Dec. 18, 2014
Scripture:
And at the end of eight days, when he
was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was
conceived in the womb. 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 (as it is written in the
law of the Lord), "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to
the Lord") and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law
of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name
was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking 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 should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came 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 lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according
to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in
the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for
glory to thy people Israel" (Luke 2:21-32).
[Simeon and Anna – Rembrandt]
Thoughts: Simeon’s waiting was not like the waiting of others. His waiting made him active not passive,
alert not dull, watchful not inattentive.
The reason is because Simeon was waiting on the Lord. It was not the waiting as such that made
Simeon “righteous and devout,”
obedient rather disobedient. It was the
Lord! Simeon waited in hope and expected
to see “the Lord’s Christ” and the consolation he would bring. But Simeon had waited not only for his
own personal or private consolation. He
had waited for the consolation of Israel.
Yet when Israel’s Messiah finally appeared and Simeon held “him up in his arms,” he recognized that
what he had been waiting on was greater than he had expected. The consolation he had been waiting for meant
“salvation” and its significance extended not only to Israel but also to the
whole world: “for mine eyes have seen thy
salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all people, a light for
revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel.” What sort of
consolation are you looking for? Will it
bring only a little comfort or salvation for you and for those you love? Simeon’s long awaited consolation allowed him
not only to die in peace, but also to live in hope. And such peace and such hope are ours in
Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me
to wait patiently in hope on you and you alone for my comfort and
salvation. In the name of Jesus Christ,
I pray. Amen.
Application: Ask someone you have
never or rarely talked with about “spiritual things” what sort of peace and
comfort they hope for. Wait for them to
tell you. After you have listened to
them carefully, tell them in whatever words the Holy Spirit gives you (however
inadequate they may seem or you may feel) about your hope in Jesus Christ and
the peace and comfort you have in this life and the life to come.
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