R sbc
Nov 7th 2004
Series: “ Jesus Christ The Sum & The Substance of the Bible”
Sermon # 20
Subject: “ The Rise & The Fall”
Text: Luke 2:21-40
Intro: In this message this morning I wish to show the great effects of Christ in this text that was prophetically fulfilled in so many in his day. The reality of this text is also seen in the fact that it is still being fulfilled in the time in which Christ has let me preach.
A little history of this passage is order to get the full impact of what is going on. Some have rightfully called the time between Malachi and Matthew or the time of Christ the silent years.
A time when the LORD said nothing, when there was no light, no prophecy, no prophet sounding out the clear message of the LORD and rebuking people for their sins. Like so many other times in the nation of Israel “every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Sounds like our time doesn’t it. The Lord Jesus Christ was born when the Romans ruled the world, the Jews were in that number. They were expecting Messiah to be born and to free them, not from their sins, but from their bondage.
If this is what Christ would have done, they would have followed no doubt their fathers in rebellion because they would have rather been in Egypt than in Messiah’s Kingdom. Once he was born a number of things occurred:
“ THE CLEAR PURPOSE OF CHRIST IS SET FORTH IN THIS TEXT”
I... “ HE WAS TO BE THE SAVIOUR “ LUKE 2-11
This was a clear message, it was a message that was sent down from heaven. Notice what it said in verse 10 “ Fear not the angel said unto them” this wonderful news of the Lord was twofold, it was a message of Joy and it was a message for all people” Through out the Old and the New Christ was to be a saviour.
Isaiah 49:26 And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
According to the account of Matthew he had a mission in life, not the one they were expecting but the one God sent him to do: “save his people from their sins”...The very name of Jesus= Jehovah is salvation. In the presentation of Christ in the Temple, a number of things took place. They circumcised him: verse 21, They offered a sacrifice: verse 24.
The waiting: verse 25
The revelation: verse 26
The direction: verse 27
The blessing: verse 28-34
This brings us to this subject this morning... Just what does this mean? Did it happen already? Is there something in it for us this morning? Can it be applied to any here this morning? I will answer these questions by the grace of God.
I... “ THE FIXED WORD OF THE TEXT: “ VERSE 34" “ SET”
What ever was to happen to Christ, whatever he was to do, it was already fixed. The word set, like the Jeweler “sets a stone” means it is not to be moved. The setting of Christ as the Stone would forever change the world.
Like the prophet Isaiah said:
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste...
Luke the physician said: Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
Nothing would change him, nothing would sway him, nothing would move him, nothing would prevent him from this set purpose of GOD in his life. He could have called ten thousands angels but did not...it was set in stone.
This child as he was at the saying of this verse would be so much to so many people, that was fixed and God would control all things so that very thing would occur on time so that it would not violate prophecy.
John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.Pilate a great politician did not see the great hand and purpose of GOD in his life at this probably never did see it. His wife said: Matthew 27:19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
II.. “‘WHAT WAS THIS CHILD SET FOR”? VERSE 34
Simeon was used by God to proclaim profound truth. This child would cause great pain and great joy in the life of many to come. This was no ordinary child, and yet as in the text he was subject to his earthly parents...verse 51
1st. He was set for the fall of many:
Listen to what Isaiah said about this very thing:
Isaiah 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Isaiah 8:15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
The great misery of a fall. When you was a child you fell many times, but it was disastrous to you because it hurt. Some have fallen before and brought death. These Jewish people was going to take a great fall. It would ultimately lead to their spiritual death.
Hosea 14: 9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
They fell at his wonderful preaching, they fell at his person, they fell because they did not recognized who it was that was speaking the words of life to them. They fell because they refuse to have this man rule over them.
Matt 21: 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
The bible gives some clear evidence that they fell because of this child. Lsiten to some of the verses that spell this out!
Luke 4:28-29 “And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up, and thrust him out the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
Judas no doubt is the one that stands out since he was a disciple of Christ. Christ fell on him instead of him falling on Christ. He was numbered with the ones that fell because of Christ...
Matt 26:47-54
Matt 27:3-5
Israel as a nation fell: Matt 27-25 “ Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us and on our children.
2nd. For the rising of many:
Beloved just as many fell, many in Israel rose because of this man. Christ came to save his people from their sins. It began in the house of Israel.
Matthew 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Not every Jew was lost, that is they didn’t realize they were lost. Christ came to call out a people for his name among Jew and Gentile. Look back at verse 32 of this text. What a blessing Christ came to save his people.
John 2: 47-51
The Lord in one of his sermons that he preached to Nicodemus used an old testament example that was shrouded with Jewish content. In John 3:14 “ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
John 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Listen this morning if you are saved then you are in the many that is spoken of here. The many is those that Christ shed his blood for on the cross. The many are those that hath been called from darkness to light, the many are the lost sheep, the many are those whom the Father hath given to him...
Look what he hath raised us up to:
1st. He raised us up to be saved...
Ephesians 2: 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace are ye saved.
2nd. He raised us up to reign with him:
Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Now understand we don’t fully comprehend this reigning, but nevertheless it is real. John said it like this:
Revelation 1- 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.