Hopeful Expectations
Anthony Connington
Focus: Have you prepared your heart for the arrival of the Messiah?
Part 1: Setting the Stage
Part 2: Simeon’s Prophetic Praise
Part 3: Anna’s Testimony
Part 1: Setting the Stage
Isaiah 29:13-14 (CSB)
13 The Lord said:
These people approach me with their speeches to honor me with lip-service,[h] yet their hearts are far from me, and human rules direct their worship of me.[i]
14 Therefore, I will again confound these people with wonder after wonder. The wisdom of their wise will vanish, and the perception of their perceptive will be hidden.
Sometimes when you study Scripture, digging into the historical and cultural context of the time reveals insights you may have otherwise missed. We are going to attempt to summarize 400 years of history in a very short time. Basically, from the end of Malachi to the birth of Jesus.
Questions to consider: What was it like for God’s people? How did they prepare their hearts for the arrival of the Messiah? What was it like politically, socially, economically, and religiously?
Intertestamental Period
We see at the end of Malachi that God promised to send a prophet who would be like Elijah and turn the hearts of the fathers towards their children. This is like a … (dot dot dot) that is designed to show the reader that something, or more specifically someone, is coming next in the future. This was meant to lead the people to have a hopeful expectation for the long-awaited Messiah who would come into the world.
After the death of Alexander the Great, the world was thrown into chaos for several centuries. Wars and battles raged. Many factions fought for dominance and control. As Israel was thrust into these new realities, two notable things happened.
The First is what we call the Maccabean revolt. Many in Israel attempted to set up their own empire and use military might and political power to affect change. For a time, this revolt gained traction, and they were able to establish a momentary kingdom. However, this experiment ultimately failed due to internal conflicts and eventually the might of Rome would eclipse everything.
A second notable event to take place during this time was the Judean civil which broke out 93-87BC. The Sadducees were the minority group in this conflict, and they supported King Alexander Jannaeus against the Pharisees. The political infighting and brutality done in the name of religious correctness was unimaginably horrible. Jewish brothers fought and killed one another endlessly until finally a truce was called. All parties involved eventually looked to Rome to help mitigate a peaceful resolution. As a result, many syncretistic practices found its way into everyday temple life and worship of God.
Israel was fractured, politically, socially, economically and religiously. Fractured. This is the scene in which the Messiah comes into the world. God was moving and setting the stage to prepare for Jesus’ arrival, but by in large, those that were meant to receive Him missed what God was doing. Their focus and attention were divided and given to other priorities.
Now Let’s take a moment and look at the spiritual climate of the nation. How did the religious people live in response to the invitation to watch and look for the coming Messiah?
The Sadducees
They were very sectarian in their beliefs and practices.
They generally held high positions within the religious system and prioritized the finer things in life like gold jewels and the like as they worshipped.
They thought of themselves as the elite priestly class within Israel. This meant that they did not usually associate with those who were not in their own circles. They often secluded and isolated themselves from their own people.
They did not believe in a resurrection or an afterlife.
Pharisees
They were the majority religious group within Judaism at this time.
They believed in the Oral-Torah, which means they made the Torah divine. In effect, they elevated the status of the Torah to be God Himself. This is why so often in their pursuit of purity and holiness they developed and practiced other rules and regulations.
They rejected the virgin birth of Jesus and missed the Messiah.
Zealots
They were known to be militant and radical.
By any means necessary they attempted to inaugurate the coming of God’s kingdom through their own efforts.
They had a misplaced trust in their own political and social efforts to bring forth change and in turn they missed what God was doing.
The Essenes
They were a very communal people who believed in the prophesies and lived with an expectation that the Messiah would come soon.
They commonly proclaimed the truths about the Messiah and were willing to tell anyone one who would listen, including men, woman, and children.
Early church fathers record that John the Baptist as a member from their community.
In Summary: The most monumental moment in the history of the universe, the Incarnation of Christ in the person of Jesus was about to take place in Bethlehem and most people missed it. Even with all the prophecies in His Word, the signs in the heavens, and the miraculous angelic visitations, most people still missed it. Why? Because they hadn’t prepared their hearts.
You may be asking at this point, so what? Why does all this history matter?
As we think of this Christmas season, in 2023 I venture to think that some of us are just like so many in the first century who missed out on what God was doing. Some of us are much like the Sadducees. We may not have an error in our doctrine about the resurrection, but our hearts are still far from Him. Maybe Christmas has become all about our own families. Maybe our focus has turned to be all about me and mine. Maybe we have lost our ability to see outside of our own situations and look at what God might be trying to do in and through you right now, today. Maybe we have been struggling as of late and our reaction to the pain and suffering in our life is to isolate and segregate ourselves out of community. In doing so we are missing the Messiah. We are missing out on all that Jesus wants to bring into your life this Christmas season.
Maybe we are like the Pharisees. Maybe Christmas for you is all about tradition. Maybe for you things need to be a certain way. The food served and cooked at the right time, and the schedule and timing must be just right. Maybe the hustle and bustle of our own lives have gotten in the way of what is truly most important. Could it be that all the distractions of this season have gotten us off course. Maybe we have forgotten to just take a moment to just breath and bask in the presence and light of Jesus. Have we taken a moment to pause and reflect on what a gift God has given us through the incarnation. Or have we legislated out the presence of God through our own rules, expectations, and traditions? Have we taken a moment to behold the face of God to find life anew this Christmas season?
Or maybe we feel like we are in a war and this Christmas is has been hard for you to find peace. Maybe we are not as radical as the zealots, but maybe the weapons of our warfare have become our words. Maybe our words have cut deep and have caused great damage. Maybe we have neglected to speak the things of God into our lives and encouragement is far from our lips. Could it be that we have forgotten that our words help shape and change the perspective of the realities of our situations? Our words have the power to bring healing and life this Christmas. Maybe much like the zealots, we have misplaced our trust. Maybe we are looking to our strength, our own understanding, or our own effort to create the change we so desire to see. Maybe we have a misplaced trust in someone or something else outside of the person of Christ alone.
Or could it be that some of us are like the Essenes, we have been faithfully serving God in every season. We have given ourselves over to His service and have answered the call on our lives with great passion and zeal. But maybe for some of us this Christmas we are feeling the weariness of life creep up into your soul. Maybe the everyday rhythms of life have tired you out. Though we have great affection for the Lord Jesus, we are just feeling weary. Let me encourage you…Breakthrough is coming. The Light of Christ is coming. Just like Christmas morning so many years ago, the promises of God will be fulfilled. He did it back then, and He will do it again for us today. Do not give up. Keep pressing, Keep believing. New and days are ahead.
Part 2: Simeon’s Prophetic Praise
Luke 2:25-35
25 There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said, 29 Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation. 31 You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples— 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles[m] and glory to your people Israel. 33 His father and mother[n] were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary, “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed[o]— 35 and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts[p] of many hearts may be revealed.”
Simeon was watchful.
He had an expectation for God to show up and fulfill his promises.
He understood the moment in which he lived and didn’t miss the opportunity.
Simeon was guided by the Holy Spirit
He had an intimate walk with God.
He opened Himself up to receive form God, He listened well.
He longed for God’s presence and excitedly beheld the face of God.
Simeon spoke forth God’s Word
He accurately assessed the times in which he lived and boldly proclaimed the truth of the Messiah into the culture around Him.
He encouraged Mary with a word that would later sustain her in her darkest moment and in her deepest pain.
Questions: Have you positioned yourself this Christmas season to receive from God all that He desires to give you? Have you postured your heart to be guided by the Holy Spirit or do you run the show in your own life? Are you speaking the Word boldly into your life and using it to encourage and build up others around you?
Part 3: Anna’s Testimony
Luke 2:36-38
36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,[q] 37 and was a widow for eighty-four years.[r] She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. 38 At that very moment,[s] she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.[t]
Anna was faithful with her commitments.
Anna noticed God’s movement in the moment.
Anna praised God and gave thanks for all He was doing.
Anna spoke about Jesus to all those who were looking forward to His coming
Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher