The Cast of Christmas

Part 5 of 5

William Shakespeare penned these words in his play, As You Like It, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances…”

For His Christmas cast God the Father signed on and coordinated the innocent and the majestic, the humble and the proud, the unlearned and the scholarly, the good and the evil in widely diverse characters for roles in that first great Christmas drama. God’s choice of players includes:    

CHIEF PRIESTS AND TEACHERS OF THE LAW: the Jewish scholars, theologians and religious leaders of their day. After the Magi come asking their questions, Herod consults these Jewish scholars to find out where the Christ is to be born.  They know the prophecies and teachings of Scripture that explicitly detail the time and place of the Messiah’s birth which they relay to Herod but they have become quite comfortable in their positions of power; they want no new king. There is no place in Scripture that records any of them seeking out the Christ child. Conversely, it is mostly men in these positions that call for the crucifixion of Christ a little over thirty years later—perhaps some of these very men.    

SIMEON: A righteous and devout Jew to whom it has been revealed by God that he will not die before he has seen the Messiah.  Moved by the Holy Spirit to go to the temple on the very day that Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to be dedicated to God, he takes Him in his arms and praises God saying, “…my eyes have seen Your Salvation... a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel.”  He blessed the holy family and also prophesied of Jesus’ ministry and death.    

ANNA: An elderly and devout prophetess who, having been widowed countless years ago, now spends all of her time, night and day, in the temple worshiping, fasting and praying. At the very moment that Simeon was speaking, Anna, also drawn by the Holy Spirit, recognized the Christ.  She praised and gave thanks to God and testified of the Holy Babe to all around who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

To be concluded next week...