We all have:A Past that we must faceA Present that needs embracedA Future that is full of graceA Redemption received by faith

A Redemption received by faith

“‘If I could work my will,’ said Scrooge indignantly, ‘every idiot who goes about with

“Merry Christmas” on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake

of holly through his heart. He should!’” Ebenezer Scrooge

“Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! A squeezing,

wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner!”

A Christmas Carol

A Story of Redemption

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will leave in the Past,

the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut

out the lessons that they teach.” Ebenezer Scrooge

“Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who

did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, as good a man as the good old city knew, or any other

good old city, town, or borough in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the

alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them.”

A Christmas Carol

Luke2:21-39,“Andwheneightdayshadpassed,beforeHiscircumcision, HisnamewasthencalledJesus,thenamegivenbytheangelbeforeHewasconceivedinthewomb. AndwhenthedaysfortheirpurificationaccordingtothelawofMoseswerecompleted,theybroughtHimuptoJerusalemtopresentHimtotheLord (asitiswrittenintheLawoftheLord,‘EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMBSHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD’)(Exodus13:2,12)andtoofferasacrificeaccordingtowhatwas

saidintheLawoftheLord,‘A PAIR OFTURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS.’AndtherewasamaninJerusalemwhosenamewasSimeon;andthismanwas righteousanddevout, lookingfortheconsolationofIsrael;andtheHolySpiritwasuponhim. And ithadbeenrevealedtohimbytheHolySpiritthathewouldnot seedeathbeforehehadseentheLord’s Christ.AndhecameintheSpiritintothetemple;

andwhentheparentsbroughtinthechildJesus, tocarryoutforHimthecustomoftheLaw, thenhetookHimintohisarms,andblessedGod,andsaid,‘NowLord,YouarereleasingYourbond-servanttodepartinpeace,accordingtoYourword;Formyeyeshave seenYoursalvation,whichYouhavepreparedinthepresenceofallpeoples,A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES,andthegloryofYourpeopleIsrael.’(Isaiah42:6,49:6)

AndHisfatherand motherwereamazedatthethingswhichwerebeingsaidaboutHim.AndSimeonblessedthemandsaidtoMary Hismother,‘Behold,this Child isappointedfor thefalland riseofmanyinIsrael,andforasigntobeopposed—andaswordwillpierceevenyourownsoul—totheendthatthoughtsfrommanyheartsmayberevealed.’

Andtherewasa prophetess, AnnathedaughterofPhanuel,of thetribeofAsher.Shewasadvancedinyears andhadlivedwith herhusbandsevenyearsafterher marriage, andthenasawidowtotheageofeighty-four.Sheneverleftthetemple,servingnightanddaywith fastings andprayers. Atthatverymomentshecameupand begangivingthankstoGod,andcontinuedtospeakofHimtoallthosewhowere lookingfortheredemptionofJerusalem.

AndwhentheyhadperformedeverythingaccordingtotheLawoftheLord,theyreturnedtoGalilee,totheirowncityofNazareth.”Luke2:21-39(NASB)

Two People Waiting for Jesus:

Simeon = CONSOLATION

2:25,“AndtherewasamaninJerusalemwhosenamewasSimeon;andthismanwas righteousanddevout, lookingfortheconsolationofIsrael”

Two People Waiting for Jesus:

Simeon = CONSOLATION

paraklesis (n.)meaningsomeonewhocomesalongside.Tobringcomfort,solace,encouragementandsupport.

“MayYourunfailinglovebemycomfort,accordingtoYourpromisetoYourservant.” Psalm119:76

“TheLORD isarefugefortheoppressed,astrongholdintimesoftrouble.” Psalm9:9

“Blessedarethosewhomourn,fortheyshallbecomforted.” Matthew5:4

“BlessedbetheGodandFatherofourLordJesusChrist,theFatherofmerciesand

Godofallcomfort.” 2Corinthians1:3

Two People Waiting for Jesus:

Simeon = CONSOLATIONAnna = REDEMPTION

Two People Waiting for Jesus:

Simeon = CONSOLATIONAnna = REDEMPTION2:38,“Atthatverymomentshecameupand begangivingthankstoGod,andcontinuedtospeakofHimtoallthosewhowere lookingfortheredemptionofJerusalem.”

Two People Waiting for Jesus:

Simeon = CONSOLATIONAnna = REDEMPTION

Lutron (n.)whichmeansthepaymentofaransomfordeliverancefromevil.Itisthepriceofrelease.Toberedeemedistobereleasedbythepaymentofaransom.

“InJesuswehaveredemptionthroughHisblood,theforgivenessofourtrespasses,accordingtothe

richesofHisgrace.” Ephesians1:7

“ForallhavesinnedandfallshortofthegloryofGod,beingjustifiedasagiftbyHisgrace

throughtheredemptionwhichisinChristJesus.”Romans3:23-24

“JesusgaveHimselfforustoredeemusfromeverylawlessdeed,andtopurifyforHimselfapeoplefor

Hisownpossession...” Titus2:14

“ForGodtheFatherrescuedusfromthedomainofdarkness,andtransferredustothekingdomofHisbelovedSon,inwhowehaveredemption,

theforgivenessofsins.’” Colossians1:13-14

Two People Waiting for Jesus:

Simeon = CONSOLATIONAnna = REDEMPTION

What are you waiting for this Christmas?