...wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. – Lk 2:12
Lk 2:21-39 tells us of two different persons –
a man (Simeon) and an old woman (Anna) – who had both been waiting and praying
for the coming of the Messiah prophesised centuries ago. For Simeon, it was
even prophesied that he would not see death before he saw Yahweh’s Messiah! So
we can imagine his excitement when the Holy Spirit told him one day to go to
the Temple because the Messiah child was going to be there.
Note, however, that the baby Simeon handled at
the Temple was exactly that – a baby. There was no Harry-Potter like scar on
his forehead, no hint of lightening in his eyes, no electricity cursing through
your body as you lifted him up… no nothing. If Simeon had let go of the baby,
it wouldn’t have executed a perfect backflip and landed on its feet. No. Jesus
would have smacked his head on the hard Temple pavement and pierced the air
with crying.
Alternately, put yourself in Anna’s shoes.
Decades of fasting and praying, only to be shown a baby. “Great! It’s a fine,
chubby boy. Now what?”
Beloved, the beginning of your miracle may not
look like it. The prophesied ministry, the dream marriage, the envisioned business
enterprise, etc. may not arrive spectacularly. The picture you saw so vividly
in your heart may not look like what you’re seeing in your hand: you were
expecting to see God in the flesh, but what you see is just flesh – and a
rather vulnerable one at that.
Others may have had a faith-boost to help them.
The shepherds in the field wouldn’t have had a problem believing that Jesus was
the Messiah; not after all that spectacular display and angelic fanfare. But
most of the time, we find ourselves like Simeon and Anna; having nothing to
hold on to except God’s sure Word, and a blob of bouncy flesh.
This is where we can learn from them. They
didn’t act disappointed; instead they both rejoiced and celebrated the baby as the fulfilment of the prophecy. Your
miracle has already started, Beloved. Like the babe in a manger, it need not
look spectacular; or even miraculous (Simeon and Ana were unaware the babe was
virgin-born), but it is it. Celebrate and believe in the little currently in
your hand, and see the great and powerful things that will follow.
AMEN.
More Blessings await
you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.
GREG ELKAN
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