12 Days & 12 Scriptures – Scripture 11 of 12:
All the Hebrew Scriptures culminated into two moments in time- Christ’s birth and His Sacrifice on the cross. This evening, we focus on the child that was born in the manger, since it is the season that Christians throughout the world take time to stop and meditate on what His birth means to us.
No words can explain how I feel about who the God of the universe, the Creator of heaven and earth, the First and the Last is to me, except to say what Simeon and a prophetess named Anna said when they encountered the Baby Jesus for the first time. May your first encounter with Jesus our Lord be the same.
I don’t have to add or subtract anything else on this:
21 And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking 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 carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 A Light of revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 38 At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.… Greek Scriptures Gospel of Luke Chapter 2 verses 21-38 NASB
Have a wonderful and peaceful Christmas Eve and may Jesus give you the peace that passes all understanding no matter what your circumstance in life is. He was, is and will always be the Prince of Peace!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
