Revelation
Day 345, Tuesday, July 22
Luke Chapters 2 – 3
When Jesus is brought to the temple for dedication, his identity as the messiah is witnessed by two individuals: Simeon and Anna.
While Anna’s words are not recorded, she is explicitly identified as a prophet.
Simeon seems to have the same role. At some time in his life God had revealed to him that he would live to see the coming messiah. Now that he has seen Jesus, he is prepared to die in peace.
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
Even this early in the life of Jesus, when he is just a few days old, Simeon already recognizes that the revelation of Jesus is not just for the Jews, but also for the gentiles.
Also in today’s reading we are introduced to John the Baptizer, who quotes the words of Isaiah in identifying himself as “one calling in the wilderness” to prepare the way of the Lord.
-Rev. Mark Fleming
Tuesday meditation
Job 9:21-31
“Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life. It is all the same; that is why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’ When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent. When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it?
“My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy. They skim past like boats of papyrus, like eagles swooping down on their prey. If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,’ I still dread all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent. Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain? Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with cleansing powder, you would plunge me into a slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me.”
Prayer focus
Just as we as gentiles have been invited into the family of God’s people, let us always seek to bring others in.