Consolation of Israel
(Jesus)
Luke
2:25 (ESV)
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.
Israel only occupies
.0043% of the world’s landmass, but has been the desire of nations throughout
time. It has been conquered repeatedly, even when it had very little to offer
in terms of natural resources. The people of this tiny country know
disappointment and loss. They have been either ruled or taken captive more
times than any other people on the planet.
During the days known as
“The Silent Period,” the time between the writings of the Old Testament and New
Testament, Israel had fallen prey to the Romans. The religious orders of the
Pharisees and Sadducees taken over the leadership of the Jewish Faith, and
added many laws to the Law of God in order to keep the people in bondage.
Even in this bleak
situation there were some that still held true to the promise of a messiah. One
of these was a man named Simeon. Luke tells us that Simeon was “waiting for the
consolation of Israel.” This consolation would come, but it would not be as
most expected.
Many wanted a messiah
that would deliver them from captivity and restore pure worship to the temple.
They wanted peace. However, on the day Jesus was brought to the temple to be
circumcised as required by The Law, Simeon was there. He recognized something
in Jesus that very few knew. Simeon saw the Messiah! He knew the long awaited Consolation of Israel had come.
Consolation:
The comfort received by a person after a loss or disappointment.
This definition
epitomizes the role Jesus fills in every life that He touches. Everyone needs
comfort. Everyone has suffered loss. Jesus came to heal these wounds and
provide access to the Father from whom all blessings flow! Once we are
reconciled to God through Jesus we tap into the very source of life.
While on earth loss and
disappointment will still come. That’s part of living in a fallen world. But,
we have the Holy Spirit to bring us comfort and we have the hope of Heaven to
keep disappointments at bay. We are no longer waiting on the Consolation of Israel. We now have The
Comforter living inside us … forever!
The psalmist requested
that we pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Psalm
122:6 (ESV)
Pray
for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you!”
That Peace came when a
baby was born to a virgin in a stable in Bethlehem. If we will embrace Him, if
we will accept the Covenant that He came to make with mankind, we will know His
peace.
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