Summary: The Christmas season has arrived. This year a local radio station was playing Christmas music just after Halloween! The images of shepherds and wise men suddenly appear in front yards and in the mall. But before there were shepherds traveling to see Jesus and before wise men began to seek him, there was another. Close your eyes and picture an old man waiting to die but not before he experiences the greatest moment of his entire life. His name is Simeon and he was the first to recognize that little baby as the fulfillment of hundreds of years of Old Testament prophecy. In fact, this is why he was waiting to die. God promised he would see the Messiah before departing this earth. Simeon also proclaimed something unusual but it is part of the Christmas story: "This child is appointed for the rise and fall of many in Israel." He was right. Jesus attracted some and repelled others. Some rise and some fall. One rises by receiving the peace of Jesus when confronted with his or her sins and responds in repentance. Others fall because they reject his work on the cross. Simeon found his hope by focusing on the Messiah. He said, “I know the Messiah and nothing else matters on this earth, I can die.” This Christmas let's remember that Jesus is the one who causes us to rise!
