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As we approach Christmas I want you to think about nativity scenes.
Typically they seem to include everything from Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus to the shepherds, wise men and the assorted animals. I used to be a nativity scene snob, insisting that the wise men (magi) didn't belong in them since it's quite clear from Matthew's gospel that they didn't arrive until somewhere around two years after Jesus' birth.
However, one day it occurred to me that perhaps nativity scenes aren't meant to be exact historical representations but rather theological statements. In other words, perhaps they're not meant to be historically detailed representations of the actual birth of Jesus, but rather theological reflections of the events surrounding the incarnation of our Savior. So, maybe it's okay for the wise men to be in the nativity scenes.
However, I still have one bone to pick. I contend that there are two key individuals who are missing from the nativity scene (at least I've never seen one that includes them). Those two individuals would be Simeon and Anna. If the wise men are represented in the nativity scene when they entered the story two years later, surely these two saints who entered the story eight days after Jesus' birth belong there as well.
Recently, I was reading once again in Luke's nativity narrative (Luke 2) and was reminded of the crucial role these two geriatric saints played in the incarnation of our Savior.
Simeon, who Luke tells us was "waiting for the comfort of Israel" and had been told that he "would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ," upon encountering Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus "blessed God" (Luke 2:28-32) and "blessed them" as he spoke prophetically of things to come, involving Jesus. Simeon spoke of Jesus as being the Lord's "salvation" (Luke 2:30). He had some understanding, most likely through his study of the Hebrew Scriptures, that God was working his salvation through the child he was at that time holding in his arms.
Then, by all appearances, as he is speaking, they are approached by Anna, who is called a prophetess. This dear sister commences to thank God and to speak of Jesus to those inclined to listen (Luke 2:38).
So here we have two individuals who, from the earliest days of Jesus' life here on earth, were involved in proclaiming the saving work of God in Jesus.
Clearly these two people play crucial roles in Luke's gospel, and particularly in his nativity narrative. One might argue that their roles (coming only eight days after Jesus' birth) are every bit as significant as that of the shepherds in the beginning of the same chapter.
Like the shepherds, they proclaimed the good news of the "Savior, who is Christ the Lord" so that others might know of him. May I ask, have you come to know him as your Savior?
I can think of no better way to make this Christmas the most meaningful ever.
So where are Simeon and Anna in our nativity scenes? I'd like to see one that includes them.
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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week's column comes from Pastor Doug Packard of First Baptist Church, Lock Haven.