Luke 2:28-31

[Simeon] took the child in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people.”

Simeon was clearly an old man and had spent years waiting for this moment. When he saw baby Jesus, he recognised that this was the one who had been the focus of his prayers for all that time. The Messiah had finally come. Simeon had lived a good life. Luke described him as “righteous and devout” (v25), and that tells us that he had lived in the right way towards the people around him and had been committed to God. Now, as his life ebbed away, he found fulfilment in holding Jesus in his arms and bringing his praises to God.

Simeon’s prayer is known by its Latin name as the [itals]Nunc Dimittis[end itals] and is used by many churches as part of evening worship. It is also often used in funeral services, and that’s easy to understand – here was a man who came to the end of his days at peace because of the Lord. In Jesus, he knew he was seeing the Saviour of the World, and that meant everything to him.

There is no greater blessing than to know the peace that Christ gives. That is true at any moment in life, but as we slip from this world, we must all desire to know the peace that was Simeon’s experience. As a minister, I have often been with people as they have passed from this life. There is no greater privilege than to be with someone in those moments and to commit them into the hands of the Prince of Peace. I pray that you know his peace right now and will know it throughout your life until that moment when the Lord takes you to be with him.

Question

In what ways do Simeon’s words encourage and challenge you?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of your peace in this moment and throughout my life. Amen