The Carol of Simeon: A Song for All People

Opening

In honor of all the Carols we sing at Christmas time, I thought I’d start off today by playing a little game. I’ll quote a line from a Christmas carol and you tell me what song it’s from.

Dashing through the snow in one horse open sleigh” –

Jingle Bells

All of the other reindeer use to laugh and call him names” –

Rudolph

He was made of snow but the children know how he came to life one day” –

Frosty the Snowman

Yuletide carols being sung by a choir and folks dressed up like Eskimos” –

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (Actually titled the Christmas song)

Where the treetops glisten and children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow” –

I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas

Take a look in the five-and-ten, it's glistening once again with candy canes and silver lanes that glow” –

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Round yon virgin Mother and Child” –

Silent Night

•The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus no crying he makes” –

Away in a Manger

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices” –

Oh Holy Night

Introduction

Think back to when you were a child waiting for that one Christmas gift — the one you hoped for all year. The anticipation, the excitement, the longing. And then the moment you finally held it in your hands. Multiply that by eternity, and you get a glimpse of what Simeon felt when he held Jesus.

At the point we pick up our story today, its been 8 days since the birth of Jesus

Joseph and Mary are bringing baby Jesus to the temple.

This was commanded by the law. Leviticus 12:2–3

They were bringing him for circumcision and they had a sacrifice of two turtle doves.

Luke 2:29–34 NIV

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” 33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

• It’s Spirit‑inspired

• It’s sung in response to Jesus

• It reveals God’s heart to the world

Christmas brings us salvation

When he holds Jesus, he doesn’t just see a baby; he sees the fulfillment of God’s promise.

My eyes have seen Your salvation” becomes the heart of his carol.

Luke 2:30 “For my eyes have seen your salvation,”

Christmas Brings Light to the World

This is the first explicit declaration in the nativity story that Jesus is not only for Israel but for the whole world.

Light reveals what was hidden.

Light guides those who are lost.

Light exposes what is broken and heals what is wounded

Simeon says Luke 2:32 “32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.””

John 8:12 “12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””

Isaiah 9:2 “2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”

John 1:5 “5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Christmas brings us revelation

Luke 2:32 “32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.””

Jesus came into this world to show us who God

Revelation is God making Himself known.

Simeon’s song is a declaration that in Jesus, God is no longer distant or mysterious.

Isaiah 7:14 “14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

Matthew 1:23 “23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).”

Christmas teaches us to wait

Simeon models faithful, Spirit-led waiting—not passive, but expectant.

Christmas gives us a choice

Luke 2:34–35 “34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.””

Simeon’s prophecy to Mary reveals that Jesus will cause the rising and falling of many—He demands a response

Christmas Gives Us Peace

Luke 2:29 “29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.”

Have you ever worked on a big puzzle and finally placed the last piece? There’s a deep sense of satisfaction — not because the puzzle is over, but because it’s complete. Simeon’s life felt like that. When he held Jesus, he wasn’t sad that his life was ending. He was at peace because the final piece had been placed. Christmas brings that kind of peace — peace for eternity

Peace that settles the soul

Simeon had been waiting his whole life for the Messiah. The moment he holds Jesus, the waiting ends.

No more striving

No more uncertainty

No more fear of death

Christmas brings the kind of peace that settles the deepest human anxieties.

Peace that removes the fear of death

Simeon is the first person in the New Testament to show what it looks like to face death without fear.

He’s ready not because he’s old — but because he’s secure.

Jesus gives him peace that stretches beyond this life.

Peace rooted in God’s faithfulness

Simeon’s peace isn’t vague or sentimental.

It’s grounded in the fact that God kept His promise.

If God kept this promise, Simeon can trust Him with eternity.

Peace that Christmas still offers today

Christmas isn’t just about joy in the present — it’s about peace that carries us into eternity with confidence.

Some of us walked in today carrying fear, confusion, or weariness. Simeon reminds us that everything we long for is found in the arms of Jesus.

In the end, Simeon shows us what Christmas truly offers.

In Jesus, we receive salvation—God’s promise fulfilled.

In Jesus, we receive light—a revelation that opens our eyes and guides our steps.

And in Jesus, we receive peace for eternity—the kind of peace that lets a person say, like Simeon, “Lord, I’m ready. My life is in Your hands.”

This Christmas, may we not just celebrate the story—may we embrace the Savior.

May we hold Him as tightly as Simeon did… and find in Him everything our hearts have been waiting for.