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PROGRAM D-7995
With Christmas just around the corner, I’ve been taking a closer look at the Christmas story through the eyes of the Middle Eastern culture into which Jesus was born.
There’s a part of the story that doesn’t get told very often—the part about how Jesus was dedicated at the temple. Luke tells how Jesus was brought to the temple by his parents to be dedicated according to Jewish law. There they encountered Simeon and Anna. Luke was making it clear that Jesus came for men and women. In this male-dominated culture, this was very important. He included both Simeon and Anna—and this was intentional on his part—to show that Jesus does not value men more than women. This would have been a clear message to the people of that day and in that culture.
Simeon had been waiting for the Messiah, and the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. As soon as he saw Mary and Joseph bringing baby Jesus to be dedicated, Simeon recognized Jesus as Messiah and he praised God. Anna, also, instantly recognized that Jesus was the One she had been waiting for all the years she had served in the temple.
When you really meet Jesus, you know that he is everything he claimed to be: Savior, Redeemer, and King of kings and Lord of lords. Christmas is all about Jesus; everything is all about Jesus!
In a few days, we’ll be gathering with friends and family for our traditional times of celebration, and I pray that you’ll have a warm, loving Christmas. Be sure to read the Christmas story again—it’s really a good idea to make that a part of your Christmas family celebration. Read again the beautiful story that God became flesh and dwelt among us. Try to imagine what it would have been like if you had been a shepherd on that field in Bethlehem that night, or if you had been a wise man coming a long distance to see this child-king. Most importantly, thank God again and again for his plan of redemption—that his perfect Son came into this world, paid the price for our sins, and now offers to each of us true freedom. Freedom from the penalty of our sins and freedom to live our days to his honor and glory.
Merry Christmas, everyone!