December 23, 2019 - On this that the world today calls, "Christmas Week", let us all know why there is so much activity, so much rejoicing around the world for the Christmas holiday.
As it happened Jesus was born of the virgin Mary in a manger, a feed trough, in Bethlehem.
When he was eight days old his mother and her husband Joesph took the baby Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to fulfill the Law of Moses, the required purification ritual and to present him to the Lord.
Now there was a man living in Jerusalem who had been looking for the Christ of the Lord as it had been revealed to him that even though he was an old man, he would not die until he had seen the Christ with his own eyes.
"Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting 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 do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."
"And his father and mother marveled at what he had said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2:25-35)
And Simeon knew then what all people would know later, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God had come to save the lost of this world and that all who would believe in him and call upon him for salvation would be saved from the penalty of sin which is death of the spirit.
"Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." (Romans 10:9-10)
Let all people enjoy this week of Christmas thanksgiving and let all remember the reason for the joyful season, for to us a Savior is born...
