Hopeful Like Simeon
One of my favorite parts of the Christmas story is one which is often forgotten. After Jesus had been born, the shepherds returned home, and Mary and Joseph settled into their new routine as parents, this new family went to the Temple. Similar to a new family’s first time back to church with their new baby, I’m certain Mary and Joseph were full of mixed emotions. Not only did they have the normal concerns that come with caring for a newborn and leaving the safety of your home, but this newborn was the Son of God.
After offering their sacrifices in worship to God, an elderly man approached them. Luke describes this scene well in Luke 2:25-32.
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[e] 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.”
Few people have their names mentioned in scripture, but here is Simeon at the beginning of Jesus' life on Earth! In Luke’s account, there is nothing extraordinary about this man. He was not a mighty warrior looking for a leader, he was not a king or politician, nor was he a priest or prophet. Simeon was a righteous and devout man, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
Simeon had seen all the suffering and tragedies his peers had seen. Simeon had felt the oppression and frustration of the Roman occupation. Simeon was not defined by these things he witnessed. It was his faith and hope in God that defined him. Simeon lived for God while waiting on God and God blessed him with something incredible.
Perhaps my favorite thing about Simeon’s story in the Bible is God’s desire to use the seemingly unimportant but willing people, to be a part of His extraordinary story. Still today, God uses the seemingly unimportant to bring his extraordinary message of hope to a dying world. Though we know little about Simeon, I pray we live like him, righteous, devout, waiting on the Lord, and full of the Holy Spirit and ready to be part of God’s amazing story!
