What is it that you are waiting for? I can think of things I wait for daily, such as: my coffee to finish brewing, my dog to do her business outside, waiting in drive—thru lines, waiting for my husband to get home from work, waiting for dinner to be ready, and waiting at night for my kids to get home before their curfew. Those are not huge things that take over our thoughts, but what about waiting on things that make our hearts weary? Waiting for healing, a restored relationship, a prayer to be answered, and many other heavy burdens that we face in this life. Jesus tells us…
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
This leads us to our name of Jesus for today. Jesus is the Consolation of Israel. Consolation is another word for comfort. The Jews had suffered much oppression from others and because of their own rebellion against God. Because of this, they longed for comfort.
Luke chapter two tells of us of a man named Simeon. Simeon was a Jewish man who was waiting on the Consolation of Israel.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on Him.
Luke 2:25
It had been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Day after day Simeon waited for the knowledge that the Messiah was here. Finally, moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When he arrived he saw parents with a baby boy. The parents brought the child to the temple because this was the custom that the Law required. Simeon took the child in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations; a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
Luke 2:29-32
I can only imagine the comfort and joy that flooded Simeon when he saw the baby Jesus and knew immediately that He was the fulfillment for all the longings the people of Israel had for many centuries.
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
Isaiah 40:1 &2
Simeon was looking for the consolation of Israel. He was waiting for the Messiah. Yet, Simeon did not realize that Jesus would die on a cross like a common criminal to pay for the sins of all mankind. On the third day He rose from the dead, defeating both sin and death. Jesus would rule over all nations. Jesus would defeat Israel’s true enemies, sin and death. This is how Jesus represented the consolation of Israel, He showed the way of light and truth, the way of the Father. He showed the way of eternal life, free of sin and death.
Jesus is not just the consolation of Israel, He is the consolation of the whole world.
…for everyone born of God overcomes the world.
1 John 5:4
How blessed are we that we no longer have to wait to be with Jesus?!! We can commune with Him daily through the gift of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus, we have God’s consolation, his comfort, that we have been forgiven. Let the consolation of Jesus dwell in your heart as you bring his comfort to the world around you.