“Celebrate the Lord’s Salvation”
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Good Morning, I am so glad that you are here with us today. Would you turn with me to Luke chapter 2 and we will begin our time starting in verse 25. The title of our message today is, “Celebrate the Lord’s Salvation.” This was Simon’s song of Praise.
(Read Luke 2:25-38.)
Over the past few months we have taken some time as we have opened up the Gospel of Luke to see many things that stand out to us about the Lord’s childhood. In all of this we have come to learn that there was a small believing remnant of people who were prepared to recognize Jesus when He came.
-We looked into the faithfulness of Zechariah and his barren wife Elizabeth who became the parents of John the Baptist, who would come before Christ to help prepare His way.
-We of course have looked into the life of Mary and Joseph the Lord’s earthly parents who help raised Him in a God fearing way.
-Of course there were the faithful shepherds who helped announce the birth of Christ and were part of this believing remnant of people.
-And today we learn about two more people who were both power witnesses who came to see the salvation of the Lord in a very personal way.
We are living today in a society that is looking in all the wrong places for Salvation. Many people today think that there are specific things that can help them and even possibly save them from the difficulties of this world. In January of 2024 Forbes Magazine in their Health Issue posted a survey that was conducted in October of 2023. They asked 1,000 U.S. Adults about the new year and what they wanted to do differently. They listed out the top 4 resolutions for this year.
#1 “Improved Fitness”
#2 “Improved Finances”
#3 “Improved Mental Health”
#4 “To Lose Weight”
While there is nothing wrong with setting goals and making these things a part of our lives all of these things make lousy Saviors. Neither family or God made any appearance on this list. Simeon here suggests a better way or a better goal. To know God is the best thing! To Recognize that Jesus is our Salvation is the most important thing in this life. For those who have placed their trust in Christ you understand where your hope and peace are found.
In the dark days that Israel now faces, when this tiny nation was oppressed by the mighty rule of Rome, there were men and women of faith who looked more intently for the Deliverer and the Light who would come to solve their problems.
There are 4 things that jump out to us about this man Simeon here from our text. Let me share with you 4 things to take note of about Simeon.
1. Simeon’s Character.
1. Simeon’s Character.
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
We don’t know much about this man named Simeon, but what we do know stands out to us about his wonderful character. Our passage does not tell us that Simeon was involved in a special office or was a priest, so what we would call him in today’s terms was a simple layman. The church needs lay people to help in the service of the church.
Here in verse 25 we come to learn several important lessons about the character of Simeon.
-First of all Simeon was an upright man. He was righteous. We also know that Mary’s husband Joseph was known as righteous. (Matthew 1:19) Mary herself was known as righteous and so were Zechariah and Elizabeth. People who are righteous take hold of the duties that God has given them and they serve God and live for Him. This shows us that Simeon was not just inwardly a person who talked the talk, but he was also someone who walked the walk. He behaved in a manner outwardly that reflected a righteous life with those he interacted with.
-Another area of Simon’s character that we see is that he was a devout man. The word devout here has the meaning of cautious. This helps us to see that Simeon was a man who was reverent toward God. He was God fearing and was careful to obey and honor God. This helps us to know that he was careful about the religious duties he was given.
-We also see that Simeon was looking and waiting for the consolation of Israel. This phrase means that he was looking for the coming of the Messiah. We of course know that there was a remnant in Israel who realized that the Messiah would come to bring comfort. But comfort from what? Well we know that conditions in Israel during this time were bad. In fact, they were very bad. There was not only the loss of political independence, but there was also the cruel King Herod. Then we could add on the legalism of the Pharisees and there many followers, and the worldly-minded Sadducees. If that was not enough there was also 400 years of silence of the voice of prophecy. However, in the midst of all this darkness and despair there were a remnant of people who were looking forward too and expecting the consolation of Israel. Looking forward to the Messiah meant that with the New Covenant Jesus came to promise the forgiveness of sin, a new cleansed heart, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who helps us to live for the Lord. Jesus would come to be the Comfort for His people as Isaiah the prophet foretold.
1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Zechariah also speak of God’s comforting of His people. As we think about all that Christ has done for us, may we be reminded today that He is our Comforter.
2. Simeon’s Anointing.
2. Simeon’s Anointing.
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,
The phrase here in verse 27, “And he came in the Spirit,” is the same phrase that we see in Revelation chapter 1 verse 10 of John when he was in the Spirit as he wrote the Revelation that was given to him. The only difference here is that Simeon is thoroughly aware and conscious of his surroundings.
What stands out to us here is the fact that Simeon had been given a very rare and special blessing. Verse 25 tells us that the Holy Spirit was upon him. There is often a misconception that the Holy Spirit came into the lives of people on the day of Pentecost. Clearly we know that this was not the case for Simeon. He was constantly influenced by the Holy Spirit. We know that even in the Old Testament the Holy Spirit convicted people of their sin and helped them come to repentance through faith as He drew them to God. Apart from the work of the Holy Spirit no person can be justified.
What is so amazing here is that this same Comforter had revealed to Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah. In other words, a revelation from God had been given to Simeon. This revelation must have truly heightened Simeon’s excitement that he was going to see the Messiah. And since he new that it would be realized in his lifetime he must have lived in a mind frame that today could be the day I see the Messiah. He was joyful that each new day might bring the Messiah that he longed to see. The other part that made this very important is that living in the knowledge of this reality motivated Simeon to lead a godly life for the Lord. He was righteous and desired to do right things for his God.
Verse 27 helps us to see that on this divinely appointed day, 40 days after the birth of Christ the Lord’s parents Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple and the Holy Spirit leads Simeon into the temple as well. It is only fitting that the temple is where God met with His people, and so this was the perfect location for Simeon to meet the God-man, Jesus Christ. All of this points us to the truth that Simeon had been anointed by the Holy Spirit.
3. Simeon’s Announcement.
3. Simeon’s Announcement.
28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
As Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple, the Holy Spirit is working behind the scenes as He now brings Simeon to behold the Christ child. It is hard to imagine how excited Simeon must have been as he realizes that God’s promises had come true. He stands here holding Jesus in his arms. Salvation had come to Israel and he was holding the consolation of Israel, the Messiah in his very arms. I am sure that Simeon was overwhelmed with joy and tears because we know that Simeon blessed God.
Church, as we think about our own salvation, do we take time to praise God? Has there come a time in your life where you are filled with joy for the salvation that God has given you? May we take time to bless God like Simeon as well as pray for those who do not know the Lord.
We now come to Simeon’s song of praise. This is known is Latin at the (Nunc Dimittis) “Now Lord.” God was now releasing His bond servant Simeon to depart in peace. According to the word or the promise that He had given to Simeon by the Holy Spirit. Simeon was now content to die because his eyes had seen God’s salvation in that of Christ.
The phrase here Now Lord means that Simeon is now ready to die. Simeon has looked into the face of the Savior. He didn’t have to watch Jesus grow up or even see His public ministry or watch His miracles to believe that He was the Messiah. Simeon did not have to be an eye witness of the Transfiguration or watch the Lord’s death and resurrection. He had seen the Light of salvation that God had promised His people, and now he was ready to be at home with his God.
Notice in verse 30 that Simeon tells us that, “my eyes have seen your salvation.” Simeon understands that salvation for Israel involved much more than national deliverance from the oppression of Rome. Jesus came not to save His people from their enemies but from their sins.
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Simeon’s next statement would be tough for the Jewish leaders of this time. They had come to assume that the Messiah would come to rule and set up His kingdom and rule over the wicked Roman Gentiles. However we see something very different because Luke tells us that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. It is important for us today to understand that salvation is offered to all people, Jews and Gentiles alike. Paul says it this way in Ephesians.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
Paul writes in Galatians that there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male or female; for believers are all one in Christ Jesus. The Messiah Jesus would come to be a light to all the nations. Jesus was the Light!!!
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
If you are here today and you have been walking in darkness Christ can set you free. He can bring light into your life. If you are here today and you have no peace or hope, call out to the Light of the Universe, call out to Jesus and know that you can be set free.
As Simeon confirms the Lord’s true identity, Joseph and Mary are astonished. After hearing Simeon’s song of Praise they are amazed about what was being said of Jesus. Their Son would be the Divine Savior of the World. Are we thankful for our Savior?
4. Simeon’s Warning.
4. Simeon’s Warning.
34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
After Simeon’s song of praise and blessing of the child, he now shares a shocking warning. This warning foreshadows the opposition that Jesus would face as he grew up, which would ultimately come to a head when He was rejected by the Jewish leaders and then nailed to the cross.
Simeon addresses this to Mary. We are not sure the reason behind this other than the fact that after the Passover when Jesus was twelve, Joseph is no longer mentioned in the Gospel’s. The presumption is that Joseph died before Jesus’ public ministry began.
The first warning that we see here is that Simeon explains that this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel. In other words Jesus was destined to be the determiner of people’s destiny. Not only would there be Gentiles who would be saved, but we also know that even some Jewish people would not see that Jesus was the Light of the World. There were many Jewish leaders who missed the Salvation that had come, and fell into God’s judgment.
Not only would Jesus bring separation, but secondly Luke tells us that He would also be a sign to be opposed. In Matthew chapter 25 verse 31 a sign is the Son of Man which would mean that this would be a signaling of the arrival of His kingdom and power, however we know that there would be many people who would oppose Jesus. The word opposed here in verse 34 means to speak against, to reject or deny. This would describe the insults, abuse, hatred and mockery of Jesus which led to His crucifixion. Israel’s rejection of Jesus is an important theme in Luke’s Gospel. The nations’ violent rejection of her son would cause Mary to suffer greatly. Simeon here pictured the pain and grief that Mary would go through when he said to her, “a sword will pierce even your own soul.” We know of course that after Christ suffered and died that a sword was pierced through his side to make sure that he was dead. My point here is that the end result of Israel’s rejection of Jesus showed the evil thoughts of their hearts. Jesus put it this way when he was speaking to Nicodemus.
19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
Jesus was a light that was shining in the darkness. He desired that men and women come to Him. In contrast to those who rejected Jesus, Simeon knew when he saw the Lord that He truly was the Light of the World the Salvation that was truly needed.
(Close in Prayer)
(Nate with Communion)