“At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel.” (Luke 2:25, NLT)
Simeon has become so precious to me as I have been reading Luke 2:21-38 all weekend. People have been looking for help and to be rescued since the beginning of time. The questions that keep coming to my mind are:
- Where do I look for my rescue?
- Am I EAGERLY waiting for Him?
People have always had circumstances from which they longed to be rescued. And we are no different. At times, the wait can be hard as we want our answers and our rescue immediately, or in some cases, we wanted them yesterday.
I continued reading and verse 32 from that same chapter, also sprung to life …
“He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” (NLT)
The word ‘reveal’ in the Greek is ‘apokalupis’ and is the root which our word apocalypse is derived and from which the book of Revelation gets its name. Jesus makes known to us what is hidden. He reveals.
“Christ’s first coming was an epiphany. His second coming is an apocalypse and that revelation will be even more glorious that His first appearance to this earth.” (from the New Testament Lexical Aids)
After reading those Scriptures yet again this morning, I reached for an Advent book I am reading and these words were a part of today’s reading:
“The things of this earth will fade, but in God’s perfect, appointed season, He will mend what sin has broken. We will celebrate for eternity, a PERPETUAL CHRISTMAS, in the very presence of Jesus.”
(from Come, Lord Jesus by Kris Camealy)
A perpetual Christmas! That is so it! Jesus is both, the epiphany and the apocalypse. The beginning and the end. And we celebrate Him now and forever. Perpetually.
It is snowing here this morning. Something so precious in opening the door for my husband as he left for work. We both stood, in the opened doorway, as my husband said with wonder, “It’s snowing!” What is it about that first snow that is sweet and brings wonder?
Praying this morning for God’s peace to blanket each of our hearts just the way the snow is blanketing our earth!
May we keep waiting for our Messiah to come –
for He will come to our rescue.
Today I am joining … #SmallWonder and Moments of Hope and Soul Survival and #DreamTogether .
May we never lose the wonder!
Singing in my heart this morning the beautiful words of Simeon:
“My eyes have seen God’s salvation which He has prepared for all humanity!”
I join you in that, Michele, as I never want to lose the wonder!
I love Simeon’s story! Such an easily overlooked part of the nativity. I’ll admit an old man holding a baby is less immediately captivating than wise man coming from afar but the fulfillment of a life time of longing-that’s as good as it gets!
Helene, you have made a beautiful observation. There is nothing more wonderful than to have live a long and fulfilled life. Grateful you shared!
Waiting for our rescue…such an important theme. Yes, Simeon was an incredible man of God. I can’t imagine waiting “eagerly†after that many years! Thanks for pointing this out today, Joanne. Just what I needed to hear!
I have been most struck with both Simeon and Joseph this year. It makes me smile because most times, we tend to focus on Mary and Elizabeth. Amazing to see new insights in the familiar. Blessings!
Beautiful! I always run out into the first snowfall to wonder at it too. Thanks for sharing this and pointing me to praise!
Bethany, may we hold onto the wonder – each and every snowfall!
Oh what a beautiful picture of a Perpetual Christmas with Jesus! Thank you for sharing!
I love when God aligns His Word in multiple places in this way. May we hold onto this picture tightly!
Joanne, I love this self-check! Am I like Simeon? Waiting? Waiting well? Am I living a perpetual Christmas? Thanks so much for being a part of #MomentsofHope and sharing your beautiful words each week!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori