Read: Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; and Matthew 24:36-44
This morning, Pastor Rick will be sharing as Simeon from Luke 2:25-35:
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous 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 And he came in 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; for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
Are you a patient person? For most of us, waiting is difficult. When we know the time the waiting will end, we count the days, the hours, the minutes – and they drag by! When we don’t know the exact time the waiting will end, it can be disorienting. What can I start and hope to finish before the waiting is over? Should I go ahead? Should I do something else?
Because waiting can be so disorienting and so difficult, God often rooted his promises in tangible realities – land, mountains, temples, bread, water, wine, and light – to name a few. In so doing, God gave the people something to recognize when he kept his promise. He helped them to have faith even when they couldn’t see what he was doing.
Isaiah 2 speaks of a day to come when God promised victory to Judah. It would be a day when glory was brighter than the shadows; when joy overcame sorrow; and when rebellion would surrender to obedience. It would be a day when faith would become sight.
In both the Old and New Testaments, God promised a day when he would reign as king over the whole world; he would establish a new Jerusalem to be the center of his reign; and he would bring the chaos of the world into order.
Simeon was a man who waited for those promises. He believed God would bring them to pass, though Israel’s history seemed to make this ridiculous. Nations never streamed to Jerusalem. Its prominence faded with its exile. Whatever promises God made to Judah, they did not seem to be possible.
And yet, Simeon believed nothing was impossible with God. Luke tells us he was waiting for the consolation of Israel and that the Holy Spirit was upon him. In his prayer and in his waiting, God had revealed to him that he would not die before seeing the Messiah, the one who would bring the fulfilment of God’s promises to his people.
Can you imagine going to the temple day after day hoping that would be the day, but unsure exactly what you’re looking for! When the Holy Spirit prompted him that this baby was the one he was waiting for, how did he respond? Did he hesitate? “Lord, are you sure? His parents are peasants!” Did he marvel? “A baby! Lord, I thought he’d be a warrior!”
It seems he simply obeyed. He took Jesus in his arms and blessed God. He recognized that in God’s wisdom, this child was his salvation. This child was the one bringing the light of revelation to the Gentiles and glory for God’s people!
It is our turn to wait. Jesus has come, but the promises are only partially realized. There is a promise that one day there will be a second advent, a second coming of Christ. In that day, Jesus will change our faith to sight. He will defeat falsehood (Revelation 19:11-21); raise the dead (Revelation 20:1-6); destroy the devil and his demons (Revelation 20:7-10); and death itself will be done away with once and for all (Revelation 20:14-15).
This morning, the Promise Candle reminds us to celebrate Christ’s coming in the past and to hope in the future coming when he finishes what he began. We worship Christ the King, born in Bethlehem. And we wait for the King to come again, walking in the light that comes from his Word and from his Spirit. The light that shines into our lives and through our lives.
Waiting is difficult, but this side of the cross, we have the work of Jesus on the cross and the gift of his Holy Spirit to anchor our faith and give us confidence. The day will come when what Jesus began in his first advent will reach its completion at his second. Until that day, may we walk in the light of the LORD (Isaiah 2:5) for his glory!
Questions for reflection:
- What has waiting taught you? How has it taught you to trust in the Lord?
- What helps you wait? Are there truths from Scripture or answers to prayer or other ways God has helped you to wait?
- Life is filled with waiting. Is there someone you know who is waiting that you might encourage this week?
Advent readings this week November 28-December 4:
Monday – Genesis 8:1-19; Romans 6:1-11
Tuesday – Genesis 9:1-17; Hebrews 11:32-40
Wednesday – Isaiah 54:1-10; Matthew 24:23-35
Thursday – Isaiah 4:2-6; Acts 1:12-17, 21-26
Friday – Isaiah 30:19-26; Acts 13:16-25
Saturday – Isaiah 40:1-11; John 1:19-28
Sunday – Isaiah 11:1-10; Micah 5:1-5a; Matthew 3:1-12