Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40

Galatians 4:4-7, NIRV

⁴But then the chosen time came. God sent his Son. A woman gave birth to him. He was born under the authority of the law. ⁵He came to set free those who were under the authority of the law. He wanted us to be adopted as children with all the rights children have. ⁶Because you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. He is the Holy Spirit. By his power we call God Abba. Abba means Father. ⁷So you aren’t a slave any longer. You are God’s child. Because you are his child, God gives you the rights of those who are his children.

Luke 2:22-40, NIRV

Joseph and Mary Take Jesus to the Temple

²²The time came for making Mary “clean” as required by the Law of Moses. So Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem. There they presented him to the Lord. ²³In the Law of the Lord it says, “The first boy born in every family must be set apart for the Lord.” (Exodus 13:2,12) ²⁴They also offered a sacrifice. They did it in keeping with the Law, which says, “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” (Leviticus 12:8)

²⁵In Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was a good and godly man. He was waiting for God’s promise to Israel to come true. The Holy Spirit was with him. ²⁶The Spirit had told Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah ²⁷The Spirit led him into the temple courtyard. Then Jesus’ parents brought the child in. They came to do for him what the Law required. ²⁸Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He said,

²⁹“Lord, you are the King over all.
Now let me, your servant, go in peace.
That is what you promised.
³⁰My eyes have seen your salvation.
³¹ You have prepared it in the sight of all nations.
³²It is a light to be given to the Gentiles.
It will be the glory of your people Israel.”

³³The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. ³⁴Then Simeon blessed them. He said to Mary, Jesus’ mother, “This child is going to cause many people in Israel to fall and to rise. God has sent him. But many will speak against him. ³⁵The thoughts of many hearts will be known. A sword will wound your own soul too.”

³⁶There was also a prophet named Anna. She was the daughter of Penuel from the tribe of Asher. Anna was very old. After getting married, she lived with her husband seven years. ³⁷Then she was a widow until she was 84. She never left the temple. She worshiped night and day, praying and going without food. ³⁸Anna came up to Jesus’ family at that moment. She gave thanks to God. And she spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the time when Jerusalem would be set free.

³⁹Joseph and Mary did everything the Law of the Lord required. Then they returned to Galilee. They went to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰And the child grew and became strong. He was very wise. He was blessed by God’s grace.

Playlist song:

“O Come, All Ye Faithful” (United Methodist Hymnal 234)

Message:

Would you look at our tree? It is so beautiful. Remember when we began this Advent Season, and the tree wasn’t even decorated? There wasn’t a light on it. There wasn’t an ornament on it. But now look at it!

Remember when we began this Advent Season, we just couldn’t wait for Christmas to arrive. But while we waited, we created an Advent playlist of songs that reminded us of the true meaning of Christmas. How many of you listened to those songs throughout the weeks of Advent with your family? Did you listen to those songs on Christmas Day? I hope you did.

Let me ask you a question. “Was it worth it? Was waiting for Christmas worth it?” Raise your hand if you believe that Christmas was worth waiting for.

Today our Bible passage is about two people who were waiting a long time for something to happen. Anna and Simeon were two people who worked in the temple. Both were pretty old, and they had waited their entire lives for something. They had waited their whole lives for Jesus! We had to wait only a few short weeks, and it was very difficult. Anna and Simeon knew God had promised to send a savior who would lead and rescue the people.

Simeon was a priest. God had told Simeon that he would get to see the Messiah, Jesus, before he died. It seemed that Simeon was waiting forever to meet Jesus, but then it finally happened. You see, it was Jewish custom to take a baby to the Temple. Mary and Joseph did take the baby Jesus to the Temple after he was born. God told Simeon that the time had come for him to see Jesus, and he knew just what baby it was. Simeon was so excited to meet Jesus! He gave thanks to God for letting him witness the Messiah. He even said that he was satisfied and could die in peace because he had laid eyes on the promised one. Another old Temple worker was there, Anna. She also blessed God and gave thanks for this newborn savior. Both Simeon and Anna had waited for years and years. Do you think they felt disappointed? (Allow children to answer.) No, of course not! They were so joyful and thankful that they had seen Jesus. Jesus was definitely worth waiting for.

As we look at our beautiful tree that we decorated throughout the weeks leading up to Christmas Day, we have one more song on our Advent playlist to hear. Before we do, I wonder if you had a very Merry Christmas. Was it full of surprises? Was it full of hope, peace, joy, and love? As you listened to the songs on the playlist, did you remember the true meaning of Christmas? I hope that, like Simeon and Anna, you weren’t disappointed, and the birth of our Savior was worth the wait! Let’s listen to this song before we pray.

O come, all ye faithful, joyful, and triumphant
O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem
O come and behold him, born the King of angels

O come, let us adore him
O come, let us adore him
O come, let us adore him
Christ the Lord

O come, all ye faithful
O come, all ye faithful
O come, all ye faithful to Bethlehem

O sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation
O come, o come ye to Bethlehem
O come and behold him, born the King of angels

O come, let us adore him
O come, let us adore him
O come, let us adore him
Christ the Lord

This song reminds us that we all should come and adore the newborn king, our Savior, Christ the Lord! We have learned a lot about the true meaning of Christmas. My prayer is that you keep this feeling that you have right now with you all year long.

Let’s pray.

Prayer:

God of Hope. God of Peace. God of Joy. God of Love. God of surprises. The good news of Christmas is so big that we can never really be ready for it. Fill us with wonder at the great joy of Jesus’ birth. Amen.