The Gift of Revelation

Tomorrow morning, children who can barely drag themselves out of bed on school days will spring up early, eyes wide with excitement. They’ll race through their homes, eager to discover what awaits them in the next room. Maybe they’re hoping to find that one special gift beneath the tree—a doll, a football, or even an official Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle. Some will be disappointed as they unwrap boxes of pajamas, socks, or underwear—gifts their mothers assure them they need. But others will shout with joy as they tear through the paper to reveal that long-hoped-for present. In that moment of discovery, the joy of anticipation gives way to the joy of revelation.

In Luke 2, we meet an old man whose heart overflowed with such joy that he felt ready to die in peace—because the greatest gift of all time had finally been revealed to him. Shortly after Jesus’s birth, Mary and Joseph brought their newborn Son to the Temple in Jerusalem to offer the customary sacrifice and consecrate Him to the Lord. There they encountered Simeon, a righteous and devout man who had spent his life waiting for the promised Messiah. The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until he had seen the Christ with his own eyes. So, he lived every day in holy anticipation, trusting that God would be faithful to fulfill His promise.

When Simeon encountered Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus in the Temple, Scripture says he was “in the Spirit” (Luke 2:27). In other words, the Holy Spirit was actively guiding him—just as He had come upon men and women of faith throughout the Old Testament. Simeon was walking closely with the Lord, sensitive to the Spirit’s leading, and it was that divine prompting that enabled him to recognize the Christ child when He appeared.

As soon as Simeon saw Jesus, he knew exactly who He was—the Son of God, the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world. Overwhelmed with gratitude and joy, he lifted his voice in praise, saying:

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people” (Luke 2:29-32).

Simeon knew that in Jesus, God’s promise had been fulfilled and His light had been revealed. His words of praise show that he had anchored his hope in God’s Word as he eagerly awaited the Savior—and that he understood Jesus had come not only for Israel, but for all people who would trust in Him.

As he held the Christ child, Simeon recalled the ancient promises. The psalmist had foretold this moment: “The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations” (Psalm 98:2). Isaiah had declared that the Messiah would be “a light for the nations,” bringing God’s “salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6).

Jesus would later proclaim this truth Himself, declaring, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Years after His death and resurrection, John would affirm that God’s promises were fulfilled in Him: “In [Jesus] was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4–5).

In that moment, though, as Simeon gazed upon Jesus, he grasped the foundational truth every believer must understand: to see Jesus is to see salvation. He is the living revelation of God’s saving grace. Jesus is our salvation! He was revealed to Simeon, and He continues to be revealed to us today through God’s Word.

Simeon also recognized the profound effect that Jesus—the Light of the World—would have on all who encounter Him. This Light would reveal the thoughts and motives of the human heart. In other words, because of Jesus, we can see ourselves clearly: our sin, our need for a Savior, and our desperate need for God’s forgiveness. And when this revelation comes, each of us faces a choice—either to humble ourselves and call upon the Lord for salvation, or to resist Christ and remain in opposition to God.

This Christmas, like Simeon, see Jesus for who He truly is—the revealed Savior of the world—and praise God for the gift of salvation. But don’t stop there. Remember, Jesus has also called you to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). Let your light shine before others, pointing them to the Savior whom God has graciously revealed to us!

This devotional was written by Dr. Ben Lovvorn, Senior Executive Pastor at First Baptist Dallas.

Two Questions for Thought:

1. Do you recognize Christ as the Savior of all peoples, the One who brings salvation to all humanity? Do you recognize Christ as the image of God, the God-man who reveals the nature of God to us? Do you recognize Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?
2. Is Christ the light by which you see everything about your life? Is there any area of your life where you’re walking in darkness? How could Christ shine a light into that?

Daily Challenge:

Are you sharing Christ, the light of all people, with others? He is for all people!