WHEN the Child was eight days old, they circumcised Him, and called His name JESUS. This name means SAVIOUR, and He was so-called because He was to save His people from their sins. A little later they brought Him to the temple to present Him before the Lord, by means of an offering, according to the law, because He was the first born. It was at this time that Simeon met Him, according to the account given by the Spirit of God in Luke. Let me give you the account in the words of the Holy Ghost.
“And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law, then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.”
This man Simeon was guided by the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost had made known to him that he should not die till he had seen the Saviour. And when they had Jesus in the temple, Simeon came in, and took up that wonderful Babe in his arms and blessed God. What did he see in that little Babe? He saw God’s salvation. “Mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation.” In that little Babe there was salvation prepared of God which was to be announced to all people. That Babe was the glory of Israel, and a light to lighten the Gentiles. And Simeon, holding the Babe in his arms, saw all this in Him—his own salvation, the salvation of the Gentiles, and the salvation of Israel. Oh, what a wonderful Babe! Is it any wonder that one of His names should be called Wonderful?
Dear children, what do you see in that Babe of Bethlehem? Do you see in Him your salvation, like Simeon? May the Holy Ghost teach you what He taught Simeon, and lead you to bless God for His great salvation.
H. R.
ML 04/22/1900