Simeon’s Song

HOOK

Intro- Story of Charles

Growing up in my parents church observing who came each Sunday and who didn’t

Could tell who came by who did what volunteering-singing, welcome team, etc.

Looking for work to do and my dad said to go meet Charles. Had no idea who he was. Never seen him on the worship team, never saw him take the offering, but Charles showed up every week, quietly, and remained faithful through the years of the church.

Tarred his driveway and he taught me the rich history of our church who is who who did what and what. Never in a showing off mode, just a matter of fact.

Charles made himself known through quiet, continuous commitment through the ages. He found out I played tennis in high school he dug up an old tennis racket for me to use. (wooden, but I kept it). I was moved by that afternoon with Charles I kept the racket for many years because it reminded me of him.

From that moment on, when I came to church, my mindset was different. I began noticing Charles, and the people like him. Quiet, committed people following God.

Point- Meeting a quiet commited follower of God that gets overlooked in the Christmas story.

Like Charles, we find a character in the Bible that just shows up and then leaves, but leaves us with a profound impact towards the hope of Christ. A man that just shows up, makes an impact and then leaves. He doesn’t ask for a narrative of his life. Luke doesn’t provide us the background of who he is. He’s not glamorized, he shows up and then leaves. Simeon is his name and as we look at this one off blimp of a man, we will see a huge impact he makes in the story of Luke and what God shows us today.

Prayer-

BOOK

Text- Luke 2:22-38

Context- WHAT IS GOING ON?

-Time came for their purification according to the law of Moses.

-Each male baby was required 8 days after birth to be presented at the Temple and circumcised.

-Circumcision meaning- “Cut off” from the rest of the world and only dedicated to God’s act of saving. Regardless if the child wanted it or not, it was pressed upon the Jewish people. The baby had no say. The boy had no choice. Why would they force this act upon the baby? The point is that besides our choices God is the only one that can save us. Not by what we do, but by what he does. Because all of us are sinful, we have to be reminded of an outward force that saves us inwardly of our sins. Circumcision reminded the people regardless of what we chose, good, bad, or ugly ultimately it is up to God who saves us.

- Why did Jesus have to do this? If Jesus is fully God and fully human, why did he have to be circumcised? It seems counterintuitive. If the point is to remind us that we are sinners should Jesus be exempt from doing this act? §

-In reality, no. Christ had to do this because the text makes it clear in verse 22 it says “according to the Law” that word, according translated means Kata. Meaning holding down from, or submission.

-Christ had to submit to the entirety of the law in order to then have the law submit entirely under him.

-The law is what judges men’s holiness. In order to be perfect and in right standing with God, one had to follow the law. Which came from God. The point is that the law was near impossible to follow. It is impossible to be perfect all the time. Only one person followed the law perfectly and that was Jesus. Jesus had to follow the law in order to be over it. By submitting to the law God shows not only does he demand perfection, but he alone can accomplish it.

-Another reminder here that ultimately God is the only one that can perfectly follow his own holiness. Christ submission is about obedience to ensure we do not have to follow the law anymore. Paul tells us we are no longer under the law of Moses, but a new law. The law of grace. Made new through Christ Jesus.

-Introduced to a one-shot character- Simeon serves as a crucial but brief moment that makes an impact in the story.

We are not told anything about Simeon. Where he is from, what is his occupation. Is he married, does he have kids. What’s his favorite meal, nothing. This stranger appears on scene, take baby Jesus and begins prophesying.

Can you imagine Mary and Joseph at this moment. First of all, 8 days after the birth. I remember when we had our first kid, I feel like I’m recovering after 8 years with him. But here is Mary, probably still sore from birth. Joseph sleep deprived, being obedient and this man takes their child and begins prophesying.

Simeon is the last of these types of main characters in the Bible. People who are significant but are not part of the story. Melechezadek, Enoch, Eliezer, Jahaziel, Heman, etc. These are men who come and go Simeon becomes the last of the Old Testament prophets to close the end of that age and open the beginning of the new age.

TENSION IN THE TEXT

-I wonder how long had Simeon come to the temple to find the Messiah? If I may take some liberty in the story, but I can imagine that this prophecy given to Simeon didn’t happen 24 hours over night based off his response in verse 29. Now I can die. That sounds like a person who has been at this for a long time and finally achieved their goal.

Baseball story. Wanting to see who was dedicated and committed to keep going.

This long journey of commitment. Simeon is probably the first person to get the Christmas story and the last person to declare it. I can only imagine that feeling of excitement when you are waiting for the big moment only to be strung about and then bored, then questioning if what you heard was true, then doubt, then left in wonder. As each year passes by and Simeon feels morality creeping in, I just wonder how he felt in these moments. How anxious, worried, concerned, questioning in all this. Lord, don’t you know I’m about to die? My days are numbered, yet nothing is happening.

Yet Simeon for his credit, not knowing how long he persisted in following this word from God came in the spirit. Despite the length of when God said something was going to happen and when God moves us to make it happen, Simeon not only believed in what God said, but obeyed God’s nudging.

Chaplain story spirit lead into a tent.

Simeon utters I think the most powerful lines about Christ- Now you are letting your servant depart in peace.

What a powerful phrase. It almost feels like relief. I felt that way a little bit a few months ago. When we got a chance to go to Vilnius and eat a good meal. Whew, now I can die and be at peace. (teasing of course) This passage reads like a sigh of assurance. Simeon holds God in the flesh to his chest. Heart beat to heart beat. The pay off must have been overwhelming. We don’t know what happens to Simeon, but his words here remind us of something.

Encountering Christ one small moment in your life, will leave your life changed forever. Think about Simeon’s perspective. Simeon will never get to hear about the sermon on the mound. Simeon will never get to see Jesus’ miracles. Simeon will never see him walk on water, but in this small moment, he fully understands he is holding God in His hands. He’s encountered the living God in the flesh and that is enough.

Simeon’s relief stands as an encouragement to use that in our own life, one small encounter with Christ is enough to change a life time. I find myself with other things not satisfied. I get excited and enjoy a game for a while then I’m bored. I like a TV series then get tired of it. The power of encounter the living God, Jesus Christ, one time will leave you satisfied for the rest of your life. Even in the gospel stories we see this. The woman at the well. The man at the pool. The blind beggar. They didn’t have to come back time and time again to see “what was next” with Christ, that one moment was enough. It’s just a matter of do we remind ourselves of it or are we replacing the memory?

Simeon’s other words is a stark reminder to us today. When many people want to water down Jesus as this loving smiling just friendly guy, Simeon’s prophecy sets the tone for the rest of the story. Jesus is black and white, not gray. You are either in with Christ, or your out with Christ. Vs. 34- Behold this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel.

The truth is that what does Christ bring? Christ brings peace from heaven but pain from Earth. As Simeon says these words to Mary, it says that a sword will pierce through your own soul. What does that mean?

Sitz Im Leben-In theology their is this phrase called Sitz Im Leben. The setting in life of the book of the bible. Not just about the narrative that happend, but what was happening when that story was written. Luke sat with mary to gather his notes to write this account. Can you imagine Mary explaining this to Luke. Mary will bear the pain from the world. Mary will see her baby boy, this little child in the hands of Simeon one day brutally murdered before her eyes. These words that Mary speaks to Luke gave her more clarity after the fact from Simeons prophecy. She carried these words with her all the way to when Christ himself was pierced in his side. I can only think that in the distraught of that moment, Mary herself felt her soul pierced.

For all the joy that Christmas brings and it does, Simeon helps to remind us that Jesus is a controversial figure. He doesn’t do compromises. Jesus doesn’t tolerate dual lordship. You are either for him or against him.

Jesus Christ calls us, like Simeon and Annas to be commited to him no matter the length or cost. No matter the weighted words, God calls us to follow Him.

GOVERNING THEOLOGICAL THEME

One small encounter with Christ, leaves a large change in life.

LOOK

BE- Committed Vs. 25 & 36

Simeon’s story reminds us that time is irrelevant. It doesn’t matter at what age Simeon was given this prophecy, he stayed trued to following God’s word.

When you become committed it stops being trendy, flashy, and attention seeking. It’s a habit, a way of life. Your entire identity starts to become that which you are committed to. It’s not flashy or eye appealing. Its the mundane boring daily ritual of life, but its full of peace. We have a hard time sitting in silience and solititude anymore. Theirs this oddity that someway somehow having nothing grabing our attention seems wrong. That we need to fill it with something. I thin Simeon’s short burst onto this story reminds us he didn’t get to that point by following God’s word when it felt good. He followed God and made his daily life about the Lord.

Maybe its time this year, to spend time sticking to Christ not only when you need him.

KNOW- God is black and white, but is for all. Vs. 31-32 & 34.

God doesn’t hold back. Either get with him or get out. That seems harsh but at the same time, if someone is in a relationship with someone else and they begin seeing another person, wouldn’t we see that as being wrong? How can we say we like or follow Jesus when we don’t? This passage reminds us of the hope of God’s salvation, but also that this isn’t something to take lightly. Simeon’s words fills us with hope for God’s salvation, but also reminds us of our own choice when it comes to Jesus Christ.

DO- Sing a new Song Vs. 29-32

Simeon’s words in Church history is called Nunc Dimittis. Meaning the first phrase of this prophecy he gives. In church tradition they wrote Hymns based off Simeon’s words.

Encountering Christ changes you. Just ask zakceaus about that. He gave his wealth away. The woman at the well ran and told people all about Christ in town. Paul sold everything he had to follow Jesus. The twelve disciples gave up their lives for him.

He brings hope, joy, peace, and love and it ought to have us celebrating. Singing praising God to know light of revelation to us is now here.

Now I’m not going to dance, as that would be a sight you would not want to see. I’m not much of a singer as well. But I love to play drums and guitar. I can just play and beat out a rhythm and I have so much joy. I think what this passage tells us is to not keep it internal as much as external.

Simeon could have kept all this to himself but when you encounter Christ you can’t help but exclaim it. My hope for you all today is that what joy Christ has brought in your life, to shout it out in how God made you to exclaim joy. Not just personally but in our every day work.

TOOK-

SO, WHAT-

Encountering Christ will change our lives. Either for good or for bad. Either to be with him or against him.

THEREFORE-

Stay commited to Christ because he is our joy and song.