Wednesday Evening Bible Study
June 7, 2000
Introduction
We’ve seen the amazing birth of the Messiah, a birth characterized by
lowliness and humility. Instead of being greeted by the world’s leaders, He
was greeted by lowly shepherds.
When Jesus was a month old, He was brought to the temple for both His
dedication to the Lord, as well as for the ritual that would cleanse Mary from
the ceremonial defilement that would come from childbirth.
When Joseph and Mary had entered into the temple courtyard with the baby
Jesus, a man named Simeon came up to them.
(Luke
2:25-29 KJV) And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon;
and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel:
and the Holy Ghost was upon him. {26} And it was revealed unto him by the Holy
Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. {27}
And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the
child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, {28} Then took he him
up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, {29} Lord, now lettest thou thy
servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
This man had been given the discernment from God to pick out this baby
among all the babies that had come through the temple gates, and recognized
this baby as His own Savior.
:29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy
word:
Lord – despotes (“despot”)
– a master, Lord; the focus is on the
master from the slave’s point of view, denotes absolute ownership and
uncontrolled power
depart – apoluo – to set free; to let go, dismiss, (to detain no
longer); to let go free, release; a captive i.e. to loose his bonds and bid him
depart, to give him liberty to depart; indulgently to grant a prisoner leave to
depart
Literally, “Now You are setting free your servant, O Lord, according to
Your word, in peace.”
It’s as if Simeon has been under the control of the Lord, under orders to
keep living until he sees the Messiah with his own eyes. Now he sees that his
Master is going to release him from this bondage of living.
:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Simeon sees this tiny, month old baby, as his own salvation.
Jesus would one day grow up and become the sacrifice for the sins of the
world, including Simeon’s.
:31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
to lighten – apokalupsis (“apocalypse”)
– laying bear, making naked; a disclosure
of truth, instruction; concerning things before unknown
Even at Jesus’ birth, it was made known that He wouldn’t just be for
Israel, but He would be saving the whole world.
glory – Jesus would be the best thing that ever happened to Israel.
:33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken
of him.
marvelled – thaumazo –
to wonder, wonder at, marvel
:34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother,
blessed – eulogeo –
to praise, celebrate with praises; to invoke
blessings; to consecrate a thing with solemn prayers; to ask God’s blessing on
a thing
:34 Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in
Israel;
is set – keimai – to lie; of an infant; metaph.- to be (by God’s
intent) set, i.e. destined, appointed. Interesting word, considering he’s
speaking it regarding an infant lying in his arms. This child has a destiny.
fall – ptosis – a falling, downfall
Perhaps talking of the fall that people
will take when they reject Jesus.
rising again – anastasis –
a raising up, rising (e.g. from a seat); a
rising from the dead
Could be talking about how God will lift up those who follow Jesus. Could
even be talking about the resurrection from the dead.
:34 and for a sign which shall be spoken against
sign – semeion – a sign, mark, token; a sign, prodigy, portent,
i.e. an unusual occurrence, transcending the common course of nature; of
miracles and wonders by which God authenticates the men sent by him, or by
which men prove that the cause they are pleading is God’s
Jesus would be a sign from God, doing things that definitely would lead
people to believe in God. He not only was a sign, but He performed many
“signs”.
(John
20:30-31 KJV) And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples,
which are not written in this book: {31} But these are written, that ye might
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might
have life through his name.
spoken against – antilego –
to speak against, gainsay, contradict; to
oppose one’s self to one, decline to obey him, declare one’s self against him,
refuse to have anything to do with him
Even though Jesus would be a sign from God, people wouldn’t like it and
would speak against Him. He always faced opposition.
Lesson
God’s work is sometimes opposed.
Not everyone is going to be happy about God working through your life.
(Mat
5:10-12 KJV) Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. {11} Blessed are ye, when men shall revile
you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely,
for my sake. {12} Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in
heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
(2
Tim 3:12 KJV) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution.
We’ve seen this on Sunday nights in the life of Paul. He had some conflict
with some of the people in Corinth who didn’t seem to think that Paul was
anything important. Even people within the church can at times oppose you.
Lesson
Respond like Jesus.
It’s very hard when you feel like you’re being attacked to respond the way
Jesus wants us to respond. We want to get into a “Three Stooges” kind of
fight, poking each others’ eyes out and slapping each other around.
Jesus responded differently.
(1
Pet 2:21-23 KJV) For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: {22}
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: {23} Who, when he was
reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed
himself to him that judgeth righteously:
I hope that this is the way we will all respond to things
that we might perceive as “attacks”.
Statement
Deb and I would like you to know that we care a great deal for all of you.
We are aware that there are some things going on in the church that have caused
some people to leave. As many of you are, we too are greatly hurt by these
events.
I’d like to encourage each of you to work hard at not being a part of the
gossip or slander that is going on. We hope that if you have questions or
concerns, that you would consider coming to us to discuss them.
I would like to encourage each of you, that if you hear anything negative
about anybody in our church, or that has left our church, that you
please stop the person from saying any more. I pray that we would refrain our
lips from speaking “evil”. Speak in love. Pray.
:35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,)
sword – rhomphaia –
a large sword; properly a long Thracian
javelin, also a kind of long sword wont to be worn on the right shoulder
shall pierce – dierchomai –
to go through, pass through
Mary is going to be a regular mother to this young Baby. She’s going to
raise Him. She’s going to pour her life into Him, just like all mothers would.
And she would be standing on a hill outside Jerusalem thirty-three years from
this time –
(John
19:23-30 KJV) Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his
garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now
the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. {24} They said
therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it
shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my
raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things
therefore the soldiers did. {25} Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his
mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
{26} When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he
loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! {27} Then saith he to
the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto
his own home. {28} After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now
accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. {29} Now
there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and
put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. {30} When Jesus therefore had
received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave
up the ghost.
Lesson
Blessing from pain
Sometimes we can get all excited about the blessings that God has for us,
but we forget that there will also be pain in our life as well.
For Mary, it wasn’t that her pain would produce the blessings, she would
simply have to go through it. Her pain would come simply because she loved her
Son, who would be the one bringing the blessings by a death on the cross.
For us,
Sometimes we too will go through painful times, and they aren’t necessarily
meant to produce anything special in us, it is just pain.
But even then, the pain can produce a good work in us.
(Rom 5:3-5 KJV) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations
also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; {4} And patience, experience;
and experience, hope: {5} And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God
is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
We could start at the end of the sentence and get pretty
excited about receiving things like love, hope, experience, and patience.
But they all come from the pain of trials.
:35 that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
thoughts – dialogismos –
the thinking of a man deliberating with
himself; a thought, inward reasoning; purpose, design; a deliberating,
questioning about what is true; hesitation, doubting
hearts – kardia – the heart
may be revealed – apokalupto –
to uncover, lay open what has been veiled
or covered up; disclose, make bare; to make known, make manifest, disclose what
before was unknown
This is the verb related to the word
used in verse 32, “lighten” (apokalupsis).
Lesson
Jesus sees hearts.
We may not ever be able see what is truly in people’s hearts, but Jesus
knows.
One day everything will be made clear.
Those that have been hiding things in their hearts will have their hearts
revealed.
(Luke 8:17 NASB) "For nothing is hidden that shall not become
evident, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light.
Those that have been doing things for the right reasons, but people
question their motives, this will all be made clear.
(1 Cor 4:5 KJV) Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the
Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will
make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise
of God.