安然离去和仰望
我们的孩子在成长过程中把我们的一个好友称为“巴德叔叔”。巴德叔叔和他的妻子参加了我们所有女儿的婚礼。他们总在那里守候着我们。也许你也有和他们一样像家人般的朋友。尽管西面不在耶稣的家谱里，他却成了耶稣故事的一部份，他就是这种像家人般的朋友。
当马利亚头生的儿子被带到圣殿，要归主为圣的时候（出13:2），西面也在那里。他忠心地事奉神，等候所应许的救主弥赛亚的来临。然后，事情就发生了。他看见了耶稣，把他抱在怀里，称颂神。
西面因着信，宣告了弥赛亚要来这一个神的应许。他因着信，仰望耶稣要为我们成就的救恩。因着信，他明白了一个了不起的真理：耶稣所带来的的救恩是可以救万民的，包括你和我。难怪西面准备好了安然离去。
圣诞节已经过去，我们也必须继续前行。在此之前，我想问一句：“你见过世界的救主耶稣吗？”虽然你不能把祂抱在怀里，但你可以凭着信心接受祂做你的主。然后，像西面一样，你将准备好继续前行，赞美神过去、现在和将来要做的一切。
父啊，愿我们像西面一样，看见你所做的一切，仰望你全部的应许。奉耶稣的名，阿们。
路加福音 2:21-32
21满了八天，就给孩子行割礼，与他起名叫耶稣，这就是没有成胎以前天使所起的名。
22按摩西律法满了洁净的日子，他们带着孩子上耶路撒冷去，要把他献于主，
23正如主的律法上所记：“凡头生的男子，必称圣归主。”
24又要照主的律法上所说，“或用一对斑鸠，或用两只雏鸽”献祭。
25在耶路撒冷有一个人名叫西面，这人又公义又虔诚，素常盼望以色列的安慰者来到，又有圣灵在他身上。
26他得了圣灵的启示，知道自己未死以前，必看见主所立的基督。
27他受了圣灵的感动，进入圣殿，正遇见耶稣的父母抱着孩子进来，要照律法的规矩办理。
28西面就用手接过他来，称颂神，说：
29“主啊，如今可以照你的话，释放仆人安然去世！
30因为我的眼睛已经看见你的救恩，
31就是你在万民面前所预备的，
32是照亮外邦人的光，又是你民以色列的荣耀。”
Letting Go And Looking Ahead
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation. . . .” - Luke 2:29-30
Our children grew up referring to one of our dear friends as “Uncle Bud.” Uncle Bud and his wife attended all our daughters’ weddings. They were always there for us. Maybe you also have family friends like them. Though Simeon was not in Jesus’ family tree, he became a part of Jesus’ story in a way like family friends do.
When Jesus, the firstborn son of Mary, was brought to the temple to be consecrated to the Lord (Exodus 13:2), Simeon was there. He had served God faithfully as he waited for the Messiah, the promised Savior, to come. Then it happened. He saw Jesus, took him in his arms, and praised God.
By faith, Simeon had claimed God’s promise that the Messiah would come. By faith, he looked ahead to the salvation that Jesus would accomplish for us. By faith, he grasped the awesome truth that the salvation brought by Jesus is available for all peoples, including you and me. No wonder Simeon was ready to move on in peace.
Christmas is past. We too must be ready to move on. Before we do, though, let me ask, “Have you seen Jesus, the Savior of the world?” You can’t hold him in your arms, but you can receive him as your Lord by faith. Then, like Simeon, you will be ready to move on as you praise God for all he has done, is doing, and will do in the future.
Father, may we, like Simeon, see all you have done and look forward to all you have promised. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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