“The Gift of the Christ Child”

     And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.     And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

     And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child, Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,              

     “Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, “Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou has prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people, Israel.”

    And Joseph and his mother [Mary] marveled at those things which were spoken of him.

                The Gospel of Luke, chapter 2, verses 25-33

As were prepare our hearts to celebrate the gift of the Christ child this Christmas season, we are reminded by the Holy Scriptures that the news occurring in God’s kingdom at any particular point of time or season of the year is not necessarily the news which makes headlines in our newspapers.  As Simeon prayed and worshiped God, it was revealed to him that he would be privileged to witness God’s holy Son entering the temple and the world, where he would begin to be recognized as the Christ of God, even Jesus Christ our Lord.  Simeon was so excited, he was moved by the Holy Spirit to enter the temple and wait for the Mary and Joseph to present this new child before God in the temple.

As Simeon recognized (by the Holy Spirit) that this child is the chosen one, the Son of the Living God and the Messiah of Israel, he went up, took the child in his arms and blessed Jesus.  Further, he prophesied over the child that he would be a light to lighten the Gentiles and also would be the glory of his people, Israel.  Simeon apparently recognized (by the Holy Spirit) that the reconciliation of the Gentiles through Christ to God would precede the recognition of the Messiah by the Jewish people, as “the glory of thy people, Israel!”  If fact, only in our day has any significant portion of the Jewish people turned to Christ as their Messiah, save in the immediate period of the preaching of Peter on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem.

In this season of Christmas, 2017, it might be easy to focus on the big news stories of the day, such as a new tax cut for the business corporations, or the release of the latest Star Wars saga, or the eight tourists killed in Mexico when their bus overturned on the way to the Mayan ruins.  However, in the overall scheme of things, the most important news of the day may be something so much more important in the eyes of God as to his plan for the world.  In God’s time something is occurring which literally is changing the course and the face of all humanity!

The world pauses for a few moments each Christmas to celebrate the birth of the Christ child.  Christmas the holiday permeates many cultures around the world.  Other cultures choose instead to celebrate the coming of the New Year or another holy day.  Days free of work are set aside in December so we can remember and celebrate the gift of the Christ child to our world.

It is not necessary for a person to fully understand the significance of Christ’s birth for that same person to enjoy pausing from the phrenic nature of existence to look for the “peace and good will proclaimed in Christ to all people.”  May we all find this peace in Christ this Christmas, as God leads all of us together into a coming New Year!

On this Christmas, let us challenge ourselves to listen to the Holy Spirit and ask God to show us the most important news of the season.  I expect we will be pleasantly surprised to find that God’s good news is so much better and more worthy of our time and attention than the many other thing streaming into our consciousness. Let us remember today the Christ child, born in a manger in a stable in Bethlehem.  The shepherds were startled to hear the news of Christ’s birth and went in search of their King.

May God in Christ through the Holy Spirit also startle and awaken us this Christmas! As the shepherds of long ago, may God also help lead us on our way to worship Christ in the manger of Bethlehem!

Bill W.