“Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice..;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be discouraged
till he has established justice in the earth…
“Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
‘I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;
I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people,
a light for the nations,
to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
I am the Lord; that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to carved idols.
Behold, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth
I tell you of them.’” Isaiah 42:1-9
“And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus,.. he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
‘Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.’” Luke 2:21-22,25-32
Compassion for our helpless estate brought Jesus to earth. When Christmas sprang forth, former promises and longings came to fruition. Christ came bearing justice as our ransom at the cross, light for revelation, hope and freedom, salvation to all who believe, and glory to God. When we welcome Him, His peace floods our souls. (John 3:16; 8:32; 1 John 1:9)
Celebrating Christmas, we can rejoice in all Jesus brought, and brings today. If we are His children, we sing with Simeon that we behold in the star, the manger, and the child in the temple, the Lord’s Christ, the living Salvation of God.
How will we be agents of His compassion? To whom will we proclaim ‘justice has been served on your behalf, you can see with eyes of faith, you can walk free’? With whom will we rejoice that Salvation has sprung forth, and we can enjoy its delights?
Lord, may the hope, joy, and consolation of Christmas spring forth in me, bring delight to You, and spread hope to Your people.
As the rain and snow 