Simeon: A Christmas Recollection from Seed Basket Devotional

It’s all about Jesus!

Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

Luke 2:25

The Christmas story is filled with the stories of people who came to know the Christ child in unexpected ways. Most of them, like the shepherds, the Magi, and even Mary and Joseph, never dreamed that they would meet Him in person, though most of them believed He was coming. They were Jews. This was their promise from God.

But Simeon was different. Simeon had known for some time that he would actually see his Savior. The Holy Spirit had already revealed to Simeon that he would live to meet his Messiah.

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.^[a]

Luke 2:26

Stop and think about this. Simeon was led by the Spirit to walk into the temple at the very moment that Mary and Joseph brought Jesus there for purification.

²⁷He came in the Spirit into the temple.

If Simeon had disregarded the leading of the Holy Spirit on that day, he would have missed what God had prepared especially for him. Look at the rest of the passage.

²⁷…When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law, ²⁸then he received him into his arms and blessed God, and said,

29“Now you are releasing your servant, Master,
    according to your word, in peace;
³⁰for my eyes have seen your salvation,
³¹    which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;
³²a light for revelation to the nations,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”

Simeon set his heart on the belief that God would be true to His promise. Not only God’s promise to Simeon, but God’s Promise to the world.

That Promise was Jesus, the Messiah, born as a baby—the One who would come to rescue not only Israel but the whole world.

Because of his faith, Simeon had an experience with God that he would treasure in his heart.

Do you really see?

Yes, Jesus is the treasure that Simeon physically held. Jesus was his Savior and that meant the most. But can you imagine how he must have thought in that moment? Jesus was the treasure that he held in his soul. Jesus was the reason for his faith.

It must have been so overwhelming to him as the realization dawned upon Simeon, how God had been true to His personal word to the aged priest. He must have marveled at the goodness of the Creator to give him, a mere man, such a beautiful blessing.

Wouldn’t you have been just speechless and your heart so full of gratitude?

You see, we tend to diminish the Christmas story, don’t we? It becomes ordinary.

But this wonderful story is so much more than ordinary.

Our God included the world He so loved, so that we could have a testimony and give Him glory.

Simeon did just that.

Simeon was an upright man because the Holy Spirit drew him to be, and he did not resist. That is also a decision each person has to make today.

Our lives will also be upright in God’s eyes if we live by faith in a relationship with Him. It is His Spirit in us that makes us upright. Have you experienced God’s presence? Are you sensitive to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life?

Simeon’s desire was for all people to know the salvation of the Lord. His deepest desire was to serve the Lord.

If we love Him, we will gladly live to honor God. The blessings He gives us should be used to point others to Jesus.

and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 5:5

Simeon’s story ends on a sad but vital prophecy. The prophecy that would lead to our salvation.

³³Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him. ³⁴Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. ³⁵Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

As a believer, devote each moment to honoring the Lord, wherever He has placed you.

Share the Good News in your world.

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, has come to save the lost.