CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL

 

By the time Jesus was born, the Jewish nation was knee deep in apostasy and their religion had evolved into 613 rabbinical interpretations of the Mosaic Law, and tradition of the elders, that the nation was expected to observe. They ‘turned the truth of heaven into a system that led them to hell’ (“The Mosaic Law and Conflict Resolution, ww.eajournals.org; Bruce R. McConkie, “The Mortal Messiah Book 1, p 238).

“Among the righteous and devout Israelites were some who, in spite of traditionalism, rabbinism, and priestly corruption, still lived in righteous expectation of inspired confidence, awaiting patiently ‘the consolation of Israel’ (Luke 2:25;38; Mark 15:43)” (James Talmage, “Jesus the Christ” p 96).

One of these righteous people was Simeon to whom had been revealed by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen 'the Lord's Christ' (Luke 2:26). Simeon waited a long time and was well stricken in age when the Spirit led him to the temple the day that Mary and Joseph were there with the Christ child to offer sacrifice for his birth as was the Mosaic law of the day (Luke 2:22-24).

Simeon took the Christ child into his arms and pronounced Him to be the awaited Messiah, the glory of Israel and the light to the Gentiles (Luke 2:32). He was the consolation of salvation in a spiritually lost nation. And then he told Mary of the anguish that she would be called to endure because of Him akin to ‘a sword piercing her soul’ (v35).

Another privileged godly Israelite of great age was also at the temple, a prophetess called Anna, who devoted herself exclusively to temple service, and she too being inspired of God, recognised ‘the consolation of Israel’ she longed for and testified of Him to all about her (Luke 2:36-38).

I have many times imagined what it would have been like for these devout Jews who lived in a spiritually barren society to see the Christ child and know that salvation has finally come to Israel.

One thing worthy of notice. The consolation that came to these two good people happened in the temple. It reminds me of Elder Vaugn J. Featherstone’s prophecy of April 1987 at the re-dedication of the Manti Temple:

“Before the Saviour comes the world will darken. There will come a period of time where even the elect will lose hope if they do not come to the temples. The world will be so filled with evil that the righteous will only feel secure within these walls.

“In a day of desolating sickness, scorched earth, barren wastes, sickening plagues, disease, destruction, and death….we will abide in places of refuge from the storm, we will mount up as on eagles’ wings; we will be lifted out of an insane and evil world. We will be as fair as the sun and clear as the moon.”

And all because of the most significant birth in the history of this earth.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Anna Greets the Christ Child by Lester Yocum)

A SON OF THE LAW

 

Imagine being 12 years old and knowing you are the Son of God. Imagine you are a child being brought up in a devout Jewish home and being schooled with scriptures from a very tender age. Imagine studying the prophecies of much awaited Messiah and coming to realise that YOU are ‘the man of sorrows, acquainted with grief’, that you will one day be despised and rejected of men, bruised for the iniquities of others, and led as a lamb to slaughter when you will make your soul an offering for sin of all mankind (Isaiah 53). Would you feel superior to your peers? Would you feel consuming aloneness knowing that there is none like you? Would you be scared to tell others that you knew who you were? Would you be scared of your future?

 

At twelve years of age Jesus found himself to be ‘a son of the law’ according to Jewish custom, and as such He had become subject to obligatory fasts and attendance of feasts. A question begs to be asked how He viewed the Jewish Passover in Jerusalem that He attended at this age knowing what He knew. One cannot but wonder if He remembered the very first Passover when He, as Jehovah slew the firstborn of Egypt and saved His people Israel. Was He overwhelmed with His knowledge, His rapid growth in grace and intelligence, and His memories as He traversed the streets of  Jerusalem and followed Joseph to the temple with the Paschal lamb to be offered in similitude of His own offering? Was He overwhelmed with the experience of Jerusalem to the point that He yearned to be ‘about His father’s business’? Was the fire of His passion for redemption He was destined for so great within Him that the only way He could quench it was to commune with those who understood His destiny, supposedly as He did, the doctors of the law, whose wisdom and knowledge was valued above all of the Jewish populace. Did He think He was going to find some acceptance and understanding there, or the same level of wisdom and knowledge that He possessed? Most likely He didn’t, because these doctors of the law were “hearing HIM, and asking HIM questions” (Luke 2:46 JST) simply because “He needed not that any man should teach Him” (Matthew 3:24-26 JST). 

 

Who cared for this boy all alone in Jerusalem for three whole days at the temple while his parents searched for Him? Who fed him? Where did he sleep? Was nobody concerned that He was alone? Did nobody search for his parents? Maybe nobody had to because He truly was ‘about His father’s business’ and His Father watched over Him. And no doubt He watched this boy of His who would one day be nailed to the cross with love that seared His heart. No wonder Jesus was surprised when Mary and Joseph found Him and questioned Him why He had remained in Jerusalem. Why would they be worried? Because, in His mind, He was in His father’s house, and He was home. 

 

Did You see me Father

Giving glory to Thy name?

Did You see them hearing

My words of Thee 

Flowing from my tongue

Like a holy flame.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art by Rose Datoc Dall)