Anticipation

“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.” - Luke 2:25-26

When you hear these words, “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose…” you know it is that time of year again. The Christmas Song makes everyone’s list of favorite Christmas carols. It perfectly captures the anticipation that kids have for this magical time of the year. You remember these lyrics: “Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow will find it hard to sleep tonight. They know that Santa’s on his way. He has loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh. And every mother’s child is going to spy…to see if reindeer really know how to fly.” Everywhere you go in December you hear the story of Santa Claus, reindeer, and sleighs full of toys. The anticipation is palpable. When you were younger, the question you kept asking was, “Will Christmas EVER get here?”

There was the same anticipation and expectation, at least on the part of some people, for the first and real Christmas 2000 years ago. Imagine what it must have been like when every Jewish mother’s child was told a story even more wonderful and more awe-inspiring than the Santa story ever could be. It is a story that began with a promise and a prophecy in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15).

For thousands of years, children in Jewish homes were taught that one day God would send a Messiah, a Deliverer, someone who would rule not just over them, but also over the entire world. They even celebrated feasts and holidays to keep this in their minds and to keep their excitement and anticipation up. Years, decades, and centuries went by with the expectation of the coming Messiah. Would this be the year? The month? The week? Generations came and went with no Messiah.

One of the hardest places to be in life is in a place of waiting. A diagnosis, decision, answer…whatever it is…waiting is just hard. But we must never make the mistake of giving up on what God has promised. Most Jews missed the coming of the Messiah. They lost the excitement, their faith waned, or they just weren’t waiting with expectation. The promised Messiah came humbly, without fanfare and accolade. In our “go big or go home” world, it is easy to miss the answers that God gives. We must be waiting expectantly, fully believing that God will fulfill His Word in our lives. Only then will we see the gifts of His faithfulness.

Father, Help me to be like Simeon, who waited with expectation, faith, and hope that You would fulfill Your promise to Him, and to Israel.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.