This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
Simeon was part of the holy remnant, people still awaiting the consolation of Israel by God, promised through prophets such as Isaiah (see Isaiah 40:1-2). Most other people simply accepted the new normal of sadness, sin, and sorrow. Maybe they briefly heard about the prophetic hope of Israel but then lost touch with it due to cynicism arising from daily life. Simeon lived in the same Roman occupied world that made others cynical but he did not lose hope. Simeon believed God would really bring about a time for Israel when her warfare was ended and her iniquity was pardoned.
Simeon's good spiritual posture, his history of heeding the Holy Spirit, might have been part of the reason he was able to witness the fulfillment of that hope in the presentation of Jesus in the temple. Not to say that he had made himself worthy of the honor. More that other people were too busy and too distracted by daily life to be available. God wanted to give the blessing, at least in this case, to someone who could really appreciate it. He wanted to respond to longing with fulfillment, for Israel in general, and Simeon in particular.
Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
Simeon considered his life a success simply because he was able to see and hold in his arms the salvation prepared by God in the sight of all peoples. He said, effectively, that there was nothing else he needed, nothing more he needed to do. He could die happy having just this one thing.
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.
What Simeon saw and recognized was not something that was so obvious to others. Jesus was a light to those looking for the light. He was glory for those who hadn't squandered their hope of glory. Of course, God also had ways to reach out to those who didn't know their need for a savior. But this morning, we who know our need are encouraged to lean into our desire, to stake upon it all that we have and all that we are, as Simeon did.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.
Most people in Anna's situation might have assumed they had forgotten by God. But, by fasting and worship, Anna remained attuned to God. Most people would have assumed that their purpose was mostly in the past after living so long as a widow. But Anna's attentiveness to God allowed her to be something of a sleeper agent, waiting to be activated when God had need. She took on the role of one of the first evangelists as she tried to help other visitors to the temple understand what was the big deal that all but floored Simeon.
Just what was it that Jesus came to bring that Anna and Simeon found so worthy of hope?
that through death he might destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,
and free those who through fear of death
had been subject to slavery all their life.
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