Good Morning!
Imagine waiting for years
to see the Christ … and finally seeing Him.
In our Scripture passage this morning, we are going to look at Simeon. His
story is simple … let’s take a look …
Luke 2:22-35 English
Standard Version (ESV)
22 And when
the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they
brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is
written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the
womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer
a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair
of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was
a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting
for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had
been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before
he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the
parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of
the Law, 28 he took him
up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord,
now you are letting your servant[a] depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about
him. 34 And Simeon
blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold,
this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for
a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that
thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
Footnotes:
Luke 2:29 Or bondservant
Jesus was eight days old
when He was first brought to Jerusalem. Remember,
Joseph was a devout Jew … and being devout, Joseph brought Jesus to consecrate
Him to the Lord in accordance to the Law of Moses.
Simeon was also a devout
Jew. He spent his days at the Temple, hoping to see the “consolation of Israel”. What does that mean? Let’s take a look at the words of the Prophet
Isaiah …
Isaiah 40:1-2 English
Standard Version (ESV)
40 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare[a] is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord's hand
double for all her sins.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare[a] is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord's hand
double for all her sins.
Footnotes:
Isaiah 40:2 Or hardship
Confused? Well, Luke also tells us that Simeon was
filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit
had informed Simeon that he would have the very special privilege of seeing the
Christ before he died. I believe the
Holy Spirit had led Simeon to understand that the consolation of Israel was not
an action but a person … the Messiah.
And thus, I imagine that Simeon spent his days at the Temple, searching
each face as the devout fathers and mothers brought their first born to the
Temple. On this crucial day, Simeon sees
a simple couple bringing their son to him … and his heart leaps within as the
Spirit speaks to him, saying this is the One.
He takes this child in his hands and proclaims the words he had hoped to
speak for years.
“… mine eyes have seen
your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light
for revelation to the Gentiles, and a glory to your people Israel.”
Did anyone other than
Joseph and Mary hear Simeon’s proclamation?
It doesn’t appear so … or, if they did, they didn’t react. It reminds me of the invitation at the end of
a fiery sermon … where Christ is preached but the people do not hear. Joseph and Mary did … and heard Simeon’s
other pronouncement regarding the future of Jesus. Years later, after Simeon
was dead and gone, Jesus would be opposed … and crucified. Mary would know the pain of losing her beloved
child because the religious leadership hated His message.
What about today? We are privileged
to have the Holy Spirit living within … showing us the Consolation of Israel …
the Messiah. How will we respond? Will we hear?
Will we praise? Have our eyes seen the salvation of all?
Jesus is our consolation …
our salvation. O, come … all you faithful
… joyful and triumphant.
Agape’
Mr. Jim
Prayer: Day after day,
dear Father, I can only say “thank You for my Lord and my Savior, Jesus.” May
these words be ever on my lips … and may my joy be forever in my heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture for today: Luke
2:22-35; Isaiah 40:1-2
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