Maybe it's just me, but I've never been one to get very excited about the "baby Jesus." I look at him on Christmas cards, in the manger scene in our living room, and frankly I'm not all that moved.
Just being honest, just sayin'
I mean, Jesus is my Lord, my savior. The man Jesus, absolutely. Even the boy Jesus who baffled the Pharisees, good stuff.
But the baby Jesus? I don't get all the fuss. I mean... he's a baby! They all kinda look alike to me, babies are babies, aren't they?
Is it just me?
Maybe it's a man thing... or not.
But scripture won't let me off the hook when it comes to the baby Jesus. One man's reaction at seeing him challenges me to look closer.
Reading Luke 2 today,
"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. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. 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, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel."
The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 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, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." Luke 2:25-33 (NIV)
A baby is a new life, with a destiny. The birth of a child, as many of us parents know, changes our lives forever.
And Simeon could see that, just in holding Jesus in his arms, he could see it all. He could see that this child was the Son of God.
He held God in the flesh, in his hands.
Lord, give us fresh eyes to truly understand, as Simeon did, how your coming changed our lives, forever.
