Simeon said as he blessed baby Jesus:
"... my eyes have seen Your salvation
Which you have prepared before the face of all peoples,
A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel."
Luke 2:30-32
Today we will look at Jesus as a grown man and as the light prophesied by Simeon. The Apostle John says of Jesus:
"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it...
That was the true light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him,
and the world did not know Him.
and the world did not know Him.
He came unto His own and His own did not receive Him.
But as many as received Him, to those He gave the right to become children of God,
to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor the will of man, but of God."
John 1:4-13
"I am the light of the world.
He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness,
but have the light of life."
John 8:12
As Simeon was finishing his blessing of Jesus he said to them, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel...(yes, a sword will pierce through through your own soul, also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." For Mary the cross must have been most painful sword to pierce her heart, but she also saw people reject Him, and His teachings. In the beginning of Jesus' ministry He came to His home town of Nazareth. you can read about his in Luke 4:16-30. Jesus read in the syn agog from the Messianic passage in Isaiah 61 and then said "This scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." After some more dialog, the people were filled with wrath,... thrust Him out of the city and tried to throw Him over the cliff. This was His home town. Mary knew all these people who were so angry with her son. "He came unto His own" and His own home town did not receive Him. Later in His ministry much of the rejection came from the Pharisee's, whose rejection ultimately brought Him to the cross. I think when Simeon said, "that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed"; or brought to light, sheds light on the motive of the rejection. God looks at the heart and Jesus the light of the world, shed light on the hearts of many revealing the evil contained.
Praise God the way was opened for all of humanity to come to the light of the revelation of Jesus Christ. In Him is light and life for all people. As we receive Him we have the right to become the children of God. As we follow Him, we walk on a path of ever increasing light, transformation and glory.
"The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
which shines ever brighter until the full light of day."
Proverbs 4:18 NLT
which shines ever brighter until the full light of day."
Proverbs 4:18 NLT
Stand in the light of His Everlasting Love
7 comments:
Wow: the right to become the children of God! I think about the years one spends in seeking the acceptance of man (parents, siblings, peers, bosses, etc.) and how God used failed human relationships to bring us to our knees where we found HIM. I think about the kind of Father and Lord and Friend we have in Christ and what an amazing thing it is that God has invested so much time in each one of us to bring us to Himself. And now here we are, the children of God. It's a wonderful thing to 'get' how wonderful that really is! Not just a little thing is it. Enjoyed reading all your comments these past few days. Home with the second round of the flu. What a nice thing to do when one is not feeling well. Thanks girls.
Even years after conversion, God's simple truths, if pondered, never lose the amazement. If anything, we grow in our perception to understand the great things He has accomplished for us. Awe... to be His child... the child of the maker of heaven and earth. Hallelujah!
Keep the comments coming. Each of you bring a beautiful perspective.
I feel so blessed that God's promise of Salvation is for the Jew AND the Gentile. God sent His son for all of us, if we take Him into our hearts. What a powerful gift!
I agree, let's stand in the light of His everlasting love. We never have to live in darkness...we can live IN the light w/ the light.
I love the comments I've been reading in here. I got caught up on some of the days I missed. Wonderful thoughts and thought provoking ideas. Thank you!
We are blessed by His Light from the Spirit and the light in other believers. Together the light is even brighter.
"But as many as received Him, to those He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor the will of man, but of God."
I have read this Scripture so many times over the years. But what stands out to me in this moment and leaves me in utter amazement is the concept of us being given the RIGHT to become children of God.
A concept I had never thought of before in connection with the glorious birth of Jesus is -- not only did He come to make peace between God and man, but He came to offer a proposal of marriage. He came humbly seeking a bride. And to those who accept Him, He gives the RIGHT to become children of God -- to become like Him.
Annie's comment was so insightful, and so true... "I think about the years one spends in seeking the acceptance of man (parents, siblings, peers, bosses, etc.) and how God used failed human relationships to bring us to our knees where we found HIM." That's exactly how I found Jesus... broken-hearted over my cousins' divorce.
Although there is much evil in this world, it seems that the darkness and misery of evil is the very thing that enables us to see and long for the light of God's presence and friendship, to embrace His goodness and code of morals.
Sheri, I had never considered Mary's pain when people rejected Jesus during His public ministry. It is painful to think how Mary's heart must have hurt whenever she saw people reject her Son. Especially their neighbors from Nazareth. Apparently it requires a great deal of humility to accept that the little boy who grew up next door and seemed so "normal" is God's Messiah.
Every prophet of God was met with rejection during his lifetime. Every Christian who stands for God's truth -- who stands in His light -- will be met with rejection and persecution in some form.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matt 5:11-12)
Oh how we as believers of Jesus long for the light of His presence! Then as we partake of His divine nature and become light bearers ourselves, we too are counted worthy to suffer as He suffered. This is the progression and promise found in the beatitudes.
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