My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation
Luke 2:21-40
Key verses 30-31
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
Read verses 21 - 24. What happens to the child on the eighth day? (21; Lev 12:2-3) What else do Joseph and Mary do for him? (22-24; Lev 12:4-8; Exodus 13:2, 12) What do you think about the way that Mary and Joseph followed Moses’ law?
Read verses 25 - 32. Who was Simeon and what had happened to him? (25-26) How was he led to meet the child Jesus? (27) How did Simeon praise God? (28-32) What do you think we can learn from Simeon and what he says when he is praising God?
Read verses 33 - 35. What happens when Mary and Joseph hear what Simeon says? (33) What does Simeon do to them? (34a) What does Simon say about the child to Mary? (34b, 35) How might Mary’s life become difficult in the future?
Read verses 36 - 40. Who is Anna? (36, 37a) What had she been doing in the temple for a long time? (37b) What inspiration can you find from Anna’s life? What does she say about the child to Joseph and Mary? (38) When do Joseph and Mary return to Galilee? (39) What happens to the child as he grows? (40)
Attachment:
LA UBF Bible Study Materials
Copyright © 2024 LA UBF. All Rights Reserved.
My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation
Luke 2:21-40
Key verse 30, 31
“For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:”
Introduction)
People are prone to complain about unfavorable situations. But today’s passage shows victorious people such as Jesus’ parents, Simeon, and Anna. May the Lord help us to be more than conquerors. May the Lord help us to make a personal decision to live by faith to the end of our lives.
1. Read verses 21 - 24. What happens to the child on the eighth day? (21; Lev 12:2-3) What else do Joseph and Mary do for him? (22-24; Lev 12:4-8; Exodus 13:2, 12) What do you think about the way that Mary and Joseph followed Moses’ law?
1.1 Read verses 21 - 24.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. 22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[a]), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
1.2 What happens to the child on the eighth day? (21; Lev 12:2-3)
Leviticus 12:2-3 ““Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. 3 On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised.”
A woman who gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for 7 days.
Mary may have suffered by baby blues due to the first delivery.
Just a few days after giving birth, mom may feel moody, weepy and irritable. This is called the baby blues. It’s probably the last thing you expected to feel after the joy and elation of having your baby.
The baby blues are so common that they are considered to be normal. As many as eight in 10 mums experience some changes in their mood after giving birth. It is due to increased level of adrenalin.
You may feel:
worried about your baby’s health, even though he’s fine
anxious
unable to concentrate
tired, yet unable to sleep
tearful, without knowing why
You’ll probably feel your worst between the third day and fifth day after your baby is born.
God is mindful of mom’s natural hormonal change.
Circumcision: Genesis 17 shows how it came out.
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. 2 Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”
9 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. 13 Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
23 On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, 25 and his son Ishmael was thirteen; 26 Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised on that very day. 27 And every male in Abraham’s household, including those born in his household or bought from a foreigner, was circumcised with him.
The purpose of circumcision is to deny our desire to live as Abram/Sarai and to accept God’s will and live as Abraham and Sarah(a father and a mother of all nations).
Each person craves to enjoy the life of an ordinary man with petty desires. But God wants us to be his chosen people with God’s promises and covenant.
Abraham needed to consecrate himself to be a covenant member of God’s family.
We must have a circumcision of our hearts if we want to be covenant members in God’s family.
Romans 2:28-29 read,
28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
Romans 12:1-2 also read,
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
**he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
It must have been hard for Joseph and Mary to name him Jesus like the case of Zechariah and Elizabeth.
However they obeyed and named him Jesus instead of Joseph Jr.
So from the beginning, they overcame their human situation and obeyed God’s command in terms of naming him Jesus.
1.3 What else do Joseph and Mary do for him? (22-24; Lev 12:4-8; Exodus 13:2, 12)
Lev 12:4-8: 4Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. 5 If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding. 6 “‘When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. 7 He shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood. “‘These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. 8 But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”
Exodus 13:2, 12 “Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.” 12 you are to give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord.”
if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering.
Jesus was born into a poor family although He is the Son of heavenly Father.
In 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”
God had sent his one and only Son in the likeness of sinful flesh like his brothers.
It was a great humiliation. Jesus took upon himself the impurity of his people in order to save them from their guilt and sin.
Hebrew 2:17 reads, “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. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
1.4 What do you think about the way that Mary and Joseph followed Moses’ law?
Behind these holy ceremonies and regulations is a confession of faith by the parents that their children are not their own, but the children of God.
Likewise we as parents must present our children to God to be His own possession and covenant members of God’s family.
We are praying for this nation to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
2. Read verses 25 - 32. Who was Simeon and what had happened to him? (25-26) How was he led to meet the child Jesus? (27) How did Simeon praise God? (28-32) What do you think we can learn from Simeon and what he says when he is praising God?
2.1 Read verses 25 - 32.
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
2.2 Who was Simeon and what had happened to him? (25-26)
Simeon kept his faith before God.
He was righteous and devout. In that dark time, people were fearful and struggled hard to survive with no meaning.
He was not stood out from the people. He was an ordinary old man. But he was very special man before God.
He had God’s hope in his heart. He had a personal relationship with God.
He is a sincere layman moved by the Holy Spirit.
He was waiting for the consolidation of Israel.
He never gave up God’s hope upon the people. Never giving up spirit is very important in serving God. By faith he kept his prayer topic for the Messiah to come to the end of his lifetime.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah.
God is with those who pray and works in them with the Holy Spirit.
2.3 How was he led to meet the child Jesus? (27)
The Holy Spirit personally led him to meet the child Jesus.
2.4 How did Simeon praise God? (28-32)
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
2.5 What do you think we can learn from Simeon and what he says when he is praising God?
you may now dismiss your servant in peace
Simeon is relieved from his duty to wait for the Messiah.
He mentions about God’s salvation, which God prepared in the sight of all nations.
A light for revelation to the Gentiles
God chose Israel to be the light for the Gentiles.
Isaiah 49:6,
he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
One thing we can learn from Simeon’s spiritual song is about his perspective.
He was a mediocre citizen of small nation under the rule of Roman Empire.
Like other people, he could have despaired and complained about the dark situation.
But he had spiritual insight to see through what God is doing to redeem mankind.
He knew where he was standing at from God’s history.
He saw God’s people from God’s point of view.
Rather than being fatalistic or sorrowful, he praised the Lord.
It reminds us of Daniel 12: 7,
“The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”
May the Lord raise up many righteous and devout men and women in this generation like Simeon.
and the glory of his people Israel
God’s people Israel were chosen and privileged for the glory of God.
Although the Israelites wandered from one place to another, they depended on God and put their hope in the Lord. They were blessed to see Jesus born among them according to the promise given to David.
3. Read verses 33 - 35. What happens when Mary and Joseph hear what Simeon says? (33) What does Simeon do to them? (34a) What does Simeon say about the child to Mary? (34b, 35) How might Mary’s life become difficult in the future?
3.1 Read verses 33 - 35.
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, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
3.2 What happens when Mary and Joseph hear what Simeon says? (33)
The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
3.3 What does Simeon do to them? (34a)
Then Simeon blessed them
3.4 What does Simeon say about the child to Mary? (34b, 35)
“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.”
This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel.
Jesus is the rock of salvation!
The destiny of all men hinges upon how they see Jesus.
3.5 How might Mary’s life become difficult in the future?
Jesus’ life of mission would be the cause of his mother’s pain. Especially his death on the cross would be like a sword piercing her very soul.
4. Read verses 36 - 40. Who is Anna? (36, 37a) What had she been doing in the temple for a long time? (37b) What inspiration can you find from Anna’s life? What does she say about the child to Joseph and Mary? (38) When do Joseph and Mary return to Galilee? (39) What happens to the child as he grows? (40)
4.1 Read verses 36 - 40.
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
4.2 Who is Anna? (36, 37a)
It could have completed Luke’s writing at the story of an old man named Simeon. But Luke further illuminated an old woman named Anna.
Considering her life story, she could have been fallen into statistics in terms of her sorrowful life story.
Amazingly enough, she had lived a devout life before about 6 decades.
It reminds us of our daily bread from Joel 3:2, 14,
“I will gather all nations
and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
There I will put them on trial
for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel,
because they scattered my people among the nations
and divided up my land.”
“Multitudes, multitudes
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
in the valley of decision.”
The valley of Jehoshaphat indicates of the day of judgement (Jehoshaphat means “the Lord judges”).
However it is God who does not decide our destiny but man who decide to live for Jesus right now.
Anna must have made a decision at some point of time after becoming a widow to live for the glory of God.
When she had such a serious decision, she lived a victorious life before God.
4.3 What had she been doing in the temple for a long time? (37b)
She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
4.4 What inspiration can you find from Anna’s life? What does she say about the child to Joseph and Mary? (38)
Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Although it is the momentum of meeting the child Jesus, she valued it highly in that her personal decision of faith to live for Jesus turned out to be the right thing she had ever done.
She gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Israel.
She shared the news with others in the temple about Jesus.
May the Lord help us to overcome ourselves and pray for the redemptive work by faith.
4.5 When do Joseph and Mary return to Galilee? (39)
When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
4.6 What happens to the child as he grows? (40)
40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
In conclusion:
Through this passage we could learn how to present our precious children to our living God. Also we learned how to live victorious lives through two old people. No matter how dark our generation might be, it is possible with God to live by faith to the end. Help us to live in accordance with the living words of God like obedient parents of the child Jesus. Amen.
On word: For my eyes have seen your salvation!
Attachment:
LA UBF Bible Study Materials
Copyright © 2024 LA UBF. All Rights Reserved.
MY EYES HAVE SEEN YOUR SALVATION
Luke 2:21-38
Key Verse 2:30
For my eyes have seen your salvation.
Today’s passage teaches us how we can personally experience God’s work of salvation and then actually participate in God’s work of salvation for many.
First, they circumcised Jesus.
The circumcision Jesus received tells us that God sent Jesus to fulfill the promise to send the Savior, so that people would be saved by faith in the Savior who in turn will save people through God’s power, not man’s power.
Many people go to church services, study the Bible, listen to sermons, and yet are not sure of their own salvation. One of the reasons for their lack of the assurance of salvation is their ignorance of the power of God. They do not know God’s power. Relying on their own power and strength for their salvation they end up not experiencing God’s power, and therefore not knowing God’s power, thereby remaining unsure of their salvation.
God made men so well that men are capable of doing many things. But as far as the saving of one’s soul is concerned, man is not capable of doing it. God’s salvation is based on God’s power.
Had we been capable of saving ourselves, the Savior would not have been necessary. But the Lord God, knowing our total incapacity, promised to send his one and only Son Jesus as the Savior of the world.
But not all people take God’s promise seriously. However, the Lord God meant business. In order to make certain that people would believe in the Savior to come, the Lord God came up with a very interesting program called circumcision at the beginning of the history of the Israelites with a man named Abraham.
“On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.” The origin of circumcision as in verse 21 goes all the way back to the day of Abraham in Genesis. (Genesis 17:7,11-12; Romans 4:13-17) At that time God commanded Abraham and his descendants to do this (circumcision) to make certain that all believers (after Abraham’s example) would live by faith in God’s promise to send the Savior to come, who will in turn save people through God’s power (as exemplified in the way God granted a son to Abraham and Sarah even after passing the age of procreation). Surely, God’s salvation is based on God’s power, not man’s power.
Second, they presented Jesus to the Lord.
In verses 22-24, Jesus’ parents presented him to the Lord when he was forty days old. (cf. Lev 12:3-8) The consecration of Jesus at the Lord’s temple is symbolic of the message that God saves man in order that man may serve God’s purpose, not man’s purpose.
The Bible consistently teaches us that God saves man to enable man to serve God’s purpose, not man’s purpose. And God’s purpose is to enable man to serve God without fear. God set the purpose of salvation to be for God’s purpose, not for God’s own interest, but for man’s best interest in mind. God is good. In fact, he is the only one who is good all the time. The only reason he created the universe and everything in it, and the only motive he created man to be the crown of creation, is to bestow upon man all that are good. And of all that are good, God is the best good. So in order for God to be able to bestow upon man only that which is good and perfect the Lord God has to set the purpose of salvation to be for God’s purpose, not for man’s purpose, and God set his purpose of salvation to be that way in order to secure that man’s interests would be served in the best way possible. So God’s salvation is for God’s purpose, not man’s.
But not all who experience the mighty act of God’s salvation understand this purpose and live up to this purpose. Like all that are good, as man fails to live up to this purpose of salvation, man ends up abusing such a good grace as salvation. God gave us many good gifts. For example, time is good. This gift is good and perfect. But one abuses it if one uses it for a wrong purpose such as “killing” time for unfruitful purposes. We are not supposed to “kill time.” Rather, we are supposed to capitalize on it, just as Jesus said, “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4). Like time, salvation is a great gift from God, a gift which is totally good and perfect, and yet one can end up abusing it.
God knows that we so easily become unthankful for the grace of salvation and are therefore prone to abuse it. In order to train the chosen people not to abuse the grace of salvation, the Lord God built in the history of Israel a command to dedicate to the Lord the firstborn male. (cf. Exodus 13:14-16) Look at verses 22-24. “When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons.’”
In verses 22-24, Jesus’ parents consecrated him to the Lord along with the offerings prescribed by the Law of Moses. Unlike modern societies where much of the female population works as bread earners, in those days it was the male population that earned the bread. And it was not easy for a family to dedicate the firstborn male to let him serve God first, rather than family businesses. So it was not easy for any parent to obey this command. Yet, God asked them to do this to teach them that: 1) man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God; and 2) Jesus is the true bread of life who came to deliver all sinners from the grip of the power of sin and Satan as symbolized by Pharaoh in Egypt.
So here is another question for you: If you are not sure of your salvation, (although Jesus saved you because at one point of time or another, you confessed that you are a rotten sinner, but that Jesus saved you), ask yourself, “What do I do with this salvation?” And, “Who do I live for, for me or for the Savior?”
Third, a man called Simeon
To be saved is one thing, to be used by God is another. Among those who are saved by God, some are used in a major way, some in a minor way. In verses 25-35, at one of the critical moments of Jesus’ life here on earth, the Lord God established a man named Simeon and used him to teach humanity the work of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ in a special way. At that moment, Jesus was only 40 days old. Jesus was to begin his public ministry only about thirty years thereafter. Yet, the Lord God used Simeon to teach all peoples on earth (including Jesus’ parents) the full impact of the work of salvation to be fulfilled through His son.
Three weeks ago I visited Chicago to attend a meeting. One of the attendants at the meeting was Dr. Jim Rabchuck, a physics professor. Each time I meet a man who looks like he has achieved something and carries an impressive title like Ph.D, I feel the itch to dig into his area of expertise and get some insight out of him. So I asked him, “What area of physics did you major in?” He said, “Computational physics.” Wow! Computational physics! That sounded interesting. So I asked him a lot of questions about computational physics. Because it was his specialty area, he felt honored. And so with great excitement he shared with me many interesting things about it. We also talked about Dr. Daniel Hong who majored in theoretical physics, and Albert Einstein one of the great physicists. Although the conversation was brief, one thing I learned more deeply than ever is that the world of physics is really deep. And laymen cannot understand the depth of knowledge that is true of the world of physics. Only a trained person with academic disciplines can understand the deep things of the world of physics.
As I studied about the man Simeon, it dawned on me that the same is true in regard to the truths of the spiritual world. Not all who are intellectual can fully fathom into the depths and heights of all the truths that are true of the spiritual world. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 2:14, the Apostle Paul says, “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” In addition, other Bible passages indicate that not all who have God’s Spirit in him can fully understand all that are true of God. And of all those who are “spiritually” discerning, the level of their understanding is different from person to person: some are on an elementary level, some on a graduate student level, some on a Ph.D. level, and still some on a super-PhD level. And I would say that the man named Simeon belongs to the super PhD level.
How then was he able to discern all the deep things of God? Look at verses 25-29. “Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.’” This passage tells us that he had the deep joy of salvation. How did he receive this joy? The passage tells us that he did receive the joy by: 1) maintaining a right relationship with the Lord; 2) fully devoting himself to the Lord daily; 3) looking to God (not to men or money) for salvation; and 4) living in close fellowship with the Holy Spirit. [Note: consolation of Israel refers to God’s promise to send the Savior to Israel at God’s right time as it is repeatedly described in the Scriptures such as Isaiah 52.]
Simeon’s good example inspires us. When we devote ourselves to our relationship with Jesus Christ with an undivided heart, look to His help for salvation, seeking that we would be filled with His Spirit, then, we too can rise to the level of Simeon and be used by God in a major way. But this is more easily said than done, for in our own generation there are so many attractive distractions that lead men away from the fellowship with the Lord, misleading men to the ways of destruction.
So that the Lord would help us to be wise enough to ward ourselves against the wickedness of this generation, keep a close relationship with: 1) the Lord (in our personal, daily devotion to the Lord); 2) with fellow believers in the Lord; and 3) the people of this world, looking for the opportunity to teach them the Bible for their salvation.
Fourth, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel
Practically then what is salvation? How does it come about? And what will it do for men? These are huge questions deserving years of discussion. Tons of sermon, messages, articles, and books have been written on the subjects posed by these questions. But when you see a man trying to explain these subjects in a rather complex way, you can rest assured that that person does not know the subjects well; he is yet to master the subjects involved. See how Albert Einstein reduced the theory of special relativity in a less than one inch equation: E=MC2 .
So is the case with Simeon. Through the movement of the Holy Spirit, according to perfect timing, he had a divine appointment with the Savior of the world at the Lord’s temple. Then he expressed God’s revelation about God’s salvation through Jesus in simple terms:
“[M]y eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” In my opinion this passage answers all the questions about the definition of salvation, the way it comes, and the fruit to bear in a man.
First of all, salvation is all about Jesus Christ. “My eyes have seen your salvation.” Jesus Christ himself, the tiny baby in Simeon’s arms, represents the sum total of God’s salvation. The Lord God wrote in Jesus all the messages (or truths) we need to know about God’s salvation. In a rather coarse way, it can be said that Jesus represents all the truths we need to know for salvation in two ways: first, Jesus came to open the way of salvation, that is, through himself dying on the cross to take away our sins (which work as the stumbling block in our relationship with God) and rising from the dead and going back to the Father, so he could work as the high priest praying for us all who believe in Him, and second Jesus came to set an example of the life that loves the Lord God and serves Him and one’s neighbors.
How then does the salvation come? How is it that a man is saved through Jesus Christ? The expression, “a light for revelation to the Gentiles,” answers the question. [Note: here “the Gentiles” is an idiom for unbelievers; whereas “Israel” refers to those who put trust in God.] God saves man through the light shining in and through the life of Jesus – Jesus’ words and actions. Light must be illuminated in each person’s eyes, not just his physical eyes, but his spiritual eyes. Then it must enlighten his inner person so that all the darkness built inside of him would all be replaced by His light. Speaking of this light Jesus says in John 9:5, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Then in John 12:46, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”
As one remains in Jesus, the light of the world, what will God do for him? In other words, what will be the outcome of a man being saved through the illumination of God’s light? In my opinion, the expression, “glory to your people Israel,” answers the question. Some interpret that this expression means that God is going to put the Israelites above all nations, so it would be the champion of all nations. But to me that does not make sense, because God does not discriminate one nation over any other nation, particularly among all who believe in Jesus. If you believe in Jesus, you are already a member of the body of Jesus Christ, which Jesus calls, “the Bride.” Plus, the Apostle Paul plainly declares in Romans 10:12, “[T]here is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.” He then says in Galatians 3:26-29, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Having said this, we are then told by Simeon that the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ results in the glory of God being restored in the life of every believer. Romans 3:23 says that all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But now in Jesus there will be no more falling short of the glory of God, but rather reaching the glory of God in increasing measures, so we can go from glory to glory and going on like this in infinite measures.
Fifth, a sign that will be spoken against
So far the work of God’s salvation sounds glorious. But before getting too excited about the glorious work to be fulfilled in the lives of all, there is one important point for everyone to remember: the power of evil persisting in man.
The dire truth is that the work of salvation does not come without a battle. It comes through battle after battle, and the battles are between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. And the point of the battles is the battle between good and evil, between obedience and sin. For this reason the Devil also known as Satan is called the ultimate dealer in sin. But thank God. God sent Jesus to destroy the work of the devil.
In a prophetic insight, Simeon also depicted how Jesus would fight the battle against the power of evil. Look at verses 33-35. “The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 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, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’”
This passage says that Jesus will fight the battle against the power of sin and death in two ways: First, he will expose evil as evil, sin as sin. [Sin is what evil is committed.] For example, when Jesus came to the public service, there were a bunch of people who looked righteous. But Jesus did not compromise with them. In American terms, he was not interested in being politically correct. Without fearing men, he boldly and bravely exposed the sins of the people, especially the sins of the religious leaders. Speaking of the same truth, Jesus says in John 7:7, “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.” Some people had problems accepting Jesus’ rebuke. So they rallied to speak against Jesus, only to result in their ultimate downfall. Second, Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again for our justification. Jesus is different from legalists. Jesus is both truthful and graceful. In his truthfulness he pointed out that people should repent and turn to God. In his gracefulness, he gave his life as a ransom sacrifice for the sins of the world. Speaking of this work of salvation through his self sacrifice, Simeon said, “A sword will pierce your own soul too.” Here “too” implies the soul of Jesus, the agony Jesus had to go through for my sins and for your sins! It has been said that the cross of Jesus is God’s best argument against a sinful lifestyle. Thank God who sent Jesus to put an end to the life of sin and death.
Sixth, the redemption of Jerusalem
The way the Lord God is going to fulfill the ultimate purpose of His salvation, that is, restoring God’s glory in man, is through His dwelling inside of each believer.
In verses 36-38, through a prophetess named Anna, the Lord God revealed this truth to us. Let us read this passage responsively. Here, the expression, “redemption of Jerusalem,” deserves special attention. Here the word “Jerusalem” denotes the chosen people in general. By “the redemption,” Anna is referring to the Lord God returning to Jerusalem, that is, in the hearts of all who believe in Him. God expresses the desire to dwell in each person’s heart in close fellowship with each of his children in virtually all chapters of the entire Bible. And God chose to fulfill this purpose by sending His one and only Son Jesus. Anna saw the fulfillment of this vision and shared it with many.
One word: My eyes have seen your salvation
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