Luke 2:25-34 – By Special Invitation – Bible study

Luke 2:25-34 By Special Invitation The Biblical account of the birth of Jesus is a rather limited story. By limited, I mean the actual birth of Jesus with the events immediately related to the birth only cover about 2 1/2 chapters. Considering the impact Jesus birth has on mankind and our eternity, that is not a lot of Bible ink. In those 2 1/2 chapters, there are only 9 or so people or groups of people mentioned. Just like God did not give a lot of Bible space to the birth of Jesus, He did not involve a lot of people either. Your count may be slightly different from mine, but it wont vary by much. God limited the number of people who were involved. Interestingly, most if not all of those people were brought into the event by the direct actions of God. We could say, by a special and direct invitation from God. For example: 1. The shepherds were summoned by angels on a hillside. 2. The wise men had a star guide them to Jesus. 3. Apparently, God hid the star just long enough for the wise men to stop by Herods castle and get him involved in the event. 4. The Bible says here of Simeon: Luke 2:27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple. meaning the Spirit of God brought him to the temple to be part of the event. Some of you know the way I think. I see something like that and I ask, "Why? If you are going to limit the people involved, why these people?" Of course, there is no answer to that question in the Bible, but I wonder if it was because these people demonstrate the heart conditions of most people. Most of us understand that our response to Jesus will be largely determined by our hearts condition. Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Lets look at some of the hearts of those in the Bible account and see what we can learn. I. The Innkeepers Heart Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. A. Interesting, not one word is mentioned about the innkeeper but I believe we see some things about him and see him in a lot of people. B. Such as? 1. This man had a busy heart. a. How do I know? Because his inn was full. b. It was the time of taxing which meant many people had come into the village of Bethlehem to pay their taxes. c. Even though people were much more hospitable in those days so that before the inn would have been filled, homes would have been. d. So this innkeeper had all of his rooms filled, whatever that number might have been. e. Is there anything wrong with being busy? (1) No. I think God created us to work. (2) However, in our fallen state, being busy presents some temptations that we must guard against. (a) We must guard against letting busy steal our time. (b) We must guard against letting busy steal our attention. (c) We must guard against letting busy steal our compassion. f. I will tell you now that I do not think this man had these problemsat least not all of themalthough I will save my reason for that until later. g. Even so, a busy heart has its dangers. 2. This man may have had an ignorant heart. a. I do not know for certain that this man was ignorant but it is possible. (1) Again, he was busy and busy people sometimes miss what is going on around them. (2) One of the things that tugs at me some is the fact that the innkeeper is NOT mentioned. (3) Id like to think that if God was born in my backyard, Id be there so much that someone would notice me. (4) Perhaps the innkeeper was not even aware of what was happening. b. Sadly, to this day on the planet earth, the number one reason people are not saved is that they simply do not know who Jesus is and what Jesus did. (1) Paul asked a question that should both shame us and motivate us to share Christ. Ro 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (2) Truth – Knowledge and ignorance do direct our lives. (a) They are not the only factors but they are factors. (b) Notice what Paul said concerning some of those who crucified Jesus. 1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (c) That is probably not a reference to the religious leaders. (Some of them probably did know who Jesus was and the rest did not care enough to consider who He was.) (d) Probably he was speaking of the multitudes that were so easily lead by the religious leaders. (e) Had they known the truth of who Jesus was, they would not have crucified Him. (3) Many will say at the Great White Throne, "Had I known who Jesus was, I would have accepted Him." c. Maybe the innkeeper had an ignorant heart. 3. This man had a generous heart. a. He may have been busy and he may have been ignorant, but the innkeeper was definitely generous. b. I noted some years ago that this innkeeper has been given a hard time for having no room in his inn for Jesus. (1) I understand the analogy of having no room for Jesus. I have preached on it and will probably do so again. (2) But the innkeeper could not help the fact that all of his rooms were sold before Joseph and Mary arrived. (3) As far as we know, Joseph had not made any advanced preparations and the man could hardly build another room on the inn in time for them make use of it. (4) But the man did give them the use of his barn. c. A good barn in those days did not lack many of the comforts of home. (1) They had a roof over their heads to keep them dry. (2) They had some walls around them to give them privacy and to protect them. (3) They had straw for their comfort. (4) I would suppose the man offered them some food and drink as they needed it. d. That is a good heart to have. C. If you take these three conditions and put them into one person, I believe you will get the heart of most people you and I know. 1. Busy, ignorant, and good. 2. But we have to add one more condition, lost. 3. It does not matter how busy, how oblivious, or how good a person is, he is still accountable to God for what he does with Jesus. 4. I wonder if he was too busy to greet Jesus, too busy to receive Jesus. II. Herods Heart Matt 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. A. This was Herod the Great. Herod will have a son, grandson, and great grandson that will rule parts of his kingdom. B. The wise men stop by Herods probably expecting that the newborn King of Israel would be in that very palace. C. There are several interesting facts concerning Herod and the birth of Christ. 1. Herod knew that none of his children would be the next king of Israel. a. Herod is the king and one might thing that the crown would be passed to one of his children. b. Of course Israel is under the rule of Rome and positions were largely earned or purchased during that time. c. However, that thought apparently did not even cross Herods mind. 2. Herod summoned the chief priests of Jerusalem. a. This is Jerusalem and these are the chief priests. b. That is the same city and the same group that will demand Jesus crucifixion. c. It may not be the same people for that event is about 33 1/2 years off, but they have the same attitude. d. It is interesting that the chief priests are there from the birth to the resurrection of Jesus with the same kind of heart 3. Rather, Herod seemed to immediately understand that these wise men were seeking the Messianic King. a. Herod didnt call in his army but the Jewish religious leaders. b. Herod knew the Jewish religion. (1) Herod was an Edomite. (2) But he studied Judaism and some claim he even converted to it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great c. Herod built a temple for Jews. To do so required some knowledge of the Jews. d. It is interesting that this Gentiles mind immediately went to the Messianic King and the Chief Priests apparently did not. 4. Bethlehem was just 5 1/2 miles from Jerusalem. a. Wouldnt you think that someone would want to go with the wise men to see if Messiah had come? b. Herod? The Chief Priests? The Jewish janitor? c. Apparently everyone knew what was going on for \#3\ said Herod was troubled and everyone in the city with him. D. Yet, for all of Herods Jewish knowledge, his heart was an evil heart. 1. Herod quickly devised a plan to find and kill this Baby. Matt 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 2. When that did not work, Herod sent and killed all the babies in the village. Matt 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. 3. This mans heart was beyond sinful indeed beyond evil and wicked. In some ways, he was just full of the devil. E. Sadly, this is the heart that so many have today. 1. We are all sinners. We can do nothing about that. 2. However, no person has to be evil and wicked. 3. Granted we are all fallen and our tendencies are to go against God, but people have to make the choice to go as far as people like Herod go. III. Simeons Heart A. Simeon was an old Jew that lived in dark times. 1. Jerusalem was a dark place by this time. 2. Matthew quoted from the Old Testament to describe it: Mt 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 3. But in the midst of those dark times, Simeon communed with God. a. \#25\ He was "just and devout." b. "the Hold Ghost was upon him." (This was before the Holy Ghost was given to the church!!) c. But not only did he talk to God, God talked to him! Luke 2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lords Christ. B. Friend, Simeon teaches us that we dont have to be like the world you live in. We can break the mold and be like Christ no matter what is going on in the world. C. Because of Simeons walk, God made him a promise that he would see the Messiah with his own eyes. 1. What kind of heart did Simeon have? 2. Simeon had a believing heart. a. Simeon had no proof that he would see the Messiah. He just believed God. b. Apparently, Simeon was old and his time was about gone, but he still believed. c. He lived in a world that was dark, but he still believed. 3. That is a believing heart. a. A believing heart may not always change the world or the people in the world, but it will get you noticed by God. b. God knew Simeon spoke to him. 4. So that when Jesus came, the Holy Spirit sent Simeon the invitation to come see Jesus. Luke 2:27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple. 5. Thats pretty awesome! D. Some of the heart conditions of these nine were similar. 1. \#Luke 2:36-40\ speak of Anna. 2. Her heart must have been of the same kind as Simeon. 3. She was a woman perhaps 100 years old or older and she spend her time praying to God. 4. She also heard from God and was apparently summoned by God. Luke 2:38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. E. Here are two examples of people with a believing heart that God gave a special invitation to meet Jesus. What kind of heart do you have? From these three hearts I believe I can say that if you have the wrong kind, you may not see Jesus even if He is very close to you.