The 9th Day of Christmas

Luke 2:22-38
22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 
27 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, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

It was Job, that great sufferer, who longed for the day when his Redeemer, his God, would stand upon the earth, the day when he would see God with his own eyes. (Job 19:25-27) Job does not get this, at least not yet. He will receive this in the resurrection on the Last Day. 

Simeon, however, gets what Job longed for here in time. 2000 years ago Simeon stood upon the earth and beheld God, his Redeemer, with his own eyes. Simeon sees what all who seek consolation long for: God-with-us. 

Too often we think of “consolation” as a sort of runner-up prize. Consolation is what we get when we cannot have what we really want. But that is not what Simeon receives. That is not what Jesus is. 

Simeon’s response to seeing Jesus is not to say, “Well, at least I have this.” Instead, he takes the child in his arms, blesses God and the baby’s parents, and delights that the Lord has blessed him in this way. Jesus is not the “consolation prize”. He is the only prize that matters. The Christ child is not born so that you could feel better about not getting what you want, but to be the fulfillment of all Hope! Simeon is ready to die now, because he has seen the very best that God has to offer: His own Son.

This interaction with Simeon and Anna shows us that Jesus is far more than we could ever hope or expect. He is holy to the Lord (v 23), the consolation of Israel (v 25), the anointed one (v 26), salvation (v 30). This infant is light and glory (v 32), the feller and raiser of many (v 34), and sign and revealer (vs 34-35). Jesus is the Redeemer (v 38). 
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May the Spirit of our God move you, as it moved Simeon and Anna, to receive Jesus Christ, the consolation of Israel, as the fulfillment of your hope. May you rejoice at His coming as they rejoiced.  

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