Lesson 2: The First Advent (Luke 2:22 – 38)

Context of the Study: Joseph and Mary had traveled to Bethlehem because of the Census of Caesar. Forty days after Jesus was born, he was presented at the temple (because he was a first born son) and Mary offered sacrifices as prescribed by the law for her purification.

In order to properly understand the second advent of Jesus (the “glorious day of the Lord.” Acts 2:20) we must first understand the first advent of Jesus, where he was born. This one scene of the presentation at the temple is significant.

Simeon was described as “righteous and devout.” He was waiting for the “consolation of Israel” (the prophesied Messiah). Because he was actively looking forward to the coming Messiah, God had revealed to Simeon that he would see the Messiah before he died.

Let’s take a look at the culture in which Jesus had been born. The Jews were basically separated into four main groups.

The Pharisees (and teachers of the Law) had developed a set of “traditions” which had externalized the law. The Law stated in Deuteronomy 5:14 “The seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work.” (NIV) However, the Pharisees further codified the Law – “you can only take so many steps before it is considered work on the sabbath,” etc. Trying to follow the rules was an unnecessary burden.

The Sadducees were typically in charge because they went along with the oppressive Romans. Rome brought a lot of advantages to civilization, but they ruled with an iron fist and taxed the people mercilessly.

The Zealots were a group that was against the Romans. They were typically more violent and ruthless in their pursuit of rebellion against Rome.

The Essenes thought the whole of society was corrupt and abandoned the culture (removed themselves to other places) as unworthy of interaction or engagement. Think of the Essenes as Jonah sitting on the hill above Ninevah waiting for God to bring His wrath. Although, to Jonah’s credit, he FINALLY did go to Ninevah to deliver God’s warning. (See the Book of Jonah.)

On the whole, none of these groups were really devoted to God. (Although there individuals in the groups who were probably devoted to God (For example, Nicodemus.) They may have thought that they were (just as some people today believe they are devoted to God). But their “fruit” betrays them. (Remember at judgment, “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:22 – 23 NIV))

From an end time perspective, it will feel like that Christians are “alone” and in the very small minority. Just as in Elijah’s time when he complained to God “I am the only one left,” God responds that “I have 7,000 in Israel who have not bent the knee to Baal (false god).” (1 Kings 19) Simeon was devoted to God and a remnant will always be devoted to God even when it seems “I am the only one left.”

Also, Simeon was prompted by the Holy Spirit to go to the temple the day that Jesus is presented. Simeon, through the actions of the Holy Spirit, recognizes Jesus as the Messiah and praises God. Isn’t it interesting that the priest to whom Jesus was presented did not have that same epiphany? If he had, I’m sure that it would have been recorded.

Simeon’s song (known as the “Nuns Dimittis” in Latin says:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
    you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29 – 32 NIV from biblegateway.com)

So the song is very straightforward. First, Simeon knows that he can now die, but he is not fearful of death because he knows it is a gateway to eternity with God. Second, Jesus is the salvation of people from their sins (and not the Romans which were the oppressive civilian authority of that day). Finally, Jesus salvation was for the whole world and not just for the Jews.

Then, Simeon makes a prophecy. “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Luke 2:34 – 35 NIV)

Jesus is the “measuring stick” to which all will be measured (especially Israel first and then the rest of the world). “Did we accept his sacrifice and his lordship or did we not?”  No other question is relevant. “Good works?  Believe in God other than Jesus?  Wealth?  Fame?”  All of these other questions are irrelevant to salvation and eternity with God.

Jesus to be “spoken against” – isn’t that already happening today?  Bring up God and you are tolerated – bring up Jesus and you are NOT. We live in a Post-modern society which states that states that objective statements cannot exists. “Objective truth does not exist – it’s only truth if you think it is true.” (Guess what, that’s an objective statement!) “I believe that I can fly” only works if you can counteract the law of gravity.

Because of Jesus, “hearts will be revealed.” As time goes on, it will become clearer and clearer on which side of the fence people will stand. Jesus talks about two parables – the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31 – 46) and the enemy who sows a field of wheat with weeds. (Matthew 13:24 – 30) The separation of peoples will be just as clear – those who are “for Jesus” and those who are “against Jesus.”

So, what conclusions can we draw from this temple scene that apply to an end-time scenario? First, a remnant of people devoted to God will definitely exist until the end time is completed. This is evidenced all throughout the Bible.

Second, we should be watching for the coming of Jesus return. It’s easy to get caught up in the actions of the every day and think “Tomorrow, I will do this or that.” But we are not promised “tomorrow!” Jesus could come at any time “like a thief in the night” – completely unexpected. (Matthew 24:42 – 44 – see also 1 Thessalonians 5) Simeon’s waiting for the Messiah was rewarded – He got to see the Messiah. (I heard a preacher say quite recently that “We are living in the end times. They began when Jesus was first born.” (Granted, the end times are 2000 years old. But, this is still an important point.)

Third, Simeon was “filled with the Holy Spirit.” As Christians, we are filled with the Holy Spirit; however, our Christianity is not a religion per se – it is an ongoing relationship with the person, Jesus Christ. As such, we should always nurture the relationship that we have with God by spending time with him. This relationship will allow us to hear what God wants us to know.

Finally, until Jesus comes again, we should “tell others the good news about Jesus.” What did Anna do? “She gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2: 38 NIV)

Lesson 3: The Fall of Mankind

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

In Genesis 3, the serpent tempted Eve with the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and Eve in turn gave the fruit to Adam. (There is some discussion of whether Adam was present for the tempting of Eve by the Serpent.)

Fast forward to the confrontation with God. Adam and Eve had sinned against God – the first sin. In one moment, Adam and Eve “spiritually died” and became subject to physical death. As God came into the garden, they hid themselves from God and had covered their nakedness with fig leaves.

You can find a lot of theology related to this portion of the fall of man which I’m intentionally going to skip to get to the part that I think is most relevant to end time prophecy – and that has to do with the curse and prophecy uttered by God against the serpent.

In Genesis 3:14 – 15, God curses the serpent/Satan and gives a prophecy about the “enmity” between Satan and Eve.

“Because you have done this,
Cursed are you above all livestock
    and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
    and you will eat dust
    all the days of your life.
And I will put enmity
    between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
    and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:14 – 15 NIV from bible gateway.com)

First, the serpent becomes the one animal cursed “above all livestock and wild animals.” I remember when I was at a boys camp (I was probably seven or eight). We went on a nature hike. We were in a line following the camp counselors when the boy immediately behind me yells at the top of his lungs, “SNAKE!” Of course, we were all scared and jumped away from the place that I had JUST CROSSED OVER! 

One of the camp counselors (with proper training, of course) grabbled the snake immediately behind the haed and held a snake that was about 3 feet long. He showed us that it was a diamond back rattle snake and that it was EXTREMELY POISONOUS. Yep, I was the one that had just walked over where that snake lay before it had been found. 

If you want an idea of what a seven/eight year old felt being the last one to cross over that snake’s lair, just take a look at the snake pit scene in the updated True Grit movie.  (Shudder)

Now, let’s talk about the prophecy – the enmity between the snake and “the woman” and the enmity between “your offspring and hers.” God prophesies that the snake (and his offspring) ‘will strike his heel’ and that her offspring will ‘crush your head.’

The problem is that the most recent NIV translation, being a thought translation (in my mind) is no longer quite accurate. The footnote indicates “offspring” should really be translated as “seed.”

But, physically, as created by God, a woman does not have a “seed,” a MAN has “seed.” So, what “seed” could a woman possess? 

For that, we have Luke 1:26 – 38. The angel, Gabriel, comes to the virgin, Mary, and tells her that “the Holy Spirit will overshadow you. So, the Holy one will be called the Son of God.” This is Jesus. 

I highly recommend the Passion of the Christ starring Jim Caviezel and directed by Mel Gibson. (This is not a movie that should be watched by a child.) As Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, he prays to God that the “cup pass from me” (which means, “if there is any other way to effect salvation without death on the cross and carrying the weight of all mankind’s sin”) but finally gives into God’s will when he utters, “Not my will but thine be done.” 

Then a snake comes into view under his feet and Jesus raises his heel and brings it down forcefully to crush the snake’s head. This is a true foreshadowing to when Jesus dies on the cross (when the snake has struck his heel figuratively to death) but through that death, Jesus effects salvation to mankind. Three days later, Jesus has defeated not just sin but also death (the consequence of sin).

Fast forward to the end time. When Jesus comes again, it’s when the Christian remnant is facing annihilation at Armageddon by the evil forces of this world. Jesus, in all his glory and with all the “heavenly host” (army of the angels) appears.  The “Beast” and “False Prophet” are captured and thrown into the lake of fire and the evil that are with them are all killed Jesus own word (the symbolic “sword of the rider”).

There’s a great old hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God, by Martin Luther with this verse:

“And though this world with devils filled, 
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear because God has willed
His truth to triumph through us.

The prince of darkness grim, 
We tremble not for him, 
His rage we can endure, 
For lo his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him.”

Glory to God.