My eyes have seen your salvation

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. And he came in 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, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “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.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:25-35

We do not know exactly how old Simeon was but from today’s verses we can surmise that he was advanced in years. God had made Simeon a promise that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. Simeon saw the baby Jesus and that was enough for him. He did not need to see the grown Messiah. He did not need to see Jesus work miracles or speak with authority. All Simeon needed was to see a baby that God had let him kno9w was the Messiah. Simeon had faith enough to trust that God was about to fulfill a promise that had been made centuries earlier. Simeon got just a peek and that was enough for him.

Today so many want evidence piled upon evidence and still they refuse to believe. The sad thing is that we have more evidence for Jesus’ existence and who He was than ever before. In fact from a legal standpoint you could win the case for Jesus in a court of law. Yet so many refuse to believe. I believe it is because they do not want to give up their current lifestyle. So they make excuses as to the evidence wanting to put the New Testament writings in the second and third centuries rather than the first, which even the liberal biblical scholars, admit they were written.

Simeon did not have the luxury of the Gospels or Paul’s writings. He was not able to witness the words and actions of the adult Jesus. All he saw was a baby. But that baby was enough for him. He knew that God would always keep His promises. So an old man is presented a baby who he knows will be the salvation of the Jews and the salvation of all humanity. The baby was enough.

Have a blessed day,

David