Waiting For Jesus

Well, thank you, John and Fiona. Good evening, folks. As has been said, my name is Alistair. It's my joy to be the assistant here and to bring us God's word again today. Keep that passage open in Luke in front of you as we go through it. But as you maybe turn there again, let us pray together. Let's pray.

Father, we come before you and as we spend a few moments thinking about your servant in Luke, as we think about Anna, the prophetess, Father, would we be encouraged? Would we be challenged? Would we be spurred on to be better disciples who love you, who serve you and who give you everything? We ask this in Jesus' name and for the upbuilding of your kingdom. Amen.

What are you waiting for? Maybe you're waiting for the return of normal life as we've gone over yet another weird Christmas. Maybe you want normal Christmas again. You're waiting for the ability to go out and meet all of your friends and all of your family members to have fun and laugh together without thinking about masks or hand sanitizer or restrictions.

Or maybe you're waiting for the return of normal life as we've gone over yet another weird Christmas.

Or maybe you're waiting to hear the result of a job interview. You've been out of work for a while and you really, really need that job.

Or maybe it's a doctor's test result that you're waiting for and it's terrifying. Waiting isn't always fun and it isn't always easy, is it?

Waiting isn't always fun.

Waiting isn't always fun or easy, but it is something that we do all the time, is it not?

And for the Christian, there's an added element of waiting because as Christians, we are called to wait on the return of the Lord.

Jesus told us that he will return one day and we are to eagerly anticipate that day.

but the question I find a lot of people ask is how exactly should we be living in this period

of waiting how can we wait well for that day when the Lord Jesus will return well this evening we're

going to look at the example of Anna in Luke 2 and we'll see how she too was waiting for the Messiah

to come and I believe Anna can be a great example for us today of how we can live our lives as we

wait for Jesus to return so let's do a little bit of background work in Luke 2 before we spend most

of our time thinking about Anna together and what we can learn from her extraordinary life

so in Luke 2 we are given signs to tell us the reality of Jesus's identity that he is the sent

one from God the Messiah of God's people the Savior of the world Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the

temple to present him before the Lord following the Old Testament law that you can read all about in

Leviticus but in the temple something different happened this day Mary and Joseph were met by two

people first Simeon and second Anna two faithful servants who were looking for and waiting for the

Messiah but unlike the rest of Israel they weren't looking for a strong political leader they weren't

blinded by the popular desire of a military Messiah who would come and kick out the Romans and free

Israel to live as they pleased

Simeon and Anna were drawn by the Holy Spirit

to see the Son of God in the humble form of a baby

helpless and in the arms of a poor young mother who walked into the temple that day

it's interesting that in Luke 2 the only

it's only the humble and so-called unremarkable people of the day who actually recognize Jesus for

who he really is the shepherds and these two people in the temple not exactly the trumpet sounding

entrance we would expect of a king and yet isn't it fitting because this king is humble and he is gentle

so let's take a look inside the temple

Simeon prompted by the Holy Spirit goes into the temple and meets this new family

and he realizes who Jesus is

Simeon has been waiting and the passage says for the consolation of Israel meaning the moment the Old Testament promises

would be fulfilled and the Messiah would come to save the Lord's people

and so after seeing Jesus Simeon knows that he can die peacefully because this promise has been fulfilled

before him his eyes have seen the Savior of the world

that's why in his short song of praise Simeon declares

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 then in verses 36 to 38 we are introduced to a wonderful woman of God called Anna

we don't have a huge amount of detail about her her life all we have are these three verses

but they do tell us quite a bit about her

so let's meet Anna briefly and then I want us to focus on three things that characterized her life

and how they should challenge and encourage us all this evening as we wait for the return of the Lord

so Anna's described look at verse 36 as a prophetess or a prophet

she was someone who knew God's word who loved the Lord and who spent time in the temple

based on what we see in verse 38 how Anna kept on telling people about Jesus

I think I think Luke wants us to see Anna as a great fourth teller of God's word

by spreading God's word she's joined the ranks of other women in the Old Testament

like Miriam, Deborah, Hannah and others go check them out in your own time

Anna is a prophetess because she is proclaiming God's word

verse 36 also tells us that Anna was from the tribe of Asher

one of the northern tribes of Israel who were largely seen as the unfaithful ones

because in the Old Testament they had separated from the southern kingdom

and they'd followed a different line of kings from the line of Judah

who were under the lineage of David

so Anna represents a faithful remnant within the northern tribes of Israel

and the last biographical detail we get about Anna

before we dive into the three characteristics of her life

is that she was a widow

so Anna at this point is an old woman

now probably around 83, 84

and she has not had an easy life at all

she was married

but just after seven years her husband died

and she has been a widow ever since

now why do you think Luke highlights that?

I think he highlights it so that we can know that regardless of your age and stage

regardless of your marital status

regardless of whether you have children or not

Luke wants you to know that nothing, absolutely nothing

hinders us from serving the Lord

Anna didn't let her circumstances stop her from serving God

she didn't think that she was too old

or detached from the younger generations

she recognized what she could do

and she got busy doing it

which is precisely what we should be doing as well

but more on that later on

so these are all the biographical details we have about Anna

but it is just the beginning of the story

because in these three verses

we can see three things that characterize the life of this extraordinary woman

so we'll look at each of these

and see how they should also challenge us

as we wait for the coming of Christ

the first thing we see that characterizes Anna's life

is faithful devotion

faithful devotion

look at verse 37 with me

it says

she did not depart from the temple

worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day

Anna was always in the temple

so imagine for a minute you're the one with the keys to open the temple gates

you are the first there and the last one out

you get up early

so that all the people in Jerusalem can start their prayers and sacrifices on time

you walk to the gates just as the sun is coming up over the horizon

and as you twist that key and pull the gate towards you

you are greeted with the same face every single morning

that was Anna

she'd become a feature of the temple

but she wasn't just hanging around the temple because it gave her something to do

or because she got company there

she was in the temple all the time because she loved the Lord

and she was eagerly and patiently waiting to see the Messiah

that's why in verse 38

after Anna saw Jesus and gave thanks to God for him

she went out telling people about him

she's an example of faithful patience and devotion

as she waited in the temple day and night

learning the Old Testament promises about God and the coming Messiah

praying and fasting

joining in with others as they prayed and waited for Jesus to arrive

her patience was the result of her devotion to the Lord

and brothers and sisters I pray that we too would be characterized

as a people of faithful devotion

not devoted and patient for the arrival of God's Messiah to save his people

that already happened when Jesus came and lived the life that we never could

when he died the death that we all deserve

and was raised to life victorious over sin and death

but faithfully devoted and patient as we wait on his second coming

I pray that we would be faithfully patient for the return of our Lord

the risen ruling and reigning King

who has promised that he will come back

and who is currently seated at the right hand of the Father

interceding on our behalf

and who will come and take us to be with him in the new creation forever

but until that day comes we are called to be faithfully patient

and have faithful devotion

what a timely reminder Anna is for us in our present times

because throughout this pandemic we've become used to sitting behind screens

haven't we

isolation

social distancing have become normal

but it has affected churches too

it's become easy to watch church from the comfort of our couches at home

it's become easy not to engage with church meetings

and to almost forget about church altogether

until Sunday morning comes around again

friends if we are Christians

we are called to eagerly anticipate the Lord's return

and we are called to gather with the Lord's people

gathering as a local church body is not a Sunday activity

churches aren't social clubs that gather around tea and cake

we gather out of a devotion to the Lord

out of a love for his word and a love for his people

we gather to give God all the glory

and to help each other grow in our understanding of his word

and his will for his people

Anna isn't here to teach us that we simply need to get busy with church

and have a full diary all the time that we always need to be in the building

but Anna is a reminder to us of the importance

of spending time with the Lord's people

and building one another up

spurring each other on until the day where we are taken to be with the Lord

or he returns

so brothers and sisters please gather together

fellowship together spend time in God's word together in church

in coffee shops around your homes around tables around meals

do everything you can to have faithful devotion

until Jesus returns

and the second thing we see that characterizes Anna's life is

faithful prayer and fasting

faithful prayer and fasting

look at verse 37 again

she did not depart from the temple

worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day

Anna used her time to pray and fast

but she goes above and beyond what was asked of her under the Old Testament law

according to the Old Testament law

there was only one day a year

where Israel were required to fast

and that was the day of atonement

but it does seem that around about this time of Jesus' birth

fasting had become quite a common practice

among some Israelites

remember maybe in Matthew 9

when Jesus is asked by John's followers

why his disciples don't fast

and Jesus says that to them then

why should they mourn when the bridegroom is with them

but a time is coming where the bridegroom will not be there anymore

and Jesus says his disciples will fast

now prayer and fasting go hand in hand

fasting means voluntarily going without food

for spiritual purposes

now when I was studying at the Faith Mission Bible College

here in Edinburgh a number of years ago

I did my final dissertation on fasting

the role of biblical fasting in the lives of believers today

because I had no idea about it

I wasn't taught about much in church

and I hadn't really thought about it much

and in my research for that paper

I realized that fasting is either focused on too much

and almost seen as a

some kind of secret spiritual superpower

that strengthens your prayers

or in the other extreme

it is neglected

and not talked about at all

and not practiced at all

sadly we don't have time to go into this

massive but wonderful topic of fasting in depth

but in your own time please do read Isaiah chapter 58

Isaiah 58 · chapter mention

Matthew chapter 6

Matthew 6 · chapter mention

and Matthew chapter 9

Matthew 9 · chapter mention

to learn more about what biblical fasting is

but Anna used her time for prayer and fasting

so much of our time is spent with food in front of us

isn't it?

I mean I don't know about you guys

but I definitely had a food coma over Christmas

we sit around the table

we catch up with people

and we spend time together

Sabina and I were in Austria with my in-laws in September

and we always laugh

because when we're there

our lives revolve around food

we have breakfast

and at the breakfast table

we're already thinking about what's coming for lunch

and then we have lunch

and it goes straight into coffee and cake

and then thinking about dinner

and then there's a few snacks in between

before we actually hit dinner

and then there's some sweets afterwards too

food is a very good gift from God

that should be enjoyed

and it takes up a lot of our time

which is a good thing

but Anna voluntarily gave up food

for periods of time

and devoted herself to prayer

we don't know exactly what she was praying

but based on these verses

I'm sure she was thanking God

for his care for her

over all the years

that she'd been a widow

and I'm sure that she was praying

that the Messiah would come

and save the Lord's people

so she is an example of faithful prayer

of time dedicated to the Lord

and spent on her knees

before him in worship

our brothers and sisters

I pray that we too would be

a people characterized

of faithful prayer

and fasting

why don't we very practically

take Anna as an example

and look into the practice

of fasting

and if you are physically able

and if it's wise for you to do so

think about voluntarily

going without one meal

and spending that time

in prayer instead

start a prayer list

keep it on you at all times

as you go about your day to day life

and when you have a second

pull it out

pray for people

pray through psalms

pray prayers that we see in the Bible

use whatever tools you can think of

to raise your voice in praise

and thanksgiving to the God

who loves you

and who gave his life for you

fast and pray in light

of the return of Jesus Christ

pray that the church

both this church

and the global church

would be strengthened

in the knowledge

of God's word

pray for our elders

for boldness

and strength

as they lead this church

pray for wisdom

for you to know

how to glorify Christ

in every area

of your life

every single day

and pray for the non-Christians

in your life

that they would come

to a saving knowledge

of Jesus

and that they too

would eagerly await

his return

jot down those names

pray for them

keep them in your phone

in your wallet

anywhere

but pray for people

to come to know Jesus

Jesus will return

and that will be a glorious

and a dreadful day

glorious for those

who are Christians

and have put their trust

in Jesus

because on that day

we will go to be

with our Lord forever

in perfect harmony

but a dreadful day

for all those

who have rejected Jesus

because for them

that day will not be

one of rejoicing

but one of judgment

and so we need to pray

that people would come

to know Jesus

that they would have

forgiveness

and that they could

look forward to

eternal life

that is only possible

through Jesus

so we should be people

characterized by

faithful

devotion

faithful prayer

and fasting

and the third thing

that characterizes

Anna's life

is faithful

proclamation

faithful

proclamation

read verse

38 with me

and coming up

at that very hour

she began to give

thanks to God

and to speak

of him

that's Jesus

to all

who were waiting

for the redemption

of Israel

so Anna realizes

who this little baby is

and she gives thanks

to God for him

and then she

immediately

goes out

and starts to speak

about him

she proclaims

to every single ear

that will hear

who this little baby is

and it's her role

as a prophetess

she began to share

Jesus

with those

who were patiently

waiting for the Messiah

but that didn't just happen

on this day

the words used

in the original language

point to a continuous

talking

so basically

from this

moment on

until the day

that Anna breathed

her last

she kept on

spreading the news

of Jesus

the news

that the long

awaited Messiah

had already come

this extraordinary

woman

proclaimed Christ

to the people

of Israel

and because

she was probably

around 84

she most likely

died before

Jesus' public

ministry began

some 30 years

later

she saw

who he was

before the rest

of Israel

even got a glimpse

she knew

that the Messiah

had come

and she could not

keep that good news

to herself

she needed

to spread

the news

to all

those who would

listen

so that they knew

the one who could

save them

had arrived

Anna was

still only able

to see a little

part of the story

she couldn't tell

people of the

teachings of Jesus

of his miracles

of his perfect

life

she couldn't

tell people

of his death

and of his

resurrection

and how Jesus

was the perfect

sacrifice

needed

to take away

the sins

of all those

who trust

in him

and to bear

the full wrath

of God

against the sins

of the world

but friends

because of where

we stand

in history

we have

the full story

we know

the whole gospel

and we have

a job

to take it

out to the world

and to spread it

as freely

as we possibly

can

if you're looking

for a new year's

resolution this year

make that one

that you take

every single

opportunity

to share

Jesus Christ

with the world

that needs to know

of him

Anna only knew

a little bit

of the story

but she makes

sure everyone

knows about it

are we

faithful

in our

proclamation

of Christ

or do we

hide it

maybe you're

sitting here

this evening

and you're

nodding away

sounding your

amens

but thinking

that this

devotion

this prayer

and fasting

and proclamation

is only for

the younger

generation

maybe you think

you've served

your years

in the church

and you just

need to step

aside

and let the

young folk

do their thing

let me push

back on that

a little bit

and say that

you cannot

retire from

the Christian

life

there is no

such thing

as being too

old to serve

look at Anna

probably in her

80s and yet

she gathered

with the Lord's

people and she

proclaimed Christ

all the time

she spent her

time in prayer

and fasting

out of a deep

rooted devotion

to Christ

friends

if you are

old

teach the

younger

generation

because we

need to know

how to follow

Christ well

we need to

learn from

your experience

we need to

know how to

faithfully

proclaim Christ

to the world

let us learn

from you

we need to

know how to

serve Christ

to the best

of our ability

but that doesn't

mean you stop

I know so

many people

in this church

and elsewhere

who are too

frail

who are too

ill to gather

with the rest

of the church

family on

Sundays and

other meetings

however

their service

has not

stopped

they spend

every free

minute they

have praying

for the people

of this church

praying for the

outreach of this

church praying

for the leaders

and praying for

individual members

and caring for

them as well

praying that the

Lord would do

his work

praying that the

church would

grow and

ultimately that

God would be

glorified

so regardless

of how old

you are

the Lord has

a work for you

to do in your

season

do not neglect

it

but out of a

deep love for

the Lord

a deep love

for his people

a deep love

for his word

serve to the

best of your

ability like

Anna did

that goes for

both young

and old

and you will

be mocked for

sharing the

gospel

persecution

may come

and you will

definitely have

awkward conversations

but that is what

we've been called

to do

we live in a

world that is

dying without

the knowledge

of Jesus

and the gospel

and we have

a responsibility

to take that

news to the

world

we should never

be ashamed of

the gospel

or hide it

out of sight

but instead

we should boldly

and faithfully

proclaim Christ

to the world

that needs to

hear

I think if each

one of us

lived this kind

of life

using Anna

as an example

I think the

church

this church

global church

would be a

different place

we would be a

people marked

by a great

love for the

Lord

for his words

for his people

and a great

love for the

lost

of our country

that is the

life that we

are called to

live that is

how we live

in light of

the return of

Jesus

so our lives

are full of

waiting

waiting for

important days

doctors

results

interview

outcomes

time with

friends and

family

and that

waiting isn't

always fun

and it isn't

always easy

but Christians

should be waiting

eagerly for the

return of Jesus

we should be

waiting well

by following

Anna's example

of her faithful

devotion

her faithful

prayer and

fasting

and the

faithful

proclamation

of the gospel

living like

this

will bring

glory to

God

and will

prepare us

for that

glorious day

when we see

him face to

face

let's pray

together

heavenly father

we thank you

for the

wonderful promises

in scripture

we thank you

for the lord

jesus christ

who promised

that he would

return and

take us to

be with

himself in

a wonderful

new creation

father we

ask forgiveness

for the times

where we don't

take that

seriously

for the times

where your

return is not

something we're

even thinking

about

father would

you give us

a burden

for the people

around us

give us a

burden for

this city

for this

neighborhood

for this

country

and for the

world

that people

would come

to a saving

knowledge of

jesus christ

father we

recognize that

that work

must start

in our own

hearts first

and so we

ask that by

your spirit

you would

convict us

you would

challenge us

and that you

would give us

opportunities to

share the gospel

help us be

faithful

help us use

our time to

pray and to

fast and

help us

proclaim christ

at every

opportunity we

get we

ask this in

his name and

for the upbuilding

of your

kingdom

amen