Called to Witness
Who can you believe? It’s difficult in our culture to find integrity and credibility when listening to people tell their stories. Is the athlete telling the truth about steroid use or is he lying? Does the politician really believe abortion is murder or is he just saying that to get elected? Can anyone verify what’s being reported? Indeed, much of our news and information is created by journalist, politicians, and people who have a personal agenda. But what about the story of the birth of Jesus Christ? Are the people whom Luke wrote about credible? Is their story true? The answer is yes! The Christmas story is filled with witnesses. A witness is someone who declares publicly what he has seen or experienced. In the court setting, a witness helps verify or refute what someone is claiming to be true or false. God used witnesses in the nation of Israel to accomplish His work (Deuteronomy 19:15). God used witnesses throughout history to accomplish His work on earth from His birth to His resurrection (John 1:7-8; Luke 24:45-48). If you are a Christian, you are called to witness the wonderful story of Christ’s birth, death, resurrection, ascension, and soon return. Do you find it difficult at times to be a faithful witness for Jesus Christ? If so, our lesson today presents the faithfulness of the young parents of Jesus Christ, Mary and Joseph, and their testimony of character and obedience. Also, our lesson presents the faithfulness of Simeon, who after a long period of waiting for the Messiah gave a testimony of the importance of the birth of Christ to both Jew and Gentile. May the witness of Mary, Joseph and Simeon encourage each of us to answer the call to witness. The Testimony of Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:21-24) “They” in Luke 2:22 refer to Mary and Joseph. Luke removes any doubt or suspicion concerning the identity or honesty of Jesus’ parents as he records their actions “eight days” (Luke 2:21) after His birth. Luke wants his readers to know that Mary and Joseph can be believed. Their devotion to follow the will of God in everything pertaining to their new born son gives credibility to the claims of Christ. No one could ask Jesus, “If you’re the Son of God, why didn’t your parents…?” Mary and Joseph didn’t leave any act of obedience unmet or any requirement unfulfilled. What a great witness! Mary was a righteous woman (Luke 1:6-47). Mary referred to God as “Savior,” indicating that she recognized her own need of a Savior, and that she knew the true God as her Savior. She is using the language of someone whose only hope for salvation is God’s grace. Joseph was a just man (Matthew 1:19). That means he was “right with God.” Joseph was viewed as an Old Testament saint. It meant he had moral standards by which he lived. That was notable at this particular time in history because most Jews were out of step with God’s righteous plan and God’s requirement. It was uncommon to find a “righteous man” during the time of Jesus’ birth. Question: Do you have a testimony of biblical character? If not, your witness of Jesus Christ will not have an impact on a lost world. When Mary and Joseph spoke and followed God’s requirement, it gave power and believability to their testimony of the Christ child. First, Mary and Joseph obeyed in having Christ circumcised (Luke 2:21). The Law of Moses prescribed that the parents of male babies were to be circumcised on the “eighth” day (Leviticus 12:3). Circumcision is the cutting away of the foreskin of the male reproductive organ. It was a sign and symbol of God’s covenant with Abraham. The act of circumcision symbolized the need for spiritual cleansing. Every time Jewish parents brought a son to be circumcised, it was a reminder of original sin, that they were sinners. That’s why the Bible commands us to circumcise our hearts (Romans 2:28-29; Colossians 2:11). But why did Jesus, the sinless Son of God need to be circumcised? Because that’s what God’s law required (Galatians 4:4; Matthew 5:17). “His name was called JESUS” (Luke 2:21) indicates that Jesus was formally named during the circumcision. “Jesus” is the New Testament equivalent of the Hebrew name “Joshua” and means “Yahweh (God) saves.” Joshua, Moses’ successor, was a great deliverer but Jesus was a far greater Deliverer than Joshua. Joseph and Mary testified Who Jesus was and what He came to do by the name they gave Him. Note: Jesus entered the world and lived as an obedient child, young adult, and adult under the Law. He lived an entire life of perfection so that on the cross the Father could credit His Son’s perfect life to the sinner’s account. At Calvary, God treated Jesus as if he had lived your life so He could treat you as if you had lived Jesus’ life! Second, Mary and Joseph obeyed in presenting Jesus to the Lord (Luke 2:22-24). The word “Lord” is used three times in verses 22 and 23. Mary could not come to the temple for a set time until her “days of purification” (Luke 2:22) was over. According to the Law of Moses, a Jewish woman is ceremonially unclean for 7 days after she gives birth to a son (Leviticus 12:2-4). On the “eighth day” (Luke 2:21), she is to have the baby circumcised. Then she is to remain in seclusion for 6 weeks. Once Mary’s “days of purification” were over, she was to take Jesus “to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord” (Luke 2:22). While there was great joy in having a son, it was a bitter sweet purification period which reminded the mother and her family that they were sinners and needed to be cleansed before coming into God’s presence. Mary, a righteous woman, followed God’s original pattern for offering and sacrifices for her purification (Leviticus 12:6-8). If she and Joseph had been wealthy, she could have brought a lamb and a bird for an offering. But instead, she brought “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:24). Their offering reminds us that Jesus Christ was born in a humble home of poverty and meager means (2 Corinthians 8:9). Oh how this strikes a death blow to the health and wealth gospel being preached across our land today! Jesus experienced humanities hardships from conception to resurrection and the false doctrine and teaching that Christ came to this world to make everybody rich and healthy is inconsistent with the doctrine of Christ and the doctrine of salvation. The sacrifice for Mary’s purification was a wonderful picture that looked ahead to her Son’s final sacrifice, which alone can remove sin. When the priest offered Mary’s sacrifice nothing happened in the temple. But when Mary’s Son offered Himself at Calvary, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom (Matthew 27:50-51). Never again would defiled sinners such as Mary need to deal with ceremonial uncleanness. Can you witness to that truth today? Because of Mary and Joseph’s faithful witness, we also can know that the child born in Bethlehem was and is the Son of God. He is the Savior of the world who will forgive and cleanse every sinner who calls upon His name. Can you witness to that truth today? The Testimony of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35) Simeon’s presence is seen in the words “There was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon…” (Luke 2:25). That is an encouraging statement. “Simeon” was not a priest or Levite, but just a “man” who had the privilege of calling God’s people to prayer and worship. Simeon is not mentioned anywhere else in Scripture. “Waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25) means he was waiting for the Messiah. He is expecting God to save His people. Simeon was a “just and devout” man. That means he stood apart from the low morals of his day. “Devout” means he had reverence for deity. Doctor Stephen Olford commenting on Luke 2:25 said, “Simeon was a man horizontally right with man and vertically right with God.” When any man is open to the work of the Holy Spirit as was Simeon, he will be a “just and devout” man. Because “death” is mentioned in this text we assume Simeon was an old man. Some commentators suggest he was near 100 years of age although that is only speculation. If Simeon was an aged man, then it parallels beautifully with the young parents of Jesus who also gave testimony to the Christ child. We should be witnesses of Jesus Christ in our youth as well as our old age. Simeon’s promise is recorded in Luke 1:26 in the words “revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost. Before Christ was born, the “Holy Ghost” visited Simeon and promised “that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26). What does a man do with such a promise? Well, Simeon believed God. He believed the answer wasn’t in Rome or religion. The solution was in the coming Messiah. The testimony and witness of Simeon was based upon his expectation of Christ (Luke 2:25-28). On the day Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple (Luke 2:27), Simeon, still being led “by the Spirit” (Luke 2:27) noticed Mary and Joseph and the young child. Simeon “took him up in his arms, and blessed God…” (Luke 2:27). Before Christ had spoken His first words, taken His first steps, performed His first miracle, died or resurrected, Simeon received Him and accepted Him as Savior. Simeon saw beyond the baby, and seen God! Question: Have you received Christ? It takes faith to receive Christ. Faith believes God keeps His promises. Faith believes that everything God promised He fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Can you witness to that truth today? Simeon’s praise followed the wonderful promise of Messiah and is recorded in Luke 2:28-35. It is a touching expression of Simeon’s extraordinary faith. Now that Simeon has “seen thy salvation” (Luke 2:30), he is ready to “depart in peace” (Luke 2:29). “Seen thy salvation” (Luke 2:30) means that Simeon saw the meaningfulness of Christ as Savior and Lord. It means Simeon realized that the coming of Christ into the world was more than an event on the calendar or just some insignificant moment in Jewish history. Do you realize that Christ’s birth is more than a holiday or more than a seasonal celebration? Can you witness to that truth today? “Depart” (Luke 2:29) is from the Greek word that means “release a prisoner, untie a ship, take down a tent, unyoke oxen.” Luke is saying that when a man receives Christ as Savior and Lord he is like a prisoner set free or a ship that has been loosed from the dock and is now setting sail for another shore. Can you witness to that truth today? Have you truly been set free by the saving grace of Jesus Christ? Simeon had truly seen God’s “salvation” (Luke 2:30). He has seen the child through whom deliverance will come. This “salvation” has been “prepared before the face of all people” (Luke 2:31). “All people” (Luke 2:31) means all nations, tongues, and tribes, of both Jew and Gentile (Luke 2:32; Revelation 7:9). Jesus Christ will “lighten the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32) which means He will penetrate the darkness of sin and alienation from God. Jesus Christ will also be “the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2:32) which means that nothing will mean more to the nation of Israel than the birth of Messiah. Mary and Joseph “marveled” (Luke 2:33) at Simeon’s words concerning Jesus. “Marveled” (Luke 2:33) meant that were amazed at what Simeon had said. Their reaction prompted Simeon’s prophecy in Luke 2:34-35. Is it possible that Simeon caught a glimpse of Mary’s face and detected the sorrow she would face when her son would suffer and die? We don’t know for sure, but Simeon “blessed” both Mary and Joseph which means he had something special to say to them. “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against…” (Luke 2:34). The “fall and rising of many in Israel” has reference to the fact that Christ is a stumbling stone to those who reject Him (1 Peter 2:8). However, those who receive Him are raised up (Ephesians 2:6). “And for a sign which shall be spoken against” (Luke 2:34) refer to the verbal insults and verbal assaults that will be directed toward Christ, but the expression actually embraced Israel’s rejection, hatred, and coming crucifixion of Christ. Simeon’s prophecy revealed that there would be dark days for this child he had held in his arms. As great as Mary’s joy was at Jesus’ birth, her sorrow would be equally as deep or deeper. “A sword shall pierce through thy own soul also: that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:35) was undoubtedly a reference to the personal grief Mary would endure as she watched her son die in agony for the sins of the world (John 19:25). Through Jesus’ death, “…the thoughts of many hearts” would be revealed. The rejection of the Messiah would reveal the true condition of the hearts of many in Israel. Still today, people sing Christmas carols, exchange gifts and well wishes of joy, but by New Year’s Day they take the Lord’s name in vain and cannot give witness to God’s saving grace. Truly the “hearts of many” is still being revealed. They need our witness. Conclusion Christians, like Mary, Joseph, and Simeon are called to witness. The witness of these three is not debatable or deniable. Witnessing is a vital part of faith, and the world needs to know what Mary, Joseph, and Simeon experienced. But more importantly, the world needs to know what you have experienced. Can you witness to that truth today? Amen. |