And don't we need one at present? Lockdown in the summer was one thing, but being shut up at home in the short, cold days of winter has been something else. At the time of writing, the UK is in a very difficult situation. The current lockdown seems to be taking effect, but there are still several hundreds of deaths from Covid-19 each day and almost 20,000 new cases reported daily. Hospitals in several parts of the country are being overwhelmed and the medical staff under serious pressure. Many people have been in some form of lockdown or serious restrictions on movement for most of the last ten months. A vaccine is finally being rolled out which should alleviate the situation, but some voices are being raised about its effectiveness and the potential side effects. Of course, a lot of people have died from the disease and many more are now grieving the loss of loved ones. Others have lost jobs and face an uncertain financial future. Perhaps that is you and you are desperate for some light at the end of the tunnel.
A little over 2020 years ago, Israel was an occupied state. For some this was great, because it had put their small country on the map as part of the dominant world empire centred on Rome. The opportunities arising for those willing to take them, and pay the price of subservience, were unparalleled. In fact, Rome had first been courted not that many years previously, when Israel was still free, in order to sort out some internal political issues. However, the ultimate result had polarized the country. Tensions were mounting which would around 70 years later lead to a dreadful and unsuccessful civil war as a bid for separation from the empire. Religiously speaking, and Israel was traditionally a very religious nation, there had been no serious prophetic voice in the land for around 400 years. The Pharisees, though, had a tight grip on how people should live, through multitudes of religious laws. Society was one of haves and have nots, with beggers a common sight and leper colonies of unclean outcasts, alongside luxurious homes and, of course, the palace. The Temple courtyard and the market place were not easily distinguishable from each other in terms of the trade going on, and 'justice' was meted out arbitrarily.
Into this situation, God sent a baby. A baby? Yes, a baby! What good was that? The political map and health service both needed urgent overhaul. A serious statesman or military leader needed to arise. What good was a baby? It would take 20 years or so before there was any chance of any action from the child. So God didn't tell the ruling parties, or the King, or the religious leaders. In fact, when the King did find out a couple of years later, he tried to get the child killed. God decided to be selective about who knew that he had sent his own Son to be born as a baby in Bethlehem. Obviously the parents knew, as well as group of cousins, and angels had turned up to tell some shepherds. None of these was likely to cause a problem and, in fact, they all worshipped the boy perfectly happily.
So his parents, Joseph and Mary, took the boy, Jesus, to the Temple when he was 40 days old, in accordance with the religious custom. While there, a man called Simeon came up to them and started to prophecy (Luke's Gospel, chapter 2, verses 25-35). He explained that God had told him he wouldn't die until he saw the Messiah and he had recognized Jesus when he was brought into the Temple. He went on to say that Jesus would be a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of the people of Israel. In summary, Jesus had come for everyone, both Jews and Gentiles, and was going to be the light of the world.
So this baby was God's answer after all: the country just had to wait for him to grow up. And he still is the light of the world, bringing hope and salvation in the midst of whatever might be going on around us. This is why the day for remembering the presentation of Jesus in the Temple is known as Candlemas, and candles are traditionally lit to symbolize the coming of the light of the world. If you need hope, because of the current national situation or more personal circumstances, it is there, to be found in Jesus. God loved the world so much that he sent his only son, Jesus, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life (John's Gospel, chapter 3, verse 16). That eternal life in God, full of hope, begins as soon as we give our lives to Jesus. Once we belong to God, his hope is there for us, whatever our circumstances. He's just waiting for you to ask.
Comments