Eight days after Jesus was born, when Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple to dedicate Him, they encountered an old man named Simeon who had been earnestly looking out for the Messiah. Luke 2:28-31 says that when Simeon encountered the young couple, “he took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people.’” (TPT)
When Simeon took the babe Jesus into his arms, he was gazing tenderly on the promise of salvation given thousands of years before to his people. As Simeon looked into the child’s eyes, he gazed into the power of the universe in human form. As he held the gift of God’s grace wrapped in a carpenter’s blanket, he acknowledged that Jesus was not just a gift for his own people but that Jesus was God’s gift for all people. Jesus is God’s gift given for the salvation of all nations and all nationalities.
Jesus is embodied love, uncontainable light and the majestic glory of God Himself sent from heaven to live vulnerably, speak truth, challenge lies and free the soul from the bondage of sin forever.
After Christmas, the story of Christ continues in every life He touches.
Today may you have your very own story of revelation, joy and courage as you experience a moment of being captured in awe by God’s great gift to you through Jesus’ birth.