Luke 2:25-30

Matt Summerfield encourages us to reach out to God wherever we're at in our faith journey

Matt Summerfield
Matt Summerfield

One of the things that I love about Christmas is the waiting - the expectation.

Even though at one level I'm quite an impatient person there's something about the anticipation - the knowledge that something good is coming; something great hopefully.

Good food, time with friends and family, hopefully some rest from work, maybe even the odd great present and also the joy of giving.

Anything that is really worth having, is worth waiting for.

2000 years ago, a priest called Simeon was waiting. He'd been waiting his whole life for something really special; someone really special.

He knew that the world he lived in was broken. But he also knew his Old Testament scriptures. He knew that God had promised to send the Messiah - the hope of the world - to put things right.

To forgive us for our selfishness.
To restore our relationship with God.
To bring eternal hope for our future.

And so he waited...and waited...in anticipation that Messiah was coming.

This is how Luke picks up the story in Luke 2:25-30:

'At this time a man named Simeon was living in Jerusalem. Simeon was a good man. He loved God and was waiting for God to save the people of Israel. God's Spirit came to him and told him that he would not die until he had seen Christ the Lord. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to do what the Law of Moses says should be done for a new baby, the Spirit told Simeon to go into the temple. Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God, "Lord, I am your servant, and now I can die in peace, because you have kept your promise to me. With my own eyes I have seen what you have done to save your people"'.

Simeon has waited for this moment the whole of his life and now it's here.

Jesus is just days old and Mary and Joseph bring him to the temple to dedicate him - and Simeon is the one who gets to do it!

And what does he say?

He says I can die a happy man because I have seen the Saviour of the world.