“Simeon – The One Who Celebrated Jesus”

Series: The Characters of Christmas [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

January 2, 2022

Introductory Comments:

Here we are at the end of our Christmas series called, “The Characters of Christmas.” We are a few days past Christmas but we took a one week break last week. Today, we’re going to pick it back up and conclude with the story of a less famous character of Christmas. 

We will pick up our study, once again, in Luke 2.  

Before we go any further, let’s pray together. 

(prayer)

Have you ever had to wait a long time for something? Perhaps you have to wait for a long time for a new movie to be released. I was always excited about the next Lord of the Rings movie. Perhaps you’re like Pastor Dirck and Pastor Richard and you’re waiting for the 45th Marvel movie to be released. Maybe you were waiting on getting your driver’s license, becoming an adult, getting married, retiring, or starting church services back in person.

Oftentimes, when you wait on something for a long time, when you finally receive that something or do that something, it leads to celebration! That was the case with the character we are studying today.

Today, we are learning about “Simeon: The One Who Celebrated Jesus.”[on screen]

So as we look at Simeon, let’s first look at . . .

I. The Life of Simeon. [on screen]

There’s not a lot that we know about Simeon, but we do know that he was in Jerusalem around the time that Jesus was a child; perhaps he lived in Jerusalem full-time. 

From what we can gather, we know that he was a faithful man who looked forward to the consolation of Israel. 

When we read “consolation” it means the comfort of Israel or the care-taking of Israel. Simeon was looking forward to God taking care of and comforting the people of Israel. 

The people believed that God’s comfort and blessing to His people would come beautifully and powerfully through the coming of Messiah. 

So, as with other faithful Israelites, Simeon believed that Messiah would come and he looked forward to that moment. 

We also know that Simeon was a devout man and a righteous man. 

Look at Luke 2:25 – There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation . . .

So, Simeon was not perfect, but he was a good man who was devoted to God, and he was a faithful Jewish man who looked forward to the day that God would rescue and bless Israel. 

Well, that’s a little bit about who Simeon was. Now, let’s learn about . . . 

II. The Legacy of Simeon. [on screen]

In order to learn more about Simeon’s legacy, let’s look at the passage as a whole. 

Look at Luke 2:25-35:

25 There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said,

29 Now, Master,you can dismiss your servant in peace,as you promised.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation.

31 You have prepared itin the presence of all peoples—

32 a light for revelation to the Gentilesand glory to your people Israel.

33 His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary, “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

As we speak about the legacy of Simeon, I want to start by pointing out how much the Spirit of God was at work in the life of Simeon.

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