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Simeon's Song

Delivered December. 29, 2002
by Pastor Werner De Jong

Text: Luke 2:21-40

Main Idea: If we, like Simeon, embrace Jesus, we can face the future with peace instead of fear, for Jesus is the salvation of God, the light of all the nations, the one able to provide forgiveness, healing and hope for all people.

Purpose: To encourage the listeners that in the birth of Jesus God has acted on their behalf and on behalf of all people everywhere. To challenge the listeners to receive God's salvation by simply and joyfully embracing Jesus as Simeon did.

Introduction: Christmas Day is now behind us. We have gathered with families and loved ones, opened our presents, and had our Christmas dinner. For many of us feelings of good cheer continue to linger. We look forward to more visiting in the week ahead. There are new toys to play with and gadgets to tinker with and books to read and tools to use. There are still cookies and chocolate and egg nog in the house. But the special feelings associated with Christmas will soon begin to fade away. As much as we would like to clutch them, and hold onto them, experience has taught us that we cannot. Soon the Christmas ornaments will be taken down, and the tree will be removed, and life will return to its everyday, mundane state. By the time the New Year comes, the thrill of new presents begins to wear off, and it's back to business as usual. Work and family pressures will resume, if they haven't already. Financial difficulties and struggles with illness will not have gone away. Neither will the worries and fears we had before the season began. If Christmas is about nothing more than the so-called "magical feelings" that sentimental TV shows and radio songs celebrate, it will provide nothing of any substance to help us, or others, when the long, dark, cold winter months of January and February set in. If magical feelings are all there is to Christmas, we will surely experience its passing as a great letdown.

      What then? Is there anything enduring about Christmas that can help us look to the months and the year ahead with peace instead of anxiety? Is there any good news in this event, celebrated around the globe, that will help lift suffering people from a state of despair to a state of hope, for more than a few passing days? Or is Christmas simply an interlude like the one in the World War when the two sides stopped fighting each other when Christmas arrived, but promptly resumed killing each other once it passed? Thankfully, as our morning text strongly suggests, the hope of Christmas is much more enduring than this.

The Text: Our text, the story of old Simeon and the widow Anna meeting Mary and Joseph and their baby in the temple, is what we may call a "post-Christmas" story. We are tempted to overlook this text, because it occurred after the traditional happenings we associate with the Christmas story. Gone are the miraculous and memorable events surrounding the birth of Jesus: the stable in Bethlehem has returned to its original purpose, the choirs of angels are now silent, the glorias have ended, and the shepherds have returned to their long days of labour in the fields. Mary and Joseph no longer receive strange visits from angels, and our text pictures their lives, like ours, returning to a state of business as usual.

      Like all good Jewish parents, one of their first orders of business was to travel to the temple in Jerusalem to carry out two ancient rituals prescribed by the law after the birth of a child. First of all, they came to present their firstborn child to the Lord. Secondly, they came to offer a sacrifice of purification. According to the law, 40 days after a woman gave birth (to a son) she must offer a sacrifice, for the blood which passed from her body during childbirth made her ceremonially unclean. Now the standard offering was a lamb, but if a family could not afford this, they could sacrifice a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons instead. These could be purchased in the marketplace for a few pennies. According to Luke, this was the offering presented by Jesus' parents, reminding us that the first Christmas season, as glorious as it was, did nothing to alter the family's economic status. Mary and Joseph were poor before the birth, and they were poor after it. Life continued to be a difficult uphill struggle for them.

      What then? Did nothing change for them? After the miracles dissipated, did any of it make any difference to their lives? Was there anything they could carry forward with them to help lighten the difficult burden of poverty? Of course there was, only it was not magical feelings they brought forward with them into the temple–the one thing that had changed was that they now were carrying a precious baby boy. The angels disappeared, but the baby was left! And this baby continued to amaze them, for when they arrived at the temple an old man they did not know rushed forward to greet them and took the child Jesus in his arms and praised God saying, "Master, now I can die in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation, a light for all nations and glory for your people Israel." With this wonderful prophecy concerning the child Mary and Joseph could face the hard days ahead with new strength and hope. They did not need any more angelic visitors, for they had something far greater. When feelings of wonder began to wear thin, the child was still with them.

      Is it not the same for us? When all the trappings of the Christmas season are removed, when the lights are taken down and the wrapping paper is thrown out, and the food is eaten, there is nonetheless one thing from Christmas we can carry forward with us into our normal, everyday living, with all of its pressures, and that is Jesus. The annual revelry may end, but Jesus remains with us. If we have ears to understand Simeon's prophetic song, we will realize with joy and gladness that we don't need any of these other things to make our lives rich and meaningful. The world says otherwise, but if we have Jesus, that is enough. It is more than enough, it is joy and salvation, it is warmth in the cold of winter, it is light in the dark days that lie ahead. Magical feelings come and go, but Jesus remains with us all the year through. In his light we are able to find safety and warmth and love at all times, regardless of our external circumstances. No wonder the old song says, "I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today."

Simeon and Anna: The very first person to utter that confession and recognize the greatness of the newborn child was venerable, old Simeon, who desired only one thing at the end of his life, to see the salvation which God had planned for all people. For God had promised him that he would not see death before he had seen the Messiah. That single hope sustained him. He had experienced much in life, but it all paled in comparison to this precious promise. We can imagine this aged saint praying at home with gnarled hands stretched longingly out to God, as they had so many times before, when suddenly an irresistible urge overcame him to leave his house. With lightness in his step he shuffled through the city streets as quickly as old legs could carry him. His neighbours knew something was up by the youthful excitement written all over his face. His heart pounded as the Holy Spirit guided him up one street and down the next, and finally right into the temple, just as a young couple arrived carrying a small bundle. Without hesitation Simeon stretched out his arms, and the parents trustingly handed this stranger their firstborn child, for his eyes were wise and kind, and alive with hope. The crinkled smile on his face would have cheered many a sad heart, for years of anticipation were concentrated in a single joy-filled moment as the aged saint cradled new life in his arms. It was all worth it, all the long years of waiting. Now he knew everything was going to be all right. Tears welled in his eyes as he rejoiced, saying "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation." Simeon is now completely at peace, for God kept his promise. He can die knowing that a light has begun to shine in the world, one that would mean healing and hope for all who came out of the dark and into to its brightness. As Howard Marshall suggests, there may be even a deeper meaning here. Simeon can now entrust himself to the future, even to death, knowing that life and immortality have been brought to life through the gospel (Luke commentary). Ultimately, because of this child, all will be well. The future now holds nothing to fear.

Salvation for all people: But Simeon's hopes certainly extend far beyond himself. He may be old, but his vision is great. "My eyes have seen your salvation," he exulted, "a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." The salvation he prophesied was for the whole world, for Gentiles and Jews alike.

      That was a remarkable declaration. Nobody else talked about the Messiah that way. God's Messiah was supposed to be the Saviour of his chosen people, Israel. But here in this strange new song, the old man sang of a saviour who was for all people. He declared that God's heart is big enough to embrace Jews and Gentiles, whites and blacks, westerners and easterners, men and women, you and I. When Simeon held the baby Jesus in his arms, the Spirit led him to see that he was the one who could extend God's forgiveness to all of us, and to guide people around the globe into a lifestyle that would mean good news for the poor, the hungry, the oppressed and the blind.

      At this point in Luke's gospel, we're not told how the newborn child could accomplish this. But we are given a hint. After praising the child Simeon turned to Mary and, without warning, is the first to tell her that her beautiful little son will cause her deep sorrow. "This child," he said, "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." Simeon is the first to foreshadow the fact that this baby, over whom the angels sang, and whom the shepherds and magi came to adore, would grow to be a man who was crucified. Jesus was only an infant, yet in Simeon's warning we can hear the first faint murmur of the words, "Crucify him!" And we know that Mary's heart was pierced on that terrible day in her child's future. But from our vantage point, we also know that very early on the first day of the week, on a morning yet to come, she would meet her son Jesus again–raised from the dead; and there she would discover for herself the light that the darkness could never again eclipse. We don't know in what detail Simeon saw these events, but he saw enough to rejoice in the knowledge that he could die in peace.

      Jesus is the reason we too can face the future with confidence. When our cheerful Christmas lights are unplugged, we need not lose our Christmas joy, for we can stare an unknown future in the face with the knowledge that we have a far greater light to accompany us on our journey. He provides forgiveness for our sins, and strength for our weakness, and he loves us with an undying love that will continue even after our bodies die, for we will rise again with him.

      Once again, we don't know how much of this Simeon actually foresaw, but he saw enough to fill his final days with joy. Interestingly, he is joined in his joy by another senior citizen, the prophet Anna, who in her great age arrived just at that moment, and began to praise God, for she too realized the greatness of the child, and she began to speak about him to all who came to the temple to worship. Together these two old saints fulfilled the Jewish law that all matters must be established on the basis of two witnesses.

Embracing Jesus: We can learn so much from elderly people, especially those like Simeon and Anna, righteous and devout people who did not allow the years to cause them to grow cynical. What we learn from them is this: regardless of the hardships that lay behind us, or difficulties that lie ahead of us, regardless of what we must endure, even death itself, all will ultimately be well for God's people. For God has sent us a Messiah, the Saviour, whom he asks us to embrace like Simeon did. My favourite image of Christmas 2002 is the visit our youth group made to the senior's home. Some of us parents went along to help our youth sing Christmas carols. We gathered just inside the front door, in the dining room. The reception we received was enough to make the cold, wet night feel warm. The residents of the home were so happy that we came. They welcomed our rather ragtag group with enthusiasm. I remember three women in particular, sitting next to each other against the wall. As we sang songs celebrating the birth of Jesus, they sang along, and clapped their hands. But what I remember most are their smiles, smiles that lit up the entire room. Their faces radiated joy, even though their own circumstances were not easy, being confined to a nursing home at the end of their lives. I also remember their kind words, in between songs they encouraged us and told us how lovely and beautiful our singing was. They soon had us smiling and laughing as well.

      As I think about it, when all of these seniors welcomed us, they welcomed the one who sent us, Jesus our Lord. Aren't those his very words, "Whoever welcomes you welcomes me"? By embracing us in their own simple way, with openness and laughter and without pretense, they were embracing Jesus. They were like Simeon and Anna, aged people rejoicing at the appearing of Jesus the Christ child. Like Simeon and Anna, they also provide a model for what it means to receive Jesus. It is to take him into one's home, and hold him in one's arms, and receive him into one's heart, and to know that, because of him, and in spite of present circumstances, all will be well. It is to trust that the future is in God's hands. Christmas merrymaking may be behind us, but God is still in front of us beckoning us onward, and Jesus is with us, our constant companion on the adventurous journey that lies ahead.

      Are you able to trust this good news like Simeon and Anna did? Are you able to look forward to the days and months ahead, regardless of your present circumstances, without growing cynical or fearful? You can, precisely because God sent Jesus to you and to our world, to dispel our darkness. In the birth of Jesus Christ God has acted decisively on our behalf and on behalf of all people everywhere. God so much wants us to embrace this good news, he wants us to cradle the child, his salvation, in our arms, and to receive him into our hearts. He wants us to welcome with joy the grace that sent Jesus to our world as God's most precious gift of light. Those with Simeon's eyes of faith will recognize that all of these things are true. They will be inspired to work for the well-being of others, knowing that all is well between God and them, and knowing that God will fulfill his plan to renew the whole world.

Conclusion: May we therefore go forward from this place in peace, knowing that Christ is with us. We are not in the dark. His light will show us the way in the days ahead, no matter what our circumstances may be. We have nothing to fear, not even death itself. Even though we leave the Christmas season behind, even though the song of the angels is stilled, and the star in the sky is gone, the light of Jesus will never leave us. He is God's gift to us, to provide us with guidance and safety and warmth. With joy let us embrace him in our hearts even as Simeon cradled him in his arms.

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