“Then took he Him up in his arms and blessed God and said, ‘Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to Your Word—for my eyes have seen Your Salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people: A light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of Your People, Israel’.”
Luke 2:28-32
It matters not who you are, how old you are or what’s happened in your life; once this happens, everything else is truly the proverbial “Icing on the cake.”
Simeon, whose name means “God hears,” knew his name was well-given that day when he held the Christ-child in his hands. There’s little doubt he was on up in years, partly because of his words “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace.” Likewise, there’s no doubt He was a man of faith and fidelity: “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon—and the same man was just and devout” (Lk. 2:25a).
Yet, that information is secondary to the phrase “And the Holy Ghost was upon him” (Lk. 2:25b).
We must remember the Holy Spirit had not yet come in power on God’s People, for that would not occur until the Day of Pentecost some 33 ½ years later (Acts 2:1ff). Even so, certain individuals, like Simeon, were filled with the Holy Ghost during their service to the God of Abraham and walked with Him even as Enoch and Noah did (Lk. 1:15; Gen. 5:22, 24; 6:9).
Thus, we shouldn’t be surprised Simeon’s righteousness came from the Lord as he “waited for the consolation (Grk. ‘paraklesis’—‘solace, comfort, entreaty, etc.’) of Israel.” And, when we realize the deeper root “parakaleo” is used here and also means “to call near, invoke, invite, beseech, earnestly desire, etc.,” it’s evident the Holy Spirit gave him “the desires of his heart” that day as he “delighted himself in the Lord” (Ps. 37:4).
That’s why he knew the long-awaited Day was coming and he would soon “see the Lord’s Christ” (Lk. 2:25-26). It’s possible his Jewish Messianic eyes were expecting a grown man to enter the Temple that day with an air of confidence and a commanding presence.
But, was he in for a surprise!
Even now we can see his eyes dancing as the Holy Spirit directed them toward Mary, Joseph and the Child, saying “That’s the One!” (Lk. 2:21-24, 27). And, even now we can see his voice and hands trembling as he, a total stranger, approached them and said “Could I hold your baby for just a minute?”
There’s no doubt Mary added his “Benediction-Blessings” to her file of “righteous ruminations” that day (Lk. 2:19, 51)—for later on they’d comfort her when Simeon’s other prophecy of her “soul being pierced by a sword” (v.35) came true.
Oh, dear Pilgrim, in reality our lives are complete the moment Jesus comes into our hearts. He brings with Him pardon for our sins. . .power for our lives. . .and His Presence that gives us Hope as “an Anchor of the soul” (Heb. 6:18). Everything else is truly “icing on the cake.”
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated December 30, 2009
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