|
WORLD EVANGELISM MINUTE
electronic epistle
December 20, 2006
|
|
Greetings!
Have you ever considered the
Messiah's Missionary Purpose expressed in Simeon's
prophetic prayer announcement upon seeing Jesus, the Christ
child?
Luke recorded it this way, "For Mine eyes
have seen thy salvation, Which thou has prepared
before the face of all people; A
light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of
thy people Israel" (Luke 2:30-32).
This
was quite an acknowledgement coming from an elderly devotee of
Judaism. Simeon (in verse 32) is actually quoting from Isaiah's
prophecy (Isaiah 49:6). But he reverses the word order here in
Luke 2:32. Instead of saying first that Jesus would
restore the glory to Israel (as Isaiah did), Simeon mentions the
mission to Gentiles first!
Of
course, Isaiah's point was that it wasn't enough for God's Servant
(the Messiah) to restore the glory to Israel (something that He
will do). No, this Servant needed a bigger job. So Isaiah wrote,
"It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my
servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the
preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to
the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation
unto the end of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6).
And
when we too hear what God has said through both Isaiah and Simeon
about the Messiah's mission, we join Joseph and Mary (Luke
2:33) in wonder concerning this awesome and gracious purpose! |
