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But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40, 31 Dear Heavenly Father, in our weariness and in times of exhaustion, this verse is a beacon of hope. Help us to continually place our trust and hope in you.
knowing that it is only through you that we can find renewed strength and vitality. When we feel like we can't go on, remind us to look and wait upon you and to rely on your boundless strength. Teach us to soar like eagles with a perspective that rises above our present circumstances, focusing on your eternal promises.
May we run the race before us with endurance, knowing that you are with us every step of the way, empowering us to press forward. Thank you, Father, for the assurance that no matter how tired we may feel, you are our source of strength and renewal. In the powerful and loving name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Thank you for praying with me today. Stay tuned now for another episode of Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.
The journey from Bethlehem to Jerusalem was not far. In fact, Mary and Joseph found joy in traveling without turmoil and danger. They slowly walked the path with anticipation and faith. Joseph led Mary and Jesus to the temple gates, his eyes wide with reverence as they approached the majestic structure. Its walls were vast and magnificent, arrayed with gold, ivory, and cedar, standing as a testament to the glory and majesty of God.
The descendants of David approached the temple, their hearts filled with surreal awe, their footsteps echoing with the weight of both history and prophecy.
Welcome to another Christmas episode of Stories of the Messiah. I'm Rabbi Schneider from Discovering the Jewish Jesus. Today's episode is taken from Luke chapter 2, verse 21 through 35. Mary and Joseph, as was the custom of the day, took Jesus to be circumcised and dedicated in the temple. As they enter the temple, they will meet a stranger with a profound message of hope, salvation, and warning.
Before we begin today's story, let's talk about the significance of circumcision on the eighth day. As you already know, my ministry is dedicated to showcasing the message of Christ in the Old and New Testaments. This act of circumcision on the eighth day is a significant Jewish custom with deep meaning and spiritual weight. Jesus' circumcision on the eighth day was more than a cultural custom.
It was an act of obedience to God's command and a symbol of the covenant relationship between God and his people Israel. Circumcision in the Old Testament represented an external sign of an eternal commitment to follow God's ways. By following this command, Mary and Joseph aligned Jesus with the traditions of Israel and the promise God made to Abraham. In Jesus, this covenant finds its fullest expression.
The God-man, Jesus Christ, embodies the perfect obedience we fail to attain. Through faith in Him, we enter into a new covenant where the sign is not physical circumcision, but the circumcision of our hearts. Paul made that very claim in Colossians 2:11 when he said, "In Him you also were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ."
Through Christ, we are all brought into the promise of Abraham. With that knowledge, let's immerse ourselves in this story and meet a man named Simeon who is waiting for the fulfillment of a promise made by God. After this story, we will mine the depths of Simeon's prophetic statements.
Sitting under the shadow of the temple gates was a man named Simeon. His face was etched with the lines of age and wisdom. His eyes were filled with a patient longing. He sat there quietly every day, watching as newborn children were brought in to be dedicated. The thought of new life being raised in the love of the Lord enlivened him, a spark that sustained him through the long slow march of time. Yet there was one child in particular he was waiting to see.
For years, Simeon had waited to see the Messiah enter the temple gates. The Lord had told him long ago that he would witness his coming. So he waited patiently. His spirit attuned to the heartbeat of eternity, his soul resonant with the whispers of the Lord. Age had fought against Simeon's will for quite some time, but he was determined to see God's promise fulfilled. He prayed in the shade of the temple walls.
His voice a soft murmur, his mind filled with visions and dreams of redemption, until the Holy Spirit tugged on his heart. Simeon opened his eyes and his breath caught in his throat as he saw Mary and Joseph entering the temple courtyard with a baby. Simeon's old heart fluttered in his chest, a wild hope igniting within him. His bones ached as he limped over, his voice trembling with emotion. "Could this be?" he shouted towards Mary and Joseph.
Tears fell down his cheeks as he hobbled over to the child, his body quivering with a joy that defied description. Startled, Mary stepped back, holding Jesus close.
She recoiled with surprise until she caught a glimpse of the man's eyes. Much like the shepherds, she could sense that this man knew exactly who Jesus was. God had whispered it to him in the quietness of his heart. The man who trembled before her was not a stranger. In a sense, he had known of this child for far longer than her.
His eyes were like glassy pools, reflecting in them the joy of the Lord. Overwhelming and honest joy could be seen in those ancient knowing eyes.
Simeon extended his reach for the newborn Jesus. Instead of recoiling again, Mary rested him in Simeon's trembling arms. He held the baby, tears of joy streaming down his grey beard, his hands cradling the child like someone would a chest of gold. In Simeon's gaze was the look of someone who had found his life's purpose. He held the boy up, his voice filled with wonder and gratitude. "Oh my God!"
Now I may rest in peace, for I have seen your salvation and held it in my arms.
He is the radiance of your glorious grace. Simeon leaned down and whispered something into the boy's ear. He kissed Jesus' forehead and gently handed him back to his mother. The old man put a hand on his chest and sighed a breath of relief. The wait was over. Simeon had seen salvation. Mary was speechless. How could this man know so much about Jesus?
Simeon fixed his eyes on Mary, his hands holding her shoulders, his gaze piercing her very soul. Be warned, my child. This baby is destined to make many fall and rise. Nations will be built on his shoulders, and many will stumble because of him. He will expose the deep darkness of the heart and restore light to those who love him.
However, many will seek his life and a sword will cut straight through his very soul at the sight of it. His words were a prophecy, a blessing and a warning, all woven into one, a tapestry of destiny that would unfold across time and space.
After dedicating Jesus in the temple, Mary and Joseph departed back to Bethlehem. They remained there in a small home near the very inn that showed them mercy. It was a sanctuary where they could nurture their child and build a place of love, tenderness, and honor towards the Lord. Joseph worked in town, thriving despite his family's rejection.
They remained there while Mary recovered, awaiting God's next prompting. In the quiet bliss of Bethlehem, with its green rolling hills and lush open fields, they found solace and strength, their hearts filled with the knowledge that they were a part of something greater than themselves. They were the guardians of a promise, the bearers of a hope that would ignite the world,
and in the soft cooing of their baby, they saw the reflection of eternity. As night draped over the horizon, Joseph and Mary cradled the baby in their arms as they looked out at the stars. A peculiar star fixed above them like a guardian angel. Its light was radiating brighter than the others, pulsing with light like a beating heart. Little did they know, this star was a signal beckoning a group of noblemen from the east.
They were masters of astronomy and prophecy. Some called them alchemists. Others called them kings. Legends would herald them as magi. Simeon's patience is a beautiful illustration of what it means to wait on the Lord. Waiting is often associated with inactivity, but biblically waiting is an act of trust in God's timing, plans, and promises. Simeon was not idle.
He was in the temple every day, waiting and watching, fully confident in God's faithfulness. Psalm 27, 14 says, Isaiah 40, verse 31 says, They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.
These scriptures remind us that waiting on the Lord is a process of renewing, strengthening, and hopeful anticipation. Simeon's waiting culminates in a profound statement of revelation pointing to a God who keeps his promises. When Simeon finally beholds Jesus, he gives a prophetic encouragement and warning. Simeon's prophecy is rich with significance. He describes Jesus as God's salvation and the light for revelation to the Gentiles.
This highlights Jesus' universal mission, extending grace and redemption to all nations. His prophecy also foretells division and opposition. Jesus will become a sign that is spoken against, causing many to fall and rise in Israel. The gospel message, while a source of joy to many, will also expose hidden sins and lead to rejection by others. This emphasizes the polarizing impact of Jesus' message.
and the choices people must make in response to him. Simeon's words to Mary are both poignant and prophetic. He foresaw that a sword would pierce her soul. This spoke of the pain Mary would endure, particularly as she witnessed the rejection and crucifixion of her son. Mary's maternal heart will bear the weight of the world's salvation, a joy mingled with immense sorrow. In a broader sense, the piercing of Mary's soul symbolizes the cost of discipleship,
Following Jesus entails joy and fulfillment, but also suffering and sacrifice. This passage, beautifully portrayed in the biblical adaption, offers timeless lessons for our walk with God. It speaks to our covenant relationship with Him, the importance of patient trust, the universal reach of Christ's redemption, and the deep and sometimes painful love that follows faith.
As we celebrate Christmas, let us embrace these truths, holding them close, allowing them to shape our lives and sharing them with others as the shepherds did with reverence, joy, and humility. In the face of the Christ child, we find all the promises of God fulfilled, a hope that anchors our souls, and a love that compels us to worship and witness.
May the story of Jesus' dedication and Simeon's prophecy inspire us to dedicate ourselves afresh to God, to wait on him with hope, to embrace the mission of Christ with courage, and to love him with a love that pierces our very souls.
In our next episode, we will travel east across deserts and open plains. Some wise men of power and influence notice an anomaly in the stars, leading them on a journey to meet the prophesied King of the Jews. To dwell deeper into Jesus' Old Testament appearances and prophecies, you can visit discoveringthejewishjesus.com.
I'd also like to recommend my new book, Messianic Prophecy Revealed, Seeing Messiah in the Pages of the Hebrew Bible, if you want to learn more about Christ's redemptive story told in the Old Testament. If this podcast impacted you, please take a moment to leave a comment and review. Doing so will make sure others discover these life-changing truths and stories. And be sure to download the Pray.com app to make prayer a priority and experience the Bible in new ways.
