Joy 2 The World Simeon

Simeon Was Waiting on Joy! (25-28)

Luke 2:25 NKJV

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

Look back at everyone who announces or involved in the birth of Jesus.

Elizabeth, Zacharias, Mary, Joseph, The Shepherds, Simeon, Anna

What do they have in common

Consolation of Israel?

What is The Consolation of Israel?

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: The Lord Is Come! (Luke 2)

“The consolation of Israel” means the messianic hope. One of the traditional Jewish prayers is, “May I see the consolation of Israel!” That prayer was answered for Simeon when he saw Jesus Christ in the temple.

Luke 2:26 NKJV

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.

Luke 2:27 NKJV

So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,

Luke 2:28 NKJV

he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

Simeon Obtained Joy! (29-32)

Luke 2:29 NKJV

“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word;

Luke 2:30 NKJV

For my eyes have seen Your salvation

Luke 2:31 NKJV

Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

Luke 2:32 NKJV

A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

Simeon Prophesied Joy! (33-35)

Luke 2:33 NKJV

And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.

Luke 2:34 NKJV

Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: The Lord Is Come! (Luke 2)

The stone is an important Old Testament image of God (Gen. 49:24; Pss. 18:2; 71:3; Deut. 32:31). Messiah would be a “rejected cornerstone” (Ps. 118:22; Luke 20:17–18; Acts 4:11), and the nation of Israel would stumble over Him (Isa. 8:14; Rom. 9:32). Because of Jesus Christ, many in Israel would fall in conviction and then rise in salvation. (Simeon seems to be speaking about one group, not two.) Even today, God’s people Israel stumble over the Cross (1 Cor. 1:23) and do not understand that Jesus is their Rock (1 Peter 2:1–6).

Matthew 12:22–25 NKJV

Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: The Lord Is Come! (Luke 2)

The word sign means “a miracle,” not so much as a demonstration of power but as a revelation of divine truth. Our Lord’s miracles in John’s Gospel are called “signs” because they reveal special truths about Him (John 20:30–31). Jesus Christ is God’s miracle; and yet, instead of admiring Him, the people attacked Him and spoke against Him.

Luke 2:35 NKJV

(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: The Lord Is Come! (Luke 2)

The image of the sword was for Mary alone, and it spoke of the suffering and sorrow she would bear as the mother of the Messiah. (This suggests that Joseph was dead when Jesus began His ministry thirty years later, or Joseph would have been included.) The Greek word means a large sword such as Goliath used (1 Sam. 17:51), and the verb means “constantly keep on piercing.”