Bale 03-02-02
Candlemas Lk: 2:22-40
The perseverance of Simeon
Story: On 12th February 1809 a baby boy was born in a one-room log cabin with a dirt floor on a farm in Kentucky.
He grew up to be a man of rugged determination. And although he had less than a year of formal education, he succeeded in becoming a lawyer.
However he REALLY wanted to MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the world and so entered politics.
He believed that if he was going to have the maximum impact, he would have to become president of the United States.
However, he tried and he tried – and he failed and he failed.
In fact, his list of failures was embarrassing:
YEAR FAILURES or SETBACKS
1832 Lost job and was defeated for state legislature
1833 Failed in business
1835 His fiancée died
1836 Had nervous breakdown
1838 Defeated for the position of Illinois House Speaker
1843 Defeated for nomination for Congress
1846 Elected to Congress but lost renomination in
1848
1849 Rejected for the position of land officer for
Illinois
1854 Defeated for U.S. Senate
1856 Defeated for nomination for Vice-President
1858 Again defeated for U.S. Senate
But in 1860 he was elected President of the United States.
You have probably guessed that I was talking about - Abraham Lincoln, the greatest of all American Presidents.
His persistence paid off. I’d have given up long ago but Lincoln persevered.
He didn’t allow setbacks to deflect him from his goal.
And so it was with Simeon in our Gospel reading this morning. He was a man of perserverence and his persistence bore fruit.
I would like to look at three things about Simeon.
First, he was a man of Persistence.
Second, he was a man of Perception and
Thirdly I’d like to look at his Prophetic message.
1. Persistence
So let us start with his persistence. Simeon was a man of perseverence.
The Gospel passage tells us that
“It had been revealed to (Simeon) by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (v.26).
It would have been easy for Simeon to GIVE UP as time passed and nothing seemed to happen.
But for Simeon God had spoken - and he believed God, even though the fulfillment was a long time coming. That is why he was able to respond when the Holy Spirit prompted him to go into the Temple.
Story: Persistence is something that is alien to our
modern culture. We live in a fast moving society.
We want everything to happen instantly – something that has been called the McDonald- isation of society.
If it doesn’t happen instantly – we give up.
But I think Keith Green’s comment goes to the nub when he said “Just because I go to Mc.Donalds - doesn’t make me a hamburger.”
We don’t have to “to go with the flow”. We can decide to be different
Endurance and perseverence are still important godly attributes for the Christian today.
If you were to have asked Simeon what the greatest day of his life was – I’m sure he would have said that it was when he saw the Messiah of Israel, the baby Jesus. It was worth the wait.
2. Perception
The second thing I noticed about Simeon was his perception.
He recognised God’s answer to his prayers-and so recognised the Messiah.
We read that Simeon was described as a “devout and righteous man” (Lk2:25). In other words, he was a man close to God.
And his perception, I believe came from being attune to the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was brought into the Temple,Simeon wasn’t there. However, Luke tells us that “moved by the Spirit, he went into the Temple Courts” (Lk. 2:27)
His life style when hand in hand with God’s communication with him.
I think the key to Godly perception comes firstly from the way we live – Simeon was ” a devout and righteous” man and secondly from being close to the Holy Spirit.
Prayer is simply being in tune with the Spirit and the Bible has been given to us to reveal, amongst other things how we should live.
And as Simeon was holding Jesus in his arms, he perceived that Jesus was the Messiah - for whom he had been waiting . He expressed this in the words of the Nunc Dimittis.
We heard it read in the Gospel reading this morning in a modern form. And we will be singing Timothy Dudley Smith, the former Bishop of Thetford’s poetic paraphrase at the end of the service.(see hymn below)
However, I’d like to read to you in its more familiar form - from the Book of Common Prayer
Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace; according to thy word
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel. (Luke 2:29-32)
If we want to have a Perception similar to that of Simeon, we need to be close to God. That means communicating with Him.
We do this in prayer and Bible Study, which should have the result that we live a godly lifestyle.
3. The Prophetic message
The thrid thing I noticed about Simeon was his prophetic message.
3.1. Messiah
Simeon recognised Jesus as the Messiah, but he also received a special prophetic word about the role of the Messiah too. A role that ran contary to Jewish preconceptions.
The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that Jesus was a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.
That the Gentiles would get something from the Messiah would have been shocking to Simeon and those around him. If the Gentiles hadn’t been included – we wouldn’t be here today.
The reason that the Jews would have been shocked was that they considered the Gentiles outside the pail. Indeed they referred to them as “Gentile dogs”
The Jews in the first century AD were expecting an ALL CONQUERING Messiah to come.
One who would set THEM free and boot the hated Romans out. He was THEIR MESSIAH and no one else was worthy of him
That salvation was available to the Gentiles as well as the Jews required a mega change in Jewish mindset.
But then prophecy – the revelation of God - often requires a change of our preconceptions.
3.2. Stumbling Block
And Simeon prophesied how difficult this was going to be for many in Israel to change their mindset. He told them that the Messiah would be a stumbling block to many Jews. As Simeon put it:
“This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. (Lk 2.35)
Far from being a quick-fix -all conquering hero-Messiah that the Jews wanted, the Messiah was destined to be a stumbling block for many in Israel, who would reject his divine claims.
3.3 The Cross
And Simeon ends his prophecy with a word to Mary his mother
And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Luke 2:26)
And here in Simeon’s prophetic words we get our second glimpse of the Cross which was to follow -the Magis’ gift of Myrrh being the first.
Jesus’ death on the cross would pierce Mary’s mother-heart as she watched Jesus suffering as he died in agony for our sin.
And it is this glimpse of the Cross that brings us the focus of our service today.
Candlemas is the turning point from Christmas to Easter. A time when we leave the joy of remembering Jesus’ birth and prepare ourselves for the Cross through Lent.
4. Conclusion
And so in conclusion, we have looked at three things about Simeon today.
1. His perseverence,
2. His perception and
3. His prophetic message.
The Perseverence of Simeon is a challenge to me to listen and believe God’s word, even if it seems that God is taking an inordinately long time in producing the goods.
The Perception of Simeon is a challenge for me to come close to God in regular prayer and Bible Studywhich should result Godly living and
The Prophetic Message of Simeon is a challenge for me to be open to change my preconceptions in response to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Hymn 453 Hymns Ancient and Modern New Standard
Timothy Dudley-Smith b. 1926
Luke 2:29-32 (N.E.B)
453 (MHT 120) Timothy Dudley-Smith (b. 1926)
Luke 2:29-32
1
Faithful vigil ended
watching waiting cease
Master grant thy servant
his discharge of peace
2
All thy Spirit promised
all the Father willed
now these eyes behold it
perfectly fulfilled
3
This thy great deliverance
sets thy people free
Christ their light uplifted
all the nations see
4
Christ thy people’s glory
watching, doubting cease
grant to us thy servants
our discharge in peace
