32. Worth Waiting For

Luke 2:25-35

Key Verse: "My eyes have seen Your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel."

Luke 2:30-32

Simeon, that righteous, devout old man, was waiting for the "consolation of Israel." Certainly, Israel was under a great deal of stress.  They were oppressed by Rome and oppressed by their own religious leadership.  The people, the downcast and the poor, needed to be consoled for the burden that life had become. 

Jesus would be that consolation.  "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Did Simeon know just how true his prophecy would be?

Jesus had come to bear the burden of sin.  Jesus had come to be a light of hope for the Gentiles.  Jesus had come to be a blessing to the people of Israel, but when Simeon saw Him, He was just a baby in His mother's arms.  Did Simeon see the cross?

This old man is amazing to me.  He must have been a very devout follower of God.  He obviously had an incredible relationship with Him.  He is another one of those old men, like Abraham and Moses, who prayed for God to act.  "It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ." (Luke 2:26) What was he expecting, a man?  What faith it must have taken to walk up to these poor strangers, carrying a baby, who couldn't have looked at all like a savior of the world, and know with certainty that his eyes were looking upon his hope for salvation. 

Jesus is more than a man.  Jesus is more than a promise.  Jesus is salvation!  Just as Simeon warned Mary that a sword would pierce her heart, a sword must pierce our hearts as well when we choose to follow Him.  A sword, God's word, convicting us of our sin, our need for Him and our need to cut ourselves free from the world and its tugs on our heart's desires so that we can follow Him completely. 

Simeon could only see with eyes of faith.  Like so many before him who had received the promise, Simeon would pass away before the cross and the resurrection.  Yet, his faith was so firm that, because God had promised, it was as good as done to Simeon, even if he would not witness it himself. 

This incident too became more for Mary to ponder.  I wonder how she experienced this older gentleman, stepping out of the crowd to bless her baby and say such strange things with so much awe and reverence.  There is already so much for her, and us, to think about. 

Hymn: "Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne" 
Simeon's Lullaby   Held Him in My Arms