Luke 2:25-30 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. 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. 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, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation”…Who was Simeon?
He was an old man of piety and high character looking for the appearing of the Lord, and patiently waiting for the time to come when he may be blessed with the sight of his Redeemer. He was righteous, approved by God as a righteous man and discharging faithfully his duty to man. He was devout, that is, of good reputation, well received or of high standing among the people. He was old and waited for something before he died.
What was he waiting for?
"Luk 2:26 " 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. What he waited for happened when he was led by the Holy Spirit in the temple and he saw the baby of Mary and Joseph and took him up in his arms. To an aged man who had been long waiting for the Messiah, how grateful must have been this revelation - this solemn assurance that the Messiah was near!He said: “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation”…
But this revelation is now given to every man, that he need not taste of death until, by the eye of faith, he may see the Christ of God. Christ, the Savior has come. He waits to manifest himself to the world, and he is not willing that any should die forever. To us also it will be as great a privilege in our dying hours to have seen Christ by faith as it was to Simeon. It will be the only thing that can support us then - the only thing that will enable us to depart in peace.
In verse 29, Simeon thanked God saying: “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;..”
God never disappoints. To many it might have appeared improbable, when such a promise was made to an old man, that it should be fulfilled. But God fulfills all his word, keeps all his promises, and never disappoints those who trust in him.
Our departure may be like that of Simeon. Thus we may die in peace. Thus it will be a blessing to die. But, in order to do this, our life must be like that of Simeon. We must wait for the consolation of Israel. We must look for his coming. We must be holy, harmless, undefiled, “loving” the Saviour. Then death to us, like death to Simeon, will have no terror; we shall depart in peace, and in heaven see the salvation of God.
Children, as well as the hoary-headed Simeon, may look for the coming of Christ. They too must die; and “their” death will be happy only as they depend on the Lord Jesus, and are prepared to meet him.
(Taken from the commentary of Albert Barnes)
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This portion of the Christmas narrative can't be found in any Christmas song, and yet it holds much encouragement for us. Here is a servant of God filled with a certain hope, for God who promised is faithful. Simeon may not have witnessed anymore what the Savior went through, but he was only sure of one thing-- that the child he was holding in his hands will soon take away the sin of the world, and thus, he can now depart in blessed peace.
Merry Christmas to all!
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