The salvation of the whole world
In the days when Jesus was born in Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago, there lived a devout man named Simeon in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die before seeing the Lord's Christ. One day, the Holy Spirit led Simeon to the Temple—the very day that the parents brought the infant Jesus to fulfill the requirements of the Torah. When Simeon saw the baby, he took Jesus in his arms, praised God, and said, “Lord, now you are releasing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all nations, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” (Lk 2,29-32).
Simeon praised God for what the scribes, Pharisees, high priests, and teachers of the law could not understand: Israel's Messiah came not only for the salvation of Israel, but also for the salvation of all nations of the world. Isaiah had prophesied this long before: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the dispersed of Israel. But I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth." (Jes 49,6)God called the Israelites out from among the nations and set them apart as his chosen people through a covenant. But he did not do it merely for them; he ultimately did it for the salvation of all nations. When Jesus was born, an angel appeared to a group of shepherds tending their flocks at night.
The glory of the Lord shone upon her and the angel said:
Do not be afraid! I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great multitude of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Lk 2,10-14).
When describing the extent of what God did through Jesus Christ, Paul wrote: For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Kol 1,19-20)Just as Simeon had exclaimed in the temple about the infant Jesus: Through God's own son, salvation had come into the whole world, to all sinners, even to all enemies of God.
Paul wrote to the church in Rome:
For Christ died for us ungodly while we were still weak. Now it is rare for someone to die for a righteous person, though perhaps for the sake of something good a person might risk their life. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Having now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, having now been reconciled, how much more shall we be saved through his life! (Röm 5,6-10)Despite Israel's failure to keep the covenant God had made with them, and despite all the sins of the Gentiles, God accomplished everything necessary for the salvation of the world through Jesus.
Jesus was the prophesied Messiah, the perfect representative of the covenant people, and as such, the light for the Gentiles, the One by which both Israel and all peoples were saved from sin and brought into the family of God. That is why Christmas is a time to celebrate God's greatest gift to the world, the gift of His one and only Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
by Joseph Tkach
