The Story of Christmas, Day 13: Thursday, December 8 – Luke 2:21-38 Desire of the Nations

On the thirteenth day of Christmas, my Bible said to me...Seek Jesus, the One who satisfies the soul. 

Today's Reading: Luke 2:21-38

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. 

 22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” 

 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying

 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
    you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.” 

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” 

 36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Devotional Thoughts

Today, we begin a new focus in this series. We've looked at the prophecies of Jesus' birth and about \other aspects of his life and ministry on earth. Now we turn our attention to the life of Jesus from the moment the birth narratives ended until Jesus died on the cross for our sins. We will only look at his

 life in a brief overview, but it is important, as we seek to understand Christmas, to remember the life that followed the birth in Bethlehem.

Simeon was an old man who hung out in the temple courts for one reason. The Holy Spirit had told him that he would not die until he saw the long-promised Messiah, the hope of the ages. Moved deeply in his soul he went to the Temple that day and saw the baby. He knew. Immediately, he knew that this was the One. The Messiah.

For many years he'd looked for, longed for, sought after one thing and now he had seen what God promised. The baby was the incarnation of all of God's goodness and power. He held the baby and he knew that God had done what he said he would do.

It's a simply thought today, my friends. Jesus is the one who satisfies the soul. You can seek anything and everything, you can go anywhere to find hope and joy and happiness and peace. But Simeon went to the dwelling-place of God - the temple - and he saw the Son. His soul was satisfied.

It is when you go to God and seek Jesus that your soul will be satisfied. Jesus said something similar to this when he admonished his disciples to "Seek first the kingdom" and that "all these things will be added to you." It is when we go to God and seek his Son that our souls will be satisfied with his goodness.

Thank you, Father, for the satisfaction you give when we seek your Son. 

Think and Pray

What is it that you seek?
Where do you go to find the satisfaction of your soul?
Go to God today for everything your soul needs. 

Carol of the Day

Come, thou long expected Jesus, 

born to set thy people free; 

from our fears and sins release us, 

let us find our rest in thee.

Israel's strength and consolation, 

hope of all the earth thou art; 

dear desire of every nation, 

joy of every longing heart.