Skip to main content

Simeon on the New Year

It's the last day of 2012.  Moreover these days after Christmas lead up to the Epiphany - an event seldom celebrated or acknowledged in Evangelical churches in the West.  

Epiphany is the event in scripture in which Mary and Joseph took the infant Jesus to the Temple for his consecration, and circumcision - all of which marked him as part of the Covenant of Abraham.  The specific passage is Luke 2:22-35 (ESV) 
22  And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23  (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)
24  and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
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,
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.
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.” 

Simeon represents every person whose "looking" for God in their life.  He was 'waiting' and it was all led by the Holy Spirit.  He was an elderly person who had waited his whole life for the revelation of the Messiah.

This is the 5th and  last of Luke's "Christmas Songs".  
Elizabeth in 1:42-45
Mary in  1:46-56
Zacharias in 1:67-79, 
The Angels in 2:13-14
NOW, Simeon.

What kind of a song is it?
It is a song about Salvation - "my eyes have seen your salvation."
It is a song about God's heart for the world - "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."
It is a song of Prophecy:  The Sign, The Sword.

Jesus is the sign - literally, a "miracle".  He is not so much a demonstation of God's power as he is a demonstration of God, his truth, his mercy, his love, his grace and  his heart.  But this sign is "appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, a sign that is opposed."
The most important question we must face is Matthew 22:42 (NIV)
42  "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?"...

Jesus is a Sword that pierces Mary's heart.  Mary would watch her son grow up, take on the mantle of his work the Father had sent him to do; and then she would stand on the side and watch him die on the cross.  

What did Joseph and Mary hear in Simeon's words.
They were marveled at all...and probably sobered.  How could a new born baby have so much put upon him?  

For them, it was a time of new beginnings.  Their lives were forever changing, and they were entering into a future that would change the world.  

Here's where we are at...it's the end of the old year and the beginning of the New Year.  Simeon speaks for all of us that God's heart is still for the world to know His Son and to understand what Jesus has done in coming into the world.

God so loved....that's the beginning and the End.

Peace

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hands Full of Parcels

"A Man whose hands are full of parcels can't receive a gift."   - C. S. Lewis Romans 4:13-16 (ESV) 13  For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14  For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15  For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. 16  That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all... The last four days have been best described by the word "fatigue".  It's not an uncommon word in our vocabulary.  Listless, tired, sore.  1300 miles of car travel, being sick, not sleeping well, and eating poorly all add up to the word - fatigue.   Someone onc...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Tabernacle

The readings today are Exodus 36, 37, 38 I wanted to post some pictures of what these various parts of the Tabernacle looked like. It's not the easiest read in the world, but if you persevere through it, you can get a picture of all the different pieces that made up the tabernacle. It is a replica of the various parts of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness: First thing in the chapter listed is the outside of the tabernacle which consisted of curtains tied together and put on cross bars through loops. Next at the beginning of 37 is the table and lampstand: Also, the altar of incense: And, the altar for the burnt offering which was in the courtyard: Finally, the courtyard which made it all come together: Hope that helps with what it might have all looked like. Most importantly, this was their "place" of worship they were building. I hope you have a great day of worship. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
1 comment
Read more

The difference between defending and explaining

The news of recent has focused the suffering of Christians in the middle east who have been martyred for their faith in Christ at the hands of Islamic Terrorists. Through the centuries many Christians have lost their lives as a result of their faith. For us, who live in America, there is little chance that we would have this happen here - but it's entirely possibly that terrorism will strike out at Christians sometime.  But, for many Christians in the western world - especially here in the U.S. - being a Christians who believes God's word there is a form of persecution that is defined by words like "ostracized", "passed over", "ridiculed", and more. What do we do in the face of opposition to faith? When the Apostle Peter writes to the early believers who are undergoing great pressure, even persecution for their faith in Jesus, he gives them this charge. 1 Peter 3:8-18 8  Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly lov...
1 comment
Read more