One of my favorite parts of the Christmas story actually occurs after His birth. Luke 2:21-40 shares the story of Jesus' presentation. His parents, in compliance with the Mosaic law, brought their eight-day-old to the temple to be circumcised and to offer a sacrifice.
In this account, we're introduced to two characters, Simeon and Anna, both aged, faithful, and devout. Please do read this account but allow me to briefly draw your attention to two verses:
- vs 25 "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."
- vs 38 "And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem."
That word consolation in the Greek is παράκλησις (paraklēsis) means to call someone to your side. For example, if you were going through a tough time and needed assistance, you would call (kaleo) someone to come support you or come to your side (para). Don't get bogged down in the phonetics or my poor attempt at explanation here. Look at the beautiful thought being purveyed. Jesus, your Messiah, the Savior of the world, left Heaven and came to your aid, to your exhortation, to your comfort. Hallelujah!
The other bolded word redemption in the Greek is λύτρωσις (lytrōsis) and it means to release someone upon release of a paid ransom. Get that? Jesus came and brought comfort and peace but He didn't stop there. He also redeemed us, He paid the ultimate price to secure our freedom, liberating each of us from enslavement to sin. Wow!
And that's why we celebrate today. Merry Christmas to the consoled. Merry Christmas to the redeemed!
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