Prophets are a big deal in the Bible.

In the Old Testament, 17 of the 39 books are written by prophets. Most of the year, the prophetic literature of the Bible takes a back seat, but during the Christmas season, it often moves to center stage.

Isaiah in particular has a lot to say about the coming of the Messiah. He points to Jesus 700 years before Jesus was even born. In Isaiah 49:6, for example, God tells the prophet to tell the people this will be part of the job description of the Messiah:

I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6).

When Jesus is 40 days old, his parents bring him to the Temple in Jerusalem for his dedication. There, the Holy Spirit fills a man named Simeon when he sees baby Jesus, and Simeon says that Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah.

Prophets are always reminding us of what God’s ideal for the world and our lives looks like. They point us to God’s best for the world.

At the same time, they point out the mess we’ve made because of our sin. But the message of the prophets never ends with our mess. The message moves from the mess to the messiah.

Luke tells us Simeon “was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel” (Luke 2:25).

I wonder what mess you find yourself in this season. I wonder if you believe the messiah can do something about that mess.

Simeon had been waiting for rescue. Waiting is not our favorite thing to do. When we are in the mess, we want the rescue to be immediate. Part of the hard work of living by faith is continuing to trust in the promises of God, continuing to hold on to hope while we wait.

So, look for the light in your darkness today. May that sliver of light help you believe your story doesn’t end with the mess. It ends with the Messiah.

Reflection:

  • What are the situations in your life that feel beyond your power to change? Is there a mess in a relationship? Around your health? Finances?
  • What do you imagine salvation and rescue looking like? 
  • Who are the people in your life who find themselves in the mess?
  • How can you pray for the Messiah to meet them and rescue them in their mess?