Merry Christmas! Luke 2:21-35
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 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 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 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. 26 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. 27 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, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 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 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
Merry Christmas! Joy to the World! He’s Here!
On this day each year, we celebrate the coming of our Savior. In today’s passage, we meet a man named Simeon. He is an elderly man who had waited his entire life to see the “Consolation of Israel.” Consolation means “to give comfort in a time of pain or struggle.” Though we may not use this word often, our hearts desire to experience its meaning every day. Jesus is the Consolation of Israel and the whole world. Simeon’s response to seeing and experiencing God’s comfort was PRAISE! Listen to the words that he lifted the Father the moment he saw Jesus enter the Temple: “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.” (Luke 2:29-32) Though Jesus was just a baby brought to be dedicated to the Father, the moment Simeon saw Jesus, his heart was given rest and overcome with joy. His joy was for the moment he was experiencing and for the future of all people. This baby was the Promised One of God. He came to bring comfort in times of pain and struggle. We have become painfully aware that this world is broken and marred by sin. Pain and struggle meet us at every moment of every day. Our mind, body, and soul cry out for comfort. This broken world will try and offer things to bring us comfort, but the best it can ever offer is counterfeit. The Good News of Christmas is that our Father in Heaven has seen our pain and struggle. He has heard our cry for help and relief, and has sent perfect and complete comfort in His Son, Jesus. In His coming, we can finally rest and rejoice at the future. Not because everything is perfect and we have ourselves all together, but because Jesus is perfect and holds everything together in His sovereign hands. So, on this Christmas day, let us celebrate the coming of our Savior through whom we receive the complete comfort of our Father in Heaven.
“Come thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee;
Israel’s strength and consolation, the hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.”