Luke 2:21-35
21On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him,
he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before
he had been conceived.
22When the time of their purification according to the
Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him
to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to
be consecrated to the Lord"), 24and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with
what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.
He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon
him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die
before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the
temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what
the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God,
saying:
29"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss your servant in peace.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel."
33The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34Then
Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined
to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that
will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.
And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
If he had two special attributes they were faith and patience.
His faith made God very real to him. He felt the Lord’s
presence as a constant force in his life. His devotion
made the religious ceremonies and rituals alive
and vital.
He wasn’t like a lot of his friends. So many were
misguided—trapped in a legalistic, stale treadmill.
There was much hypocrisy on the part of the Pharisees and
Sadducees. There were also the revolutionary zealots who
hated the Roman masters. They had a fervour that smacked
more of vicious politicking than the true idealism of a just
cause. Sadly, many of Simeon’s friends had lost touch
with God. But not Simeon.
The Lord had come to him in a dream. God had told him that
before Simeon died, he would see the Messiah. The promise
had been given a long time ago yet Simeon waited patiently.
God would keep His promise. Simeon had faith in that.
The Messiah would be born—and Simeon would know about
it.
One morning his faith and patience were affirmed. This
was the day. Simeon knew it. This was the day he would
see the Saviour—the One whom God had sent to free the
world from its sin.
Led by God’s Spirit, Simeon made his way to the Temple.
His heart pounded. His eyes darted to and fro as the
throngs of people entered and left the Temple Court.
Then he saw them. His cheeks flushed under his thick white
beard. His eyes blinked and a tear ran down his face. His
pulse raced.
A man and woman were carrying a baby bundled securely in
strips of cloth. There were no soldiers leading the way for
them. There were no Temple authorities welcoming them with
grand gestures. Instead, a very ordinary, humble couple were
making their way to the Temple without pretence or fuss.
But Simeon knew they were special. His eyes were glued on
the infant. He reached out for the baby. Simeon took the
infant in his arms and he felt the weight of the world lifted.
This little one was the one he had waited for. This little
one was the reason for Simeon’s life. He was holding
the Messiah. Salvation was there—encompassed in cloth
and his arms.
The nearness of God struck Simeon. Not only in his arms
but in his thoughts. He expressed the truths that God
placed upon his heart. Here was the light of revelation to
the Gentiles
and glory for Israel, he declared. This little one wasn’t
just for the Jews but for the entire world. The Gentiles
and Jews would receive the gift of truth and life found
in this baby.
Simeon continued his prophecy.
Here was one who would be the watershed of human history.
Neutrality toward this infant would be impossible. Many would
rise in joy because of Him. Many others would fall in despair
and sin as they refused to acknowledge Him. This baby would
eventually force people to reveal their hearts. He would
be the object around which priorities and attitudes were
developed and held.
Life—the world—would never be the same. God
was calling people to a decision—a decision about
the life and work of the babe of Bethlehem.
And finally, Simeon revealed to Mary that, in giving birth
to Jesus, her own soul would be pierced by His eventual suffering
and death.
With that Simeon returned the baby to Mary. He wiped away
the bittersweet tears from his eyes and walked away, ready
to die. God’s promise had been realized. Simeon’s
faith and patience had been rewarded.
In just ten verses of Luke’s gospel we meet Simeon. We never see him
again in Scripture. After the impact of the birth narratives, Simeon’s
appearance could be seen only as an appendix. Yet this story is important.
It has much to teach us.
Simeon was one of the first people touched by Jesus. Simeon’s
life had been geared to the Saviour many years before Jesus
was born. It’s Simeon’s faith and patience
that cry out to us this morning.
Simeon stood against the popular views of the day. His
understanding of the Messiah was much more in line with
the eventual truth yet his understanding wasn’t embraced
by many of his fellow Jews.
Simeon remained firm. God had made him a promise and, no
matter what others thought, Simeon trusted his Lord.
Faith and patience—qualities of Simeon.
Faith and patience. Two essential qualities for Christians.
In a world that often doubts what we believe, it’s
very tempting to lose sight of God. It’s very tempting
to just blend in with the status quo of society.
Simeon stood against the negative influences and doubts
of those around him. So must we.
But it’s not always easy to stand up to someone who
puts down our faith by reminding us that God appears inactive
in the world. It’s difficult to stand up for something
we know to be true when non-believers push us to prove
our case. How do we prove such things?
Faith doesn’t always provide concrete evidence. The
things we live by aren’t always in step with the realities
that people around us live in. Proving our way is better
doesn’t always work when the other ways are more
convenient and perhaps more enjoyable.
Wouldn’t it be easier to go to a party and not
be bothered by the blue language and excessive drinking?
Wouldn’t it be easier go with the flow rather than point out the injustices
in our society?
Wouldn’t it be easier to just live as everyone else lives without being
put on the defensive over our supposed peculiar attitudes and perspectives?
Wouldn’t it be easier…
As we ask these questions faith and patience are required.
The author of the Letter to the Hebrews defined faith as, “being
sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not
see.”
“…sure of what we hope for and certain of what
we do not see.”
Faith is a working of the heart. In this scientific, logical
age where everything must be examined, analyzed and seen
to be believed, faith seems to be an archaic throwback to
simpler times. Because Christians live by faith in Christ,
we can be out of step with the perceptions and attitudes
of others, just as Simeon was out of step with his contemporaries.
But, in a sense, being out of step because of our faith
is what God calls us to do. To be in step with God means
that we will probably be out of step with the world.
Having faith means we will be misunderstood by those who
can’t
fathom what we believe.
And so our walk by faith will require patience.
Patience because faith isn’t always rewarded in a
way that others can see.
Patience because faith isn’t always immediate in
its impact or result.
Many Christians walk by faith and wait as they pray for
loved ones who do not believe.
Many Christians walk by faith and wait as they live with
debilitating illness.
Many Christians walk by faith and wait as they dream of doing
away with the hunger, violence and pain of this world.
The wait can be frustrating.
The great nineteenth century preacher Phillips Brooks was
renowned for his gentle spirit and enormous patience. But
one day a friend walked into his study to find him pacing
back and forth, terribly agitated. The friend was shocked.
"
Dr. Brooks! What on earth is the matter?" he asked.
"
I'm in a hurry," Brooks replied, "but God is
not!"
The workings of God are not pre-packaged in instant form.
They don’t materialize automatically just by adding
faith. That’s why it’s sometimes so hard to
explain the significance of what we believe to those who
are oriented
to concrete results.
Yet faith brings to life a lasting strength.
It’s patience that allows us to know that truth.
Faith brings to life a progressive richness.
It’s patience that reminds us that faith’s
rewards are given throughout life.
There are some instant results but more often we’re
given the task of looking forward to a deepening spiritual
insight as we grow in Christ and mature in faith.
Christianity is a process. The process isn’t always
consistent—isn’t always the way we want it—isn’t
always predictable. That’s why patience is so important.
We need to be patient with ourselves and patient with God.
In a society that has trouble with delayed gratification
that isn’t easy.
There once was a woman who wanted peace in the world and
peace in her heart, but she was very frustrated. The world
seemed to be falling apart. Her personal life wasn't much
better.
One day she decided to go shopping. She went to a mall
and walked in to one of the stores. She was surprised to
see
someone she thought was Jesus behind the counter. She got
up her nerve and asked, "Excuse me, but are you Jesus?"
" I am."
" Do you work here?"
" In a way; I own the store."
" Oh, what do you sell here?"
"
Just about everything," Jesus replied. "Feel
free to walk up and down the aisles, see what it is you
want,
make a list and then come back and I'll see what I can
do for you."
Well, she did just that. She walked up and down the aisles,
writing furiously. There was so much available that met her
desires and needs: peace on earth, no hunger or poverty.
There was peace in families, harmony, no dissension, no more
drugs. There was the careful use of resources.
By the time she got back to the counter, she had a long list.
Jesus looked over the list, then smiled at her and said, "No
problem." Then he bent down behind the counter and
picked out all sorts of packets laying them out.
"
What are these?" the woman asked.
"
Seed packets," Jesus answered. "This is a catalogue
store."
" You mean I don't get the finished product?"
" No, this is a place of dreams. You come and see what it looks
like, and I give you the seeds. You go home and plant the
seeds. You water them and nurture them and help them to
grow, and someday you or someone else reaps the benefits."
"
Oh," she said. And she left the store without buying
anything.
(Rev. Kenneth C. Landall, Sermon: Billboards for Christ,
adapted)
Simeon didn’t leave the store or his life empty handed.
He faithfully and patiently withstood the tide of opinion
against him and he held the baby Jesus.
A symbol—a truth for us all!
(1775)
© The Rev. Dennis Cook, St. Timothy’s Presbyterian
Church, Ajax, ON, Canada
