Christmas I Welcoming the Christ
Luke 2:21-40
We are now in the season of Christmas which lasts from Christmas Day until Epiphany (January 6). For most of us, it is a time of eating Christmas leftovers and celebrating the New Year. It is also a transition from holidays to routine. What I find challenging about this time of year is keeping my focus on Jesus amid all the family visiting and travelling. To get my (our) focus back on Jesus, let's look at two people who were so joyful at the sight of the baby and welcomed him with powerful words: Simeon and Anna.
Their story is found in Luke 2:25-38 when Jesus is presented to the Lord at the temple. Simeon is a righteous and devout man who has been told by the Holy Spirit that he wouldn't die until he had seen the Christ. He welcomes the child by proclaiming that "my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel" (Luke 2:30-32). Anna, an 84 year old widow, gives thanks to God and spoke about him "to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem" (Luke 2:38).
What a welcome for Jesus! He is acknowledged as both the Saviour of Israel and the whole world. These elderly people are so grateful to lay their eyes on Him even though they will not live to see Him grow up. Let's let their joy be a guide to us who get to read the New Testament and see the amazing things that Jesus did.
But there is a sad note to what is spoken by Simeon in the temple. In verses 34-35, Simeon speaks of the "falling...of many in Israel", that Jesus will be "a sign that will be spoken against", and a sword that will pierce Mary's soul. In welcoming the Christ, there is a soberness as we acknowledge the reality of the conflict and suffering His story includes.
And so it is with mixed feelings we continue on in this Christmas season. We are so grateful for God's gift of the Christ, so thankful that His light has reached us (the Gentiles), so joyful that redemption is possible.... and yet we are aware of the extreme cost for salvation, of the pain ahead, and of the death that will come.
We are now in the season of Christmas which lasts from Christmas Day until Epiphany (January 6). For most of us, it is a time of eating Christmas leftovers and celebrating the New Year. It is also a transition from holidays to routine. What I find challenging about this time of year is keeping my focus on Jesus amid all the family visiting and travelling. To get my (our) focus back on Jesus, let's look at two people who were so joyful at the sight of the baby and welcomed him with powerful words: Simeon and Anna.
Their story is found in Luke 2:25-38 when Jesus is presented to the Lord at the temple. Simeon is a righteous and devout man who has been told by the Holy Spirit that he wouldn't die until he had seen the Christ. He welcomes the child by proclaiming that "my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel" (Luke 2:30-32). Anna, an 84 year old widow, gives thanks to God and spoke about him "to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem" (Luke 2:38).
What a welcome for Jesus! He is acknowledged as both the Saviour of Israel and the whole world. These elderly people are so grateful to lay their eyes on Him even though they will not live to see Him grow up. Let's let their joy be a guide to us who get to read the New Testament and see the amazing things that Jesus did.
But there is a sad note to what is spoken by Simeon in the temple. In verses 34-35, Simeon speaks of the "falling...of many in Israel", that Jesus will be "a sign that will be spoken against", and a sword that will pierce Mary's soul. In welcoming the Christ, there is a soberness as we acknowledge the reality of the conflict and suffering His story includes.
And so it is with mixed feelings we continue on in this Christmas season. We are so grateful for God's gift of the Christ, so thankful that His light has reached us (the Gentiles), so joyful that redemption is possible.... and yet we are aware of the extreme cost for salvation, of the pain ahead, and of the death that will come.
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