Embrace and Embark
Luke 2:25-32 NKJV
[25] And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. [26] 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. [27] So he came by 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, [28] he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: [29] “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; [30] For my eyes have seen Your salvation [31] Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, [32] A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
There has to be a beginning!
The Birth of Jesus Christ in a Manger was just that, the beginning.
The wait of the miraculous Birth of the Savior is no more!
The presents have been opened.
I’m sure that some of those gifts were unexpected or unexciting.
Probably something you could have continued without or something that you could no longer be without.
The same is with Jesus. He is the Greatest Gift that so many didn’t know they needed.
He is not what the people of God were expecting. This was a tiny, innocent weak baby born in harsh circumstances. How would He save Israel!
But for this man Simeon the wait was over. The expectation was far beyond what the Old scrolls of God’s Word could have been more true!
The Messiah in the Temple being presented as the Unblemished Lamb of God to one day grow to be that Sacrificial offering for humanity’s sin!
Simeon had been waiting for the Consolation of Israel his whole life, and now He is here!
There is a small difference between beginning and starting. Yes they can mean the same thing depending on context.
Beginning means to initiate an action.
Start means to embark on that action.
Embark gives us the idea of boarding a ship.
The Beginning of Salvation is here!
The Redemption is available.
Restoration is ready.
But we now must start to be reacquainted to this Messiah.
We must now embark on this journey with Him through the Temple to the Cross past the Tomb into Eternity!
Simeon had been waiting for the peace of God to come down! He is now here!
As Joseph and Mary entered into the Temple imagine the look on Simon’s face!
Imagine the pounding of his heart! The excitement running through his body like an electrical shock!
He takes Jesus and embraces Him.
The wait for Salvation was over.
It was with that same embrace that Simeon could have peace!
It was in that embrace that now he could depart in that same peace that he had embraced in his arms!
The Christmas story is the beginning!
The start is to embrace Him now!
There is a beauty about free will.
We have the choice to embrace Jesus as our Savior. We have the choice to reject Him.
Many have been hurt in so many ways not just by the world but by the Church.
Many have begun well but never really started off good.
But God says in His Word that His Mercy is renewed every single morning!
I depend on it heavily!
It is the Mercy of God that we strive for.
It’s in His mercy we find His Grace!
In His Grace we find Forgiveness!
In Forgiveness we can finally find peace and joy!
Isn’t that the whole theme of the Christmas Season, Peace and joy?
Simeon cries out to God
“For my eyes have seen Your salvation”
We must start, embark, to see with our own eyes!
If we have stepped away we must re-engage.
If this is the first time you have ever heard anything like this then now is the time to start!
Simeon seeing Jesus didn’t leave him the same!
God revealed Himself to this man and this man could not die to this world not just in peace but with Peace, the Prince of Peace as the Prophet Isaiah called the Messiah!
But this is my question to you.
Will you be able to recognize your Lord when He comes?
How is God revealing Himself to you?
When He does, do you know it is HIM!
When Joseph and Mary came into the Temple how did Simeon know that this was the Savior of the World that was being brought to Him?
Sometimes it is through the stirring of our hearts. It’s the power of the Holy Spirit to show us the Goodness of God.
We get caught up in the routine of not just Christmas but life. We go about our everyday lives like nothing has changed.
Just yesterday we celebrated the Birth of our Lord!
So now what!
For me personally, I want to be more like Simeon.
I want to be able to see my Lord in everything everyday!
I want to be more sensitive to His call and Word. I want to hear His voice above every other voice. I want to be less distracted by the things in this world so I can actively listen for Him!
Simeon knew because he heard, believed and expected what the Holy Spirit revealed to him was true.
That gave Simeon Hope!
Simeon would not see death until he embraced the Messiah!
As we begin this new year my prayer is that we all start to embark on a journey to be able to recognize the Messiah when He comes!
Many will come in His name, but it won’t be Him! How will you know then?
Search for Him so you can know Him.
Seek and you will find.
Knock and He will answer.
Expose your heart and He will fill it with the desires of Heaven!
Give up your sin.
Receive His Salvation, Mercy, Grace and Love.
Receive His embrace.
Forgive yourself.
Pray then listen.
The beginning of our Salvation has arrived.
Now you must start to seek Him!
Pastor Ed