Sometimes when we pray, we think we know what the answer to our prayer should look like.

And our expectations can then cloud our understanding or our acceptance of God's answer.

Today on Truth For Life we'll see why those expectations matter.

Alaskarbegg is teaching from Luke chapter 2, we're beginning today in verse 21.

Let me suggest to you that the emphasis of this section, the total section, is on salvation.

What is it that Simeon prophesies? It is about the nature of Christ bringing salvation.

What is it that he prays? It is about his eyes having seen salvation.

Why the reference to his name Jesus? Because of the fact of the significance of the name in the line of Joshua, essentially the same name, this Jesus is the great deliverer.

What is this salvation? For which Simeon was waiting?

My eyes he says have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all people.

What was the expectation of Israel at the time of the birth of Christ?

They were looking to be rescued from the hand of our enemies and to be enabled to serve God without fear.

But if they listened carefully to Zacharias song, then they would have realized that the Holy Spirit was moving their minds in a different direction.

In verse 76 of chapter 1, speaking of the role of John the Baptist, he will be called a prophet of the most high.

He will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, then verse 77, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.

Well that must have been a bit of a hammer blow, don't you think?

John the Baptist steps out of the wilderness and how shocked they must have been at the way in which he addressed them as they came to the baptism service.

Look at what he says to them in verse 7 of chapter 3, you brood and viper's.

Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath, you bunch of snakes coming out here to get baptized?

You say you've turned around, produce fruit and keeping with your turn around.

And don't start saying to yourselves again, we have Abraham as our father.

You got a picture? See they're thinking nationalistically. They're thinking in terms of a national deliverance.

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