Slices
Prepare
‘For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God’ (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Bible passage
Jesus presented in the temple
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons’.
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.’
33 The child’s father and mother marvelled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
Explore
The more patient we are when waiting for God to work in our lives, the greater the joy will be. We have witnessed Zechariah’s joy in fulfilment, now comes Simeon. He has been told by God that he will see the Messiah before he dies (v 26). He must have surely had his doubts, but he doesn’t give up. He is always open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, as Mary was.
Mary and Joseph are in the Temple because of the framework of tradition (v 22). Simeon is there because he is moved by the Spirit (v 27). The two come together very well.
Simeon recognises Jesus as soon as he sees him. And he takes action, immediately thanking God that his promise has come true (v 29). He can die a happy man.
If our lives are steeped in prayer and Bible study, we will be that much closer to instinctively doing God’s will. We need to keep alert, and not be afraid to tell others what God tells us. Simeon had hard words for Mary to understand, but he didn’t hold back (v 34). She would have God’s strength to bear what was ahead.
Respond
Is there something you are especially asking God for? Spend time asking him what you need to do to help bring it to fruition.
Deeper Bible study
‘But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn, / they bore thee to Calvary.’1
Waiting is rarely easy; the longer the wait, the harder it is to keep the sense of anticipation. We are not given Simeon’s age, but it seems he was approaching death. He had waited a lifetime; Israel had waited centuries. For Israel as a nation and for individuals like Simeon, keeping the hope alive would not have been easy. Some had given up, but not Simeon. His expectation and hope are born out of his faith (v 25) and a direct revelation from the Spirit (v 26). Now, under the inspiration of the Spirit, he realises that the long-awaited time has come and he praises God in language with many Old Testament echoes, especially from Isaiah.2 Thus far the emphasis has been on the Saviour of Israel – now, under the influence of the Isaiah passages, a new note emerges. Jesus is not just for Israel but for the world. Luke is building a picture of a Messiah/Saviour who transcends social and national boundaries.
This is not without cost. There is in Simeon’s words more than a hint of the pain that will come. This is no surprise to us who look back to the cross, but for Jesus’ contemporaries this proved a difficult idea to grasp despite the teaching of Jesus himself.3 By the time Paul was writing his epistle to the Romans, less than 20 years after Jesus’ death, the link was firmly established4 and it becomes a theme in his later writings. For a people called to take up a cross this has abiding significance. There is no glory without suffering, no crown without a cross. It has implications for the mission of the church. Any proclamation of the gospel which pretends otherwise is a sham. A church which seeks power and avoids suffering has not understood Jesus.
Pray that your church will have a healthy realism as it shares the good news of Jesus and that it will not be seduced by the world’s ideas of power.
1 Emily Elliott, 1836–97, ‘Thou didst leave thy throne’ 2 Eg Isa 9:2; 42:1–7; 49:6; 60:1–3 3 Luke 9:45; 18:32–34; 24:25–27 4 Rom 8:17
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Zechariah 11,12; Revelation 20
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for the ‘Question of Faith’ days which Local Mission Partner Southampton City Mission will be leading in schools next term. Pray that as they share the importance of the gospel, seeds will be sown in the hearts and minds of children and staff.
