Holding Baby Jesus

Part of my devotions this morning was Luke 2. It talks fittingly about the birth of Jesus, as we're coming into this Christmas season. In Luke 2 following His birth, Jesus was to be presented in the temple. It was the custom because He was the firstborn Son to Mary and Joseph.

Later in the chapter it mentions , Simeon. The bible noted him as a righteous man. The Holy Spirit speaks to him that he would see the Messiah before he would die. The Spirit then leads him to the temple, showing up the same time Jesus is there. He holds baby Jesus in his arms and begins to speak praises and prophecy.

In verses 29-32 he says, "Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. which you have prepared for all people. I have seen your salvation, He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of your people Israel!”

I tried to think how that must've felt to be Simeon at that moment. All the emotions he must've felt. All the thoughts he must've thought. As I continued to think of how could you possibly describe Simeon's encounter it came to me "tangible hope fulfilled". Holding baby Jesus was holding literal Hope in his hands. Simeon even begins saying let him die in peace. He could die in peace because Hope had come. Romans 5:5 reminds us that hope doesn't disappoint. Hope assures us that no matter how bad things are everything will be alright. No matter how dark and sinful the world was, is, and will get, that tangible Hope arrival, assured everything will be alright.

Additionally I thought about my own baby, Olive. When I hold her I sometimes get overwhelmed. You think of how the hand of God crafted this little life, and how awesome that is. Psalm 139:13 says that God knit us together in the womb. How amazing! Olive is also dependent on me for all things; for all her needs to be met. She needs me. However, I need her just as much. God designed an Olive shaped hole in my life that was fulfilled when she was born. I didn't know it, but God knew I needed her and sent her. When I relate this to Simeon, he was holding the Messiah, but the Messiah was really holding him. He needed Jesus more than Jesus needed him.

This is true for all of us. We need Jesus more than He needs us. Not to be said that Jesus doesn't value us, love us, or want us. It's acknowledging that we are actually the helpless ones in the equation. Without Him our needs can't be met. We may think we can fulfill them other places or with other things, but truly and honestly, we can't be completely fulfilled without Jesus.

Jesus is hope fulfilled.