Sunday Service - 8 Feb 1953

Introduction: Presentation at the Temple 40 days after birth. February 2 nd is the Feast of the Presentation. The Church has looked upon the event as an important one and set apart a day. Think of what happened on that day. What happened at the presentation? Jewish Law – Every mother who had a son had to go to the Temple with the son and sacrifice a pigeon and a lamb or two pigeons. The Priest receives the baby – two prayers. Mary and Joseph. 5 miles from Jerusalem. Very demanding – they were poor. The Presentation has become an important event because of its association with Simeon. a) He was righteous. Kept God commandments, honourable in God’s sight. b) Devout – Regular in his worship and private prayer. c) He was troubled about his nation. Israel had been conquered by the Romans. Heathen soldiers bullied the people. Heathen governors issued orders. Among Jews much was going wrong. Priests were bad men. Greed for money allowed a market to be set up. d) Two things comforted Simeon – The time was coming when God would send the Messiah to build up the broken hearted. Consolation of Israel. Prophet Isaiah had foretold. He believed that the time was coming very soon. 400 years since Israel had had a prophet. Now the spirit of prophesy was beginning to stir Israel. One of the first to feel this was Simeon. He became a kind of prophet. The Holy Spirit was upon him. He felt quite certain that he should see the Messiah before he died. He was urged by the Spirit to go to the Temple. When he found Jesus, he felt sure it was He. He took the baby in his arms and sang the Nunc Dimittis. He was sad to die when the land was full of evil and there was no prospect of a Saviour. Consider one thing that he said about Jesus. Quoting Isaiah he said he would be a light to lighten the gentiles. The land was terribly dark then; it is terribly dark today in lands where the Gospel has not been preached – the darkness of ignorance, cruelty, sin When Stanley Livingstone visited Uganda the whole land was heathen. This was the message the heathen king sent: ‘Stanley, tell the whole people that I am like a man sitting in darkness and that I ask to be taught how to see.’ Uganda is now civilised and largely Christian. Where the influence of Christ spreads, darkness disappears. Everywhere it is true. ‘The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.’(Is 9:2) Feast of Presentation – Candlemas : Chief feature: Carrying of lighted candles. A large candle was lit in the Church. ‘Jesus bids us shine with a clear, pure light, Like a little candle burning in the night; In this world of darkness we must shine,

You in your small corner and I in mine. ‘Jesus bids us shine then; for all around Many kinds of darkness in this world abound, Sin and want and sorrow; so we must shine, You in your small corner, and I in mine.’ ‘The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ Thy life was given for me, What have I given for Thee?