Have Ye Seen the Lord's Christ? Have You Experienced His Glory In Your Life? - Part 1466

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. The Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus. to do for Him after the custom of the Law, then took he Him up in his arms and blessed God, and said, "Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy Israel.

"And Joseph and His mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of Him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary His mother, "Behold, this [child] is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be spoken against. (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also). that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2:25-35)

As we know from the scriptures, the Lord is not the Author of confusion. Every thing that is done is in the presence of two or three witnesses. Seeing the Lord's Christ is not an exception. As we read further, we understand that there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Aser. She was of great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years. She did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. But she too, coming in that instant gave thanks unto the Lord, and spake to Him of all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

And when they had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord, Joseph and Mary with Jesus returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth, where the child grew and waxed strong in Spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him. (Luke 2:36-40)

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man." (Luke 2:52)

For us, as Paul (an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God said to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ at Colosse, in desiring to see these said: "I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh -- that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ, in whom are hid all thy treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:2-3)

Paul wanted to reveal to them who Jesus was because after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God. However, as Paul recognized only too well, "it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness, but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." (I Corinthians 1:21-25)

Like Simeon and Anna who had seen the Lord's salvation and rejoiced, Paul knew from whence came his salvation as well. Indeed, in the message that he planned to bring to them at Colosse, he knew that there would be great conflict (in the same way that the false trinity teaching has established confusion among the modern day religious culture today). Nevertheless, the doctrine of godliness had to be presented so that these faithful too would understand that Jesus is the promised Lord's Christ.

"And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (I Timothy 3:16)

"He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)

Yes, this is the mystery that the world does not understand. This is the love that Simeon had for His Master, and Anna devoted the rest of her widowed life for. " ... that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ, in whom are hid all thy treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:3)

That is, after Jesus was taken up, He [Jesus] THROUGH the Holy Ghost gave commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen. (Acts 1:2-3) He wanted these to know (and by extension, you and I) that Jesus is our Lord God and Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7) Jesus is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) Jesus is God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16)

And now, in this dispensation of grace, the same Holy Ghost that overshadowed Mary so that she could bring forth a son lives in our hearts, leading and guiding and directing us into all wisdom and truth. He is our Comforter. Jesus said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you" but He had to first go so that we could receive His gift of the Holy Ghost.  (John 14:18-28)

"For He hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, so that we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." (Hebrews 13:5-6)

"Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and for ever." (Hebrews 13:8)

"In whom are hid all thy treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:3)

Imagine, Paul an apostle born out of due time, understood that God Himself prepared a body for Himself -- God becoming our Saviour so that we could experience His gift of  salvation, and yet, many still subscribe to false teachings that suggest that Jesus is not who He said He was. (I Corinthians 15:8) And that the apostles could not have possibly known who Jesus was. But the scriptures suggest otherwise, and as confirmation, His Word is always presented in the presence of two or three witnesses.

Simeon knew Jesus was the Lord's Christ. Anna even spoke to Him -- Jesus -- knowing Him to be the promised Christ. The Messiah that was spoken of by the prophets of old. And Paul, the apostle too, for he wrote:

"But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; that, according as it is written, "he that glories, let him glory in the Lord." (I Corinthians 1:30-31)

As in "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all and through you all and in you all." (Ephesians 4:5-6)

His Name is Jesus ... the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ, in whom are hid all thy treasures of wisdom and knowledge. So the question is this. Are you seeing the Lord's Christ working in your life? Are you experiencing His glory and peace and joy in your heart? Ask Jesus (who Peter standing with the eleven said is both Lord and Christ) to cuddle you in His arms this day. Stand in the offering plate.