Simeon and Anna: Patient Waiting
As we get closer to Christmas, let's talk about two people who were not part of the chaos but part of the quiet, patient anticipation: Simeon and Anna.
They were two elderly saints who spent their lives waiting in the Temple for the promised Messiah. When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple for the purification ceremony, Simeon and Anna finally received their reward.
Luke 2:25 (KJV) says Simeon was "just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him."
Think about that phrase: "waiting for the consolation of Israel." He wasn't just passively waiting; he was actively expecting God to fulfill His promise, and the Holy Ghost was upon him for his faithfulness.
Mighty God, Everlasting Father
We’re spending three days exploring the four magnificent names of Christ from Isaiah 9:6, and today we tackle the final two: "The mighty God, The everlasting Father." These titles are a direct, undeniable statement of the divinity of the baby in the manger.
The world often focuses on the sweetness and innocence of the baby Jesus. While that humility is beautiful, we must never forget that wrapped in those swaddling clothes was "The mighty God."
He is the Mighty God because He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. The hands that were wrapped in linen swaddling clothes are the same hands that flung the stars into space. He is powerful over sickness, nature, sin, and death. There is no problem in your life that is too big, too complex, or too old for the Mighty God to handle.
Wondeful, Counsellor
We continue our exploration of the glorious titles given to Christ in Isaiah 9:6. Today, let’s focus on the first two: "Wonderful, Counsellor."
When the prophet spoke those words, he was not merely providing the Messiah with pleasing names; he was describing the specific needs that only God could meet.
Have you ever found yourself completely stuck? You’ve exhausted all your own wisdom, consulted all your friends, and still cannot determine which path to take? We all encounter moments when we desperately require wisdom that exceeds human capability.
This is where the titles "Wonderful and Counsellor" come into play.
The Prince of Peace
The Christmas story breaks into the world with noise and chaos—angels, travel, political strife, and confused families. But right in the middle of all that commotion, there is a core message of peace.
When the angels announced Christ's birth, they declared: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14, KJV). And hundreds of years before the manger, the prophet Isaiah gave the Messiah this magnificent title:
Isaiah 9:6 (KJV): "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
Think about that name: "The Prince of Peace." This title tells us that Christ doesn't just deliver peace; He is the source and ruler of it.
God’s Unstoppable Love
As we explore the meaning of Christmas, we must discuss the motivation behind the entire story. Why would God, who is perfectly self-sufficient and glorious, send His only Son into this messy world? The answer is simple, powerful, and utterly life-changing: Love.
The Nativity wasn't a political move or a tactical strategy; it was the most dramatic act of love ever performed. The whole reason for the manger, the star, and the eventual cross is captured in that one famous verse:
John 3:16 (KJV): "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."