Luke 2:25-32 “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just 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. So he came by 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 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel."
Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year. I love the lights, the trees (not the ones from which we just raked, the ones that we put up and decorate!), I love receiving the extra mail with numerous cards, family pictures and the yearly family update letters that many write during this time of year, I love the excitement of the children and of the adults, I love Rudolph, Frosty and Charlie Brown, I love for at least one day a year a little bit of snow, I love Christmas music, I love the added commotion and then I love the sudden silent halt that the commotion comes to on the Eve of the 24th. I love re-discovering the birth of Christ and hearing it from different voices and vantage points. I cherish the reminder and the truth of God’s great gift to us.
We all get to celebrate this each and every year. I can’t even begin to imagine waiting a lifetime for one Wondrous Gift. I don’t think I would have the patience. Simeon did just that as Luke the physician wrote to us in the second chapter of the gospel by his name. This man awaited the promise and hope of all of Israel, the Messiah, the Christ, our Savior. He was told he would not see death until he beheld this great gift of God. To wait a lifetime for something takes more than just mere patience, it requires a devout obedience and a joyous faith. Anything thing short of that attitude would leave one discouraged and as time slowly passed a faith abandoned.
I wonder what Simeon expected? Did he expect to one day hear of a man who was out preaching to thousands, sharing the incredible Word of God and watching as one life after another was radically changed? Or did he expect to see this great warrior king arise from the ranks of the men of Israel and begin wielding a sword like no other driving out the Roman troops and setting Israel free? Or maybe a great orator who promised great peace and change and was able to motivate the masses to believe it? Clearly he did not expect any of this for when a poor humble couple brought their child into the temple he knew, that this innocent little child would one day bring salvation to the world. A baby.
Think of Simeon this Christmas season as you prepare yourselves to Come and Adore Him. Think how many nights he went to sleep asking God if tomorrow would be the day. How anxious would his prayers be? Many nights he may have cried out, God, please, may tomorrow be the day that I sing Joy to the World. Each morning he would awake expecting to sing with the Angels on High to what he would find, but alas another day would pass, another month, and then another year. Who knows, he may have even wandered by that cold manager in that Little Town of Bethlehem many times and little did he know that within that very manager the promise and Savior of all humanity would one day lay.
Then one dark night, probably as Simeon slept, the shepherds in the fields cried out, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!” And then the Angels began to Herald the birth of God’s own Son, our very own Emmanuel on that Holy, Silent Night. There wasn’t a Little Drummer Boy bearing gifts, but there was a glorious star that pierced the cruel darkness and gloriously brought great light to the earth. We could never know this, but I’m sure Simeon’s heart danced within him that night because of that great promise that had been given him, he probably knew why there was suddenly an over abundance of joy within him. Soon, Simeon, soon you will behold the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ and he would know What Child is This for it was foretold in his very heart.
The day that Mary and Joseph brought Jesus into the temple, Simeon was able to take the baby up into his arms and declare with tears, Jesus, you’re beautiful, I can finally depart in peace, because my eyes have seen salvation. For him this was the one gift that all the catalogs and stores failed to make available to him for purchase. Only by grace could this gift be received. No amount of wealth or influence could secure this gift, only his faith in it and God's grace in giving it.
Many of you like Simeon have been waiting, waiting for the appearance of something greater than your eyes have ever laid upon before. Like Simeon may your eyes be opened to the simple, to the humble this year. May Charlie Brown’s tree be more than sufficient. May you see the glory and beauty of the season through the traffic and crowds. May you have eyes that see the simplicity of the season in the One simple gift that was the one gift for all time, once and for all. May your faith be steadfast and may your joy be full this Christmas season for as Faith Hill sings, “A Baby Changes Everything.” As that baby set Simeon free that baby still sets people free today.
Receive each gift as if it were your last and give each gift with the purest of hearts and with the best of intentions. Sing in your cars, sing as you walk, sing as you work, allow a strong, courageous smile to decorate your face this season, wear something you normally would never wear, drink Egg Nog, eat one more sugar cookie than you think you should, let someone get in front of you in line at Walmart, bake your neighbor something besides Fruit Cake, watch “The Christmas Shoes” or “The Note” and cry deep, healing tears, watch “It’s A Wonderful Life” or “The Family Man” and let them bring you back to the life God has for you now instead of a “what if” life, send out more personal touch Christmas cards, embrace forgiveness and release bitterness, call someone that you have not spoken to in years and say Merry Christmas and let them know you were thinking of them, have a snowball fight and stay out there until your hands are numb, say no to that additional Christmas party, but then immediately turn to someone in your family or extended family and say yes to them, drop to your knees at the foot of your tree that is surrounded with gifts and before you open them on Christmas morning cry out in prayer to God and thank Him for the greatest of gifts and then tear into the gifts knowing that eternity is echoing within you, remember those that are unable to be together on Christmas and pray that God grants them the devout, joyful, daily faith of Simeon. May your new birth in Christ bring joy to the world this season. Let Christ in you and through you bring Joy to the World.
Questions to Ask Yourself:
1. What Christmas tradition do I have to ensure continues this season?
2. What new Christmas tradition (if any) would God have me begin this season?
3. How can Simeon’s faith and joy help me this Christmas season?
4. Do I bring joy to my world?
pastor e
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