One On One: 100 Days With Jesus--ADVENTSample

Simeon: The Man who Waited for the Promise

Time was running out for Simeon. In a dream, God promised the old man he wouldn’t die till he saw the Messiah. Day after month after year Simeon showed up in the temple, praying for Israel, studying each young man’s face—Are you the Mashiach? He was sure he would know Him when he saw Him. 

Hope like that keeps you alive. 

Imagine the moment then, when Simeon looked up from his temple post, and saw the young couple crossing the courtyard. One cradled a baby, the other carried a basket with two pigeons, a poor man’s substitute for a sacrificial lamb. 

The Spirit of God whispered to Simeon, There He is! 

What? Our Deliverer is a baby? 

The couple no doubt felt strange to have their secret out in this holy place; they knew their boy was special . . . from God . . . but now a perfect stranger wept as he held out his arms. May I hold Him? 

And Jesus, wide-eyed for His six weeks in the world, thrashed His limbs with excitement. Mary and Joseph’s eyes met, still shy to the attention. 

“He’s here.” Simeon cried, “The Lord’s salvation is here!” And he looked with faith into the eyes of God Himself. 

Then Simeon’s expression changed. All the noise of the courtyard—the bleating lambs, the rushing crowd, the merchants, sinners, and priests—narrowed to silence. A shadow moved across his face. 

What Simeon saw was a long way off, but its grief was as real as this gift in his arms. The Messiah’s arrival also meant suffering to come: a mother’s heart pierced, a nation’s divided choice, a perfect man’s horrific sacrifice. Simeon’s patient faith gave him God’s eyes. And this ‘through a glass darkly’ view was sorrow and joy mixed and as big as eternity. 

Perhaps later that day or that week, Simeon rode out of this life a satisfied man, full of everything God had promised him. 

Rest in peace, Simeon. 

Tomorrow: One on one with the woman who prayed for Jesus all her life