Written by: Sydney Jones - Boys Brigade

Luke 2 v 22-24
When the time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the law of Moses taught about being made pure, they took Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. (It is written in the law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be given to the Lord.”) Mary and Joseph also went to offer a sacrifice, as the law of the Lord says: “You must sacrifice two doves or two young pigeons.”

Notes
We get just a few glimpses of Jesus’ childhood and young manhood so such references as exist are of particular interest. In this passage we learn that Jesus was the firstborn and therefore, under ancient laws, had to be presented to the Lord. When you think about it there is something odd about God’s own son being offered back to Him. Whilst Mary and Joseph may have had some inkling that Jesus was somebody quite special they probably did not realise just how special and, in any case, they were simply observing what the law said they should do.

Giving back to God what He first gave to us is not so strange. He gives us abilities and talents which as Christians we should offer back to Him as a way of saying that our gifts are at His disposal. Offering our talents back to God is a way of ensuring that we exercise them responsibly and unselfishly and it places upon us the obligation to make the best use of the talents we have. It is worth spending a few minutes considering the things we know we are good at and asking ourselves whether we are really using those gifts in ways which are pleasing to God.

As you approach the end of the year you might like to reflect on how central God really is in your life; is regular worship with other Christians given priority? Is religious observance an occasional enthusiasm provoked by a special event and quickly eclipsed by other activities, which take precedence?

Luke 2 v 25-28
In Jerusalem lived a man named Simeon who was a good man and godly. He was waiting for the time when God would take away Israel’s sorrow, and the Holy Spirit was in him. Simeon had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he saw the Christ promised by the Lord. The Spirit led Simeon to the Temple. When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple to do what the law said they must do, Simeon took the baby in his arms and thanked God:

Notes
We know very little about this man Simeon but he comes across as a good and patient man. We are told that he was godly and the Holy Spirit was in him and here he was, patiently waiting for God’s promise to be fulfilled.

It is often the case that the more eager we are to share our love and knowledge of Jesus the more impatient we become when others seem unresponsive. Nothing wrong with that but we need to remind ourselves that God will reveal His plans at His own pace and it is our job to be ready. It means keeping our senses keen to God’s voice and that means listening as well as talking. There is a saying that we have one tongue but two ears and we should therefore listen twice as much as we speak! Do our prayers simply bombard God with requests, instructions, and advice? Simeon was led by the Spirit to the Temple which suggests a state of mind receptive to hearing God speak.

God does not judge us by results so much as by our faithfulness. It means accepting God’s timetable rather than our own but ensuring we are ready when He calls us to a specific task.

Luke 2 v 29-32
“Now, Lord, you can let me, your servant, die in peace as you said.
With my own eyes I have seen your salvation, which you prepared before all people.
It is a light for the non-Jewish people to see and an honor for your people, the Israelites.”

Notes
These are probably some of the best-known words in the New Testament and will be familiar to many as the ‘nunc dimmittis’. What a great sense of assurance and contentment Simeon’s words portray. He can look back with satisfaction that God’s promise to him has been fulfilled. They are the words of a man at peace but they also recognise something which his Jewish contemporaries did not. The Jews had looked forward to the coming of the Messiah for many years but their expectation was for a Messiah just for the Jews. Salvation for all, not just the Jews. Indeed a radical idea.

On the last day of the year we often are inclined to look back to make an assessment of what sort of year it has been for us. It is unlikely we can look back with the sort of satisfaction that Simeon expressed but we can perhaps pay more attention to the high points of the last year than the times of failure. That is not to pretend that all went well when it did not but we can at least look back and rejoice at God’s goodness to us and thank Him for it So often we ask God for things in our prayers then fail to recognise the answers when they come. It is not necessarily ingratitude but perhaps a lack of confidence that our prayers will be answered. We need to learn that when we pray we must leave God to answer in the way He considers most appropriate for us and not necessarily in the way we think He should. He knows our needs more than we know our own so pray with confidence and be prepared to accept and acknowledge the answer when it comes.

Luke 2 v 33-35
Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what Simeon had said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, “God has chosen this child to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel. He will be a sign from God that many people will not accept so that the thoughts of many will be made known. And the things that will happen will make your heart sad, too.”

Notes 
A happy New Year! Whether or not we are the type to make New Year resolutions most of us will spend at least a few moments contemplating the year ahead. We may not be able to foresee the future but many of us know we face certain milestones during the year, examinations, new job, leaving home, getting married perhaps. Some potentially exciting experiences and others perhaps a little daunting. Now is the time to offer the year ahead to God and ask His guidance in the decisions we will face. Even more we can ask Him to help us be more sensitive to His guidance and more ready to listen to what He has to say to us.

The Bible reading today contains Simeon's words to Mary and Joseph about their newborn son. What he said must have puzzled them both. He tells them Jesus is God’s chosen child and that in his life he will exercise great influence over others. One can imagine Mary wanting an explanation but none appears to have been offered. She will, however, have often pondered on his, Simeon’s, words and probably recalled them many years later

On New Year’s Day it is right to look forward which as Christians we can do with confidence. God will surely bless us, God will guide us if we let Him and with God we face the future with hope and assurance. Christians are not immune from the ups and downs of life, disappointments and even pain but we have the promise that He is there to help carry the load. Let us face the future with optimism. This will be a good year – let us offer it and ourselves to God so that He may use us as He wishes.

Luke 2 v 36-38
There was a prophetess, Anna, from the family of Phanuel in the tribe of Asher. Anna was very old. She had once been married for seven years. Then her husband died, and she was a widow for eighty-four years. Anna never left the Temple but worshiped God, going without food and praying day and night. Standing there at that time, she thanked God and spoke about Jesus to all who were waiting for God to free Jerusalem.

Notes
If your church is anything like mine, whenever a baby is brought into the service for dedication (or christening) it becomes the centre of attention. Members of the congregation look on with a smile and in some churches the minister will walk up and down the church with child in his arms showing it to the congregation and demonstrating its acceptance into the church family. The new life brings a sense of hope in the future and an acknowledgment of the miracle of life.

Perhaps it was no different in the time of Jesus with those present gaining pleasure at the presentation of a new life. Mary would have anticipated that people would want to see the new baby but would have been very surprised at the reaction first of Simeon and now of Anna. Anna must have been well over one hundred years old so she would have seen plenty of new babies in her time yet she, too, recognised that in Jesus here was someone very special. She must have been a remarkable lady having devoted her life to God after being widowed relatively early in her married life to the extent that she actually spent all her time in the Temple. She was known as a prophetess and so her words would have carried special weight. If Mary and Joseph were not fully aware of their responsibilities in bringing up a child they certainly would have been after their visit to the Temple.

Luke 2 v 39-40
When Joseph and Mary had done everything the law of the Lord commanded, they went home to Nazareth, their own town in Galilee. The little child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s goodness was upon him.

Notes 
With their business in the Temple concluded Joseph and Mary took Jesus home to Nazareth and, except for an incident when Jesus was twelve, we learn nothing from the bible narrative about his life until he began his ministry. Yet these few words say a great deal about Jesus and his parents. They followed faithfully God’s laws which were both detailed and extensive. To follow everything the law of the Lord commanded would have demanded wholehearted commitment and such an attitude could not avoid influencing the boy Jesus. He therefore had a Godly model and so it would not be surprising that He, too, became devout. Even so He was filled with wisdom and God’s goodness was upon him. 

We all recognise the importance of parents in the development of a child but there are always others who play some part; relatives, teachers, youth workers, or friends. We may not yet be parents but it is certain that there are those on whom we exert some influence. A brother or sister perhaps, a younger member of your youth group, a fellow student, a work colleague or someone you may hardly know. Whether or not you realise there will be those who really pay attention to what you do or say. That is a considerable responsibility especially if it involves a younger person looking at the way we live our Christian life

“You are writing each day a letter to men,
Take care that the writing is true.
It’s the only gospel that some men will read,
The gospel according to YOU.” (Source unknown)

1 Samuel 12 v 1-5
Samuel said to all Israel, “I have done everything you wanted me to do and have put a king over you. Now you have a king to lead you. I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have been your leader since I was young. Here I am. If I have done anything wrong, you must testify against me before the LORD and his appointed king. Did I steal anyone’s ox or donkey? Did I hurt or cheat anyone? Did I ever secretly accept money to pretend not to see something wrong? If I did any of these things, I will make it right.”
The Israelites answered, “You have not cheated us, or hurt us, or taken anything unfairly from anyone.”
Samuel said to them, “The LORD is a witness to what you have said. His appointed king is also a witness today that you did not find anything wrong in me.”
“He is our witness,” they said.

Notes
Reading these verses might lead us to wonder whether Samuel was looking for approval or reassurance. After all he is asking quite openly if anyone has evidence that he has cheated them or acted dishonourably and the Israelites, who he is addressing, are forced to admit that he has not.

The circumstance in which this discussion takes place is when Samuel reluctantly stands down as leader and hands over to a newly anointed king. As Samuel points out, he has been their leader from a relatively young age. As leader of his people he guided them through difficult times including hostilities with the philistines but was let down by his sons who did not have Samuel’s high standards or his closeness to God. The Israelites became restless for a new leader and, in particular, wanted a king to rule over them. At first Samuel tried to talk them out their wishes but when God revealed to Samuel that he had chosen Saul to be King he duly anointed Saul and prepared to step aside in his favour.

Having served his people so faithfully for so long it is not surprising that he felt put out and perhaps hurt by the apparent ingratitude. He may also have feared that the peoples’ desire to be led by a king rather than a prophet might open the possibility that God would take a less important role in the life of the nation.

Is there a message in this for us? Perhaps we can ask ourselves a simple question. ‘Who is the leading influence in our life? Is it God or do we look elsewhere?’


word-on-the-web uses the Scripture text taken from the Youth Bible, New Century Version (Anglicised Edition) copyright 1993 by Word Publishing Milton Keynes