Devotional for Monday, December 16th
Today’s Bible Reading: Luke 2:21-35
I’ve mentioned the musical Les Miserables before in this devotional, and I’ll probably talk about it many times again. It’s a beautiful story of redemption and grace. After beginning his life as a criminal, Jean Valjean experiences an act of mercy that turns his life around. He adopts a young child, Cosette, after her mother dies. He spends the rest of his life caring for Cosette and trying to show grace to others.
At the end of Valjean’s life, he’s ready to go home and be with God. Knowing Cosette is safe, he says, “Now I can die in peace, for I know my life is blessed.” When I think about Simeon in today’s reading, I imagine someone like Valjean.
About six weeks after Jesus is born, Mary and Joseph take him to the temple to dedicate him. (Tomorrow we’ll take a closer look at the significance of this ceremony.) There, they meet a man named Simeon. He was probably a priest like Zechariah. And what he does is pretty shocking. As Mary and Joseph enter the temple, Simeon rushes over to them and scoops up baby Jesus into his arms. Before Mary can protest, Simeon blurts out:
Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel. (Luke 2:29-32)
God had promised Simeon that he would see the Messiah before he dies. Why would God make a promise like that to one obscure man? Maybe because it was something Simeon prayed for over and over. He longed to see Israel redeemed. But not just Israel. Simeon knew that Jesus came for everyone. Jesus would be “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Simeon was one of the first people to realize that Jesus didn’t want anyone left out.
The thing I find so amazing about Simeon is he wouldn’t live to see Jesus in action. He wouldn’t see the miracles or hear the teachings. He wouldn’t witness the first Easter morning. If I were praying Simeon’s prayer, it would probably sound like this: Dear God, send us a Savior. Oh, and make sure I’m around to see it all!
But Simeon wasn’t primarily concerned with himself. As he held Jesus in his arms, it’s as if he said, “Now I can die in peace, for I know the world is blessed.”
Questions to Ponder:
Why do you think it was enough for Simeon to see Jesus once?
Before leaving, Simeon gives Mary a cryptic warning:
“This child 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.” (v. 34-35)
What do you think he meant by this?
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