EBG Preken

Daniel Boyd
HARMONY AND JOY
Philippians 4:2-5a

A theme that Paul has carried since chapter 1 is standing firm (or standing strong).
As a general rule we are enamored with people, who are able to stand strong like that. Persons that are unwavered by the opinions of others, unmoved by the circumstances that frighten others and boldly charge ahead, whether that be in business, in politics, in family relationships, or middle of the jungle adventures.
A case study on disagreement
The unavoidable problem with standing firm is that sinful tends to get entrenched over things that aren’t a matter of separation. That’s what brings about the passage we are going to study this morning. Paul introduces us to yet another set of people that we do not know, but can learn a great deal from.
The Situation
Euodia and Syntyche aren’t getting along and their situation has reached the ears of Paul. I imagine Paul learned about their situation from Epaphroditus and not that their quarrel had become well-known throughout the Roman empire… that would be a bit embarrassing. We can surmise from these four verses that this isn’t too different a situation from what we still face today in our Churches.
Two prominent women 2a
The fact that these two women are mentioned by name indicates that they were well-known persons in the Church. In Acts 16:11-23 we read about Paul’s first missionary journey to Philippi and learn that he could not go to a synagogue first (as was his custom), since there were not enough Jewish men. Paul ends up at the river outside city limits and finds Jewish “women” that were gathered together on the Sabbath. Lydia is also introduced to us in Philippi.
In Philippians 4:3 Paul remembers that these women had labored together with Paul in the gospel.
Two strong opinions 2b
The matter of disagreement must not have been theological, for Paul would have laid that discord to rest by explaining which one of the two women was right. So this is a personality or preference conflict.
Two serious dangers 2b, 5a
Prominent figures have a following among people, so this conflict, though not theological, could result in people picking sides and factions arising in the Church. This is contrary to Christ’s design for the Church and the teaching that Paul has been laying out since chapter 1.
Secondly, verse five draws our (and their) attention to the reputation of the Church: let your reasonableness be known to everyone. We tend not to think of how fightings and disputes in the Church can look to the unbeliever on the outside looking in.
The Approach
Paul adopts a very direct and simple approach and we can learn from his example in dealing with conflict in the Church.
He faces the situation head-on 2a
He is clear about the problem and solution 2b, 3b
He engages the Church 3a

Paul names their names and does it in a public fashion (their disagreement has been public, why not their correction?). The goal is clear-cut: agree in the Lord. Paul calls upon someone specific to help these women get to where they need to be.
There is a question about the words “true yokefellow”in verse 2. Many translations for the word suzegos have been suggested, but since Paul has been to clear in naming all parties involved and goes on to mention Clement in just a moment, it seems perhaps best NOT to translate this word, but instead the capitalize the first letter and make it someone’s name. Paul called upon Suzegos to help these women.
When Paul adds the adjective “true” to this man’s name, he is entreating him to be true to his name… Suzegos means to “bring under one yoke” and so Paul is asking him to be a real Suzegos and to help these women to get into the same yoke together and be of one mind.
Confrontation
The Bible is very clear about confrontation in the Church and I would like to finish our study of God’s Word this morning by thinking about four Biblical principles in regards to confrontation. We tend to shy away from it, because we’ve seen it go awry too often, but confrontation is intended to be a loving process whereby fellow believers help each other to walk worthy of our calling in Christ.
The Principle of Confrontation
The principle is found in many places in Scripture, but perhaps clearest in Galatians 6:1 and Hebrews 10:24-25. We are told to consider one another, to look into the lives of fellow brothers and sisters and if necessary to say something. Sometime we can be blind to our own faults and we need faithful brothers and sisters in Christ to point out our blind spot.
The Steps of Confrontation
No passage is as clear as Matthew 18. Jesus Himself addresses this issue and instructs us to always confront one-on-one. If he doesn’t listen, you broaden to net and go with another brother or two, so that by the testimony of two or three he can be convinced. If he doesn’t listen, you broaden the net again and make it known to the Church. Why? So that all of the members may have opportunity to lovingly confront this person, so that by the testimony of the entire Church that person may see his folly. If he chooses not to listen to the Church, he has removed himself from the Church’s influence and authority and the Church responds in kind.
The Goal of Confrontation
The goal is always restoration: to save that person from their sin. Or as Christ puts it: to win that person. This process has become belabored because it has been labeled “Church discipline”, but it need to be difficult and heavy… it is simply intended to help in love.
The Sadness of Confrontation
If a person refuses to listen, Paul instructs us (as does Jesus and James) to let that person go, to treat them as not a part of the Church. Their going will result in their own condemnation (perhaps not eternal, but evidencing their own sin). They would not listen.


I want to conclude this sermon by pointing out one last thing about this passage and that is the ever-present sphere of living: in the Lord! Paul command us to stand firm in the Lord, to be of one mind in the Lord, and to rejoice in the Lord. How are we to walk? As followers of the cross… or constantly in the Lord.

Harmony and joy are possible when the Lord is our focus.

WE HADDEN TECHNISCHE PROBLEMEN. DE BACK-UP STAAT ER NU OP, MAAR DIE OPNAME IS NIET ZO GOED ALS GEWOONLIJK. MIJN EXCUSES VOOR HET ONGEMAK.

WALKING WITH HOMESICKNESS
Philippians 3:17-4:1

In the passage we will look at today Paul finishes out a theme that he has carried through the entire epistle. Allow me to give you a brief overview of the first three chapters of Philippians:
Paul’s thanksgiving prayer 1:3-11
A discussion of life and death and the gain of either 1:21
Walking worthy of the Gospel of Christ 1:27a
Stand firm in one spirit 1:27b
Jesus our prime example of humility 2:5-11
Spiritual examples - men worth emulating 2:19-30
Bad examples - men to avoid 3:2-6
Jesus our goal and prize 3:8-11
pursuing and grasping 3:12-14

Paul brings the worthy walk back into focus and starts connecting the dots in this wonderful concluding statement that introduces chapter four.

Paul draw a black-and-white picture; there are only two ways of walking. Walking is a euphemism for the conduct of one’s life and in 1:27 he challenged the reader to walk as a worthy citizen. Now he lays out two options:

IMITATORS OF THE CROSS
ENEMIES OF THE CROSS
Enemies of the Cross
Though Paul introduces imitating first, he explains enemies first in verse 19. Paul describes four things about those who walk this way:
Their end is Destruction
Their lives and pursuits don’t end well. Their gaze is short and their investment in temporary things. None of their pursuits have eternal value.
Their God is their Belly
Their worship is directed inward. Their passions and lusts are what they strive for and grasp. If it feels good, it must be good. This is the central ideology of hedonism - do what pleases you… whatever makes your inward parts tingle. It is this way of thinking - this way of walking - that leads to rampant sex, binge drinking, violence and homosexuality. As the writer of Judges put it: Everyone does what is right in their own eyes.
They glory is their Shame
They are proud of that which they should be ashamed of. That which brings feelings of guilt and failure to the Christian, brings a sense of accomplishment to the unregenerate man. They become proud of their accomplishments in sin.
They mind earthly Things
Does anything need to be said? They are not spiritually minded, but only think of things they can see and touch. “Show me the proof!” is the indictment so often hurled against us.

Imitators of the Cross
Paul then switches gears to “us”: our citizenship is in heaven. He draws a sharp contrast between this and the latter.
Our end is Eternal
Citizenship brings our mind back to walking worthy… as a good citizen (1:27). What a joy to already (as we sung this morning) have our passport stamped. We are registered in the heavenlies, our name is written in His Book of Life. All our investments have lasting value and our pursuit of Christ will continue beyond our own deaths.
Our God is Christ
It’s not what I want, but what He wants. He began a good work (1:6) and will accomplish it, He humiliated Himself to the point of obedience (2:5-11), He grasped us first (3:12). I no longer live for me and my passions, but I submit my passions to His perfect plan and will for my life.
He honors us
What He performs in me pales in comparison to what I could do in me.
He draws us by His power
His eternal power draws our attention and our gaze beyond what is terrestrial into what is extra-terrestrial. God is able to do so much more than what we can see here on earth. We ought not to be earthly-minded, but Christ-minded.

In 4:1 Paul brings back the verb he introduced in 1:27b: stand firm. This heavenly-mindedness, ought to make us stand firm now… we should walk with a healthy dose of home-sickness… we don’t belong here, we belong with Him.

And that brings Valentine’s Day into focus for me. I explained to my boys this morning that Valentine’s Day is a day when you tell the person you love that you love them… and try to show it. Guys… this afternoon, right? But how about we tell the One who saved our soul, ransomed our lives, traded his own, left His glory, reached for you, grasped your hand and has granted you heavenly citizenship that you love Him!

English Outline
Purpose driven living
Philippians 3:10-16

Paul continues his thoughts from last week. Remember? He’s discounted all his own righteousnesses, tossing them on a heap and calling them garbage. Everything pales in comparison to knowing and winning Christ.

Our passage this morning isn’t difficult to understand, but immensely difficult to put into practice. It is significant for us to understand this passage, however. And understanding this passage hinges on the two verbs that Paul uses in verse 12, so I want to begin our study there and then place these two verbs in their context.

I prefer the NASB translation of the verse, since it brings out those verbs the clearest:
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. (Phi 3:12, NASB)

I press on
Paulus uses this same verb in verse 6 when describing his former zeal: persecuting the Church. This word carries the idea of relentless pursuit.

I apprehend
This verb is better translated “grab ahold” and I tend to picture a person dangling off the side of a cliff, holding on to a shrub

Putting it back into context
What is Paul pressing on towards? He identifies it in verse 12. He has not attained perfection, but he presses on toward it.

It is fascinating to see how Paul uses "apprehend". Actively and passively... he apprehends and has been apprehended by Christ. So Paul wants to apprehend what Christ apprehended Him for.
Imagine us dangling off of a cliff and Christ reaches down and grabs our hand to save us. The picture is completed with Paul reaching his other hand up and grabbing ahold of Christ arm as He pulls us up.
Paul’s imagery is vivid. Christ accomplished the work of salvation and holds on to us, but we can choose to reach around for what the world has to offer with our other hand... or we take that free hand and hold onto Christ.

How do we accomplish this? Paul tells us in verse 14: forgetting what lies behind and stretching ourselves to what lies ahead. Pursuing the goal - listening to God’s voice from above - winning the prize. Don't get stuck in your past. If anyone could have... it was Paul: how many believers did he murder before he set out for Damascus? Was he haunted by the faces of Christians in the arena looking down the throat of a lion? I don't know if that happened, but Paul calls himself the chief of sinners (1Tim. 1:15). He left his past on the trash heap and turns to look for what Christ has for him.

The context also looks back to the verses we haven’t studied yet. What is perfection? What is it that we strive to attain? Verse 10. To know Him. To know His power. To know His fellowship through suffering. To know. To know. To know. And then he follows that with “to conform” - to follow His lead into death. Why? To be raised again to new life.

Paul instructs us to invest all our energies to pursue that for which Christ pursued us: eternal life. Relationship with Him.

Daniel Boyd
Performance Review
Philippians 3:1-9

Ever bitten your lip? Everything was great… you had plunged your fork into your next bite and encapsulated it in your mouth. Flavors were bursting in your mouth with every chew, all the while being mindful to eat with your mouth closed, because that’s how you were raised. Little did you know that keeping your mouth closed this particular time was bringing your inside of your lip dangerously close to your chomping teeth. And then it happened… in an instant enjoyment was turned to excruciating pain. Ever bitten your lip in the same spot twice? How about three times? I did that this week…

The subject this morning brings into focus the futility of biting yourself in the lip over and over and over. Let’s let Paul do the talking. He gives us three exhortations in these nine verses: (1) an exhortation to be happy, (2) an exhortation to be aware, and (3) an exhortation to be sober-minded.
I. Be Happy
1. Reconnecting the subject matter
In verse 1 Paul employs a bridge to bring us back to the main topic. In 2:17-18 he had already exhorted his readers to be happy -- in the midst of trials and among unknown circumstances.
2. Repeating the principle
Paul reintroduces us to a concept that is foreign to worldly thinking: Happiness is a choice; one that is made daily. No matter the circumstances, regardless of the weather, in spite of any sickness or misfortune - Paul chose to rejoice.

II. Be Aware
1. Pay attention, pay attention, pay attention
After lifting up two choice servants worth emulating, he turns to people not worth following and in fact verse 2 repeats “beware of…” three times.
I would be amiss not to draw your attention to the ABCCBA structure of verses 2-3 (see on-screen). He calls them dogs. I like my dog, Lola, but in ancient times dogs were the scoundrels of the street and were not domesticated, but universally hated. So in calling them dogs, Paul is referring to their rejected state.
They are rejected (2a), but were are accepted in Christ (3c); they are evildoers (2b) and we are servants (3b); they are mutilation (2c) and we are circumcised (3a).
Circumcision was an Old Testament rite that God instituted with Abraham to be an outward symbol of an inward reality: they were a chosen people - to be set apart from all other nations and peoples. Israel never really understood this and rather treated their circumcision, as one author puts it, as nothing more than a tribal tattoo. In Genesis 34 two of Jacob’s sons employ it as a trick to avenge their sister, Dinah.
God has never been interested in the externals. In Deut. 10:16 God instructs Israel to circumcise their hearts and in Jeremiah 4:4 the prophet implores the people to remove the foreskin of their hearts.
Holding on to circumcision as a rite of passage into the Church is like biting your lip over and over and over. It’s afflicting a superficial wound that just gets in the way of things.
2. Focused on performance
Paul basically says here: if you want performance, you should really like me - I’m the complete picture!
The right rituals
The right amount of Jewish (pureblood)
The right tribe (Benjamin was the only son born in the Promised Land)
Hebrew (he was Orthodox)
Pharisee (trained in the law)
Committed (his ambition was unparallelled)
Blameless (perfect performance)
3. Final Assessment
And his final conclusion is that it is all rubbish!
III. Be Soberminded
Paul’s everything formula: I count everything as loss compared to knowing Christ
Paul’s goal: Gain Christ.
He comes back to Philippians 2:21 and brings true devotion into focus.
Paul’s confidence is completely found in Christ’s inward work in the heart, not in an outward mark of the flesh.

Where are the godly Men? Part 2
Philippians 2:25-30

Repeat from last week: a year or two ago I attended a conference in LImburg where Henk Binnendijk was the speaker. He drew our attention to David’s lament in Psalm 12: O LORD, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.
Binnendijk posed this question: Where are the godly men? Where are the faithful among us?

Last week Paul introduced us to Timothy, his Spiritual Son in the Lord; a man who is like no one else in his service, devotion and theology. These men follow the challenge to be like Jesus (vs. 5-7) and he has cited himself in the list of examples as well. Timothy was raised in the faith by his mother and grandmother and exhibited great qualities of leadership. Paul is using these men to give shape to the truths he has expounded on and the challenges toward godly living that he has issued. Follow Christ is the challenge and goal; he offers himself, Timothy and now Epaphroditus as patterns of following Christ.

And after last week you may have thought “Timothy is well and nice, but he is still a man that I struggle to relate to.” Timothy was pastoral, he grew up in the faith and he was mentored by Paul of all people. This is why Epaphroditus is Paul’s next recommendation.

A PROFILE OF EPAPHRODITUS
I. Committed 25a and 29-30a
Let’s talk about his name first. Semantically Epaphroditus breaks apart as follows: “ep - Aphrodite - us”. The preposition “ep” is translated “from or because of” and Aphrodite “is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation. Her Roman equivalent is the goddess Venus. (wikipedia) Why is this significant? Christian parents would never name their child after Aphrodite. In fact, it is reasonable to presume that parents would have renamed their child if they had become Christians while he was young. This suggests that Epaphroditus was a first generation Christian, who was converted as an adult. He didn’t grow up in the faith like Timothy - he didn’t even grow up in the Jewish faith. He had been saved out of paganism.

Look at Paul’s commendation of this first-generation Christian in verse 25a and 29-30a. His devotion was to the point of death. Who or what are you willing to die for? Epaphroditus had made a deep commitment to follow the Lord.
II. Missional 25b and 30b
Honestly, I hate that word: missional. It has become over-used and hip, which kills a word. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t descriptive of who Epaphroditus was. He was clear in his thinking, committed to his mission, and complete in his service. In 4:18 we read about Epaphroditus’ mission. The Church had commissioned him to see how Paul was doing and bring a financial gift to him. To undertake such a voyage in those days was a commitment.

He risked his life to accomplish this mission. The stakes were high and yet he was willing to pay. Like Timothy, he is sold-out. He has crucified his own desires in favor of following Christ’s concern.
III. Compassionate 26-29
Despite his sickness, Epaphroditus remain concerned for the Church. Concern for Paul is what brought him to Rome and concern for the Church in Philippi is what takes him back. The word translated “longed for” (in the ESV) is used by Peter in his second epistle to describe how we should long for the Word like new born babies long for milk. Paul uses it in 2 Corinthians 5:2 to describe our longing for heaven. Epaphroditus ached for people and it moved him to act. When the Church in Philippi wanted to do something for Paul, Epaphroditus was the man who was selected or volunteered for the task (we’re don’t know which).


Two lessons from Epaphroditus:
He was just like you
He held nothing back

Who are the righteous men in your life? Who are your role-models? These men that Paul has offered teach us that following Christ is possible, attainable, measurable. You can do it too. What’s holding you back?

Where are the godly Men?
Philippians 2:19-24

The passage we will look at this morning is not earth-shattering in its significance. Paul does not give us great insight or theological gold nuggets in these verses. In fact, in reading Paul’s words, you may have dismissed them as a personal section of his letter that doesn’t relate to you. Yet these words teach us something vital to your Christian walk.

A year or two ago I attended a conference in LImburg where Henk Binnendijk was the speaker. He drew our attention to David’s lament in Psalm 12: O LORD, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.
Binnendijk posed this question: Where are the godly men? Where are the faithful among us?

As children we learn that imitation is an important way we learn. We look for people who have the skills we lack and they become our role models and examples. This principle is true in your spiritual life also.

Paul introduces us to Timothy in our text. This follows his treatise on the kenosis (or self-humbling) of Christ, which was introduced with “have the same mind as Christ” (vs. 2:5). I don’t know about you, but often Christ-likeness seems unattainable. That’s why this section on Timothy and the next section on Epaphroditus is important to us… it reveals that living with Christ’s mind IS attainable.

A PROFILE OF TIMOTHY
I. Timothy is Caring
Timothy embodies the single-mindedness that Paul has spoken of in the first chapter and Paul indicates that there isn’t anyone that shares his vision and passion like Timothy. Furthermore, Paul calls him “genuinely concerned”, which is used in 4:6 to describe anxious concern and in 1 Corinthians 7 as the concerns that a husband has for his wife. Timothy is genuinely concerned for the Church and cares about her welfare.
II. Timothy is Dedicated
There is a world of difference between Philippians 1:21 and 2:21. Paul exclamation that all of life revolves around Christ and a sad testament to the men Paul has known: most seek their own things. In 2 Timothy 4:10 Paul laments that Demas has forsaken him, loving the world. This brings us back to David’s lament in Psalm 12: Where are the righteous? Where are the faithful? Timothy isn’t one of them - he is dedicated to Christ. He is sold-out. He has crucified his own desires in favor of following Christ’s concern.
III. Timothy is Capable
Paul trusts Timothy and likens him to a child, who helps his father. He calls him trustworthy and appeals to his well-known character.
In Paul’s letter to Timothy we learn that:
he grew up in a Christian home.
he functions like a specialist
he works closely with Paul

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 4:16-17 to follow him… Paul lifts himself up as an example worth following and then references Timothy as an example to follow.

Who are the righteous men in your life? Who are your role-models?

ENGLISH OUTLINE
Daniel Boyd
First sermon of 2016

New Year’s resolutions are a thing. We tend to take the time to look back and reminisce on the year that just ended. Somewhere along the line you wonder where the time went. This in turn causes a sense of not wanting the next year to be wasted and then the resolution is born. Socrates is credited with saying “the unexamined life is not worth living”. But is it biblical to have such resolutions? I would venture to say that according to Paul it is.

Paul introduces a prayer in 2 Thessalonians… actually, he tells us about his prayer without mentioning the content of his prayer. Which is kind of interesting. As he begins, I would like you to take note of three thoughts in verse 11 about this prayer that should inform how you think about praying: Paul indicates this prayer is corporate (we pray), it is regular (at all times), and it is priestly or intercessory (for you). Not much needs to be said about this, except that Paul teaches us that we should be praying for each other with each other more often.

Tucked into the middle of these verses Paul draws our attention to a two-fold statement: every resolve for good and every work of faith. Now doesn’t that sound like a resolution? There is a work and a desire that God lays on our heart to accomplish. In Philippians we studied 2:13 which teaches us that God works in us both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Paul reinforces the work of God in us in this treatise on prayer in Thessalonians.

A. His Calling
Paul prays that God would make them worthy of their calling. God has been working in your life for a long time. Do you know that? God sent Christ to atone for your sins and then proclaimed a general call for people to repent of their sins and turn to Christ. But there is more to it than that… God also calls you personally. There was a moment when you knew it was decision-time… you knew you had to choose to believe in God or reject Him. That was a call. And what have been called to? To be fellow-heirs with Christ, to be ambassadors for Christ, to be light and salt in the world. It’s a high calling and Paul prays that God will make us worthy of that high calling.

B. His Power
Paul informs us what makes these resolutions possible: it is by God’s power. If change doesn’t take place in our lives and we continue to live in sin, it certainly isn’t because there wasn’t enough power to make the change. God’s power is behind it all.

C. His Name
Paul moves on to who gets the credit. All too often we are motivated by our own reputation and our own name. In this prayer Paul pushes the credit to Christ - that His Name would be glorified. Notice the partnership in this glorification of His Name: in you and you in Him. When He is glorified in us - that is: when His Name is made great in our lives - we are made great in Him, because our destiny is tied up in Him. When we praise Him and lower ourselves, we are exalted by God the Father.

D. His Grace
This work of God in you by His power and for His Name is called grace. Undeserved work of God in my life. It would have been right for God to leave me as I was in my sin and condemn me to an eternal punishment. Instead He began a work in me and is going to finish that work.
It is this work in us that leads to resolutions and works of faith that He desires to accomplish in us and that Paul prays for.

So look back at 2015. Reflect on what God did in your life. Then look forward and ask God to work in your life. Ask Him to put His finger on what He would like to accomplish in your life, to make you more worthy of your calling and more able to glorify His Name. This is His work of grace in you and for you; with His incredible power to make it happen. All He needs is for your desire to match His. Pray for it...

ENGLISH OUTLINE

Encountering Simeon
Daniel Boyd
Lukas 2:21-39

I. Obedient Parents
Being the devout Jews that Jesus’ parents were, they made sure to follow law and custom regarding their newborn child. I’m sure the fact that He was the Messiah and had been foretold in such a spectacular way caused this young couple to ensure they did everything by the book, so to speak. We read this in verses 21-24.

a. They Circumcised their Son (verse 21a)
Circumcision wasn’t just a ceremony - it signified this child’s belonging to the covenanted people and was an act of obedience on the part of the parents.

b. They Name their Son (verse 21b)
Naming your son isn’t a ceremony, but it is a significant moment, since the angel had told them what to name their Son: Jesus or Yeshua, which means Jawweh saves. As we saw two weeks ago, this moment is also significant for Joseph, because he is taking upon himself the right of a father. He’s adopting this child as his own.

c. They Complete Mary’s Ceremonial Cleansing (verse 22)
The Mosaic law prescribed that a woman that had born a child was ceremonially unclean for seven days and did not show herself publically for 33 days (Levitivus 12:2-4). Furthermore, we learn that they go to the temple to offer a sacrifice (two turtle doves) for her cleansing, which was the poor person’s sacrifice.

d. They Present their Son to the Lord (verse 22b)
The Mosiac law of firstfruits required them to present their firstborn son to the Lord - as holy. Holy means to be “set apart” and this wasn’t so much a ceremonial rite, but a very personal moment for new parents. Given Mary’s affinity for Hanna’s prayer, I imagine she was also quite happy to present her son to God.

All in all we are again struck by the people God picked for the task of parenting His Son. They were simply obedient.

II. Blessed Parents
This personal and private new-parent moment is suddenly interrupted by an old man. We aren’t told much about him, except his name, his character, his faith, and a promise made to him. Simeon. Devout and righteous (the same word use of Joseph in Matthew). He expected the comfort of Israel and the Holy Spirit rested on him. God has promised him he would not die before he had seen the Messiah.
This interruption is followed by a beautiful prayer of a grateful man (verses 29-32)

I imagine Mary’s eyes light up as this man confirms - in the temple at Jerusalem of all places - what she and Joseph, Zacharias and Elisabeth and some shepherds know: she is holding the Messiah. Israel’s hope. God’s salvation. (verse 33-34a)

III. Shocked Parents
As moved as she was by this man’s prayer and blessing, the words Simeon speaks to her are shocking: this child is set for the fall and rising of many people and will be a sign. This plainly speaks of the struggle and strife that will surround his life. Simeon addition of the warning “and a sword will pierce your soul” would have left Mary wondering what the future would bring. People weren’t expecting a suffering Messiah - even the disciples expected Jesus to depose the Roman government and rule as king.
As sudden as Simeon’s interruption is, Luke moves on to Hanna, who begins to prophesy about this child and tells many people about Christ.

Why this encounter? Why does Luke include Simeon and Hanna in his gospel? They stand as two pillars of the Old Testament - devout and expecting the Messiah. Luke draws these two into the narrative to introduce the proper reception of Christ. Simeon believed God’s promise and looked for the day that was promised. Now he had held God’s salvation in his arms and beheld the face of the Messiah. Hanna properly responded by telling everyone about Him

Simeon teaches us to trust God’s promises and look forward to the day when they will be fulfilled.