Flashback Episode — Simeon Actually Gets It: Luke 2:21-38

As we continue moving forward in this first year chronologically moving through the gospels, I am amazed by something that jumped out at me while preparing for this episode that I’d never noticed before. While I probably have read these words before, the way I saw this passage while prepping for this episode is amazing and I have not seen this event in this way before.

Our passage for this episode covers Jesus’ dedication in the temple, and Simeon, who was an elderly man who God had promised would not die until seeing the Messiah. This event can be found in Luke’s gospel, chapter 2, and we will read it from the Good News translation. Starting in verse 21, Luke tells us that:

²¹ A week later, when the time came for the baby to be circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name which the angel had given him before he had been conceived.

²² The time came for Joseph and Mary to perform the ceremony of purification, as the Law of Moses commanded. So they took the child to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, ²³ as it is written in the law of the Lord: “Every first-born male is to be dedicated to the Lord.” ²⁴ They also went to offer a sacrifice of a pair of doves or two young pigeons, as required by the law of the Lord.

²⁵ At that time there was a man named Simeon living in Jerusalem. He was a good, God-fearing man and was waiting for Israel to be saved. The Holy Spirit was with him ²⁶ and had assured him that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s promised Messiah. ²⁷ Led by the Spirit, Simeon went into the Temple. When the parents brought the child Jesus into the Temple to do for him what the Law required, ²⁸ Simeon took the child in his arms and gave thanks to God:

²⁹ “Now, Lord, you have kept your promise,
    and you may let your servant go in peace.
³⁰ With my own eyes I have seen your salvation,
³¹     which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples:
³² A light to reveal your will to the Gentiles
    and bring glory to your people Israel.”

³³ The child’s father and mother were amazed at the things Simeon said about him. ³⁴ Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, “This child is chosen by God for the destruction and the salvation of many in Israel. He will be a sign from God which many people will speak against ³⁵ and so reveal their secret thoughts. And sorrow, like a sharp sword, will break your own heart.”

Let’s stop reading here.

While preparing for this episode, I don’t believe I had ever noticed that Simeon was just a regular guy, a “good, God-fearing man”. I don’t know why, but I envisioned him to have been the priest who dedicated Jesus, but there is nothing in this passage to support this thought. Instead, he was a regular guy who “the Spirit led” to the temple to see Jesus at the perfect time. A priest would have already been at the temple, and therefore would not have needed to be “led” there.

The passage says that the Holy Spirit was with Simeon, and if Simeon was the regular “God-fearing” guy that this passage says, it tells me that you and I, when we are God-fearing and following God’s will, can have the Holy Spirit be with us as well. God may not promise you the same thing He promised Simeon, but He can assure you of salvation and a new life with Him – which is a much better promise when we look logically at it.

Simeon was old at Jesus’ birth and dedication, and he had likely passed away long before we find Jesus hanging out with the religious leaders in the temple at 12 year of age. Being promised eternal life – something we can have when we put our trust and faith in Jesus, is a much better promise than physically seeing a baby, even if it is “The Baby” everyone has been waiting for – for four thousand or so years.

Another new thing I saw in this passage as I read it in preparation for this episode is that Simeon accurately points Jesus as coming for “all people”, for both the people in Israel and the “Gentiles”. Simeon specifically calls the Gentiles by name in verse 32 when he says, “A light to reveal your will to the Gentiles and bring glory to your people Israel.”

This is very significant because the broad thinking of the time was that the Jewish Messiah would come for the Jews only, to overthrow the Romans, and to reestablish Israel back to what it was in its prime.

Most Jews did not consider that their Messiah had a bigger role than the political aspirations of their nation. According to traditional Jewish framing of prophecy at that time, Jesus completely missed the mark. His purpose was bigger than just one nation. As Simeon accurately says, Jesus will be for “all people” and “a light” for the Gentiles. Simeon gets it – when most others (including Jesus’ own disciples) missed this truth.

In addition to what we’ve already talked about, while preparing for this episode, Simeon’s message to Mary is like a mini-prophecy for Mary. After speaking about Jesus, Simeon turns to Mary, and in his message to Jesus’ mother, he includes the phrase in verse 34 that Jesus is “chosen by God for the destruction and the salvation of many in Israel.”

This is huge too because Simeon rightfully understands that ethnicity is not an identifying mark of future salvation. Up until that point in history, the Jews believed that their biological ethnicity meant their salvation. They believed they were chosen because of their ancestors, and that the bloodline was what made the difference.

But Simeon points out that Jesus will come more like a sword that divides people rather than a table that brings people together. Biology had (and still has) little to do with the true people of God. Led by the Spirit, Simeon gets this too.

Jesus came to polarize people. He gathered those who were looking for a Savior, and He challenged those who believed they were their own savior. When the religious leaders spoke against Him, they were revealing their true motives.

Jesus still polarizes people today. If you bring up Jesus in conversation, you will find that there are those who embrace talking about Him, and those who marginalize Him as “some guy who lived a long time ago who had a few good things to say.”

What is sad is that too often, those who marginalize Jesus have successfully silenced those who have put their hope, faith, and trust in Him as their personal Savior.

I can relate. I’ve been intimidated into avoiding talking about Jesus. It’s not a pleasant thing to admit, but it’s the truth.

However, Simeon challenges me in this passage. Simeon spoke, and he prophesied, about Jesus in a way that was counter-cultural at the time. He said things that were radical and unpopular about Jesus – but they were 100% the truth!

God has called us as His people to share the counter-cultural message about Jesus being the Messiah God sent into the world. While there are those who don’t want this message spread, this message is the biggest truth that will survive for eternity!

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, intentionally place Jesus first in your life. Never let anyone intimidate you into staying silent when you are inspired to speak about your faith and your Savior.

Also, continue to pray and study the Bible for yourself to grow a personal relationship with God. A personal relationship can start today, and when we have a personal relationship with God, our story with God will extend into eternity.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or abandon where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!