Luke 2: 25-26
25 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. 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.
Quickword: Great Anticipation!
As we approach Christmas morning, I’m reminded of how as a young child I was filled with anticipation of what gifts would await me upon rising early on Christmas morning. With such great anticipation, I could hardly sleep waiting on what was to come. I skip ahead this morning in the narrative of the birth of Christ to the joy of Great Anticipation we witness from Simeon. Here In Luke’s Gospel we find a man in Jerusalem who is filled with great anticipation. It has been revealed to Simeon that he will not see death until he sees the Lord Jesus Christ.
- The power of the Holy Spirit still reveals to us the expectations of the believers.
- While we wait, we must not become impatient or frustrated but wait with Great Anticipation.
- There is still Great Anticipation of the Consolation of Israel in the land today.
The consolation of Israel refers to the promised Messiah. To console is to alleviate grief or to take away a sense of loss or trouble. The Messiah, the consolation of Israel, was to remove sorrow and comfort the nation. Simeon and generations before him waited for the coming of the One who would console God’s people. Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would take on the ministry of consolation: “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for” (Isaiah 40:1–2).
Beloved it, I look forward with Great Anticipation this advent season to the comforting of the Holy Spirit. Regardless of our situations and circumstances, we can look forward with Great Anticipation that the Savior of the World has come and is still sovereign. We are gifted with the comfort of the Holy Spirit. I look with Great Anticipation to see what mighty work the Lord will reveal today. If you are reading this post, He has already blessed you and I by waking us up to see a brand new day!
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