As Christmas is winding down and my Nativity set is being carefully wrapped and stored, I paused for a moment to think about the figure of Joseph that I held in my hand. Most people focus on the Baby Jesus or Mary in the Christmas narrative, but there is not much known about Joseph except that he was described in Matthew as a just or upright man. This drew my thoughts back to another just and upright man in the Old Testament, also named Joseph, who had a uniquely similar experience to what happened in the Christmas story. Many have seen him as a type of Messiah/Christ. Indeed, there are numerous commonalities between him and Yeshua. For example, both Joseph and Yeshua were betrayed by those closest to them, both were imprisoned unjustly, both became saviors of not only their nation but all the peoples around the world. Yet another example is less obvious. In Genesis 46:30, as they met in Egypt, an aged Jacob (Israel) said to Joseph,
“Now let me die, since I have seen your face…”
Then, he took the sons of Joseph in his arms and blessed them and continued,
“I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!” (Gen. 48:11)
When do we see this same beautiful picture of an aged man rejoicing to meet the ‘son’ of Joseph, taking the Child in his arms and blessing him? Look in Luke 2:25-35 for the connection:
“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 it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ…And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: ‘Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.’ And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 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 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.’”
As this year comes to a close, it is a good time for each of us to take an inventory of their life, for the thoughts of our hearts to be revealed. Ask yourself a few good questions. Have your eyes seen the Salvation that God prepared for all people? Has His Son revealed a light in your heart? Is your soul bathed and refreshed in His radiating love and glory? If you faced death today, could you honestly say, “Now let your servant die in peace?” If you answered, “YES!” then I rejoice with you for the great blessing you have found in Yeshua’s love and grace. But what if you answered, “I’m not sure”? Then the Bible says that you can be sure. Here are a few easy steps to help you find that blessed assurance that both Jacob and Simeon found in God’s revelation to them:
First, confess your faults and failures to Yeshua and ask Him to cleanse your heart from sin. A good verse you can pray is Psalm 139:23-24,
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
The next step to be sure is to follow Yeshua in obedience. 1 John 2:3, 5 says,
“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments…whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.”
And finally, as the light of His salvation is revealed to you through His Word and following His ways, then the Holy Spirit will assure you just as He did to Simeon before he met the Son of God,
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God…The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…” (Romans 8:14, 16)
I pray you will ring in the New Year with a resounding joy in your heart of knowing without a doubt that you have met the Savior and have been adopted as His precious child! That you will feel Him taking you in His arms and blessing you and presenting you proudly to His Father. “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’” (Romans 8:15)