| During one Advent season, a St. Louis television news anchor announced, in a very serious voice, that some unidentified party had stolen the baby Jesus figure from the community's nativity display. The nativity scene included Mary, Joseph, shepherds, animals, manger, but there was no Jesus. They ended the report by asking that everyone be on the lookout for the missing Jesus.
More than 2,000 years since the first Christmas, people are still missing Jesus.
During the busyness of the holiday season, so many people are missing Jesus in the miraculous imagery of Christmas. Or, He's among a cast of Christmas characters - Santa, Rudolph, and of course, the Grinch. Others miss Jesus in the ups and downs of everyday life and question where can He be found when there is violence in our streets and homes, injustice in our communities, illness in our bodies, and even wars throughout the global village.
The close of the Christmas story, as told in the Gospel of Luke, introduces us to Simeon and Anna. Simeon is described as righteous, devout, and one upon whom the Holy Spirit rested (Luke 2:25). Anna is also described as devout: she never left the Temple, but stayed there day and night, worshipping God with fasting and prayer.
Amid the hustle and bustle of Temple activity, Simeon and Anna saw Jesus (Mark 2:28-30). The Bible teaches us that if we are to receive the fulfillment of God's promises we also must be in right relationship with God.
In Simeon's song (v. 32), he recognized that the Messiah, the Savior of God's people, was not just for God's people. God's Son was sent by God for the salvation of all humanity.
Anna praised God for witnessing the fulfillment of the promise of a Messiah and right away goes out and tells people about Jesus. She spoke to those who were waiting for God.
Even before Jesus had performed any miracles or done any teaching - He was a newborn - Simeon and Anna spread the news that Salvation had come to all.
What do you tell people about Jesus?
We, like Simeon and Anna, must live each day expecting to see Him, hear Him, and feel Him.
The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would find Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:27). Every time we come to worship, and even in our everyday circumstances, we ought to expect to see Jesus. Do not be satisfied with anything less.
At Christmas, may we all see Jesus! If our hearts are turned to God, we will surely see the Christ.
Merry Christmas from Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie and the National Council of Churches Staff! |
