Shalom,
Speaking of happiness, it’s all what people desire, isn’t it? The goal of whatever we do is to find happiness. Example: a young couple gets married to build a happy life together and to have children to make their lives even happier until they are old; then as parents, they will work hard to make their children have good education to help them have good career and happy married life. That’s human’s life cycle that always aims at happiness. As married people, we strive for daily happiness; as employees, we always look for monthly happiness when we receive our salary; and every one of us can’t wait to feel annual happiness when we celebrate yearly feasts including our birthdays. We serve and worship God also with an intention to receive happiness from His blessings and protection. It’s clear that happiness is mankind’s primary need. However, happiness from the Lord is not temporal but eternal. Unfortunately, we tend to spend our time, our thought and money only to pursue temporary happiness and we forget the real and eternal happiness.
Luke 2:21-32 took the old man, Simeon, as an example of someone who felt happy in waiting for the salvation from God before he died. Why was he happy?
- Because the salvation he had been waiting for was called Jesus.
“And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord” (vv.21-22).
In the Bible each name has sacred and important meaning as it determines the future of the name’s bearer.
Doctor Luke wrote Jesus’ name by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The angel clearly said that the name of Jesus that he told Mary existed before she conceived Him. It means that before baby Jesus came to the world—in Mary’s womb, the name of Jesus had existed. Commonly, husband and wife prepare a name after they find out their baby’s sex. But it wasn’t the case with baby Jesus. The name of Jesus had been prepared by God even before the creation of the world (cf. Ephesians 1:3- 4). What is the significance of preparing Jesus’ name since eternity? It’s to tell us that salvation for this world has been well prepared by God. So, He didn’t do it frantically. This is so unlike the world that is not prepared in facing the unprecedented Covid-19 virus. All countries are now speedily preparing the vaccine to curb the spread of this deadly virus.
The coming of Jesus to this world signifies the presence of God in this world. It also proves that God always puts us in His mind and plans happiness for man, His creation. He is always there and never leaves us alone. But the problem is, like Joseph and Mary, Simeon, and Anna, we have just realized it because man is not like God who is unlimited with space and time. Now we understand that the planning of salvation comes from God alone, not from this world, and He has prepared it since eternity.
A master planner always prepares a long-term program carefully so that it could be enjoyed by many people. Likewise, God’s well-planned salvation is intended to be enjoyed by man whom God created according to His image and is valuable in His sight. Who is that man?
Originally, God’s plan of salvation was destined only for His people, the Israelites (Isaiah 9:5-7). In visions all prophets in the Old Testament saw the star, Messiah, Jesus crucified, antichrist, the second coming of Jesus, the millennial kingdom, heaven and earth destroyed and changed into a new one, and the church (gentiles) were buried into the deep abbys as if as they were not in God’s plan.
In the New Testament, a Canaanite woman (gentile) came to Jesus for help because her daughter was demon-possessed but He told her that He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 15:22-25). Only after the Israelite rejected that Name, did the church seemingly appear as “a sudden program”. The Israelite had broken off the plan of God, then we (gentiles) – the wild branch – were grafted in that great plan (Romans 11:17-20). The inclusion of the church (gentiles) made God’s beautiful plan seem to be postponed for a while; however, it’s indeed in accordance with His promise to Abraham, “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, …” (Genesis 22:18).
So, what’s the purpose of grafting in the church while the true branch (Israel) was broken off? Apparently, it’s God’s program of jealousy to make the unfaithful Israelites return to Him (Romans 11:11). If salvation is supposed to bring happiness to the Israelites, how much more to us, the gentiles, we get double happiness.
Question: Is it true that the Israelites and unbelievers are jealous of us the Christians who have been saved by Jesus? Or do we make them go even farther away from Him because our bad utterance and disgraceful behavior do not reflect the true followers of Jesus? We indeed have received God’s awesome mercy (Roman 11:33). Therefore, do not humiliate the Name of Jesus because His greatest mercy is the source of our happiness.
Another important point is the Name of Jesus is the only solution for our sins (Matthew 1:21).
Illustration: God amazingly grants ingenuity and wisdom to man to learn how to solve life problems on this earth. For instance: This Covid-19 pandemic has shocked and scared us, but I believe this disease will one day become curable (solvable) with ever-developing medical technologies. Nonetheless, there’s a very big and insolvable problem that man tends to ignore and belittle namely sin.
Why can’t sin be solved with man’s brain and high technology?
Man doesn’t merely consist of mortal body but also spirit and soul. That’s why the invisible sin doesn’t necessarily attack our physical body but it basically destroys our humanity value: thought, feeling, intention. Most particularly, sin spoils man’s essence and value as God’s noble creation; as the result, man becomes depraved to be even morally lower than other creatures (animal). Also, damaged spirit and soul seriously impact human body.
Example: The first sin made husband and wife Adam and Eve hurt each other while other creatures were still living in harmony. The next sin caused Cain killed his brother Abel whereas at the time animals didn’t bite or kill each other yet. At Noah’s era sin increased as people married and were married off. At Lot’s time sin was even more disgusting because people committed LGBT actions. As we all see, nowadays wickedness and filthiness are getting increasingly worse. Ironically, the world doesn’t regard it as big issue for no country is able to solve sin. Consequently, man tends to compromise with sin with an excuse of honoring etiquette and human rights.
Take notice, the hidden sin can’t be solved with any good deed because sin isn’t related to how big or small the sin is. The solution is only in (the Name of) Jesus because the purpose of His coming to this world is to forgive and save His people (Acts 4:43). The question is, do we really believe in Him and follow Him? As the follower of Christ, we should have the mind and feeling as Jesus and not take pride in our high social status, instead we take a good example of Jesus who, “… made Himself of no reputation … and became obedient to the point of death …” (Philippians 2:5-8).
Introspection: Is our mindset mostly influenced by our culture and education background? How do youngsters behave in their courtship – do they celebrate Valentine’s Day the same way as the worldly people do? Are we willing to put aside our great strength and be tolerable to others’ weaknesses? Does husband or wife willingly say sorry to their mates? Whose mind and feeling do we have? Jesus’ or man’s?
- Because the awaited salvation had now been manifested (vv. 29-32).
“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him … he took Him up in his arm and blessed God and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation” (vv. 25, 28-30).
Simeon, as a righteous and devout man, was waiting for the consolation (restoration) of Israel. When he saw baby Jesus, Simeon admitted that he saw the salvation coming from Him. Obviously, he saw it not with his physical eyes but spiritual ones. Why? Because at that time, Jesus was still 40 days old and His parents were poor—we can notice from their offering of two young pigeons (cf. Leviticus 12:7). What restoration could be expected from the poor baby Jesus? However, by faith Simeon understood that the salvation or restoration didn’t concern with the world politic nor economy, but spiritual restoration (vv. 30-32).
Mostly, someone wants to die because they can’t withstand their grievous illness or terrible ordeal, but not Simeon. He was ready to die in peace that transcended understanding. Doctor Luke wrote it in indentation showing that it was Simeon’s heartfelt song of praise, not of distress (vv. 29-32).
Introspection: What kind of happiness or peace do we gain from following Jesus? Does prosperity become the indicator of our happiness especially in these tough days? If so, we would be disappointed! We have the real happiness if we feel at peace in any circumstances.
Do you hardly feel at peace in your personal and family life? Let’s not define Jesus’ presence as all comforts we got from the world! On the contrary, we see by faith that Jesus is the Savior of the sinners and we are to follow His example in humility. Having done so, we will gain true happiness while waiting for His second coming to pick us up to live together with Him in the New Jerusalem forever. Amen.