Revelation

“My eyes have seen your saving deed...” 

Luke 2:30

February 2nd, exactly 40 days after the birth of Jesus, is the Feast of the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple. “When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord.” So Jesus, the Messiah, the Savior of the world, was ransomed the same way every Jewish boy was blessed and bought with five shekels according to Old Testament law. 

We can read this law in the 18th chapter of Numbers, 14-16: “Everything in Israel that is devoted to the Lord is yours. The first offspring of every womb, both human and animal, that is offered to the Lord is yours. But you must redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals. When they are a month old, you must redeem them at the redemption price set at five shekels of silver…”

There was an old man in the Temple who witnessed this visit of the Holy Family to the temple. His name was Simeon, a just and God-fearing man, and it was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Christ. Simeon took Jesus in his arms and said in joy, “Now, Master, you may let your servant go ​in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, ​which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, ​and glory for your people Israel.”

What can we learn from Simeon? I believe that we too can receive a revelation from God if we want it enough. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” Jesus does not barge in, demanding we listen to Him. We have to invite Him in. If we open the door, we will marvel like Simeon at what God will do in our lives.