Anticipation. It’s what fills the Christmas season. Kids anticipating lights, packages, parties, plays, and Santa. Adults anticipating year-end bonuses, their kids’ excitement with all the seasonal festivities, and (hopefully) a little time off from the grind of rigid schedules.

There was once a different time of anticipation. The people of God were awaiting the Messiah.   There were signs given by the prophets of God that the people could watch for, but it had been such a long time without any sighting that the people had become complacent. All of a sudden, there was a guy who was super excited about the coming Messiah. He was making plain to all who would listen that the time for His arrival was near, and they should prepare! They should repent of their sins – anything that stood between them and their worship of God – so that they would be ready to receive this mighty gift from God. This man, John the baptizer, started a region-wide anticipation. Some scoffed, but many listened and acted so as to be ready for God’s gift.

There were two people mentioned in the Bible who needed no encouragement to be ready. They lived that way. They were devout followers of God and daily watched with anticipation for the Messiah whom God had promised. Their names were Simeon and Anna.

Luke says of Simeon that he was “righteous and devout” and was waiting for the “consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When [Joseph and Mary] brought in the child Jesus…Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation…a light for the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” There was also a prophet, Anna…she was 84. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:25-38)

They never gave up or slacked off in their devotion to God or in their faith in Him. They KNEW that He would honor His promise and send a Savior. They were rewarded for their faithfulness. They saw the Savior with their very own eyes!

We are currently in another time of anticipation. The people of God are waiting for the Savior’s return. Signs were given in the Bible by prophets, apostles, and disciples.

It has been such a long time without seeing Jesus’s return. We have a choice to make: We can become complacent, or we can be like Simeon and Anna with excited anticipation that Jesus will do what He says and come back for us to establish His Kingdom. We can also encourage others as John the Baptist, the prophets, and the disciples did. The benefit of being excited is that our hearts will be prepared for us to see Him. If we don’t see Him in our lifetime, we will see Him as soon as we pass from this life! (2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:23, Luke 23:43)

During this Christmas season, may we all celebrate the fact that the former anticipation of the Messiah has been fulfilled, and that our future anticipation is coming!

Merry Christmas, everyone!!!

May the JOY of Jesus impact everyone – those who know Him and those who do not, because they have been touched by those who do.