Are We Waiting For The Christ Child Or The Return Of A King?
Good Morning Friends,
In the Gospel of Luke, we come across two characters who make their appearance in the final acts of the Christmas drama. One is a man named Simeon; the other is a woman named Anna. They do not appear in any nativity scenes or in many Christmas cards, but they are significant players in the first Christmas. Both individuals were waiting for something — actually, they were waiting for someone. And that brings us to some questions. So, what are we waiting for this Christmas? Are we longing for anything? Do we have a long Christmas wish list or are we expecting to receive something quite different? Are we looking forward to anything special this Christmas? In the complex context of our lives what are we anticipating? What are we hoping for, loving on, and bringing peace to. Are We Waiting For The Christ Child Or The Return Of A King?
Scripture: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.
Romans 15:13 (NRSV)
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
(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day.
At that moment she came and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Luke 2:22-38 (NRSV)
How are they to believe in [a Savior] of whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?
Romans 10:14 (NRSV)
Message: Waiting. It seems that for the past couple of months that’s what we have really been thinking about. We are waiting and watching for Christmas. During the month of December, the season of Advent, we prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Messiah. In our Gospel text this morning, we hear another story of waiting. Perhaps this text should be read on the 40th day after the birth of Jesus, still it helps set the context for the transition from Advent to the celebration of Christmas. According to Leviticus, a woman would be unclean after the birth of a boy for a period of 40 days. On that 40th day, she was to present herself to the Priest along with a lamb for sacrifice. The priest would then offer the sacrifice for the purification of the woman. If the woman could not afford a lamb, two doves could be substituted. That is right two turtle doves like in the song the Twelve Days of Christmas. Mary, Jesus mother, and Joseph would have waited this 40-day period before making the short trip from Bethlehem to the holy city of Jerusalem to present their firstborn son at the Temple. But there was more waiting going on at the Temple. An elderly Jew, pious and devout, sat patiently near the back of the Temple. He had become a fixture there, waiting day after day. Some thought he was strange, but he knew what he was waiting for. Imagine the shock on the face of Mary and Joseph as this old stranger approached, looking, not at them, but at the child Mary held in her arms. He gently reached for and then cradled the baby in his arms. The presence of the Holy Spirit was upon him as he looked at the face of their child. And what he had to say must have amazed them. God had opened his eyes and Simeon saw before him, not a 40-day-old child, but the Savior of the nations. Suddenly, he burst forth in song. For Simeon there is no more waiting. But there was another waiting. It was a woman named Anna. She was 84 years old, and her life was devoted to prayer and praise of God. She heard the song of Simeon and ran to see what the commotion was all about. And her eyes, too, were open by God.
Pray we embrace the life of the Messiah. Pray
like Anna that our life is complete in Christ. Pray we like Simeon claim Jesus to be the sweetest name we know. Pray we give thanks to God, speaking of Christ to all who look for redemption. Pray we bear witness that Jesus came into our lives, that he helped us to die to sin, and that the Spirit rises in us believing that Jesus will come again. Pray we bear witness as Simeon that Jesus is the one we have all been waiting for. Pray that everything we hope for, everything we have waited for is found in this little Child born of Mary. Pray that we are ready when Jesus comes. Pray we are waiting for the right reason this season. Pray that Christmas prepares us for what the final coming means and what lies in store for those who believe. Pray we marvel at the wonder of Christmas but realize it would be meaningless without the death and resurrection of Christ. Pray we take our role as messengers seriously, so that others in turn can find what they have been waiting for… the Christ of Christmas. Pray the revelation of Christ pierce our hearts with comfort and corrections of the Holy Spirit.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 