Luke 2: 22-35 (New King James Version)
22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD”),[f] 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.”[g]
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just 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 So he came by 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 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And Joseph and His mother[h] marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
There’s a legend that goes with today’s scripture. The legend says that Simeon could not die before he had seen the Christ child and indeed, that is what the scripture says, right. That he, Simeon would see the savior, that he would see the Christ before he died. The legend, now remember this is a legend, the legend says that Simeon was 200 years old before that happened. 200 years old! Anyway, You, of course see, that it was the promise that was keeping Simeon alive. I like life but I don’t know if I would want to live that long. So many things would happen. All my friends would go before me. So many changes would occur. And meanwhile, I would just continue being me.
This story I’m going to tell you is a story which may or may not be true. Some form of this story has been in circulation since the late 1800’s, so you know it’s a good one.
The captain of an aircraft carrirer to an unknown light that is seen approaching: Unidentified light, Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision.
Response: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.
Captain: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.
Response: With all due respect, recommend that you divert YOUR course.
Captain: THIS IS an AIRCRAFT CARRIER in the U.S. naval fleet. Rules of navigation DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH.
Response: That may be true, sir, and it is your call but you’re headed for a lighthouse.
Sometimes you absolutely need to change, don’t you.
But Today’s sermon is not about change. In the face of a rapidly changing world, it’s about what we need to not change. So today, we’re the lighthouse.
SERMON:
We do not know who Simeon was. Like so many other characters in scripture, we know him for only a brief paragraph or two and we must make do with that. Luke, the writer of this gospel, would have known him only through story. Well, just like the Lone Ranger, Simeon shows up at the right time, does his part, performing the mission for which God had intended him and off he rides into eternity. Simeon lived during a time when change was a lot slower than the times in which we live. Change is the very real constant of our society. Everything, absolutely everything is different than it was just a short time ago. And the new things that have been invented. New technology has improved just about every facet of our lifestyle. It is not these new things or the increase of knowledge that bothers us. Change has improved our lifestyles immensely. I would say that it is the rate of change that makes us uncomfortable. Too much change, too much new stuff too quickly. Not to mention that too many other things that we were used to, are simply not there anymore. Moved out to make room for the new.
Simeon was waiting for a change. Simeon was looking forward to change. Simeon wanted things to be different and now was the time.
We are given the impression that Simeon lived a long time but we don’t really know. I don’t know what a long time is. I know that there are lots of things that can feel like a long time. Some of my sermons for instance. I’m told they can feel like forever. In fact, someone recommended that I record them for those people who are having trouble sleeping. That’s alright.
So, we think Simeon lived a long time and during that time, he had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would see the promised one, that he would see the Christ, before he died. Have you ever noticed how some people seem to know more about God than others. Have you ever noticed how some people seem to have a greater connection with God than other people. Well, Simeon is identified as being righteous and devout. Now being righteous and devout does not necessarily get you messages from God but it doesn’t hurt. Righteous means that you are keeping your side of the bargain. Righteous means you are doing what scripture tells you to do because you want to, not because you have to. Righteous means that you are okay with God. That God has no beef with you. Simeon was a righteous man.
Simeon was also devout. Now we don’t know exactly what made him devout but if it is anything like how I read the Bible, then what he did, he did with faith and strength of belief. Going to church was not just something to do on Saturday morning, it was worship. Praying was not just an empty exercise, it was a discussion with the living God. Devout means that Simeon understood and tried to live out the idea that living itself, was an interactive exercise with God and that God was present in every single act of life. Learning to live consciously in God’s presence would have been the goal of Simeon’s devoutness.
We do not know which came first, Simeon’s devotion and piety or his message from God about the Messiah. Either way, he has received a promise from God and he listened to it. He believed it. Simeon listened when the Spirit directed him out to the baby Jesus. Maybe that is what being devout really means: listening to God. Do you listen to God? If He were to speak to you, what would you hear? What would you be willing to listen to?
One day God was looking down at Earth and saw that things weren’t going so good. He decided to send an angel down to Earth to check it out. So he called one of His top angels and sent that angel to Earth for a closer look.
When she returned she told God, yes it is bad on Earth, 95% of the people are bad and only 5% good.
Well, he thought for a moment and said, maybe I had better send down a second angel to get another point of view.
So God called another angel and sends that one to Earth.
When the angel returned she went to God and told him yes, the Earth was in decline, 95% was bad and 5% was good.
God said this was not good. So He decided to E-mail the 5% of the people that were good and He wanted to encourage them, give them a little something to help them keep going.
Do you know what that E-mail said????
Oh, You didn't get one either,.....huh?
Do you look for messages from God? Do you listen for His voice? Do you listen to the messages he gives you in Scripture or here in church? How does God’s word enter your heart?
Well, whether or not you got the e-mail, Simeon did and he heard and believed that he would see the Messiah before he died. The scripture says that he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. The greek word used here for consolation is the very same word that Jesus uses to describe the Holy Spirit in John 14:26. To console is to give comfort in times of sorrow and trouble. Simeon did not lose hope and in his righteousness and devotion, he continued to look to God for his consolation. First, God speaks, if we will listen. Secondly God speaks words of comfort and consolation and ultimately sends His son and His spirit to comfort us. What great, wonderful things if we will just believe them and hold onto them. Simeon did and just read his reward: he not only got to see the Christ but in verse 28, “Simeon took Him in his arms. . .” Can we even imagine being able to hold the Christ child?
I’m a great uncle. I am. My Nephew and his wife had a baby, Her name is Celia and she is very cute. I’d never met her till Christmas. I’ve only seen pictures of her. I came through the door at my mom’s house and there was Erin standing there holding Celia. She’s never seen me before. When she saw me, she immediately thrust both arms in my direction, the universal sign for “I want you to hold me.” I think Jesus did that to Simeon. “Here I am Simeon. You’ve been waiting for me and here I am.”
Here is where we get a glimpse of Simeon’s humanness. Up to that moment, he had doubts just like everyone else. We do believe what God tells us, of course, but there is always that element of uncertainty. That part that we’re not quite sure of. We’re not completely positive but still we believe. When Simeon sees God’s promise realized in the child Jesus, he is filled with peace. You see, he was worried he was going to die and that he would not see the Christ. That is always the flip side to faith. Faith is never 100% positive. On this side of the grave, faith is always held in the face of unbelief.
Simeon is further testimony that Jesus is indeed the Christ and the world was put on notice that the Kingdom of God was indeed at hand. Just as it is here and now in this very church at this very time. We live in a time of great change. But there are some things that will never change and as God’s people we are called to be a witness to those things. Jesus is the promise. Jesus is our hope and our comfort. Jesus is our salvation and the light by which we walk through the darkness of this world. Just as Simeon was called to live on until the Christ had come, so we are called to carry on in our faith in the face of great change. We do not know how many years Simeon waited and watched and was faithful and righteous and devout. We do not know how often he would sit in the temple pleading with God for the time to come when His people would be comforted by the arrival of the Christ.
In the last verses of today’s scripture, we can see that the coming of the Christ was not going to be comfortable for everyone. Just as the captain of that naval vessel was not comfortable with the lighthouse, so are those whose course sets them on a collision with God. Jesus not only talks about change, he demands it. Simeon was made aware of this and he warned Jesus earthly parents of the consequences to them.
There’s a new year coming. We can’t stop it. Who knows what changes we will see in the next year. There will be good ones and there are bound to be not so good ones but we, as God’s people, can take encouragement from the promise that we have a savior who is Christ the Lord. He is my rock. He is my deliverer. And He does not change.
