Something to Consider From Luke 2
March 28th, 2018
And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking 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 carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your Word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, and the glory of Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:25-32)
And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:36-38)
When Joseph and Mary brought the infant Jesus to the Temple “to present Him to the LORD,” there were at least a couple of people there prepared for His arrival.
Simeon was one who had been “looking for the consolation of Israel”; that is, he was looking for the Appearing of the Messiah. That he would see the “Hope of Israel” was a promise he had been given by the Spirit of God. And on that day, he held this Promise in his arms.
There were also some in the Temple area “looking for the redemption of Jerusalem,” including an elderly woman named Anna. On that day this prophetess was able to tell the others that their Redeemer had just arrived.
Both these individuals were spiritually prepared to discern His Presence when Joseph and Mary brought Him to the Temple. More than likely, however, neither Simeon nor Anna was aware that their long-awaited Messiah would arrive on the world scene twice. As far as they knew, His birth to these two godly peasants was the one – and only – time He would come.
You and I, however, have an advantage over these two saints. The New Testament has given us a fuller understanding of the Old Testament prophecies. We can clearly see that the Redeemer would come twice: the first time to serve as God’s Payment for the sins of man; and the second time (a) to complete the believers’ deliverance from the tyranny of their enemies (both physical and spiritual) and (b) to deliver creation from the tyranny of the curse that lay upon it (Romans 8:19-22).
… so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. (Hebrews 9:28)
It is not unreasonable to think that the saints of today could represent the last generation of the Church Age. Indeed, to ignore that possibility would be less than wise.
Be on the alert, for you do not know the day nor the hour (Matthew 25:13) …
So, are we like Simeon and Anna? Are we “eagerly awaiting” the re-Appearing of Jesus Christ? Or will His arrival catch us off guard, like “a thief in the night” … sudden … unexpected … costly? Very costly. The Word of God gives us a “sure-fire way” of knowing whether we are preparing ourselves for this Event or not:
Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1st John 3:2-3)
Beloved friends, it is a wise thing to do, to ready ourselves for the Return of Christ. Because the next time He appears upon the world stage, He will not be wearing a crown of thorns.
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