Scripture tells us something important about an
elderly man, Simeon. He “was waiting for the consolation of Israel."
And we are told of an elderly lady,
Anna, who was “looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem" (Lk 2:38).
Simeon and Anna were both devotedly anticipating the coming of Messiah, the
Redeemer and Saviour.
As a righteous and devout believers, the elderly
Simeon and Anna were both waiting and watching for the Old Testament prophecies
to be fulfilled. They were both waiting
for the solace of God’s people.
We need to know about watchmen to properly get their
message and follow their example.
In the ancient world when someone very special was
expected, a watchman would be appointed to wait and watch for his arrival. The
watchman would stand on the top of a hill or on the city wall, and day and
might keep watch until the expected person was seen at a distance. He would
then loudly announce his arrival!
Simeon and Anna were “watchmen”. They waited, watched
for and prayed for the coming of the Messiah. They were filled with great expectation,
because it had been revealed to them by the Holy Spirit that they would see the
promised Christ. (Lk 2:26).
One day Simeon was led by the Spirit to go to the temple
with the promise that he would see the Christ. You can be sure that he went as
quickly as possible. His hours, days and years of waiting were almost over. He
could finally cry out that the consolation of Israel, that the kingdom of God,
had come.
When Simeon saw Joseph and Mary with the Child in the
temple, he held out his arms, took the Child, praised God and embraced the
Advent, the coming, of the Messiah.
Only a handful of people recognized Jesus for who he
was. Anna, Simeon, and a small number of others acknowledged baby Jesus to be
the Christ, the Messiah.
Our Lord has given special commendation to those who
not only wait for his coming, his Advent, into our world and lives, but also
earnestly watch for him, recognise him for who he is and joyfully embrace his
coming to us.
Simeon and Anna were both waiting and watching and
praying for the Messiah's coming. This is why they were ready and able to
recognize him, rejoice in him and believe in him when he came.
It is true that the Lord's Christ has already come to
our world when he was born in Bethlehem. But do we hear that he is knocking on
the door of the Church and is ready to feast with us if we recognise and
embrace him as he comes to us to bring us consolation and guide our lives day
by day?
Do we live with eager anticipation and great
expectation of what the Lord does when he wants to be with us?
How I pray that we, like Simeon and Anna, will be watchmen.
How I pray that when the Lord's Christ comes to us we will be ready and prepared
like a bride for her groom. And that we
will receive from him, as we so desperately need, the gift of the water of
life, his very Sprit of faith and joy! May we be waiting for and experiencing
the joy of the “consolation of God’s people”.
May we live as watchmen, always ready to embrace the life and
consolation that Jesus wants to give to us!
O come Lord Jesus, come to wipe the tears from our eyes!
Rev. 22: 17 and 20: The Spirit and the bride (his Church) say, "Come!" And let him
who hears say, "Come!" Whoever
is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the
water of life.
He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am
coming soon."
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
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