Mick’s Memo—Waiting
How are you at waiting? Yesterday I spent an hour with a friend waiting for the outcome of surgery for their spouse. I’m sure it was one of his longest hours. I remember in my Navy days, waiting for a lengthy cruise to come to an end so I could see Betsy and our children. The final 2-3 days of those cruises were excruciatingly slow with everyone on the ship developing a case of insomnia.
When Jesus came people were waiting for Him to show up. As we have been studying in our advent series, they were looking for a deliverer—someone who would conquer their enemies and release them from bondage. It had been about 600 years since the people were truly free from foreign domination. That’s a long time to wait!
There are two characters in the birth narrative of Jesus who were made famous for their “waiting,” Simeon and Anna. Check out this account of their wait…
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
We tend to see people as kooks who set a date and are “waiting for Jesus.” I wonder how people responded to them as they waited. Did their family consider them deadbeats? Did they get mocked out for it?
Through their patient waiting they were rewarded with a personal encounter with the new born Messiah. Simeon was “moved by the spirit” to go to the temple that day; Anna practically lived there. For both of them, that was the extent of the salvation they saw. Herod and the Romans were still in power and calling the shots. There was no inauguration of Jesus as the King of Israel. But Simeon said… “my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people.” That’s because Jesus is not just a giver of salvation, He IS salvation. Salvation is knowing Him, being with Him. They experienced salvation because they were with Him.
As we celebrate the incarnation, the salvation is His presence with us. By His life and death for us we are rescued from life without God and experience Immanuel, God with us! May you enjoy His presence as you spend time with family and friends this Christmas.
I want to thank all who made “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” such a great experience for all who attended. We were all blessed by your generous use of your gifts and talents.
I hope you will be able to join us for Christmas Eve services at 4:00, 5:15, or 6:30 PM on Saturday and for our Christmas Sunday service at 10:45AM.
Betsy and I wish you all a blessed Christmas,
Mick
