December 26 – Luke 2:21-35

During this Christmas season, we celebrate that Jesus came to be with us, and we rejoice and anticipate that He is coming again. Hallelujah!

This study uses the SOAP method of Bible study to seek an application for each reading (not sure what this is? Check out the What’s SOAP? tab). We have provided an example SOAP note below today’s reading. Join in this study by completing the daily readings and journaling using SOAP, and you are welcome to use the Comments section at the bottom of our homepage to share or ask questions.

Reading: Luke 2:21-35 21 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. Jesus Presented in the Temple 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.”

SOAP Note

Salvation in the Flesh | Kathy Page

Scripture

Luke 2:29-32

Observation

Simeon, who was controlled, counseled, and conditioned by the Spirit of God, received the revelation concerning Christ in the same way that Jesus reveals Himself to us today; he was in the Scriptures, he knew the prophecies of the Old Testament, and he was a man of prayer. God had made him a promise that he would not die until his eyes had seen God’s salvation.

On that day Mary and Joseph brought their little baby boy to the temple courts, they were there to offer the customary sacrifices at the customary time in the customary way – an ordinary scene.

Simeon was not alone at the temple.  Others were there too.  Yet only Simeon looked at this family and saw God’s salvation.  Only Simeon recognized in the flesh what his heart had been seeing in the Spirit for years.  When he looked at what everyone else looked at, He saw the Consolation of Israel, the Salvation of God.    Others were focused on their rites and ceremonies, they missed the Savior.  He was right in their midst and they were blind to His presence.

When Simeon saw this little baby, he proclaimed himself at peace.  He took this little baby, the Consolation of Israel and the Light that would lighten the Gentiles in His arms.  Simeon saw Salvation, a person, not a word, doctrine or creed.  He held His salvation in his embrace. He felt the Master’s touch.

Application

Let us look beyond the glitter of this holiday, let us look beyond the mundane in this world, let us look beyond the ordinary, and see the glory of His presence.  Then we too will be at peace.

Prayer

Oh Lord Jesus, when I fall into the well-worn patterns of my flesh, trying to measure up, trying to make everybody happy, trying to attend perfectly to every detail, trying to fulfill other people’s expectations, capture my heart with Your touch.  Bring peace into my thoughts with Your presence.  “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.”  No matter what frenetic activity and insistent demands swirl around me, I want to be able to say, “my eyes have seen Your Salvation”.  Let me be transfixed by Your face.  In Your Name, AMEN!

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