Luke 2:25-35 Simeon Blesses

 

Our Scripture passage this morning is more often preached on the Sunday after Christmas rather than on Christmas morning. It’s 8 days after Jesus’ birth and Joseph and Mary are going to the temple to offer a sacrifice that echoes back to the Passover. As Joseph and Mary enter the temple courts with Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, they bump into a man named Simeon. Simeon’s hanging around in the temple because God told him he would meet the promised Messiah before he died. The temple seemed like it would be the best place to meet the promised Messoah.

Simeon’s another regular person that God uses to reveal who Jesus is. This seems to be a theme for Luke. Rev William Willimon writes, “Luke seems to say, if you really want to know what's really going on, ask the people on the bottom or out on the fringe.” Shepherds, older priests, regular townsfolk are all the first people that heaven reveals the coming Messiah to. It used to make me wonder why the high priests and important people in the temple didn’t recognize Jesus while shepherds and old men and women got it. But, when you stop and think about it, important and wealthy people often feel like they don’t really need Jesus, while older people, regular people who live through the good and hard times of life know that they need Jesus to simply get by.

I love how Luke lets us know how Simeon is in the temple at exactly the right time, “Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God.” Simeon has learned the art of listening to the moving of the Holy Spirit, to paying attention to the voice of God and responding. God and the Spirit are speaking to us regularly in many ways: through the Bible, through our prayers, through wise faithful people in our lives, by moving us when we see injustice and things not being the way they should be, and even through creation. The question is, how are we going to respond to God’s voice and the Spirit’s moving?

Simeon responds with praise, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Here’s our last Latin lesson for this Advent season, Simeon’s blessing is called The Nunc Dimittis. The website Got Questions tells us that “The Nunc Dimittis is traditionally seen as a song and derives its name from the Latin Vulgate’s opening words of Simeon’s speech when he saw Jesus. In English, the Latin phrase means “now you dismiss.”

Simeon reminds us that the story of the manger is not a sentimental story to justify making Christmas about presents, and a quick church service before stuffing ourselves and lying down for an afternoon winter’s nap. In a way, this time of COVID may be a blessing in disguise as our celebrations this year are probably simpler and we’ve become more aware of the preciousness of fellowship and life, for the strength and light of hope that is found in Jesus, Mary and Joseph’s child.  

Simeon’s words of praise recognize that Jesus is not just Israel’s Messiah, but that Jesus is coming to bring light for the entire world. Jesus isn’t sneaking into the world under the radar; Jesus’ birth is broadcast in the night skies so that even gentiles from the east are able to see God’s announcement that a Messiah has come and salvation is here for all peoples; angels announce his birth to shepherds, prophets proclaim his coming centuries before, and now, here in the temple, Jesus is being presented right in the centre of Israel’s life and culture.

For the first time on Luke’s story of Jesus’ coming, he makes it completely clear that Jesus has come for Israel and the Gentiles. The angels spoke of good news for all people, but Simeon makes it completely clear that Jesus has come to also bring the Gentiles in from the darkness into the light of his salvation. Mary and Joseph marvel at what Simeon says, Jesus has come, not just for his own people, but for all people including Gentiles. That’s way bigger than they ever thought. That’s really important for you and me because we’re counted among the Gentiles; Jesus has come to shine his light into our hearts and lives, to save us, to bring us hope. Jesus shines his light into our lives through the presence of the Holy Spirit, something definitely needed in a chaotic hard year like this past one.

Emerson Powery writes, “Only Simeon would allude to the significance of the Messiah’s role for the inclusion of the Gentiles, which partly establishes the eschatological nature of this appearance. The Messiah’s coming would inaugurate the end-time events of Jewish eschatological hopes. And, this messianic figure will come from Israel. In Isaiah’s words, “I will give you (Israel) as a light to the nations (or, Gentiles), that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth,” (Isaiah 49:6). Powery goes on to say, “Luke’s narrative, however, will also end with a reference to all “nations” (or, “Gentiles”): “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-47).” Jesus comes to die. We bring children into the world so they can have life, Jesus comes to die so we can have life with God through eternity, so we can be freed from the fear of death. Jesus’ death is for everyone, all you need to do is believe in Jesus.

Simeon moves from praising God to offering the family a blessing. As we hear Simeon’s blessing, it’s important to know that a blessing is about speaking God into someone else’s life; this is what Simeon does now. Simeon turns to Mary with a prophetic warning, reminding us that Jesus not only came to be born as a human being, but that his life’s purpose is going to come at a huge cost, not only to himself, but to Mary as well, “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 your own soul too.” The manger leads to the cross and then the empty grave. Salvation and grace come at a huge cost to Jesus and to his mother Mary. The light of the world will need to shine through a whole lot of darkness.

Rev. William Willimon reminds us, “Our salvation is coming to us, but it won't be cheap. We are not only given joy in the birth of the Christ child, but also a risky assignment. This is what the church means when it says, "rejoice." Soberly, reflectively, joyously, thankfully we gather in our churches during Christmastide to ponder the deep, costly nature of our salvation.” Jesus comes to bring salvation, joy, and hope but in doing so, Jesus forces us to reveal our hearts: do you choose him or the world, him or your heart’s desires.

As you reflect on the deep costly nature of our salvation this Christmas, will you choose the one who is spoken against by the powers that are in place here, the one who turns the world upside down, as Mary sang in her song, the who comes to serve instead of being served, the one who offers forgiveness to the very ones crucifying him, the suffering servant who brings light to all people, including the Gentiles? When you choose Jesus, you choose forgiveness, grace, mercy, hope and love, you choose the light of the world and you choose to let him shine through you into the world. Jesus calls us to be a light as well, to allow his light to shine through us into the lives of those around us. In a time when things are hard, gathering together is difficult, I encourage you this Christmas to reach out to those who find themselves alone and shine some joy into their day, shine God’s gift of Jesus into their hearts.