The second in our series, Preparing for Christmas is on Great Expectation. Christmas is all about Christ. The days preceding the birth of Christ were days of great expectation. The expectation was heightened because of Bible prophecies that foretold the birth of Christ. (Micah 5:2; Isaiah 7:14). There were, at least, two people who lived in great expectation of the birth of Christ. Simeon and Anna were two of such people. The fulfillment or realisation of their expectation was a great encouragement to us that those who have expectations in Christ will see their expectation fulfilled.

According to the Bible, God in Luke 2:25-32 and 36-38, enabled these two persons to see the Messiah at His birth. Once they saw Christ, certain things happened. Firstly, they rejoiced that their long-awaited expectation had occurred. Secondly, they rejoiced that the Messiah had been born. Thirdly, they praised and thanked God. Fourthly, they prophesied.

Simeon proclaimed that Jesus was: “A light to bring revelation to the gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Isaiah 60:3 predicted that nations would come to the light of the gospel.

Christmas is a time for rejoicing. It is also a time of blessing God and thanking Him for sending Jesus. Those who have seen and embraced Jesus must be thankful to God.

For Simeon and Anna, seeing Jesus was the fulfillment of their entire expectations. Once Simeon saw Jesus, he said: “Lord, I can now depart in peace.” Jesus was the embodiment of his hope and aspirations. Jesus is also our hope and aspiration. Those who have Jesus should have full joy and satisfaction in Him.

How we celebrate Jesus, the King of Kings this Christmas is very important. One way to celebrate him at Christmas is to thank Him for being an embodiment and fulfillment of all our aspirations and desires. Jesus embodies all we need this Christmas. In John 14:8 Philip asked Jesus, \“Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus responded to him: “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘show us the Father?” All our desires for satisfaction, contentment, and sufficiency are fulfilled in Christ Jesus. He is the sum of all we need in life.

Simeon and Anna’s statements at sighting Jesus show the true worshipers of God. The Bible says God is seeking those who will worship him in spirit and truth. When you compare Simeon and Anna with King Herod you will see a big difference. Herod pretended to want to worship Jesus. He told the wise men to go and seek out Jesus and come and report to him so that he would go and worship Him. But God through Herod’s deceitful heart warned the wise men not to return to Herod. Simeon and Anna were different. They represent genuine worshipers, the kind God seeks to worship Him this Christmas season.

Another way to celebrate Christmas is to prepare for the Second Coming of Christ. Hebrews 9:28 says: “So, Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”
Those who wait for Jesus’ Second Coming purify themselves. 1 John 3:3 says: “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (NKJV).
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