Johann Quisumbing

What Simeon Saw

Forty days after Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. They did that in accordance to the Law of the Lord, “EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD”. (Luke 2:23)

Luke 2:25-33
And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, and the glory of Your people Israel.”

And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.

Why were they amazed?

• It was not so much that Simeon foretold new things respecting the Child Jesus that they marveled; their surprise was rather that a stranger, evidently of position and learning, should possess so deep an insight into the lofty destinies of an unknown Infant, brought by evidently poor parents into the temple court. [Pulpit Commentary Biblehub.com]

Luke 2:34-35
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Have you ever wondered why this part of the Advent story is rarely spoken around a Christmas dinner or during the early morning openings of presents? Even in every children’s production of the Christmas Pageant, there is not even a hint of it. For if you did include it, then the subject of what Simeon saw in this child would have to come up.

What did Simeon see?

He saw this holy child grow up into a man who would be rejected.

Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

He saw this child grow up into a man (who was without sin) die for our sins.

Isaiah 53:4-6
Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.

I can understand why parents want to leave this part out? For who wants to hear that the only reason for Jesus’ birth was that he was born to be sacrificed like a slaughtered lamb on the cross?

But the TRUTH is, without the cross His birth has no meaning and no real reason to celebrate Christmas. By the way, as a reminder, Jesus did resurrect and that is even more reason to celebrate Christmas.