Outline Simeon Gives Us a Good Song to Remember based on Luke 2:22-32
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· 2 viewsSimeon gives us a good song to remember right after we receive Holy Communion.
Notes
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I. What are some songs that stick in your mind?
II. Read Luke 2:29-32 and comment. Luke 2:29-32 tells us about a man named Simeon who spoke these words about Jesus as he held the infant in his arms: “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” These spoken words of Simeon have been put to music and are part of our order of worship for today. Today I will unpack these words of Simeon.
III. Mary and Joseph took God’s commands seriously.
IV. Who was this man named Simeon? We do not know much about him. Luke 2:25-26 tells us, “Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”
Simeon was moved by the Holy Spirit to recognize that the infant Jesus was the Lord’s Christ. Jesus was the one who would bring about the consolation of Israel. Jesus was coming to fulfill the promises of God in the Old Testament. Jesus was coming to bring the consoling work of the forgiveness of all sins and wrongs to the people of Israel and the rest of the nations for that matter.
V. Comment about Simeon’s words. In the Divine Service Setting Three in our hymnals today we have the words of Simeon taken from the King James Version of the Bible that we sing, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” Those words are followed by the “Glory be to God the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost as it was in the beginning and ever shall be world without end. Amen.”
VI. Conclusion. So what does this mean to us today? We have an advantage over Simeon. We can read about the true narrative of Jesus—from His birth to when He died and was raised to life on the third day and ascended into heaven. We have our eyes and minds enlightened by God’s Holy Spirit, too. As we receive the true Body and Blood of Jesus in, with, and under the bread and wine in Holy Communion, we hold Jesus in our hands. We can depart in peace, too. We sing Simeon’s song right after we receive the Lord’s Supper. Jesus is our salvation. Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus is the One who deserves all the glory for doing everything needed to bring about the forgiveness of all our sins and wrongs and failures.
The purification of Mary and the presentation of our Lord continues the narrative of how Jesus came to fulfill the prophecies of old. Jesus did all that was necessary to fulfill the promises of God. That is Good News for us. We are people that regularly fail to do all that the Commandments of the Lord give us to do. We cannot save ourselves from our many sins and wrongs. We would be lost forever if Jesus had not come into our sinful world. Jesus was born to forgive us and free us from our sinful flesh. Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day according to the Law of the Lord. Jesus was presented at the temple in Jerusalem on the fortieth day after His birth. Jesus was baptized at about 30 years of age. Jesus taught and preached the Good News about the kingdom of God. Jesus performed many miraculous healings. Hebrews 2:14-15 tells us the Good News about Jesus, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” We do not know how many days or years we have left in this earthly life, but like Simeon we can believe God’s Word that Jesus is the One who gives us consolation, so that we can depart this earthly life in peace. Simeon’s song is a good song to remember today and always. Amen.
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.