More Than a Baby

(Not Just a Baby)

I have just a few minutes this morning to share with you. The message title is “More than a Baby.” The story of Jesus’ birth is so familiar to us. We’ve heard the words of Luke 2, year after year. “

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world … And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth … to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And the shepherds got up, went to Bethlehem, and found the baby there.

This is the image of Christmas. We see the sweet baby lying in a manger. It’s the nativity scene. All the animals and the shepherds gathered. The wise men and their gifts, too. The light of the star shining down on the baby.

And those things did happen. They are true. They are important and unique in all history. The Son of God and King of the Universe stepped down from heaven, leaving all the glory and majesty of that perfect place, to arrive in a dirty, squalid stable and after birth to be laid into a cold and smelly manger. Just the fact that Jesus took that step is incomprehensible and unimaginable for me.

Knowing what would happen and what would be required of Him, Jesus chose to follow God’s plan for the salvation of the world. Philippians 2:5-7 is very specific about the attitude “… of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”

Jesus believed think that his position in heaven was something he could give up, that his position was not something he had to hold on to, that he had set terms for his relationship to God the Father. He willingly humbled himself and was born there in the stable.

In the same way that the image of Christmas is true and Jesus was born in a stable, Jesus, even though he was God, also chose to make himself nothing and to be born in that stable under those demeaning circumstances.

Let’s return to Luke 2:22:

When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons." Luke 2:22-24

So, they go up to the temple in Jerusalem from Bethlehem (about 6 miles). Jesus is now 6 weeks old. Mary and Joseph were too poor to afford a lamb, so they brought the sacrifice of two doves or young pigeons.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God … Luke 2:25-28

I love Simeon. He is one of my favorite people in the Bible. I’m not sure what the connection is for me. Perhaps, it’s his faithfulness - but also I think it is his joy.

Waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Lord’s Christ both refer to the Messiah or God’s anointed one. Devout and righteous Simeon is directed by the Spirit of God to go to the temple, and he does. Now I don’t know what he had in mind that the Lord’s Christ would look like, but many Jews at this time were expecting a “Return of the King” as it were. They were looking for the conquering king who would restore Israel to greatness.

I saw one reference that said scores of babies would have been brought to the temple daily according to the law of Moses, and then others explained that this purification offering could be given to a local priest and sent to the temple. Based on population estimates, I’m fairly sure there was more than one baby brought to the Temple each day.

The Spirit of God prompted Simeon toward the poor couple, Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus. While I don’t know if that was unexpected by Simeon, he certainly steps forward, takes the baby in his arms, praises God and speaks truth:

saying: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." Luke 2:29-32

Simeon’s words parallel passages of Scripture from Isaiah. In Isaiah 49:6 God says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth." God’s plan was not to bring salvation to Israel only, but to the whole earth.

Take a look at what Simeon said again. “For my eyes have seen your salvation …” What did Simeon see? He saw a baby, the person of Jesus. Jesus is God’s salvation.

Simeon also had a promise from God, what was it? He would not die until he saw the Lord’s Christ. What does Simeon say as he takes Jesus in his arms? “As you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.” The New American Standard Bible says, “you are releasing your servant to depart in peace.”

What would happen to you if you died tonight? Are you ready to depart in peace or would you be filled with fear and uncertainty? No one can depart in peace until they have seen the salvation of God.

Jesus himself said, “I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father but through me.”

We have all fallen short of the glory of God. No one is righteous or perfect enough to get into heaven on their own. The Bible says there is no forgiveness of sin apart from the shedding of blood. Jesus’ death on the cross paid for our sins and made the way for us to come to God, to get to heaven. Jesus is God’s salvation brought to the ends of the earth. He is not sent to a certain group of people. He is not even sent to righteous people. Jesus said about himself, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

What is He calling us to? Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Jesus wants to have a relationship with everyone. There is no one God wants to see condemned to Hell. Also, from the Word, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

If you have not made the decision to accept Jesus into your life, it is really very simple. We need to confess our sin, agreeing with God that we are separated from him because of our own sins. We need to repent of our sin and invite him into our lives. Romans 10:9 says, “if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” That is faith, believing that Jesus is the Son of God, raised from the dead.

In closing, I want to share a song titled, “The Voice of Truth.” This song may be familiar to you, but I encourage you to listen to the words. Those of you who know the Lord, I encourage you to take a moment and make a heart check. Are you listening to truth, or are the things of this world crowding out your devotion to Him? Is He asking you to step out in faith in some new or special way?

I don’t know what messages are coming into your life, but I’m sure it’s a constant stream. In today’s hyper-media, we get instant news, instant gossip, instant terror, instant depravity, instant comparison, instant anxiety, instant suspicion, instant insecurity.

If the news media had been there when Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the temple, what would they have said? No doubt they would have explained it all away, ridiculing the shepherds for bringing such an absurd story to their attention, mocking the “king” who was being raised in the carpenter’s family, for how could the salvation of the world come from such a humble and lowly home?

And yet, and yet, Simeon comes and speaks truth. He testifies: “My eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people.” Jesus is real. He is in plain view. We can all see Him. He is our only way to salvation. It is up to us whether or not we believe. We can have eternal security in Him. Take a moment and listen to “The Voice of Truth.”