Advent - A Light to the Gentiles - 4th Sunday

A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES - Luke 2:21-35

Today’s Bible story is about a man named Simeon who loved and followed God. The Holy Spirit promised Simeon that one day, he would meet God’s Messiah—the promised King. And then one day, he did! The Holy Spirit prompted Simeon to visit the temple the same day baby Jesus came to visit.

Imagine Simeon’s excitement when he got to meet baby Jesus, God’s promised Messiah! Simeon took Jesus into his arms and prayed a prophetic prayer— the kind of prayer that predicts something that will come true in the future. In his prayer, he announced two things: that Jesus would be a light to the Gentiles and a glory for his people.

When we think of Jesus being a light for the Gentiles, let’s imagine light and darkness—just like this room was/is dark and the candle was/is light. Darkness stands for all that is wrong in the world—all the sin and evil. But light is the opposite. It stands for all that is right. All the goodness and truth.

Simeon said that Jesus would push back the darkness of sin and evil and bring goodness and truth. He would make all things right. You see, Jesus lived a perfect life. He never did anything wrong. He always obeyed Mary and Joseph, his parents, and he always obeyed the law of Moses. By living a perfect life, he broke the power of sin.

Jesus also pushed back the effects of the curse of sin. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and gave freedom to those held captive by Satan.

Then Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment for everyone who turns from their sin and believes—and this included the Gentiles.

Remember the promise God gave Abraham—that all the families of the earth would be blessed? All the families meant the Gentiles would be blessed through Abraham’s family, too—not just Israel (Genesis 12:2–3).

In addition to Jesus being a light to the Gentiles, Simeon said he would be the glory for Israel.

The people of Israel had been waiting a long time for someone to break Satan’s curse on the world. They’d been waiting ever since God promised Eve that a son of hers would crush the head of the Serpent. Jesus was that son. Jesus was also a far-off grandson of David, so he would reign over Israel.

When Jesus grew up, the people tried to make him their king (John 6:15). When he traveled on the donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, they shouted “Blessed is the King” (Luke 19:38a). The people thought Jesus would become the new earthly king of Israel. But the glory of Jesus was greater than becoming an earthly king. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He would rule over all the earth and heaven!

Moses promised a prophet would come (Deuteronomy 18:15). A prophet was a person who delivered messages from God to his people. Jesus was that prophet, and he brought a very special message from God. He came to teach Israel about their Father in heaven, and he came to make a way to heaven through himself.

Yet, as exciting as this all was, the visit to the temple was also a sad day for Jesus’s mother, Mary. Simeon prophesied that Jesus would face a very difficult life. He would be rejected by people and pierced by a sword. Simeon predicted Jesus’s death on the cross.

But it would be through Jesus’s death and resurrection that all people—both the Gentiles and the people of Israel—could be forgiven. On the third day after his death, Jesus would rise in victory and power. Then, all those who believe in Jesus could go to heaven.

Today the way of salvation is also open to us. So the question remains: Will we turn from our sin and follow Jesus?

Let’s celebrate the hope of Christmas by making an ornament. You can hang it on your tree at home, or share it with a friend or loved one, to spread God’s joy in this season.