Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen!
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
[Intro]
It was just an ordinary day with some ordinary people.
On this ordinary day, Mary and Joseph did nothing out of the ordinary. As a Jewish family, they did what any other Jewish family would do on the 40th day after giving birth – they went to the Temple in Jerusalem.
While at the Temple, Mary was purified and her child was presented to the Lord.
But, on this ordinary day, with some ordinary people, something was about to be out of the ordinary.
[Simeon’s Faith]
“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” (Luke 2:25).
Mary and Joseph expected nothing out of the ordinary, but out of the blue comes Simeon.
Now, Simeon was nobody special. He did not hold any prominent position among the Jews. He was not a priest. He was just an ordinary man in Jerusalem.
Yet, Simeon wasn’t ordinary, because the Lord had a high distinction in mind for him.
As a man of great faith, Simeon had longed to see the coming of the Messiah. He believed earnestly God’s promise of a messiah to come. As a faithful man, God accounted to Simeon righteousness, just as it was for Abraham and to all Old Testament believers.
Simeon was also devout, because he gave everything of himself to the Lord. He didn’t just show up on the Sabbath day to praise God in an external way, he held to the saving truth of God with his whole heart and truly lived his faith.
Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel. He was expecting a messiah through whom the sinner would receive forgiveness.
Now, it isn’t likely that Simeon was at the Temple every day, because of his devout nature. But, he was there on this ordinary day.
For on this day, Simeon “came in the Spirit into the temple” (Luke 2:27a).
You see, it was “revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26).
It was on this day that the Holy Spirit prompted Simeon to go into the temple at that particular time. That day, Simeon knew he was going to see the promised Messiah. The only question was, who would this person be?
As Simeon entered the temple, the Holy Spirit’s inspiration gave Simeon no doubt on who he was looking for. For his devout faith led him directly to the infant Jesus and His parents, Mary and Joseph, as they entered the temple.
Simeon then took Jesus up in his arms and blessed God.
[Anna’s Faith]
Elsewhere in the temple was an ordinary woman named Anna. She, like Simeon, was nobody special. She was average, except for her old age of 84. But, like Simeon, she expected the redemption of Jerusalem and she believed in the promise of a messiah.
However, unlike Simeon, Anna remained in the temple night and day as she worshipped with fasting and prayer.
Her faith came from her heart.
What was most remarkable about her was that she was a widow of about 60 years and she remained devoted to God.
Then the most unordinary thing happened.
Just as Simeon was praising God for fulfilling His promise to him in seeing the Messiah, Anna began giving thanks to God for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Now, we do not know how Anna recognized this child as the Messiah. But, she at once began giving thanks to God for letting her see the fulfillment of the most glorious promise.
She believed that this infant Jesus would ransom Israel from their sin.
[Simeon’s Words]
This ordinary day was beginning to be far from the ordinary. Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple as any average Jew would. They were not expecting to be noticed. They were not expecting their child Jesus to be praised by two people they had never seen: Simeon and Anna.
Now, when Simeon held the child Jesus, he spoke these words:
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for the revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32)
Then immediately Joseph and Mary marveled at these words.
These words of Simeon should be familiar words for us, but what do they mean?
First, Simeon’s words are not about death, but instead about peace. Simeon was finally at peace after longing to see the Savior. Simeon is now at peace, because he knows that his faith has set him free.
Second, Simeon’s words are for all people: Jew and Gentile. For the Messiah has come not just for the Jews, but for all people. Unlike receiving the divine revelation as Israel did, the Gentiles were in spiritual darkness. Therefore the salvation prepared by God would come to the Gentiles as a light.
The Messiah has come to bring salvation in every nation, because He came to redeem all creation from Adam and Eve’s sin.
Now, remember Mary and Joseph marveling at Simeon’s words? Why were they marveling? Why were they in awe? After all, they were visited by angels and shepherds about the greatness of their son.
Mary and Joseph knew their son was bound for something great, but they were also selfish and maybe possibly hoped for their child Jesus to grow up and listen to them, rather than them listen to Jesus.
Maybe this is God serving them a reminder that their son was not an ordinary son? Their son arrived to bring universal salvation to the world and not to fulfill the life goals of Mary and Joseph.
[True Faith]
Simeon and Anna display to us what true faith looks like. True faith is complete confidence and trust in what cannot be seen. True faith is seen in the core of their being. They knew. They knew that God is faithful. They knew that God always keeps His promises.
Through their faith, God the Father has granted it to them as righteousness.
Faith alone saves. Unbelief doesn’t save. The Word of God doesn’t benefit a person who does not believe – even if that person is sitting in the pew each and every weekend.
Do you know that millions of people see Jesus every Sunday? But, I would argue that most people do not realize it.
There is a reason why we sing Simeon’s words after we commune at the Lord’s Table.
You see, that wafer and that wine are not just food and drink. They are Christ’s very flesh and very blood. So when you receive and hold those elements, think of yourself holding Jesus – just as Simeon held Jesus and spoke of his peace.
§ We are at peace, because Jesus fulfilled the law
for us.
§ We are at peace, because Jesus took upon Himself
our sins as He died upon the cross.
§ We are at peace, because Jesus rose from the
dead to make us righteous.
§ We are at peace, because Jesus bodily ascended into heaven where He lives and reigns until He comes again in glory.
So, like Simeon and Anna, we too, have seen Jesus. And, we too, have been made righteous by grace through our faith in Christ as our Lord and Savior. Amen.
The peace of God which surpasses all understanding, keep your
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
T SOLI DEO GLORIA T
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