the LORD whom you seek,
And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.
Yes! Come LORD Jesus! We do seek you! We do desire you!
But who will endure the day of his coming?
OK, then. Do we know what we're getting into? We want to see him. But when he shows up to purify us and refine us are we willing to accept it? He wants to make us part of a sacrifice which is pleasing to the LORD. He wants to enable us to "offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship" (cf. Rom. 12:1). This purification frees us from the slavery that our fear of death causes. We no longer have to cling so closely to fulfillment in this world. We can use the things of this world as though not using them. But loosening our grip this way is hard (cf. 1 Cor. 7:31)
So who does endure this? Who is able to put up with this process and how?
Simeon is able to endure it. We see that "when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God". What is his secret? He is waiting for the LORD whom he seeks. And it isn't mere waiting. He waits in the power of the Holy Spirit. We read that he was "awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him." It is this sort of waiting that pays off. This is why it says that he "came in the Spirit into the temple". This is how he is able to recognize a baby, one among many, as the fulfillment of Israel's hope. It isn't about his plans or expectations. It is about his desires conformed and attentive to God. Because he is listening to God with focused desire he is able to see a light for revelation to the Gentiles where many would just see a child. Where many would see just another firstborn presented to the LORD in the temple he is able to see God's salvation.
This same attentiveness is how Simeon can speak and endure the difficult words he hears about this child. Jesus will be a sign to be contradicted. His mother's heart will be pierced. Simeon can say these hard things and still go in peace because he is led by the Spirit. We know God calls us all to say hard things at times. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be so surrendered to his Spirit that we can still go in peace after we say them?
The prophetess Anna is another who is able to endure the coming of the LORD. She is prepared for his coming because she spends all of her time in God's presence. She never leaves the temple. She is constantly prayer and fasting. God is not a stranger to her when she first sees him in the flesh. But what can she teach those of us with less free time? She is a model for desiring God. Even if we had all of that time most of us wouldn't want to spend it all that way. Most of us would still need to interject some non-religious activities into our lives. We would need some entertainment, some relaxation. The fact is that most of us don't desire God like Anna does, time or no time. And that is OK. It is a process. We can't be Anna all at once. But she does show us what is possible. She says tells us that we can desire God with our whole hearts and that he is worth all that and more.
Simeon and Anna both teach us what to do when God does fulfill our desires. We ought to proclaim him and give him thanks.
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.
Simeon and Anna seem like unattainable ideals but they are not. They are able to be what they are because the Spirit of God empowers them. Jesus comes to purify us, yes. But at the very same time he gives us the strength to endure it.
Because he himself was tested through what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested.
This is why it is true that "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear" (cf. 1 Cor. 10:13). We need not fear the LORD's coming. He does come to purify us. But he himself gives us all the strength we need to endure it. And as we can see, the results are worth desiring.
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
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