Eight days after the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph took Him to the temple in Jerusalem to be dedicated to God. As they entered the temple, an old prophet named Simeon approached the family, saw the baby, and said, “I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” (Luke 2:30-32). This was a confirmation of everything they had been told by the angel who had appeared to them.
Simeon was referring to the prophet Isaiah, who clearly stated that God intended for all the earth to hear about the Savior of the world. “I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6 ESV). During the ministry of Jesus with His 12 disciples, Matthew also quoted from the book of Isaiah that the name of Jesus was the “Hope of all the world!” (Matthew 12:21).
After Jesus' death and resurrection, Jesus commanded that believers should go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to every person of every nationality (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19)! This command of Jesus was not an afterthought. It was part of an eternal plan that began before the world was created (Revelation 13:8).
Ever since the good news of Jesus’ birth arrived on the hillsides outside the rural village of Bethlehem, the Gospel has been spreading around the world, village by village, even reaching you and your family. This Christmas season, you can rejoice that you and your family are part of God’s eternal plan! Jesus has become the light, hope and salvation of your lives.
You can also rejoice that you are helping take the Light of the Gospel, the Hope of the world into unreached villages around the world. You are helping to complete God’s plan of bringing the power of the Name of Jesus to everyone in the world! Thank you for your prayers and partnership in spreading the Hope, Joy, Peace and Salvation of Jesus to the ends of the earth.
In Christ,
Bob Craft
Reach A Village Founder and President
