As I was growing up my dad and I were devoted Cub fans. Year after year we would hope beyond hope that they'd make it to the World Series. A few times they gave us hope only to be let down in September or early October. My dad passed away a few years ago never seeing the Cubs win a World Series. But with his passing, being a believer he did go on to meet his Savior, that dream, that hope has been fulfilled.
The story of Simeon is a good one to spend some time in during the Christmas season. In a crazy world, then and now, there are plenty of things that we may hope and long for, with uncertainty if our hopes will be realized. Simeon rejoiced that he saw the Messiah and that his hopes for the nation, for the world would be realized in Him. It is not a matter of what we hope for, it is who we hope for who we believe in.
As I read these verses and tried to put myself in Simeon's place, the words of the Charles Wesley hymn came to mind.
| 1. 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, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. 2. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne. |
We can look back and see Jesus, we see Him in the manger, with His disciples, feeding the 5000, we see Him on the cross and we see Him resurrected. But we also long for His return. As we see the chaos in the world around, we, like Simeon look forward to His return, may we be devoted and in right standing before Him when He comes. It is no vain hope, it is the hope of all mankind, sealed with His promise to return.
-- In Christ, Mike Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
Luke 2:25-32The Message (MSG)
25-32 In Jerusalem at the time, there was a man, Simeon by name, a good man, a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him. The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God before he died. Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the rituals of the Law, Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God:
God, you can now release your servant;
release me in peace as you promised.
With my own eyes I've seen your salvation;
it's now out in the open for everyone to see:
A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations,
and of glory for your people Israel.
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