Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

December 21
Sunday


WHAT CHILD
IS THIS?

READ:
Luke 2:25-35
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This Child is destined
for the fall and rising of
many in Israel... that
the thoughts of many
hearts may be revealed.
__Luke 2:34-35
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One of our most beloved christmas carols was written in 1865 by William Dix, an Englishman who managed a maritime insurance company and loved to write hymns. Sung to the English melody "Greensleeves," some versions use the latter half of the first verse as a chorus for the other verses:

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard
and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring Him laud--
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

But in other versions, each stanza is unique. The second verse, rarely sung today, looks beyond the manger to the cross:

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear, for sinners here,
The silent Word is pleadings.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of mary.

Simeon said to Mary, "This Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" (Luke 2:34-35).

The Child of Christmas came to be our Savior. "Joy, joy for Christ is born, the Babe, the Son of Mary." __David McCasland
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The birth of Christ brought God to man;
the cross of Christ brings man to God.

***************Today's Bible Reading __Luke 2:25-35**************

And behold, there was a
man in Jerusalem whose
name was Simeon, and this
man was just and devout,
waiting for the Consolation
of Israel, and the Holy
Spirit was upon him. 26 And
it had been revealed to him
by the Holy Spirit that he
would not see death before
he had seen the Lord's
Christ. 27 So he came by the
Spirit into the temple. And
when the parents brought in
the Child Jesus, to do for
Him according to the
custom of the law, 28 he
took Him up in his arms
and blessed God and said:

29 "Lord, now You are
letting Your servant depart
in peace, according to Your
word; 30 for my eyes have
seen Your salvation 31 which
You have prepared before
the face of all peoples, 32 a
light to bring revelation to
the Gentiles, and the glory
of You people Israel."

33 and Joseph and His
mother marveled at those
things which were spoken
of Him. 34 Then Simeon
blessed them, and said to
mary His mother, "Behold,
this Child is destined for
the fall and rising of many
in Israel, and for a sign
which will be spoken
against. 35 (yes, a sword will
pierce through your own
soul also), that the thoughts
of many hearts may be
revealed."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Simeon is often assumed to be a priest. But Luke never says so. Luke
calls him a just and devout man from Jerusalem (2:25), whose life
was prolonged so that he could see the Messiah (v.26), and who was
led by the Holy Spirit to the temple that day (v.j27). __Sim Kay Tee