{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Luke: Simeon and Anna","description":"Scripture Reading: Luke 2:22-35 How refreshing it is to have the gospels deliver to us the accounts of the life of Christ in all His excellencies.   Here, in Luke 2, we have another scene of the birth of our Savior.  The whole meaning of Christ, in concise form, is found in the declarations of Simeon, an old man in the temple. He took Jesus in his arms and declared, "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace . . . for my eyes have seen your salvation" (Luke 2:29,30). Simeon's remarks precisely bring into focus the purpose of Jesus' coming.  Though there are many wonderful emotions surrounding the birth of Jesus, Simeon's declarations keep us from undefined sentimentalism.  Jesus came to be a light shining in the darkness (Lk 2:32) and this light brings a sharp division, separating all people into two groups.  On one hand, there are those who rise in Christ's redemption, and on the other hand, there are those who fall under His judgment (Lk 2:34).  Every person either embraces the King or rejects Him.  Judas rejects and Peter repents ... one thief blasphemes and the other confesses his sins.  There is no middle ground. Because of Christ's coming, the heart of every person will ultimately be revealed.  The response, deep in the soul, to the Son of God is the fundamental question of life.  No other question even comes close. ","author_name":"Bethel Baptist Church","author_url":"https:\/\/bethelbaptistscs.org\/","html":"