What Simeon Saw – Luke 2:25-35
The elderly have a lot to teach the young – In Psalm 71:18, the inspired poet prays, “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.”
Let us see what the aged saint, Simeon, saw as he held a newborn baby in his hands…
He sees death as consummation (2:29):
He takes the baby up into his arms and we imagine a light of gratitude in his eyes and an emotion of deepest happiness in his voice. He can now “depart” in peace (2:29).
Death is according to God’s plan (Heb. 9:27). It suggests to me that the Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he saw the Lord’s Messiah and the beginning of the restoration of Israel into a covenant relationship with God. I have no doubt that Simeon shared that message with others as he had the opportunity.
He sees God’s salvation (2:30-31):
“To see Jesus is to see God’s salvation” (Bock, 59) – John 14:6. This would be the “sun of righteousness” (Mal. 4:2), the star of the house of Jacob.
How many of us have certain spiritual desires and spiritual wishes that we long to fulfill in our physical lifetimes for our Lord? Do we even have spiritual plans? Do we have spiritual expectations of ourselves? What spiritual hopes propel us in this life?
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He sees the salvation of the world (2:32):
This was prophesied, Simeon understands, in the OT – Isaiah 49:6. “Glory” shows that Jesus is the fulfillment of the promises made by God. This verse (Isa. 49:6) is also quoted in Acts 13:47 as it describes the mission work of Christians.
Simeon saw blessed (& cursed) parents (2:33-35):
The Child will have a negative impact on some. Perhaps Simeon has in mind the “stone” texts from Isaiah 8:14; 28:16 and Psalm 118:22. It was a necessary consequence of his coming that the character of the men who came in contact with him would be severely tested.
The Child will have a negative impact on Mary. Following Jesus is not always going to be easy (Luke 6:26; 2 Timothy 3:12). Sometimes even dividing children from parents and parents from children – Luke 12:53.
The Child will have a positive impact on some. Even though, through Christ, we may be humiliated and defeated and degraded, in Christ, we will also receive honor and esteem – hopefulness, strength, beauty, and the blessedness and joy of the heavenly world.
To the elderly – continue to show us Jesus, in your words and actions. To the young – follow the example of the elderly, as they direct us to Jesus.
–Paul Holland
