The Thread Continues

You are listening to a message from Thrive Community Church, a church located in Southwest Florida. For more info, visit us at thrive-fl.org. Is it going to be a Happy New Year? Yeah, I hope so. It is because it's another year of our Lord and a year in our life in his and the fact that he has woven himself. That's what this series has talked about from the beginning of time. He has woven himself into this creation to be part of his creation and to have a personal, direct relationship face-to-face with you through his son, Jesus Christ. It's kind of an amazing thing when you read this biblical narrative from beginning to end and see that. Is it Linus, right, tells it, and Charlie Brown Christmas, right? We're going to continue that story with when Jesus is dedicated at the temple after about 40 days. comes to the temple and there is a prophet and a prophetess, Simeon and Anna, who see the significance of that event and what this child is going to bring. So we see right now the fact that even though we had some fun at Christmas, and it might have been like a little respite, you might say, or a little break in the normal schedule and day. Christmas is not about an escape from reality. Jesus was not born among rainbows and unicorns, okay? He was born in the real world. and for the real world. And this is how William Stringfellow articulates it. He says, in short, unlike the pagan faiths-- and by the way, most mythological things from the Greco-Roman world to the Babylonian world to almost-- they're all these mythical, abstract, otherworldly events. Christianity deals with history right here, right now, and it matters what happens in history. He goes, Whatever merits they may nevertheless boast, the biblical word beholds and affirms this time and this place and all experience in this world fallen as it is. As coincidentally the subject of God's sovereignty, of his concern and of his incessant activity, God is still weaving himself into your life and mine. He comes into this frayed fabric called humanity with all of its conflict, alienation, suffering, death. Somehow, I don't, this is the miracle of miracles, somehow through Jesus and through Him coming into this world as it is, He's able to still transform it all and fabricate an amazing future for you and me. He's going to bring it about. Isn't that amazing? And we see Simeon and Anna kind of get it. They understand what Jesus is about when he comes to the temple. So let's read this text. It's Luke chapter 2 verses 22 to 38. And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord, every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord, and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. The poorest of the poor gave that offering. That's the lowest you could go, and that was Mary and Joseph. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. And this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child, Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him, and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel. and for a sign that is opposed, and a sword will pierce through your own soul also, so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, out of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was 84. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day, and coming up at the very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who are waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. So from this text, what we are going to be focusing on is that Jesus is appointed to weave together this world by these methods. First of all, by the method of revealing and uncovering, and then ruining and resurrecting, and finally comforting and freeing. Okay? You might go like, What is going on with this? It's all in the text. So first of all, to reveal and uncover, Simeon sings, he says, A light for revelation of the Gentiles and for your glory to the people Israel. That word revelation, any idea...