Waiting for Jesus

They might say that waiting is like a night when you don’t see much, and love is like a morning with a sunrise that makes you see what others don’t see.

Waiting has to do with hope, trust and faith. In fact, waiting passes like a red thread through love, hope, and faith.

But, do Christians really look forward to the coming feast of the Lord when we will be with Him?

This question might put many of us in an uncomfortable situation. It poses a dilemma to a man with holidays around the corner, meeting loved ones, eating, drinking, presents and being merry. We mustn’t forget putting up the Christmas decorations, and the roast dinner, all in the name of Jesus Christ should we?

However, the Bible presents two people, Simeon and Anna, who appear at a key moment in Jesus’ birth when his parents, Mary and Joseph, bring the Baby Jesus to the Temple for the first time. This episode is so simply presented compared to other scripture, which marked this special event of the birth of Jesus, that one could almost easily overlook it without losing the message and the value of the moment. This is because these two people appear discreetly and leave the Bible scene as if they had not accomplished much. They do this in a way that characterises them, as they are in their daily lives, that is, simple and modest. But it seems that this simplicity and modesty covers some form of celebration little known to their time but also to us Christians of modern days.

The Bible does not indicate that one of them came specially prepared for this meeting, it does not mention anything about gifts, as in the case of the Magi, they were not even specially dressed for the occasion. The scripture simply puts it that Simeon came to the temple, took the baby Jesus in his arms, blessed God, and said what was important to him, a few words reminiscent of a prophecy, words understood more by him. Anna also came and praised God and spoke about Jesus. However, Simeon and Anna are characters who can tell us more about themselves through unseen things that are hidden from our eyes, than the verses written on the Bible page, respectively, in the Epistle of Luke:

Luke, chapter 2:25-32
“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just 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. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; For 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 2:25-36-38
”Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

What’s interesting is, we need to understand why these two simple and insignificant people were the only ones who were honoured, to be the first eyewitnesses of the coming into the world of the Son of God, right in the Temple in His house of prayer?

Why was this esteem not bestowed on the high priests or others like them, who were appointed as dignitaries, worthy and chosen servants of the Synagogue?

Perhaps, from this perspective, we will better understand the point of view of the Lord and His people. These two people of God had something that many Christians today do not know, and do not possess. If we look closely at them, we see that Simeon and Anna, are Bible characters who can impress by their way of life. For many there, simple conduct would seem boring to others.

In trying to delve into these few Bible verses, a simple logic compels us to ask, why are they the first individuals in the Temple next to Jesus?
It would have been more appropriate for the high priests of the time, Anna and Caiaphas, or other leading names of the Jewish faith, to have been the first to be notified by the Spirit of God for this event?

It wasn’t even a national joy in the hustle and bustle of daily life?
There were Levites in the temple, a chosen seed set apart by God to serve Him in the temple, yet they too were overlooked?
But the Holy Spirit did not tell any of them that the divine Child, the incarnate God, would come to the Temple or, that the prophecy the people had been waiting for centuries was fulfilled?

But not only does the Spirit notify Simeon, but it also seems that God gave him the privilege to be a witness too?
The Bible says something interesting: “And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord Christ.”
What emotions must have been going through his mind at the time?
He must have been waiting in joyful anticipation of this day, and even more so now?

Simeon was kept alive by God till about 114 years old to fulfil this great undertaking. The Holy Spirit the Lord and Giver of Life, notified two people only from several million Jews!

God seems to want to express, that these simple and modest people were among the few who could truly enjoy His Son sincerely and deeply. He could feel their longing, heavenly joy, and bliss while they waited. It’s almost like God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;” 1 Corinthians 1:27. Yes, God has many insignificant, ignored, silent people who have never been heard of, but who appears in the pages of the Bible out of nowhere echoing a few words, and their connotations remain memorably etched in the pages of human history forever.

And in their case, every time we speak about Jesus’s birth the name of Simeon and Anna will be remembered. From this perspective, it would be logical to ask, what made these simple folk more important than others, and especially more worthy than the biggest names of that period in Jewish history?

Why did the Holy Spirit speak to them, as if only they had the Spirit of God in those days?

How can someone wait a lifetime with such a driven purpose which was not even direct and personal?

The Bible teaches a few things in a few words, but we can also understand between the lines:

Luke 2:25
“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was (just) and (devout), and the Holy Spirit was upon him.”

And about Anna, the Bible teaches:

“Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with (fasting) and (prayers) night and day.”

What can be understood from these verses is that they both lived a God-fearing life of devotion, longing, fasting and prayer which should make us think about ourselves. Are you guided by the Holy Spirit in the perspective of God’s love?
The celebration of the birth of Jesus is an opportunity to look deep into our souls and see how much we long to feel His presence in our hearts. These days we can better understand what shines best in our house, the light bulbs on the Christmas tree, or the rosy glow of delight at the thought of the baby Jesus, and the Man that is Jesus Christ coming soon.

Are you excited by (presents) or His presence on a holy-day or a holiday?
Do we love Christmas food more than fasting and prayer?
Or is the brain nullified by alcoholic wine inhibiting the work of the Holy Spirit?

This question is more justified than ever because the Holy Spirit is in each of us today in every born-again disciple. In the Old Testament, the presence of the Holy Spirit was quite rare and temporary. Today, we can talk about being filled with the Holy Spirit, and many other things that the ancients in the days of Simeon and Anna only heard about.

The vivacity of these two humble servants should motivate us to spiritual life with a higher spiritual purpose. This should be a unique and focused goal, especially in these times that our generation is going through when we see the second coming of Jesus is so close. This holy life with longing for the Baby born in the manger of our hearts should characterise every (wise virgin) who waits for her Bridegroom to come. The life of each person should remind us of our (first love) desired by the baby Jesus, who in the meantime became the King of kings.

However, some might ask: “How can anyone lead such a holy dedicated life?”

Can someone simply wait for decades for an event that is not even a strictly personal one we would say, but a collective one?
How can a modern man that lives for pleasure hear the soft voice of the Holy Spirit, or know the works of God’s Spirit?

How Simeon and Anna could lead a holy life, with the fear of God in the conditions of slavery under Roman rule, should make us stop and think. Israel was under the Roman decree, and God had not spoken to His people for over 400 years. Over 400 years of silence Israel was waiting on edge, to be taken out of the state in which it found itself in, and be fully restored with its privileges and position back as a nation, with a unique destiny in human history. But during the time of Simeon and Anna, God had clearly turned his back on Israel as a chosen people who had sinned. After 400 hundred years God speaks to two ordinary people out of the silence.

It’s possible the Creator spoke to others, but this is all that is recorded in the Bible regarding the temple drama. The whole Israelite nation was waiting for deliverance. Yet Simeon and Anna were waiting but understood something deeper than the others. Simeon and Anna were modest and obedient. The modern world requires us to be obedient to their agenda, whilst they were humble, righteous and obedient to God first.

How much time do you invest in worthless transitions of life?
How much time do you invest eternally in your future?
Maybe we are the last generation as the Bible teaches?
Do you really value the birth of Jesus and the birth of the Holy Spirit in your heart?

The parable of the 10 virgins, of those who have already gone out to meet the bridegroom, is more relevant than ever for our generation. Times when the return to our (first love) is more acute than ever. And here Simeon gives us an amazing example of what it means to wait:

“Simeon took him in his arms, blessed God, and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; For 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.”

Simeon and Anna waited patiently, and never faltered once. Many folks today are waiting for the return of Christ, but have succumbed to the world and deception. There may be 2.5 billion that confess to being Christian, but how many are true disciples?

The root word for disciple is discipline. Simeon’s and Anna’s waiting was joyful throughout all the adversities of the time.

When we watch the TV how much joy have you got in your heart with all the constant brainwashing of death and suffering?

After the waiting was over, Simeon’s earthly life was technically over. His purpose was to wait for a promise from God. If this meant waiting days, years, even centuries, the obedient humble heart never faltered. This is love in its purest Agape form. Material motivation, pleasures and temptations, never once derailed their purpose on this earth.

Simeon’s name in Hebrew means: Obedient; listening; and little hyena. The name Anna comes to us from the Hebrew word meaning (grace) or (favour). Obedience will define others who will see in the Baby Jesus more than any infant brought to the temple by a poor family. Christian’s should see the Consolation of Israel, and all the nations, that would go on to form the church of the One who was the Infant Jesus, and who in the meantime became Savior and Lord of their lives.

Moreover, they will be themselves the temple of His Holy Spirit, through their body sanctified by the incarnate Word of God. They will know what Simeon also knew, and said in a prophetic voice:

“Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against.”

There were many folks from yesteryear, there are many today who see in Jesus just a Baby of condition, far too humble to have a say in human history.
There are others who say He is just a myth. For Simeon and Anna waiting became an expression of their faith and love for the eagerly awaited Bridegroom. Their whole life was aligned to God from a dream, which they bound to their soul, just as a parent binds his baby:

Hebrews 11:13-14
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say, such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.”

Hebrews 11:39
“And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”

John 16:13
“He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

But what does Jesus do for those who are waiting patiently for His second coming, this time in a cloud with power and great glory?

Luke 21:27
“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

1 Peter 2:9-10
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”

God simply says in a few words that there are future treasures preserved for His people, believers who hide under their humility the riches of a life lived in total obedience:

1 Corinthians 2:9-10
“But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”

Malachi 3:17
“They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.”

Malachi 4:2
“But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings, And you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.”