.

We have been looking at the voices of Advent. So far, we have considered the voice of Mary, a young woman, the voice of Zechariah, an old priest, the voice of Simeon, a teacher, and the voice of a few wise men. Each of these have spoken to us giving testimony to the great salvation that God is working on our behalf. However, these are not the only voices. There are many voices that point us to the Savior.

Today, we are going to consider the voice of the Father.

Hebrews 1:1 tells us:

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. (Hebrews 1:1 NLT)

From this passage we can understand that God has spoken in many ways over many years. I am not going to try to cover all the ways that God speaks. Rather, this being the Christmas season, I am going to consider the message of God’s love that He speaks through Christmas.

As we quoted, Hebrews 1:1 says, “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways through the prophets.” However, God has not stopped speaking. In Hebrews 1:2, the scriptures go on to say:

And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. (Hebrews 1:2 NLT)

We can investigate what the prophets said because we have their words recorded in the Bible. We can use our minds and reason to test and see whether the things recorded in the Bible are true. The same is true of Jesus’ life and teachings. His death, burial and resurrection are well documented history. Therefore, we can be confident that we are not following cleverly devised fables (2 Peter 1:16). One of the unique things about the Bible that makes it so trustworthy is fulfilled prophecy. There are many prophecies about Jesus that were fulfilled at the time of His birth and throughout His life here among us. It is in one of these prophecies that I wanted to look today for the voice of the Father.

In Isaiah 49, God speaks to His servant and says:

And now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength— he says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." (Isaiah 49:5-6 ESV)

God speaks in this passage of His purpose to restore Israel, give light to the nations and to bring His salvation to the ends of the earth.

The voice of the Father says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel.” Here He states His purpose to restore Israel and at the same time makes it clear that His purpose is much larger.

When Jesus was born and later when He preached and taught in the regions of Galilee and Judea, many expected the national restoration part of the prophecy to be fulfilled. When Jesus made it obvious that He had no intention of making Himself a temporal King, many stopped following Him. This same attitude continues to this day.

Among us Gentiles, we see those who do not get the temporal blessings they want or expect and stop following Jesus. They are nearsighted. They do not see that their vision of God and the world is too small. Many want happiness now. Many trade the kingdom of God for the riches of this world. Many want health, wealth and happiness now. God’s purpose is much larger. This is why this passage says, “It is too light a thing...” If the interests of a nation are too light a thing, how can we expect the interests of an individual to weigh heavier than the purposes of God? 

God’s promises and word are true, and these will never fail. God will not stop short of His purpose. This is why Romans 11:25-26 says:

I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say, “The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness. (Romans 11:25-26 NLT)

God’s promises and word are true, and all Israel will be saved. When we say “Merry Christmas,” we use the name “Christ.” This is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word “Messiah.” Messiah and Christ both mean “anointed one.” In our greeting and name for the season, we hear the voice of the Father echoing down through history that He has sent the promised Messiah, the anointed one, to deliver the nation of Israel.

However, as we have already noted, God’s purpose is much larger. In Isaiah 49:6 we also see that God sent the Messiah to be a light for the nations.

The light precedes salvation. This is necessary on several fronts. First, people do not know they need salvation. They do not know they are in darkness. Second, they do not understand their guilt and how to deal with their sin. Third, they do not know the truth nor do they understand the way of salvation.

Generally speaking, all people have a conscience and a standard of right and wrong. Furthermore, all people have violated the dictates of conscience and have a sense or feeling of guilt, and have dealt with that guilt in one way or another. Romans 2: says:

Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. (Romans 2:14-15 NLT)

Jesus did not come to condemn the world. However, the world does not like the light. John 3:19-20 says:

And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. (John 3:19-20 NLT)

Whenever we say Merry Christmas, the voice of the Father speaks reminding the world of its need for a Savior. The world tries to hide from this by making up stories of Santa Clause and by saying Happy Holidays to avoid being offensive. Saying Christmas is offensive, because the darkness hates the light, and in Christmas the voice of the Father speaks clearly. If there were no sin, the Savior would not need to have been born.

The voice of the Father is not one of condemnation. The message of Christmas is a message of joy. This is the third point the voice of the Father tells us in Isaiah 49:6. He says:

... that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. (Isaiah 49:6 ESV)

Christmas is Merry because God is spreading His salvation to the end of the earth. The farthest reaches of the globe have heard the message of Christmas. Through the baby in the manger, the voice of the Father speaks to us and says:

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NLT)

The voice of the Father tells us of the great purpose of God to save us all, and all who respond to His voice are welcome to His salvation. However, God does not save us against our will, but He does hold us responsible for ignoring His voice. We hear His voice in creation as night after night the stars proclaim His  handiwork. We hear His voice in our conscience as day after day our hearts remind us that we need a Savior. We hear His voice in history as we consider both the life of Jesus and the nation of Israel.

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we of all people rejoice in Christmas because in Christmas we hear the voice of the Father and see His great purpose for all people.

The Voice of a Few Wise Men

Matthew 2:1-12

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2 NLT)

Allow me to once again speculate as to who these wise men were. I wrote about these wise men in 2015 in a message titled “Wise Men,” and then again in 2017 in a message titled “Truth Made Clear.” For those of you with exceptionally good memories, some of this material will be a repeat of those articles.

Matthew tells us these men came from “eastern lands.” We have often heard these wise men called “magi.” This is because Matthew wrote in Greek, and the Greek word is “μάγοι” (magoi). This was the title used for the priests and sages of the Babylonians and the Persians. Since they brought gifts consistent with the region of Arabia, we assume they were from that area.

We are certain that they were Gentiles and also that they did not belong to the nation of Israel. We see in this the beginnings of Jesus’ victory over darkness. The devil worked for many years and in many ways to blind the hearts and minds of the Gentiles. The world was filled with many religions and philosophies that ran contrary to Scriptural teachings. However, in spite of these obstacles, magi from the east were among the first to recognize the Lord’s Messiah. They traveled far to see the One born King of the Jews.

They did not know where to go, so they went to Jerusalem and made inquiry. If you are looking for the One born King of the Jews, what better place to start than in the capital city of the Jewish nation. In Jerusalem, they found the people ignorant and unprepared for the birth of their king.

The magi stated their purpose in traveling and inquiring. They said, “We have come to worship him.”

Their purpose was so clear that when Herod wanted to use them to find the child, Herod said, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” (Matthew 2:8, NLT) The magi had come to worship so Herod pretended that he wanted to worship also.

The text tells us:

When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:10-11 NLT)

When they entered the house they bowed down and worshipped. 

They traveled far. They made inquiry. They brought gifts. They did it all so that they could worship Him.

God prepared these wise men in advance for this day, and in their voice, we continue to learn an important lesson. In their worship, we learn that we must worship also.

The Jews who had the temple and the rituals of worship did not recognize the time of their visitation. The Jews had the Law of Moses that spoke of the Messiah to come and was written to prepare hearts for His coming. The Jews had the temple, which was the house of God and provided a picture of heavenly things. The Jews had the ritual sacrifices which prefigured the sacrifice God would make in order to save His people from their sins. The Jews had the Passover and the festivals, all of which pointed to the coming Messiah. They had practices and forms that had been handed down to them from Moses and the prophets. However, although they had the practice or form of worship, they did not have a heart of worship. Their worship was proper in form and practice, but it did not reach as far as their hearts.  As John 4:23 tells us:

But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. (John 4:23 NLT)

The Father is looking for those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. He is not looking for rituals, sacrifices and the ceremonies of the law. He says He is looking for those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. Today, from the wise men, we will learn a few lessons about worship

First, we learn that we must adjust our lives to worship God. 

There is no worship without some cost.

The wise men traveled far to worship Jesus. They had to make arrangements with their jobs back home. They had to make arrangements to have their affairs looked after. They had to prepare for the journey. They had to prepare camels, donkeys, food, routes for travel, finances and all that goes into both a prolonged absence and a long journey.

There is no worship without cost. King David expressed this principle when he was offered the means to give a sacrifice that would have cost him nothing.

At one point in his reign, King David sinned against God. When David was getting right with God and repenting, he wanted to offer a sacrifice. He wanted to offer an ox, and a farmer had some. So, David said, “Sell me your ox if you would please.” And the farmer told David, “Oh no, I will gladly give it to you. David then told the farmer:

No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing. (2 Samuel 24:24 NLT)

Worshipping God and receiving His Messiah requires that we make some adjustments in our lives. It might mean one has to give up sleeping in on Sunday, partying late on Saturday or watching television shows on Wednesday. One cannot expect to accept Jesus and not have to make any adjustments in his or her life. It just does not work that way. Acknowledging Jesus as Lord is very inconvenient for the flesh. In fact, the flesh and its lusts must die. The Christian life has been likened to a journey. John Bunyan wrote a book called “Pilgrim’s Progress” that uses an allegory of a journey to depict the Christian’s life. Like the wise men’s journey, our own journey is not undertaken without some adjustments, work and changes.

The wise men teach us that true worship requires some adjusting of our lives.

When we have made adjustments, we will find that we  also must use our resources to honor Him.

The wise men offered gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These are not cheap gifts. Far from it, these are the most costly gifts they could give. Admittedly, we do not know in what measure they gave these gifts. However, these gifts were of such value that even the transporting of these gifts posed a danger. Even today, it is not generally safe to walk around with a box of gold or, at least, to let it be known that you are walking around with a box of gold.

Our resources are where the rubber meets the road when it comes to our worship. Those who truly believe, give of their resources; God promises to bless those who give. The Scriptures tell us:

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV)

God loves a cheerful giver! This is consistent with what we learned from John 4:23 that God is looking for those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. A true heart of worship is marked by using one’s resources to honor God. I said we must use our resources to honor God, but for the believer this is a cause for joy, not compulsion. For the heart full of love for God, giving is a privilege. Through our giving, we get to participate in what God is doing in the world.

The wise men participated in welcoming the Savior to the world and in announcing His arrival. We get to participate in both the spread of that good news and in the encouragement and building up of our fellow believers. For the eye of faith, God is doing great and mighty things in this world~things that are exciting to be a part of.

For those of us here in Clearwater, I can think of nothing more exciting than being a part of what God is doing right here in our midst. There are exciting little children growing up here that thrill me to no end. Oh the mighty work God is doing in our midst! Not too many years ago, our youth were the little children, now look at what they are becoming! Speaking of children, some of these wonderful little children that we are blessed with today are the children of those that grew up here in this very church. The miracle of God’s work among us is seen in families that love Jesus, children that love Jesus and a Church that bows continually before God and gives of its resources to glorify Him who was born King of the Jews. This is especially exciting and gratifying for those who have a stake in it, for those who have given of their resources to make it happen.

So far, we have seen from the wise men that true worshippers will adjust their lives to God’s presence and honor Him with their resources. In the wise men, we also see that true worshippers will humble themselves in His presence.

Matthew 2:11 tells us:

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11 NLT)

It is easy to pass over the fact that the first thing they did when they saw the child was to bow down. The Greek words Matthew used to say “bowed down and worship” were “πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν.” (pesontes prosekynesan) The idea behind these words is to fall down or prostrate one’s self and kiss the ground before a superior.

Although Jesus was only a baby, these men humbled themselves before Him. Being rich, educated and powerful men, this would have been one of the most difficult things they did. Sometimes it is easier to make adjustments in our lives and to give of our resources than to humble ourselves.

Do not think to yourself “Oh, I have got this one down.”

Have you humbled yourself before your wife or husband?

Have you humbled yourself before your children, your parents, your siblings?

The reason I ask these questions is because of what the Lord says in 1 John 4:20. It says there:

If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? (1 John 4:20 NLT)

Of course, we do not humble ourselves before our fellow believer the same way we do before God, but love requires that we give up our pride in order to do what is best for the other person. When you or I have difficulty saying we are sorry, we demonstrate just how resistant we are to truly humbling ourselves.

We are to subject ourselves to God, and our will to His will. However, the New Testament makes it clear that our subjection does not end there. Ephesians 5:21 tells us:

And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:21 NLT)

I know of no better test to tell me whether I am humbling myself before God than to check my heart in relation to other people.

We have said:

We must worship Him:                                               

•    by adjusting our lives to His presence.                           

•    by using our resources to honor Him.  

•    by humbling ourselves before Him.

After learning from the voice of the wise men, can we say of ourselves that we are wise?

The Voice of a Teacher

Luke 2:25-35

In about 110 BC, in Babylon, a Jewish child was born. He was given the name Hillel. He became an important figure in Jewish history and is associated with the development of the Mishnah and the Talmud. Hillel established a school in Jerusalem for the study of the law.^[1]

Hillel had a grandson, Gamaliel. We learn in Acts 22:3 that Gamaliel was the teacher of the Apostle Paul. Gamaliel was also the one who counseled the Sanhedrin to exercise restraint in dealing with the Apostles in Acts 5. Among Jewish scholars only seven have been honored with the title “Rabban.” Gamaliel was one of these.^[2]

Between Hillel and his grandson, Gamaliel, was Gamaliel’s father, a man named Simeon. Simeon succeeded his father, Hillel, as president of the school Hillel founded and was also a member of the Sanhedrin. Simeon was actually the first teacher to be given the title “Rabban,” and according to Jewish tradition he was filled with a prophetic spirit. Tradition also has it that he was rejected and lost his place and position because he spoke against the common opinion of the Jews concerning the temporal kingdom of the Messiah. As a consequence, there is no mention of him in the Mishnah and the Talmud.^[3]

Some believe this is the Simeon of Luke chapter 2. Those who oppose this view point out that Hillel was still living at the time of Luke 2 and that Simeon lived many years after these events. However, the Biblical account does not say that Simeon was old, and his saying, “Now let they servant depart” suggests that he was willing to die but does not of necessity mean that he was old. Another objection is that his son Gamaliel was an opponent of Christianity, but here again, it is not unusual for a faithful follower of Christ to have a son who is a bigoted Pharisee.^[4]

Being one of only seven in all of Jewish history to be given the title “Rabban” and then to be purposely put out of his position and left out of the Mishnah due to disagreements concerning the Messiah, makes this Simeon a likely candidate for being the one Luke is speaking of.

Luke tells us:

At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. (Luke 2:25-26 NLT)

Luke tells us that Simeon was righteous and devout. He also tells us that Simeon was eagerly waiting for the Messiah. Later, when He actually sees the Messiah, he says, “Lord, now let your servant die in peace.” These things all point to a man who is in conflict with the world. He does not fit in.  A righteous man will find himself in conflict with the world around him. Consider what Peter says about Lot, who was living in Sodom.

But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. (2 Peter 2:7-8 NLT)

Do you ever find your soul tormented by the wickedness you see and hear day after day? Do you find yourself in conflict with the world around you?

Sometimes you find yourself between a rock and a hard place. You want Jesus to return and put an end to evil, but you also desire your loved ones, your family members to come to a knowledge of the Savior.

For some, the pain of loss and disappointment is a burden that is hard to bear.

If you are eagerly waiting for the return of our Savior, or if you find the pains and sorrows of life sometimes difficult to bear, then Simeon’s voice is a good one to listen to.

Look with me at verse 25 of Luke 2. The NLT which I have been using says:

At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. (Luke 2:25 NLT)

Where the NLT says “eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel,” most translations say something close to “waiting for the consolation of Israel.” This is a significant choice of words. Another word for consolation is comfort. Jesus spoke of Himself as being a comforter. Isaiah 9:6 says, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given ... and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor.” This role of comforter or counselor is so important that Jesus promised:

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:7 KJV)

When Luke, who was writing in Greek, wrote that Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel, he used the same word that Jesus used when He said He would send the Comforter.

From ancient times God spoke of comforting His people. Isaiah 40:1-4 contains words made famous by Handel’s “Messiah.”

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: (Isaiah 40:1-4 KJV)

Simeon, as a scholar and teacher, would have been very familiar with this passage. I would be surprised if he did not have it memorized, and it was this comfort, this deliverer that he was eagerly waiting for. Comfort, encouragement and counsel are the reasons why Simeon’s voice is one we need to hear.

Simeon said:

I have seen your salvation, (Luke 2:30 NLT)

Proverbs says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12 NLT) While we wait for God’s deliverance or salvation, it is easy to become discouraged and heartsick. However, do you see!? Simeon says, “I have seen!” With his own eyes, he saw that for which his heart longed. It was enough. It does not matter how old he was. Now, he could depart in peace.

What Simeon saw was a baby. He did not see Jesus hanging on the cross. He did not see the resurrection. He did not see the ascension. He saw a baby coming to the temple to receive circumcision as required by the Law of Moses. What he saw concerning salvation he saw by faith. He believed God and like Abraham it was counted to him as righteousness.

I want to share with you what Peter said about being an eye witness. He said:

For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts. (2 Peter 1:16-19 NLT)

Peter, James and John were on the Mount of Transfiguration but he says in verse 19 “We have the more certain prophetic word.” (Berean Literal Translation) The phrase “we have even greater confidence” represents the translators’ efforts to make sense of what he is saying, but the KJV got it right, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy.”  The Word of God is more certain than what we see with our eyes. This is why Peter says, “You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place...”

Simeon saw God’s salvation in a baby because his life and thoughts were permeated with, marinated in, the Word of God. If we want comfort, we must first find it in the Word of God. Would you see the salvation of God? Then you must seek it in what He has said to His people in His word. It is in His word we see the promise of His salvation and it is by hearing His promises that our faith is established. Many in Simeon’s generation missed the comfort and the salvation because they did not believe what the prophets said. This is why when Simeon tried to point out the truth to them, they put him out.

In comfort, we also find encouragement. Simeon said:

I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. (Luke 2:30-31 NLT)

Do not let the devil convince you that this salvation is not for you. He will try. He will tell you that God has passed you by, that God does not love you, that you are too bad, too far gone, unworthy, but do not believe the devil. God prepared His salvation for all people and you are part of all people.

In comfort and encouragement we find counsel. Simeon said:

He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel! (Luke 2:32 NLT)

Jesus did not shine like a light bulb. The reference to Him being a light is a reference to Him making the truth clear or apparent. His light is the light of truth that brings salvation to the soul. Jesus said of Himself:

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 NLT)

As the most prominent teacher of Israel of his day, Simeon was placed by God to bear witness to the truth. As a leader of a people in bondage to darkness in an evil world, Simeon hoped for the deliverance and comfort of his people. However, he saw clearly and prophesied by the Holy Spirit. Luke 2:34-35:

Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” (Luke 2:34-35 NLT)

We have been talking about comfort, but this prophecy talks about people rising and falling and many opposing God’s work. It even goes as far as telling Mary that a sword would pierce her heart.

While Simeon waited for a great deliverer, he also understood from the word of God that not all would accept God’s solution. The nations still rage against God and not all will be saved because not all want to be saved. To become involved in what God is doing is to experience what Simeon, Mary and Jesus all experienced. Even Paul said:

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, (Colossians 1:24 ESV)

Jesus is in truth a Mighty Counselor, a comforter for His people. He is a light to the nations and the Prince of Peace. We must take comfort in the fact that our suffering is not meaningless. God is delivering His people. Right now, we see His salvation by faith, but a day is coming when we will see it with our own eyes. Christmas is an annual reminder that just as Jesus came in a manger 2018 years ago, He will soon return and we will, like Simeon, see with our own eyes God’s salvation.

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^[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillel_the_Elder (accessed Dec. 4, 2018.)

^[2]  Unger, Merril F., Unger’s Bible Dictionary. Moody Press, Chicago. 1981. pg 388.

^[3] https://biblehub.com/commentaries/mhcw/luke/2.htm (accessed Dec. 4, 2018.)

^[4] ibid.

The Voice of an Old Priest

Luke 1:67-80

Have you ever questioned if you have gone too far? Or, perhaps you question if a loved one has gone too far. Is anyone beyond reaching? When does God call off the chase and let a person go?

In truth, He always lets every person go, but He never calls off the chase. Romans chapter 1 describes for us how God turns us over to the lust of our flesh and its associated consequences. The Garden of Eden demonstrates how this works. God could have prevented Adam and Eve from eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. However, He did not. Creating them in His image meant that He gave them the ability and power to make choices. At the same time, God has never given up and discarded the human race. He came close. At the time of Noah, God destroyed all the people on earth except eight persons. Before and after the flood, God has kept for Himself a witness and a testimony to His love and compassion for the people He created. He never stops pursuing, wooing and calling to those who will listen.

After the flood, God chose a man and named him Abraham. God promised to bless all families on earth through this one man, Abraham. Christmas is part of the fulfillment of God’s promise and Christmas is a witness and a testimony to God’s great love and compassion for the people He created.

Today, we are going to listen to the voice of an old Jewish priest. We do not know how old Zechariah was. Luke 1:7 tells us that both Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were very old.

Zechariah prayed for his wife Elizabeth to have a child, and he continued praying, but in his heart, he gave up. He believed it was beyond hope. In Luke 1:13, an angel told Zechariah that God had heard his prayer. So, we know that Zechariah was praying. In Luke 1:20, the angel rebuked Zechariah for not believing what he said. So, we know Zechariah did not believe there was any hope.

Today, we are going to consider Zechariah’s song of praise, because some of us have lost hope. Perhaps you have given up on a loved one, even though you continue praying. Maybe you have given up on yourself. Some of us may have lost hope for a marriage or a relationship that has proven impossible.

Zechariah’s praise reflects God’s unending pursuit of His people and the great salvation He works on their behalf, on our behalf.

I have divided Zechariah’s praise into three sections, but the whole passage illustrates that God never rejects His people.

Zechariah and Elizabeth felt rejected. We know this because Elizabeth exclaimed, “How kind the Lord is! He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.” Zechariah and Elizabeth felt disgraced. They viewed their childlessness as a reproach, a sign of God’s rejection.

As a priest, Zechariah spent His long life representing his people before God. His praise to God reflects this position because the nation of Israel also felt rejected by God and disgraced. They were under the rule of harsh tyrants and a great foreign power. As an example of how harsh the tyrants were, consider the actions of Herod, who killed all the babies aged two and under.

Zechariah’s generation was not the only one to feel rejected by God.  Even to this day, many believe God has rejected His people. They reinterpret God’s promises to Abraham in an attempt to reconcile this belief with what Scripture teaches about the people of Israel. Zechariah’s praise is full of hope for the nation. His hope is our hope because it is built on the foundation that God will never forsake His people. No matter how bad it looks, God will never abandon His people. Jesus promised He will never leave us or forsake us, and we have hope in this promise.

When Zechariah’s tongue was loosed after his long silence, he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, praising God because of His salvation, His Covenant, and His light.

He first praises God for His salvation.

He says:

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. (Luke 1:68 NLT)

Let’s focus on the words “visited” and “redeemed.”

Four hundred years passed from the time of Malachi to the time of John the Baptist. These “silent years” represented a dark period in Israel’s history. There was no word from God, and the people were, in Jesus’ words, like sheep without a shepherd. Certainly, there were those who felt rejected, deserted and alone. This visitation from God meant that they were not rejected nor were they alone.

To be redeemed, the people had to be in slavery. Now, indeed comes a sticking point, the point at which many of us struggle and lose hope. God has sent a mighty Savior, just like Zechariah says in verse 29 of Luke 1. This Savior came as a fulfillment of God’s promise and was born of the line of David. He carries the birthright to the throne of the nation of Israel. However, He has never sat upon that throne on this earth. In verse 71 of Luke 1, Zechariah says, “Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us.”

This has not happened yet for the nation of Israel.

The birth of the Savior was not the completion of all of God’s plans. The birth of our Savior is undoubtedly the center point of all history, but history and God’s plans have continued for another 2,000 years so far. Prophecy tells us God still has plans to complete.

It is the same with us. When we accept Jesus as Savior, we are not suddenly perfect and transported directly to heaven. Receiving Jesus is the starting point. It is not the finish line.

Israel indeed will be saved from all her enemies, and Jesus will sit on the throne of David. But, Israel must yet undergo her most severe trials before her complete salvation.

What need is there for hope when we have what we wish for?

We all have things we hope for and pray for. We must always pray and never give up hope because God will never forsake us. The birth of the Savior and our acceptance of the Savior are both the beginning of something new, a hoped for and long awaited salvation.

Along with praise for His salvation, Zechariah praises God for His covenant.

In Luke 1:72, Zechariah says:

He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant— (Luke 1:72 NLT)

Let’s focus on the word “merciful.”

Mercy implies that they are not getting something they deserved. If you are familiar with the history of the nation of Israel, you know how often they rebelled against God, worshiped idols and were unfaithful to God. God sent many prophets and preachers to warn, correct and instruct the people, but they refused to listen. They even killed many of the prophets. So, should we be surprised that when God sent His only Son, they murdered Him too?

And yet, God remembers His covenant. He will keep His promise. They will be rescued from their enemies so they can serve God without fear, just as it says in Luke 1:74.

So, do you think you or your loved one is beyond hope?  How does your sin or their sin measure up against crucifying the Lord of Glory? We are all guilty and deserve the wrath of God, but God willingly gave His Son to purchase our salvation, to redeem us. Therefore, we can be sure that God will keep His promises. He always remembers His covenant.

Along with praise to God for His salvation and His covenant, Zechariah praises God for His light.

He says:

And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace. (Luke 1:76-79 NLT)

“Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us.”

No matter how dark the world gets, God always keeps for Himself a witness and a testimony to His great love and compassion. John the Baptist was born to prepare the way, as it says in verse 76.

The most remarkable thing is that verse 77 says, “You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.”

It was due to the sins of the people and the sins of their forefathers that they were in darkness, and yet God sent light. He opened the door with John the Baptist, who was to prepare the way. John lived in the wilderness and was an unusual character, even strange, but his message and preaching drew large crowds out to where he was. John’s peaching and the crowds he drew even got the attention of the kings and rulers of his day.

God always keeps a testimony and a witness for Himself and His salvation.

Here, in Zechariah’s praise, it clearly says, “You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.”

John made the gospel clear. His message was simple. “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.” People did not flock to hear John so they could feel bad. They rushed to John because John offered hope. John spoke of the kingdom of God and made it clear how easy it was to receive both the forgiveness of sins and salvation.

For a people who felt rejected, this message was exciting, new and filled with hope and promise.

This Christmas we come with the same message. It is easy to have our sins forgiven and to enter into the kingdom of God. There is hope. No one is too far gone. Zechariah was an old priest. He had seen it all, but when he realized that God had actually kept His promise, visited His people and redeemed them, he was filled with praise.

We too can be filled with praise when we realize that God has visited us and He has redeemed us.

May this hope fill your life with joy and praise as it did Zechariah’s.