Simeon

Read Luke 2:25-35

Although the events in this passage take place just after the birth of Jesus they illustrate very clearly why Jesus came. In our reading we learned that Simeon was 'just, devout', that he was 'waiting for the Consolation of Israel’, and that 'the Holy Spirit was upon him.' God had graciously promised that he would see Christ before he died.

In the old time the Holy Spirit came upon a man for a brief period only. Here it would seem that Simeon had a rare pre-Pentecost experience of the abiding presence of the Spirit. So let us consider Simeon under three headings.

1. Simeon the seeker
2. Simeon the finder
3. Simeon at peace with God

Simeon the seeker
We find Simeon in a state of anxious expectancy. Three characteristics of Old Testament piety are found in the man Simeon. He is described as ‘Just’ that is in regard to his relations and bearing before God and man. He is ‘devout’ (that is he fears God) as opposed to the boastful self-righteousness of Pharisaism. Lastly he is ‘waiting’ (longing expectantly) for the fulfilment of the great promise of the coming of ‘the Consolation of Israel’.

Note he expected to find. Had he heard the story that was rumoured by the shepherds? Strange goings on in the Bethlehem hills. The Temple courts would be buzzing with conjecture as to what was happening. Could this be the time?

Some think Simeon was a priest, although there is no direct evidence that he was, some rate the probability high. Even according him the rank of president of the Sanhedrin. What is not in dispute is that he was evidently well known both in the city and in the Temple, and that he was a deeply religious man who knew the scriptures well.

If he was indeed a priest, he contrasts starkly with the rank and file priests, he was clearly fully aware of the scriptures concerning Messiah, and he was waiting for His coming.

Whilst many of the other priests had more interest in ceremony and ritual. Though they taught that Messiah was to come - they were not looking for Him - nor were they expecting Him - but Simeon was. Simeon belonged to the few who at that time were like Anna looking for 'redemption in Jerusalem (v38). Joseph of Arimathea was another (Mark15:43). The promise of God is, if we seek Him with all of our heart we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).

Many people make the excuse that they are too busy. Simeon would have been extremely busy as a priest yet he was looking, watching for Messiah. Nor did he allow every day events to crowd out his cherished hope, as he received and assisted the worshippers with their offerings etc. Uppermost in his mind would be the question, ‘Would today be the day?’

Simeon the finder
Eventually patience is rewarded. For a long while he had clung to God’s promise to him. How long he waited we are not told, nor do we know his age. It is assumed he was an old man by the manner of his prayer.

Inconspicuous in the crowds thronging the temple precincts are - Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus. But led by the Spirit, Simeon is drawn to the infant Jesus. Here we may say that when the Spirit of God is at work in our lives to reveal Christ to us, we find His overtures become increasingly irresistible as we are drawn closer to Him.

  At last with the Christ child in his arms, The Spirit reveals to Simeon this babe is the Christ. What joy, akin to holding ones own heir for the first time. God has kept His promise. This is the Christ, this is God’s salvation. To the true seeker there comes the time when he finds, thus realising this is it, this is what I have been seeking. I have found it. My seeking is ended. Then the true seeker acknowledges that it is God who has been faithful to His promise, He has provided the answer, Thus it is ‘Your salvation’ (v30) which, ‘You have prepared’ (v31).

Also the true finder is one who identifies with the thing found. Simian recognises this child is the fulfilment of Gods word to him. And he acknowledges the fact My eyes have seen Thy salvation. Thus Simian links himself with Gods salvation. Making it personal to himself. We too must: First, recognise that salvation is from God. Secondly, that we must accept that salvation for ourselves.

Simian also sees beyond himself, sees that God has prepared salvation for all peoples, ....the Gentiles, .....and Your people Israel (vv.31-32). Edersheim comments in The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, ‘With this Infant in his arms, it was as if he stood on the mountain-height of prophetic vision, and watched the golden beams of sunrise far away over the isles of the Gentiles, and then gathering their full glow over his own beloved land and people.’ Simeon was well ahead of most in his day - as he envisaged God’s salvation spreading as a light to the Gentiles. There are few Jews who today would go this far.

Simeon at peace with God
When having sought for God we find Him and identify with Him, - We have peace with God. Therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’. (5:1)

No wonder Simeon could now say: 'Lord, You are now letting Your servant depart in peace'. Your word has been fulfilled, my soul is at peace. The antithesis of peace is enmity: '..the carnal mind is enmity against Christ’ (Romans 8:7), but Christ 'Himself is our peace' (Ephesians 2:14), having made a way back to God for us by His death upon the Cross.

To recognise the Christ child, to identify with Him, to accept Him, is to accept God’s salvation making peace with God through Jesus Christ. This is what Simeon did here. Simeon by the aid of the Holy Spirit recognised 'Gods salvation', and acknowledged a personal promise fulfilled.

Today we still need the aid of the Holy Spirit to enable us to find Christ for ourselves and to accept the personal salvation He offers. But we have Gods promise that when we seek Him with all of our hearts we shall find Him. Simeon found Him that first Christmas long ago.

May you find Him for yourself as your Saviour this Christmas time.

Trying Our Best?

The death of Margaret Thatcher last month brought to an end the life of one of the defining figures of the last few decades.  Love her or loathe her, and there were few who didn’t have an opinion at one end of the spectrum or the other, her place in British history is undoubted.

In the newspapers in the days immediately following her death there were many personal stories about people’s dealings with her.  One of them particularly captured my attention, and not just mine.  The Bishop of London referred to the same story in his funeral address.

It concerned a letter from the nine-year-old son of a vicar which the Prime Minister had received.  It said; “Last night, when we were saying prayers, my Daddy said everyone has done wrong things except Jesus.  I said I don’t think you have done bad things because you are the Prime Minister.  Am I right or is my Daddy?”

Much to the family’s delight, Mrs. Thatcher sent a handwritten reply.  In it she wrote; “However good we try to be, we can never be as kind, gentle and wise as Jesus.  There will be times when we say or do something we wish we hadn’t done and we shall be sorry and try not to do it again.  We do our best, but our best is not as good as his daily life … As Prime Minister, I try very hard to do things right and because Jesus gave us a perfect example I try even harder. But your father is right in saying that we can never be as perfect as He was.”

I wonder what you make of that reply.  It has much that we would agree with.  It is hard to think of our current batch of leading politicians being quite so ‘politically incorrect’ as to praise Christ and acknowledge the perfection of his life.  All that the late Baroness said about Him is true; although I am sure we would want to say much more, because the Bible does.  He was not only perfect man, but God incarnate, the only Saviour and mediator between man and God.  There is no other way to God, eternal life and heaven, no other way to avoid eternal separation from God in hell itself, than through Jesus.

It is, perhaps, in our response to the perfection of Jesus that we must differ from Mrs. Thatcher.  Her response was to use Him as an example and “try even harder”.  Although 1 Peter 2, amongst other passages reminds us that He is an example, the whole of the New Testament, indeed of the Bible, proclaims that however hard we try, we can never achieve a standard that is acceptable to God, and that could earn us His favour.  He demands perfection of life in word, though and action, because He is perfectly holy.

That is why the Lord Jesus came.  He didn’t come just to be an example that if we follow would enable us to be saved.  He came into this world precisely because we can never save ourselves.  He came to bring salvation through his death in our place on the cross.  By trusting in Him we can have salvation and eternal life as a gift from this holy God.  Are you still trying hard … or are you trusting Christ?  

The Fine Art of Procrastination

If something needs doing in your house, are you the sort of person who gets it done straight away, or are you more likely to put it off until a later date?  According to a survey, the results of which were published in The Times a couple of weeks back, we have become a society addicted to postponing household tasks – not so much a nation as a procrasti-nation!

2000 adults were surveyed by Crucial.com, apparently, and three quarters confessed to having this problem.  The domestic tasks that were most often delayed included filing documents, ironing, vacuuming, cleaning the toilet and washing the car.  The ‘winner’ however was cleaning the oven, which 56% of people said they were likely to put off until the last minute.

The survey also described the effect that this procrastination of tasks had on people, and particularly on their marriages. Leaving tasks incomplete not only makes us feel bad, it provokes regular arguments with partners. Over a quarter of the UK find they argue with partners about unfinished tasks around the home at least once a week. Men and women respond very differently to the pressure, with men admitting that they just wish their partner would stop bringing up the subject (31%) or occasionally be just that bit more understanding (27%). Women on the other hand overwhelmingly want their men to be more helpful (42%) or take control of the situation (27%).

Whatever your house is like – please don’t ask Linda about ours – we would all agree that the stress produced by putting things off is unnecessary.  But putting things off in other areas of our lives however can be more dangerous.  For example, we are always told to be watching our body and to be alert for symptoms of various diseases that need to be caught quickly.  Delaying going to the doctor can have serious consequences.

But with some things it is even more important that we act quickly.  That is certainly true when it comes to how we respond to the message of the Bible.  We may have read the Bible a lot, have listened to many sermons and have a good understanding of the Christian message.  We may have owned up to the inescapable fact that we are sinful, and considered the claim of the Bible that in Jesus Christ and in Him alone, we can find forgiveness and peace with God.  But we may have put off making a decision to submit to Him and come in faith and repentance that we might have eternal life.  Perhaps we are like Felix whose story is told in Acts 24.  After hearing the Apostle Paul challenging him to believe in Jesus, Felix sent Paul away and said he would hear him again when it was convenient.

As far as we know there was never a convenient time for Felix, and so he died, unforgiven, and went to a lost eternity.  Don’t be like him!  Listen to the Bible when it says; “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2).  Don’t delay, come to Jesus today!