“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past. And he will stand to lead his flock with the LORD’s strength, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored around the world.” Micah 5:2, 4 NLT
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The birth of the King of the Jews in Bethlehem was a pivotal historic event. The prophet Micah was prophesying of the destruction that would come upon Judah. This devastation will come about due to their continual disobedience to the Lord their God. The people of Judah will be carried off to Babylon as their land would now be occupied by the conquering nations. Although the Jews did go back to the land, restoring worship and rebuilding the Temple, they never had full autonomy, but were a province under foreign kings.
One day Judah and all of Israel will have their land back and full autonomy under the Messiah Jesus Christ during the millennial period. Micah writes of that future king being born in the little town of Bethlehem. ‘A ruler of Israel will come from you.’ Bethlehem was the birthplace of King David and the Messiah will be a descendant of David born in the same city. The remnant of Jews will accept Christ as their Messiah in that future day. Christ’s birth in Bethlehem was a pivotal event concerning the future of the Jewish people and the nation of Israel.
Christ’s birth was also a pivotal event for the entire world. Micah says the baby who was born that night in Bethlehem has His ‘origins are from distant past,’ meaning He is the eternal God. Jesus Christ, God the Son, left heaven’s glories emptying Himself by giving ‘up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form.” (Ph.2:7 nlt) Jesus did this to offer Himself as the only perfect sacrifice possible to save us from our sins and reconcile us back to God. That holy night in Bethlehem was indeed a pivotal event for all.
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32 ESV
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We have come to our 5th and final song of hope for advent. Yes, Christmas is over, but this song takes place after the birth of Christ, some 40 days later. The first male child born to a Jewish couple was to be dedicated to the Lord as required by the Law of Moses. Joseph and Mary, being devout Jews, brought Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem for this purpose. Mary had to wait 40 days until her purification period was over before she could go to the Temple, and she would also go to offer a sacrifice for her purification.
“And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord’) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.’” (Lk.2:22-24 esv)
Mary and Joseph made the 6-mile trip from Bethlehem to Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice of two turtledoves or two pigeons which shows the poverty of this young couple, the earthly parents of the Christ-child. This should serve as a reminder to us that Jesus left His heavenly home to come to earth, giving up the luxuries of heaven to live in the lower class of society. We can be sure Jesus understands the plight of the poor in today’s world and cares about them.
The gospel writer Luke introduces us to Simeon in Luke 2:25-26. All we know about him is what is written in these two verses. He is mentioned nowhere else in Scripture. “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. 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.” (Lk.2:25-26 esv)
Presumably Simeon was an elderly man. He was a righteous man who was waiting for the consolation of Israel (the comfort the Messiah would bring to the people at his coming). Scripture says the Holy Spirit was upon him and given special insight that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. One could imagine Simeon going to the Temple every day thinking maybe this will be the day. Finally, the day came when Mary and Joseph entered the Temple area. “….and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, (Simeon) took him up in his arms and blessed God….” (Lk.2:27-28 esv)
Simeon’s song begins, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” (Lk2:29-32 esv)
Simeon’s words here are known as “Nunc Dimittis” the Latin Vulgate translation meaning “You now dismiss.” It is a New Testament hymn celebrating God’s salvation. Simeon was holding in his arms the one who would redeem Israel from their sins and not only Israel but of every nation, tongue, and tribe. Simeon didn’t need to see anything more; he saw God’s promised Messiah. He didn’t desire to live any longer, God rewarded Simeon for his faithfulness. Perhaps there are some things we would like to see before the Lord calls us home. The Lord’s arm is not too short that he cannot reach down and grant that request. But our focus is to be righteous and devout as Simeon. We may be surprised at all the Lord will reveal to us before we leave this earth.
Simeon now focuses his attention on Mary and Joseph and blesses them. “And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.’” (Lk.2:34-35 esv) Christ will raise up those who believe in Him, but He will be a stumbling block to those who disbelieve. Simeon’s blessing included a hard truth for Mary. A cost will come to her as Mary will suffer deep anguish at her Son’s rejection and crucifixion. What was going through Mary’s mind at this point? We don’t know, and we don’t know how many times she thought about this during Jesus’ years on earth as she watched Him grow up and become a man. Mary certainly knew that the prophecy had to come to pass. Yes, it was a hard truth.
Simeon is joined by Anna, a prophetess 84 years old, who begins to give thanks to God and tells everyone around her waiting for the Messiah that He is here. “And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Lk.2:38 esv)
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Simeon’s song “Nunc Dimittis” closes these 5 songs of hope for advent, and what better song can we end with but the hope (assurance) of our salvation. We can sing with Simeon, “……my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).” Matthew 1:23 ESV
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There are many religions in the world today. Most of them serve and worship a god in some form or another. Others see this world as all there is and see themselves as gods. Most religions work towards entrance into the afterlife, whatever that looks like even though they can’t be sure if they’ll make it. There is only religion that I know of where God came to be with us and made it possible for us to be with Him forever in the afterlife. That religion, if you allow me to use the term, is Christianity.
The gospel writer Matthew quotes from Isaiah the prophet concerning the birth of Christ. “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Is.7:14 kjv) Matthew confirms the meaning of ‘Immanuel’ as ‘God with us.’ Christianity is also the only religion where God is a ‘triune God,’ three persons in one. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Three in one. God the Son, Jesus Christ, left His heavenly glories to be with us and take on sin at the cross of Calvary. The apostle Paul says it best, “(Jesus) emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Ph.2:7-8 esv)
No other religion on earth has a God who came down to rescue sinners paying the penalty for their sins against Him. But Christ did just that, and like John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (kjv) God’s plan of salvation is spelled out for us in the Bible, and it started with God with us. Christ came to us on Christmas. If you haven’t gone to Him for salvation what better day is there than today! It will be a Merry Christmas!!
“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2 NASB
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Many families have Christmas Eve traditions they keep year after year. Some go by the wayside over the years, being replaced by new ones for the next generation and so on. There are fond memories of that first Christmas Eve you can remember as a child. Memories of the first Christmas Eve you had with your spouse or that special loved one are not forgotten. Baby’s first Christmas is cemented in your mind, along with so many memories of the ‘first’ Christmas Eve occurring during special events in your life. Memories are good for the soul and should be cherished, and remembering the first Christmas Eve, that very first Christmas Eve 2,000 years ago, should be cherished most of all.
Mary and Joseph had their baby’s first Christmas cemented in their minds. Their baby, Jesus, was Christmas. He was the Christ-child who came into the world. Jesus would save His people from their sins. It would be a Christmas Eve they would never forget. It began days before as Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem under orders from Caesar Augustus to register in their hometown for taxation. Mary, about to give birth, had the ride of her life on a donkey which she would never forget. Joseph scrambling to find a place to stay in an overcrowded small town would make for good conversation years down the road. Their accommodation for the night would be a memory they both would like to have forgotten, but I’m sure they didn’t.
While we think back and treasure our memories of a special Christmas Eve, a special Christmas Eve long ago was remembered by two willing servants of God who trusted Him in the birth of His Son. Over the years those memories for Mary and Joseph grew sweeter and sweeter, covering any smell of a dirty stable that night. For the Son of God, the savior, was born that night. That first Christmas Eve was a night to remember.
Word for the Soul 