Lucas 2:25–32
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 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. So he came by 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,he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; ffor my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples. A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”
Have you ever taken some time to think about Simeon, from the Gospel of Luke chapter 2?
We tend to glance over his story only at Christmas time when that portion of Scripture is used in a few sermons and perhaps in Christmas pageants. But have you ever given some thought about what God tells us about this man? Let’s take a look together.
God has some very kind words to say about Simeon.
First, the Lord says he was “Just.” The word in the Greek is Díkaios which has the idea of being innocent, righteous and just in his character.
Secondly he was “devout.” This has the idea of being circumspect in his spiritual life. He was a spiritual man, and this was recognized by others.
Thirdly, he was “expectant.” We are told that he was waiting for the Messiah. He knew the times in which he lived. He knew the Scriptures and therefore he knew that he was living in a time in which he was very close to the coming of t he Messiah.
Fourthly, he was “Spirit-filled.” The word says the Holy Spirit was upon him. He was living in tune with the Holy Spirit, so that when the Lord was ready to speak to Him, he was in tune and open to hear at whatever time the Lord would choose.
Fifth, he was a man with “a promise.” Because he lived in tune with the Holy Spirit, the Lord has revealed to him that he would not die before he had the chance to see the Lord’s Christ, the Messiah.
And so, Simeon lived each day in fellowship with the Lord, under the anointing of the Hoy Spirit, living a life consistent with the Scriptures and living a life that evidenced that he was ready and looking forward with anticipation to see the Messiah in his lifetime.
Each day he awoke with the expectation that perhaps today would be the day that he would see Him, the Chosen One. The One the prophet Isaiah has spoken about in chapter 9, For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Were there days in which he wondered if that promise would be fulfilled or not? I would not be surprised if so, but those were fleeting thoughts that he brushed awide because he knew what the Holy Spirit has spoken to Him, and he was strong in his faith in the God who does not lie.
Then one day, walking in tune with the Spirit of God, the Spirit led him to enter into the temple at a particular time of that particular day. And that particular day happened to be the day that Mary and Joseph had come to the temple to have the baby Jesus circumcised. They were being obedient to the Law, which stated that newborn baby boys needed to be circumcised on the eighth day, a ceremony called, “b’rit milah.”
As Mary and Joseph were there in obedience to the Law, Simeon was there in obedience to the Spirit, and on that particular day, at that particular time, in that particular place, the Law and the Spirit were in agreement. We are not told how it was that Simeon recognized that this baby was the Messiah. Was Simeon expecting to see the Messiah of Israel as a baby? We don’t know. What we do know is that because he was walking close to the Lord, he heard the Lord tell him, in some form or another, “This is the Messiah!”
I have to confess, I have a hard time to truly, truly imagine what that must have been like for Simeon! The fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel from Isahiah 9, and the fulfillment of God’s promise to him, that he would indeed see the Messiah before he dies. Oh the joy, the exhaltation, the affirmation that all those days of waiting are now worth it all.
I’m sure that there is a lot of conversation between Simeon and Mary and Joseph that we are not given. The questions, the sharing of the circumstances of the Messiah’s birth, all of what Mary and Joseph were trying to take in as well. This strange man coming to them with this incredible story. How long did they spend sharing and talking? We will have to wait until heaven to find out.
And now, imagine as Simeon takes up the baby Jesus in his arms, the Messiah he had been waiting for, and he cries out to the Lord in a prayer of exhaltation and praise and thanksgiving, and relief.
“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have been Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to briing revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”
Take a moment and think also of what it must have been like for Simeon in the days following. We have no idea, again, how long he lived after this incident, but I am sure that those days were some of the, if not THE most glorious days of his life. Knowing he had held in his arms the savior of the world. Just let that soak in a bit. What joy would fill your heart and mind each day as you woke up and the wonder of that moment came flooding into your heart again each day.
Even in those last days of his life, whatever they were like, he would have seen the end of his life in a whole different way, because he knew at least in part the hope that lay before him.
And so here we are. We are living, if you will, on the “fulfillment side” of this story. The Messiah has come, given his life freely on the cross to pay for sin, once of all. He has raised from the dead to prove who He is, and has ascended to the right hand of the Father, with the promise that He would come again and take us to be with Him forever.
Yes, you know that, I assume. But here is the question. Are you living like Simeon?
Are you living as one who is just, and pure, and righteous and innocent in your character as you wait for His return?
Are you living “devout” in honesty and circumspection in your life and with others?
Are you living in expectation of the Lord’s return at any time? Is you life shaped by that expectation? Do others see that in you?
Are you living a spirit-filled life? Walking in intimate connection with the Person of the Holy Spirit? If you are a true believer, the Holy Spirit lives within you. Are you living in conversation and obedience to Him each day? Obedient to His voice when He speaks?
Are you living with THE Promise as a part of who you are, looking for, and anticipating His return, and ready for when He comes, at any moment? Are you like the wise virgins whose lamps were full, and they were ready when the doors were opened?
Are you living in the Joy of the Holy Spirit, a part of the fruit of the Spirit, because you are the recipient of what Simeon had only glimpsed, way back then? Do these truths mold and shape your lifestyle, your thinking, how you relate to others?
Some good questions to ponder.
One of the ways we can live as a Simeon is to allow the Word of God to have it’s full effect on our day to day lives as we live in our own anticipation.
Let me suggest that you take some time to go back to this wonderful story in Luke 2 and let the Holy Spirit speak to you and apply this Word to your heart and your life.
He did it to me, and that’s why I have wanted to share this with you. Take some time to meditate on your heart and spirit and mental condition. Are you living in that kind of expectation as Simeon?
Lord, help us to be as Simeon as we await Your soon return for us.
Amen
Forward to a friend
