Introduction: Mary and Joseph weren’t the only ones eagerly awaiting the birth of Jesus. Under the Law of Moses, every male child was to be circumcised. Joseph and Mary took Baby Jesus to the Temple where this surgery would be performed on the Baby. While they were in the Temple, they received encouraging words from an unsung hero, Simeon of Jerusalem (to be distinguished from the son of Jacob and other men with that name).
Text: Luke 2:25-35, KJV: 25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
Thoughts: we know nothing about this Simeon except what is revealed about him in this passage. Luke describes him and just and devout (a good combination for any man), also that the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit—same Greek words) was upon him, and that he would not die until he had seen “the Lord’s Christ”. When he received this promise, and when he became a believer in the Lord is nowhere stated, but no less real, and it’s very possible Simeon observed every male child who was brought into the Temple. Like Samuel, he may have thought “this has to be the One!” only to hear the Lord say, “No, this is not the one” or words to that effect.
But one day, his dream came true! Most likely there was nothing special about Joseph and Mary to set them apart from any other couple. I doubt Joseph had a sign saying “I’m the crown prince of the line of David and I should be king”; and I also doubt Mary had posters saying, ‘I’m the Messiah’s mother”! My own opinion is that they blended in with other people, carrying a pair of turtledoves or pigeons as part of the offering mentioned in Leviticus 12 (see verse 24). Even so, Simeon was drawn to them, and especially to the Baby one of them was holding.
Simeon took the Child in his own arms and blessed the Lord! The next thing he did was burst into praise, singing a brief song called the “Nunc Dimittis” by some based on the Latin translation of the first few words. Joseph and Mary, needless to say, marveled at this—how did this complete stranger know anything at all about this Child, only 8 days old?
Simeon, though, was not finished. Whether he was still holding the Baby or if he gave Him back to Joseph and Mary is not certain. What is certain is that he had two other things Simeon had to say. The first thing is that he blessed Joseph and Mary. The text of that blessing is not given. The prophecy he gave to Mary, on the other hand (why was Joseph not included?), is recorded clearly and no doubt she understood Simeon’s message, fierce as it was. Mary would indeed feel the sword pierce her own soul any number of times, but especially, no doubt, 33 years later when her Son was crucified on Calvary. But praise the Lord, He didn’t stay dead! He’s alive!
Simeon, then, had the promise that he would never end his earthly journey until he saw the Lord’s Christ, the Messiah, in person. When did he receive this promise? The text does not say, nor does it say how much longer he lived after he saw the Messiah, the Son of God, coming into the temple as an infant. Once he found the Child, he gave a song of praise, a blessing, and a prophecy—and then he disappeared from history.
Simeon was truly an unsung hero of the faith. His faithfulness to the Lord and his devotion to God’s promises speak volumes to his character. May there be many other men who will be faithful to the Lord, even as Simeon.
Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV).