Thursday, December 22, 2022

            Not long after Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph took Him to the Temple to comply with the purification rites that the Law of Moses required.  Upon arriving at the Temple, they met a “righteous and devout man” named Simeon and a “prophet” named Anna.  While these two individuals, Simeon and Anna, appear after the birth of Jesus, their role in the Christmas story should not be minimized.  Anna, we are told, “never left the Temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.  She gave thanks to God and spoke about the child (Jesus) to all who were looking forward to the redemption story” (Luke 2:37-38).  Simeon had the following to say, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:34-35).  Consider for a moment what this man and woman have to teach us about the birth of Jesus.
            First, they realized that Jesus was not an ordinary son and that His birth was not just another happy moment for a mother and father.  They recognized what had taken place.  They knew the Messiah had come at long last.  Likewise, we want to be sure that we do not miss the lead story at Christmas—our Savior has come.  We do not want the trappings of Christmas to blind us to what God has done by sending His Son.  Christmas is always, first and forever, about the birth of Jesus in the fullness of time.  Christmas is not just another December day or just more of the same.  It is a divinely ordained day where God took active measures to defeat the evil one. 
            Second, they knew that Jesus would redeem all who believe.  Redeem or redemption is one of the more powerful words we find in the New Testament.  The origin comes from the practice of slavery whereby someone could purchase a slave for the purpose of granting the slave his freedom.  The purchaser would be said to have redeemed the slave by setting the slave free.  The purchaser bought the slave out of captivity and into freedom.  God redeemed us in and through His Son.  We are bought out of sin and separation and set free in Christ.  We no longer serve the enemy or sin or find ourselves hopelessly cut off from God.  We are redeemed by Christ who paid for our forgiveness and freedom with His life.
            Third, Christ became the dividing line in human history.  When we are “in Christ,” we have been saved, forgiven and made new.  Those who are apart from Christ or separate from Christ remain in slavery to sin and Satan.  The world changed at three distinct locations—Bethlehem, the cross and the empty tomb.  Christ was born; Christ died; and Christ rose again.  These events orchestrated by the Father make it possible for us to be on the right side of history and the dividing line—in and with Christ forever.   
            And fourth, as Simeon noted, many have spoken against Christ and continue to speak and work against Him.  The enemy will do anything to draw glory away from Christ and His cross and resurrection.  The enemy whispers that we are okay as we are and any path or way we may choose to live is okay.  But the Lord Himself said that small is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life (Matthew 7:14).  May we never be seduced and misled by arguments against Christ and those who would minimize His birth, life, death and resurrection.  May we grow in boldness and courage to live for Him and to renounce anything that keeps us from Him or draws us away from Him.  Eternity hangs in the balance based on what we have chosen to do about Christ.  We are either for Him or we oppose Him.  There is not a third way that He offers us.  He is either the Lord of us or something starkly less to us.  And if He is less than Lord of all, He is not Lord at all.  Make good use of these remaining days and hours before Christmas arrives.  May you be encouraged by where God is at work and all that He is doing in your life.  Have a great Thursday!  Remember to join us for Christmas Eve worship at 6:00am and Christmas Day worship at 10am.  Bring along your family and friends too!