Half the fun of Christmas for children is waiting for its arrival in anticipation of fun, gifts, and of course, school is out for a couple of weeks. During the Christmas season, sad things are happening too. So many people are waiting to be loved. Some are waiting for the perfect job or the ideal home, or the perfect situation to manifest so that they can be happy.
Unfortunately, they don’t have any hope it will happen for them while there are others, however, who are waiting for something they believe will really happen. Their hopes have a foundation, and an assurance of their hope gives them the strength to carry on, sometimes in challenging circumstances.
The nation of Israel had a long tradition of waiting. From Abraham to Elijah, God’s people eagerly anticipated the fulfillment of all His promises. Centuries later, in the New Testament, we find the tradition of waiting continued.
Luke tells us in chapter 2, the story of Jesus’ birth and the events that followed. In the story, we find two people who were waiting, waiting for a long time. One was Anna. This lady had been looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. The other was a man named Simeon. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel. They were eagerly waiting for God to burst into their circumstances and do what He had promised to do. Then, when the Christ child was born, both Anna and Simeon took Jesus in their arms and rejoiced. This baby, named Jesus, was the answer to their waiting.
Coming up to them at that very moment, [Anna] gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:38)
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