Heart to Heart
For most of us, December 25th marks the end of Christmas, and now it’s time to race into the new year. But truth be told, Christmas Day actually brings the Advent season to a close, but there’s still 12 more days to Christmas. That’s more than a catch phrase for a song. If you study a church calendar, you will discover that January 6th is when many within the orthodox Church, count as their Christmas day.
So why draw attention to this? Because I want to invite you to savor all of Christmas, and not miss out on the heavenly fragrance that accompanies the longer Christmas story. Dr. Luke certainly saw Christ’s coming in those terms, as he sandwich’s Jesus’ birth account with the testimony of two aged saints. The Christmas story included circumcision & a naming ceremony of the newborn child on the 8th day (Luke 2:21). Then, 40 days later, when Mary’s time of ceremonial purification had come to an end, the young couple took their 1 1/2 month old to the Temple, so that baby Jesus might be dedicated to the LORD, in accordance to the law (Luke 2:22-24). Having few financial resources, Joseph and Mary provided the sacrifice required – 2 doves.
Only then are we introduced to the final two people who play such a key role in confirming the identity of Jesus as the Christ. Simeon & Anna – people passionate for God and earnestly doing everything in their power, to help bring about the coming of the Christ.
Simeon is a man in tune with the Spirit, who has been given God’s promise that before he dies, he will physically see the Christ. And thru the nudging of the Spirit, Simeon’s walk thru the Temple courts that day, cause him to providentially meet Mary & Joseph as they come with baby Jesus. The Spirit opens Simeon’s eyes to see in this newborn baby, the living Hope of God’s Messiah. Finally, his one box bucket list can be checked off. “My eyes have seen your salvation...!” 2:29.
Anna is doing what she’s done for decades: investing her life in worship, fasting and prayer as she waits for God to console Israel by sending His Christ (2:37). She finds herself in the right place at the right time, to hear Simeon’s words of blessing & prayer. Imagine if Anna had decided not to go to the Temple that day, because her bones ached or she felt tired... What a missed opportunity that would have been.
Instead, Anna adds her prophetic voice to Simeon’s prayer, and celebrates God’s goodness in sending the Messiah. She spreads the news to others who shared in this blessed hope.
Beloved, is that not what God has for you and I in 2023? To be faithful in praying for Christ to come again, and doing our part to spread the Gospel to those who are still lost without Jesus? We too live in the shadow of His coming – His 2nd coming.
May we do our part, to pray and to spread the news about the Lord Jesus Christ. May we have the joy of seeing many in 2023, experience the miracle of Christmas, when Christ is born within their hearts. Let message and ministry of Christmas, continue throughout this new year!
Joyfully partnering with you,
Pastor Adriaan & Diana <><