Forty Days Later

You may find this article to be a bit different from the usual. I'm not attempting to draw any conclusions, but merely leaving you with some things to consider.  

It has been about forty days since we celebrated Christmas, the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that, according to Mosaic law, Jesus was to be presented at the temple at least a month after His birth for the ceremony Pidyon ha'Ben, or the redemption of the firstborn. His mother, Mary, was required to present herself for purification forty days after her son's birth. Joseph and Mary were obedient to God's law, so they came with their son, Jesus, and the sacrifice required by God in His Torah (Luke 2:25-40). At some point during the ceremony, they were joined by a man named Simeon, a devout man, waiting for the Messiah and having the Holy Spirit upon him. He had received a promise: he would not die until he'd seen the Messiah for himself. "So he came by the Spirit into the temple," on the day, at the moment Joseph and Mary were there with Jesus. Did the Holy Spirit wake him out of a sound sleep? How far did he travel to get there? Had he been told days in advance? Did he have something else planned for the day? How many times had he arrived at the temple in anticipation, only to be told, "Go home, old man, Messiah isn't coming today"?

So, Simeon arrived at the temple, found this tiny new family, and did the "hand-off." You know what I mean: that slow, intentional passing of a tiny baby from bosom to bosom. The cradling, the quiet. There is no breathing, just a small gasp of excitement as a delicate but supercharged bundle of life is exchanged and hearts virtually explode with joy! What was Simeon feeling? Face to face with the God of the Universe, the Deliverer, the Prince of Peace! Imagine his tears! How did the Child feel to him? Tender and warm or like holding fast to a mighty storm? How did the Babe smell? Like the rain or a fresh hot cup of coffee or a rose, the Rose of Sharon? How did Jesus respond? Did He coo and smile, reach a tiny hand to touch Simeon's wiry grey beard? What were Simeon's thoughts? God, through Luke tells us Simeon made a b'rakhah, a blessing. The word b'rakhah comes from the Hebrew word for "knee" and draws a connection between worship and bended knees. Simeon most humbly and gratefully adored the long-awaited Messiah, "a light that will bring revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Israel." He did not forget the promise made to him and how it had at that very moment been fulfilled; but in obedience to the Holy Spirit he spoke some not-so-good news as well. This Child will cause many in Israel to rise and fall; He will be spoken against, and you Mary, will feel that pain right to the depths of your heart. But all of this will be necessary (paraphrase mine). Imagine delivering that bombshell at a birthday party! Regardless of expectation, Simeon obeyed-- from the quiet of his home, on the road to the temple, in this moment before his King. 

We are told of another follower, Anna, a prophetess and widow. Her life was lived at the temple, fasting and praying. When she witnessed the events that day, she praised God and went about telling everyone of the Deliverer who had come. As a widow, she was dependent upon the kindness of God's people to provide her with the necessities of life; the temple was where she found safety and sustenance. But as a witness, an ambassador for the King, she could offer others treasure beyond bread and a place to sleep; she could leave the building to which she may have been socially and traditionally confined. How did it feel for her to suddenly be so wealthy? How did it feel to be free? How did it feel for her to step out into the bustling streets of Jerusalem, be among the people, and share with them the fulfillment of God's prophecy? How did those she spoke with receive the news? When did she return to the temple? later that night, or did her excitement carry her for days? (I know I said I wasn't drawing any conclusions of my own, but I find it hard to believe she simply went back to the temple, curled up on her mat, and prepared to die.)

As you continue throughout your day, I encourage you to consider some of these things:

Am I walking so closely in step with God that I might hear His promises as Simeon did? that I might hold fast to His promises as Simeon? Am I sure that I have seen Jesus "face to face" before I die? If I have, am I willing to leave the comfort of my home or even my country to tell others about the Savior I have seen? Am I willing to defy convention or social constructs to serve and speak the truth? What does Jesus mean to me? How is He revealing Himself to me? What is the Holy Spirit speaking to me? And am I prepared eager to obey?

Be blessed!

When Will You Know?

We all want to know. We want the feeling that tells us this is the right guy. We want a sign that says this is the right job. We want that peek into the future that assures us the selection we're making will be the right one, that the path we travel will not result in abject failure, that the course we've set upon will lead to success and happiness, and that we're not going to regret the decision we've made. So, when did you know?

In Exodus 14, the Israelites had fled Egypt, a land in which they were slaves for four hundred years. It took a bloody river, an abundance of critters, and the death of the king's own firstborn son to get the Israelites their freedom, but freedom was had, and the people of God made their way to the Red Sea. By the time they reached its shores, Pharaoh had already changed his mind, and headed out with the best of his men and chariots to recapture his workforce. As the Egyptians closed in on Israel, the people began to panic; Moses cried out to the Lord and the Lord answered:

Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. 

The Egyptians would follow Israel through the path God had made for His people, across the dry ocean bottom! Walls of water to either side, and the Egyptians would be so single-minded, so hard-hearted, so enraged by the escape of their quarry, they would recklessly (?), bravely (?), blindly (?) follow them into the very midst of the sea. And, God said, they will see:

So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.

And as the horses thundered and the chariots rumbled, God looked down and began wreaking havoc on the army of Egypt. They were thrown into a panic as the wheels fell off their chariots and they were unable to progress or retreat. Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians! And suddenly, they knew; but it was too late. God commanded Moses to reach his hand out once again and close the waters back over the dry ocean bed. 

Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained.

They made a choice, but it was far too late when they knew they'd made the wrong one.

You've chosen something as well. Whether you acknowledge your decision or not, you have either chosen to follow Jesus or not. Maybe you tell yourself you're just not ready. You've chosen. Maybe you say that you're not against Him, per se, you just don't think it's a priority. You've chosen. Maybe you've just never really thought long enough about it to make a choice: "one day" when you don't have so many other things on your plate, you'll take some time and think about eternity, about life and death, about facts and fables. You've chosen. Following Jesus is one of those decisions that, if you don't choose to do it, by default you've chosen another thing. If you've not made the choice to jump in the water, you've chosen to stay on the beach. If you've not made the choice to chase after God, you're chasing after something else. Have you made the right choice? When will you know?