“Then took he Him up in his arms and blessed God and said, ‘Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your Word—for my eyes have seen Your Salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people, a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Your People, Israel’.”
Luke 2:28-32
When He comes to live within the heart, our lives are complete and everything else is “icing on the cake” from that point on.
Simeon was an old man. We’re not told how old he was, but the fact that he said “Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace” indicates that his lifelong quest had ended and he was ready to go Home.
There’s no doubt he loved the Lord and sought to serve Him—for in v.25 we read how he was a “just and devout man, waiting for the Consolation of Israel.” And, what was this “Consolation”? Most likely, the arrival of the long-awaited, promised Messiah (v.26b).
What’s interesting is that Dr. Luke also adds “and the Holy Spirit was upon him” (v.25b). We know the Spirit didn’t come personally and in power until the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1ff); however, it’s clear that God gave Simeon a special outpouring of His Spirit, which caused him to “hunger and thirst” for the Anointed One from God.
And, dear Pilgrim, the same is true for us if we also long to see and feel God’s Presence and Power in our lives.
He will not stir up the hearts of those who do not “diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6b); neither will He reveal His deeper Truths to those whose minds and hearts are far from Him. Truly, it’s only when we “seek Him first and His Kingdom work” (Mt. 6:33) that He reveals Himself in ways we’d otherwise not see.
Thus, it was no accident that the Spirit “revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he’d seen the Lord’s Christ” (v.26). And, it was no accident or coincidence that “the Spirit led him to the Temple that day just at the time when Mary and Joseph were bringing Jesus in to present Him in accordance to the Law’s demand” (vv.21-24, 27).
We must also believe that Simeon was probably a little surprised when the Spirit whispered, “There He is. That’s the One you’ve been looking for” and directed his eyes toward the newborn baby. But, he did not question the Spirit’s leading—for he knew the God of Abraham was free to do whatsoever He pleases, even if it doesn’t fit into our theological or eschatological boxes! Hallelujah!!
What a touching scene that day when this old man. . .with tears of joy in his eyes. . .asked to hold Baby Jesus. . .and then, with hushed, reverent words said, “Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your Word—for my eyes have seen Your Salvation.” Glory!! Why not pause, right now, dear Pilgrim, and give thanks that you have everything you need in life (and more) when Jesus lives within your heart? What a Savior! What a precious Gift from God!
December 28, 2012
