Luke 2:25-32, “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law, Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”
The Christmas story is so familiar that taking it for granted comes easy, but there is nothing common about God the Son being made flesh. Our familiarity with Christmas may cause us to miss the mystery of the event, yet the Apostle Paul wrote, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3:16a). Think about it. God was made flesh! The Creator of the universe became a baby! It seems unbelievable to think that a man could actually hold God in his arms, and yet that is what happened when a just and devout man named Simeon took up the baby Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem.
The trappings of Christmas are fantastic, but let’s be sure to not get trapped with the trappings. The surest way to a merry Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus our Lord like the man who held Jesus. Neither you nor I will ever hold God in our arms, but we will one day stand before God face to face. If we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness, then that shall be a glorious day. The glory of Christmas is the glory of God’s Son, and that glory is endless. Do not wait to open your heart to the Christ that Simeon once embraced in his arms. Trust Him right now by grace through faith, and then move forward behind Him every day.
