Lets set the scene – so here is young Jesus, baby Jesus, and He is taken to temple (Luke 2.22–23). This is before the wise men arrived, and His earthly parents have come to offer the required sacrifice as part of the dedication ceremony for families that could not afford a lamb (v.24), and in Luke 2.25–35 we read
“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. 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. 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, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
“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.”
And his father and his mother marvelled at what was said about him. 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 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.””
So here is Simeon, waiting for the Messiah, the Redeemer, the Consolation of Israel, and he takes up Jesus in his arms. He blesses God, he loves this baby despite only just having met him, so to speak, because he knows who He is, and what He is bringing… salvation.
Simeon knew that this was salvation for all, notice with me what he said…
“…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.”
All people, not just Israel, not just Jews, but Gentiles too: salvation is here for everyone through this person.
Though Mary and Joseph had been told that their Son was the Messiah (Matthew 1.21), perhaps they had not properly understood the global scale of what this child would accomplish.
Simeon saw, and Simeon knew.
Simon knew that he saw the Lord’s salvation, a light for revelation, and the glory of God.
I wonder if you have ever seen Jesus like that;
as your own personal salvation,
as a revelation of who God is,
as the glory of God walking and talking in human flesh.
If you have, then this Christmas do everything you can in your own words and ways to manifest that to others, to show others what you believe.
If you haven’t, all it takes is faith; believe Him, believe in Him, put your trust in Him, and the gift you will receive this Christmas will be the best gift ever, the gift you need the most, forgiveness and life eternal.
James Travis 