Luke 2:25-35 (The Message)
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.
33-35. Jesus' father and mother were speechless with surprise at these words. Simeon went on to bless them, and said to Mary his mother,
This child marks both the failure and
the recovery of many in Israel,
A figure misunderstood and contradicted—
the pain of a sword-thrust through you—
But the rejection will force honesty,
as God reveals who they really are.
This Child that would grow up to save the world, this Child, the Son of God! This event had been prophesied by Isaiah some 700 years before had been fulfilled. When it finally happened these people were like some are now when you talk about the second coming of Christ. They just don't think it will happen in their lifetime. The signs are here as they were then, people had been told the Messiah would come. Some were looking for Him and some were not. He was our Salvation then and He still is today. I pray you have received this greatest gift possible, and I also pray that you have given the greatest gift you could give which is yourself, just lay it all at His feet and accept Him as your Savior and Lord. Blessings to you this day before Christmas! Merry Christmas!
