Merry Christmas!

Posted Dec 20, 08:52 AM by Kay Camenisch

Have you ever waited for a loved one to return home? Or for the arrival of a longed-for baby? When we’re watching and waiting, it doesn’t matter what our hands are busy with, our minds keep wandering back to the expected arrival. Hope and excitement build with each day.

That’s the way it was for Simeon. The Spirit had told him that He wouldn’t die until he saw the long-awaited Messiah. He didn’t know the due date, so he lived each day looking expectantly for the Promised One.

When Simeon saw Mary and Joseph bring their baby into the temple he knew his hope was fulfilled. He took Jesus into his arms as he said to God, “my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared.”

Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, Simeon pointed to the baby and identified the person of Jesus as our salvation, our light of revelation. Others in the temple that day, including the religious leaders, failed to recognize Jesus. They were distracted by other things and by their set of rules and regulations that they needed to keep for their religion. Simeon was different. He not only recognized Jesus as the one sent by God; he also perceived that He is our salvation, not anything that we do.

May your Christmas be blessed with Jesus in your midst—and may we all have eyes to see Him.