Read Luke 2:21-40

I think Simeon is one of those characters who is overlooked at Christmas time. I know he wasn’t at the manger scene but he was involved in a very important moment in the life of baby Jesus. We see that Joseph and Mary did everything according to the Law of Moses concerning Jesus. So they took him to the temple to be named and to be circumcised as was the Jewish custom. It’s here that their lives intersect with Simeon’s and a beautiful and profound picture emerges.

Verse 28 says that Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God for what he was experiencing.

This is what the bible tells us about Simeon. He was righteous and devout. He was looking for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him (verse 25). What does it mean that Simeon was looking for the consolation of Israel? It means that he was looking for the One, the Messiah, who would bring comfort to Israel. Maybe he was looking for a king or a warrior. What’s important is that he was looking. And what he found was a baby being carried by Jewish girl and her carpenter husband. The bible also makes clear that a promise was given to Simeon that was revealed by the Holy Spirit. The promise was that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ (verse 26). This no doubt intensified his looking for Messiah.

When Simeon saw baby Jesus he knew He was the Messiah. What a beautiful picture we see in verse 28 as Simeon takes Jesus in his arms and praises God (verses 29-32). The proper response for anyone receiving Jesus is to praise God. Simeon thanks God for the salvation that Jesus brings which is for all people, everywhere. The significance of this moment really captures the essence of why Jesus came to earth. Here we see two worlds colliding. Here we see Simeon a representative of the Old Testament embracing the Star of the New Testament. Here we see Simeon a priest of the old sacrificial system embracing the Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world. Here we see Simeon a zealot for the Law embracing the grace of God in the form of a baby. We see the shadow of things to come holding the Light of the world. God had made mankind a promise from the very beginning in Genesis 3:15 that One would come and “crush the serpents head” and now Simeon was holding that Someone, baby Jesus.

Simeon not only praised God for the opportunity to hold the Christ child, he prophesied about Jesus’ crucifixion. “Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce you own soul too.’ (verses 34-35). What Simeon prophesied is that many who believe on Jesus would rise but those who don’t - would fall. 1 Peter 2:7, speaking of Jesus being the stone, says, “Now to those who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, the stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.” In other words, build your life on Jesus and you will rise; reject Jesus Christ and you will fall. Simeon even prophesied that Mary’s soul would be pierced by the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. And Joseph and Mary marveled at what was being said about their firstborn.

Simeon took Jesus in his arms and embraced God’s promise. Have you? Great things happen to people who embrace Jesus Christ by faith, we become righteous, the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and we will never see death. God loves us so much that He gives us His one and Only Son and the proper response to that love is to embrace the Son that God gives us. I think deep is Simeon’s heart he knew as He embraced the baby Jesus, that God had been embracing Him all the time. Merry Christmas!