Can I Hold Him?

Luke 2:21-28

And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD"), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, "A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS."

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."

And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed--and a sword will pierce even your own soul--to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."

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.

As we end December, let's talk about the last two people mentioned in Jesus' birth. Simeon and Anna. Both of them were very old and stayed around the temple awaiting the Savior.

Simeon knew that before he died, he would see the Savior. The words that were translated here was the Lord's Christ. The Holy Spirit told him so. So he came to the temple and coming in the Spirit he saw the family. He then took Jesus in his arms and started talked to God. He told them that he had seen Jesus and he could die in peace now. He said that Jesus was a Light of Revelation to all the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that Jesus was going to be for all people, not just the Jews. Simeon waited for Israel's salvation, in fact, he was searching for it. I wonder what he felt like when he took Jesus in his arms. Did he feel the peace and sweetness of a baby? Did he feel the pain and sorrow of the ages? Whatever it was like, I am sure it was magical.

Another person that was waiting for the Savior was Anna, a prophetess. She was 84 years old and she never left the temple. She was always serving, day and night. She came up to the family and started thanking God. She told everyone there about him as people came to the temple, looking for redemption.

Mary and Joseph were in awe and probably a little uncomfortable. Simeon blessed Mary. He told her how wonderful Jesus would be, but how heartbreaking, even for her it would be. Do you think that Mary and Joseph would ever get use having people just come up to them and either want to touch the baby or talk about him to them? All babies get a lot of attention, but could you imagine the attention that Jesus was getting? I am sure they were caught off guard quite a bit.

Today, as you look for redemption, remember that he has already redeemed you!

She Found Him!

Luke 2 : 1 - 7

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Today I want to focus on the last part of the last verse - because there was no room for them in the inn. This was something that was evident as Joseph and Mary traveled closer and and closer to Bethlehem. The dirt road that I picture them traveling on started to get more and more crowded, as everyone was heading to their family town. And once they got inside the city, the craziness of the crowds and the census being taken must have been overwhelming. And when Mary realized that the baby was coming and she was in labor, Joseph must have panicked. The Bible doesn't give us a lot of information on Jesus' birth, but I am sure that when Joseph started asking around for lodging, someone took compassion and found them something. The stable was at least private and quiet. Mary could have the baby and they would be warm and dry. It was a strange way to come in to the world, but it was God's way.

We often view God's ways as strange the first time we see them. But if we step back and see the big picture, it always is the best way, isn't it?

When Allie was 5 or 6, we went up the the Preble County Fair Grounds to go through a live version of Bethlehem. It was a long walk and a lot of waiting in lines. When we finally made it to Bethlehem, we saw Herod, guards, a lot of villagers who were selling their wares, and we even signed the census. Going through Bethlehem this way gave all of us who went a better understanding of how crowded and busy the town was. As we talked with the villagers and learned how the rumors of a baby being born in a stable on the outskirts of the town were running, we started to wind our way out. Allie went on ahead, wondering what was next. But she came running back, hollering to my dad, "Grandpa! Grandpa! I found Baby Jesus!" She was so excited in her child-like wonder, that there really was the Baby just as the story has always been told to her. I hope that this Christmas, you find Baby Jesus too!