The Glory of Christ: The Aftermath

Christians are not exempt from forgetting to acknowledge Jesus at Christmas. We are prone to wander, and if we are not reminded often, we can drift from life-sustaining truth and swerve into oncoming strength-draining error. We must, as 2 Tim. 2:8 tells us, “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead”. He came to die; that’s why He was born.

In the midst of the hurried post-Christmas let-down I want to call attention on what happened soon after Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:21-40. The Story begun earlier continues. Jesus was named according to the Word of God. His parents presented Him to God 40 days after His birth. The birth of Christ was acknowledged by 2 prophets: Simeon and Anna. The Holy Spirit led Simeon to the temple at the exact time Joseph and Mary were bringing Jesus. He was “in the Spirit”, under the influence of, directed and guided by the Spirit of God. When Simeon took the Child in his arms and God’s Word was fulfilled to him right then and there. The Holy Spirit revealed that to him.

Simeon says Jesus will bring many in Israel to the point of moral decision; some to destruction, collapse, they will fall, disbelieving, stumble on Jesus (to those who reject He is as 1 Pet. 2:8 says “a stone of stumbling, a rock of offense”); others will be exalted, resurrected, they will rise, due to faith in Christ as the only way to salvation. Mary will deal with the sword of personal grief watching her Son die. The divisions caused by people’s sin and rejection of Jesus would deeply affect Mary. How could they not.

And there was Anna who rejoiced in Jesus. A prophetess, we do not have a direct quote from her but she spoke of God accurately & praised Him. Hers is an example of continual worship & service. Godly Anna, 84 years old, continually served God; a humble servant who lived in God’s presence. If you think you don’t have much to offer God, take heart, He accepts whatever is brought with a willing heart. Anna offered fasting and prayers. Nothing is too little; everything counts in God’s economy.

I see this pattern in Luke 2:21-40 that is seen elsewhere in Scripture. Promise, fulfillment and praise. God making a promise, keeping it, and the resulting worship people give Him. You can see it on a micro level, in what Simeon and Anna said and did; and on a macro level…in what God did throughout history.

1st there is God’s Promise. God is faithful to all His promises. His promises are rooted in His eternal purposes; He doesn’t have plan B’s. Christmas wasn’t God’s second plan. It didn’t start in Bethlehem or Jerusalem, but before the foundation of the world. He purposed to save a people for His glory before the world was. And He always acts for our good and His glory.

2nd there is Fulfillment. Simeon holding the Child. God brings His plans to fruition exactly how and when He has planned; no plan of God can be thwarted. Waiting for God’s fulfillment calls for expectancy, patience, endurance. Ps. 37:7 rest in the Lord; wait patiently for Him. Ps. 40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry. His timing is perfect.

3rd there is Praise for what God has done. He instigates, enables and sustains it by the Holy Spirit. Worship & service are sometimes seen as separate; but Biblically speaking they are very connected. The Greek word Latreuo, means to serve God, to worship God; means to serve or worship voluntarily, with gladness, not under compulsion or forced. Refers to the Levites service; their service was worship; their worship was service; one and the same. Responding in praise, calls for service flowing from a worshipping heart (Ps. 100:2; Col. 3:23-24; 1 Pet. 4:11).

We are waiting for God to act. We wonder what to do in life. We wonder where God is leading us. We need to follow the example of Simeon and Anna. They acted on the promises of God. We are called to do the same. We must love Jesus, stay connected to His Word, and trust the Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth.