Feb 10, 2011 The Beauty of Our Savior in the Song of Simeon
Originally posted on December 14, 2005
“Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel”
Luke 2: 29-32
Simeon was a unique man. He had the experience of being told by the Holy Spirit that before he died he would see the Messiah. One day in the Temple, Simeon saw Jesus being carried by His parents. He took one look into the face of Jesus and recognized Him. Here, in the baby, was the Messiah. Simeon broke out in song and sang a prophecy of the beauty of Christ.
In the face of Jesus, Simeon saw the salvation of the world. Human history is the search for saviors. Everyone has the sense that things aren’t quite right and that we need someone to fix the world. The driving force behind politics, religion, art and entertainment is the desire for someone to stand up, point the way, and lead us to a better future.
Into history stepped Jesus Christ. The Son of God became a human. In Jesus’ infancy Simeon was able to see in Him the Savior we need to make the world right. He was called “a light of revelation to the Gentiles.” This means He revealed God and God’s way of salvation to all the nations.
It is clear from the teaching of the Bible that the Savior of the world is to become the Savior of the individual who repents of sin and turns to Jesus in faith for salvation. In the face of Jesus, Simeon saw his own salvation. You can too. Turn to Jesus now and trust Him to save you.
In the face of Jesus, Simeon saw the satisfaction of his soul. One look at Jesus and Simeon had seen it all. “Now I can die in peace, for I have seen salvation.” What does it take to see Jesus this way? How can we come to the place of seeing in Jesus the greatest satisfaction of our souls?
First, pray that God will let you see Jesus this way. It is God who opened Simeon’s mind to understand that Jesus was no ordinary baby. Ask God to do this in you as well.
Second, think about your own life. Doesn’t everything you have ever seen or experienced fall short of perfect? Doesn’t every relationship come with a little disappointment? Doesn’t every achievement have a slight sense of incompleteness? The reason this is so is that we were made of Christ and nothing satisfies us like knowing and loving Him, and knowing we are loved by Him. Every good thing in life points to the greatest thing in life- our soul’s satisfaction in Christ.
Third, think on Jesus. Finding your soul’s joy in Jesus Christ requires deep soul reflection. We can’t live superficial lives and expect to find deep soul satisfaction. We won’t have joy if we constantly medicate dissatisfaction with superficial things. We must think deeply on Jesus. His superior nature and sufficient work on the cross must be pondered and applied to the daily search for satisfaction.
Simeon sang of the beauty of Jesus and declared Him to be saving and satisfying to all who believe.
Merry Christmas,
Pastor Scott