The Nunc Dimittis

Hebrews 2:14–17 NIV (Anglicised, 2011)

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

This reading sharpens our understanding of why the birth of Jesus was received which such joy. The incarnation of God the Son answers and solves our ultimate fear: death. We prefer not to talk about death, even though we think about it often. It surrounds us everywhere. But that’s all just news until it comes knocking on our door.

But in our passage we meet a man, Simeon, who is ready to die. Notice how he speaks of his death: “you may now dismiss your servant in peace.” Luther writes:

Luke: New Testament, Volume 3 (2:28–32. Simeon’s Song: The Nunc Dimittis)

He doesn’t even say “death,” but “let [me] depart.” He calls it a gentle departure. How can I learn to see death as a sweet sleep, when it is usually so terrifying?

That is the question I’d like to answer from the Bible. And here is the short answer: it is the privilege of those who embrace Jesus as their salvation.

Do you know Jesus as God’s salvation?

Simeon’s hope for God’s consolation for Israel, v25

“the consolation of Israel”: freedom from Exile, cf. Isaiah 40:1-2

Isaiah 40:1–2 NIV (Anglicised, 2011)

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

They went to exile to do “hard service” because of their sins. God promised that it would end one day, and Isaiah prophesies of this future event (from his perspective) in a past sense: “her hard service has been completed … she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” Isaiah speaks about the future in this way because it’s as good as done.

“It is finished.” — you see, they did come out of Babylon, their exile ended; except that this was something Simeon is clearly looking forward to still. He was still “waiting for the consolation of Israel”—and not just because they were now under Roman rule. He learned the lesson: the problem was sin, and until that is dealt with, history will just keep repeating itself.

Their experience is the human experience: we are cast out of God’s presence because of our sins, Genesis 3:23

Genesis 3:23 NIV (Anglicised, 2011)

So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.

The Garden of Eden is where all God’s goodness can be experienced. Adam and Eve were banished — yes: because of their sin. But they also had a promise that this was not going to be forever; they were waiting for a Deliverer, Who would deal with their sin. They, too, were waiting for the consolation. For the Messiah.

Simeon’s hope to see the Messiah, Who would bring this consolation, v26

God’s promise assured Simeon that the promised deliverer would come during his lifetime.

If you are listening to this today, you, in a sense, are also in Simeon’s shoes. And it is because of the following verses:

The Holy Spirit revealed to him that Jesus is the Messiah, v27-30

The Spirit, Who gave him the promise, moves him to go “into the temple courts.” Why? Because Jesus was there, as his parents brought Him there in obedience to God’s law (cf. v22-24). And so the Spirit organised things so that Jesus and Simeon were both where they were supposed to be.

If I may apply this to you: you are here, and Jesus is here. He is “the Word”, as we read in John 1:1-5, 14, and so when you hear Him preached, He is being presented to you. It is not His parents, but this weak man here, preaching to you, who presents to you Jesus, and so hear it on the authority of God’s Word: this One is the Messiah. Can you see Him?

It depends largely on whether you see with Simeon’s eyes, v29, 30

“Sovereign Lord”—God above all, ruler of all. Adam wanted to be like God, and became a sinner. Simeon knows the folly of that sinful desire, and acknowledges God to be God—and receives forgiveness. He knows He lives by God’s grace.

“For my eyes have seen your salvation”—Jesus. “We have seen his glory” (John 1:14) This is God’s glory

Exodus 33:19–20 (NIV (Anglicised, 2011))

And the Lord said, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

To forgive is truly divine—only God can forgive sin, and it is His glory to be able to do so. In Jesus, God does precisely that. He came to die for the sins of all who turn to God through Him—there is a hint of that in Luke 1:35: “And a sword will pierce your own soul, too.” Simeon saw this, by the Holy Spirit’s revelation, and so he said:

“you may now dismiss your servant in peace”: he is ready to die; and death is now no longer a bitter enemy to him, but a “gentle departure”, as Luther said.

Have you embraced Him as your Saviour?

Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God, v28. To the naked eye, this was just him picking up a baby. But we know now that more than that is going on. This is an embrace of faith. Notice he also praises God—for He has shown Simeon the Saviour. The One Who would release him from his sin, and transforms even death to “a gentle departure.”

All who know Jesus know what this is. To us, He is not just a historical figure, a good man, the fixture of the nativity story. He is “the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) In Him, death itself is swallowed up in victory, for it becomes liberation from decay, and entrance into the presence of God.

Origen writes:

New Testament III: Luke (Simeon Sees in Jesus Release from Bondage)

Anyone who departs from this world, anyone who is released from prison and the house of those in chains, to go forth and reign, should take Jesus in his hands. He should enfold him with his arms and fully grasp him in his bosom.

Better, still, Paul writes, and on this we finish:

Romans 10:9–11 NIV (Anglicised, 2011)

if you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’