"My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation"

In Luke 2:22-35 we hear about a man named Simeon who lived in Jerusalem and who was a righteous, devout, and waiting for the consolation of Israel (see Isaiah 40:1-11). Luke tells us that the Holy Spirit was upon Simeon and that he had revealed to Simeon that he would not taste death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ, his promised deliverer, the one who would fulfill all of the promises and purposes of God.

One day Simeon was seeking the Lord and enjoying his presence I’m sure, and the Spirit compelled him to go into the temple complex. This was not a random act of leadership on God’s part, rather, it was a most specific act of leadership, for when Simeon entered the grounds of the temple his eyes landed upon the proper object of the temple, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ. He was only a baby, he was so vulnerable and normal, but by the grace of God Simeon had eyes to see that he was so much more than a little baby.

Luke doesn’t tell us the timing or details of how they connected, but at some appropriate time and place Simeon approached this sacred family and took the baby up in his arms and blessed God. Surely, he knew that he was holding the Lord’s Christ, but I wonder if he knew just who Jesus is and just how great he is. I wonder if he knew that Jesus is the exact image of the invisible God. That he is the beaming radiance of the glory of God. That “by him all things were created, in heaven and in earth, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities.” That all things were created through him and for him, and that without him nothing was made that has been made.

I wonder if he knew that Jesus is before and above all things, and that in him all things hold together and march toward their appointed purpose. That he is the one who would make the once for all sacrifice for sin so that whoever believes in him will nor perish but have eternal life. I wonder if he knew that once Jesus made that sacrifice, he would rise from death and ascend to the right hand of God the Father from where he would rule the nations and intercede for his people forever.

I know that Simeon knew that holding this child was the greatest privilege of his life, but I wonder if he knew just how great a privilege it was. In his hands he held the Author of Life who would soon conquer death by embracing death and rising to life after death.

Whatever he did or did not know, Luke tells us that Simeon took this baby up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word…” Lord, you have kept your promise to me, you have led me in the way, you have let me see the Christ and now I’m prepared to embrace my day of death, for surely death will not be the end of life for me. “For my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples.”

Simeon’s words were so piercingly true, but I wonder if even he understood what they meant. He was speaking by the Spirit, and it’s possible that he didn’t understand the fullness of what the Spirit was speaking through him. He was essentially saying that his eyes had landed upon the long-promised God-man, the one who alone could bring salvation to this fallen earth. As God, Jesus is perfectly righteous and holy and just and true, and he’s rightly outraged at the sin and rebellion that fills the hearts of men and women. As man, Jesus is perfectly righteous and holy and just and true, but he can sympathize with our plight and enter into our pain and stand in our place so that we will not forever be alienated from God by our sin. Jesus is the one and only God-man, he is the one and only bridge between God and man, and he is therefore the one and only Savior of the world. There can be no other Savior, for there is no other like Jesus Christ.

Simeon’s eyes had seen the salvation of the Lord, and that salvation was more profound than he could ever know. And what’s more, that salvation had been prepared in the presence of all peoples so that it would be a light to the Gentiles, to all of the non-Jewish nations of the earth, and so that it would be a glory to God’s people, Israel. Indeed, the true glory of Israel is the glory of Christ, for there is no other. And the true light of the nations is the light of Christ, for the light of Christ was sent to shine in human hearts like yours and mine, revealing sin and all its shame, declaring forgiveness in his great name.

It’s easy to understand why Joseph and Mary marveled at what was said about this child. Although God had graciously granted them one sign after another for about a year, all of which pointed to the utter uniqueness of Jesus, Simeon’s blessing was unexpected and extreme and breath-taking and awe-inspiring. How would you feel if when you brought your child to church for a child dedication, some sacred stranger walked up to you and took your baby in his arms and blessed him with these words?

As stunning as this whole scene was, Simeon wasn’t done. Luke tells us that he then blessed the parents and specifically said this to Mary—“Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed, so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” This prophecy reminds me so much of the words that Jesus spoke to the religious leaders of Israel in the hours before he was nailed to that cross. Specifically, he said in Luke 20:17-18, “What then is this that is written: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

The stone is Jesus. He’s the chosen one of God. He’s not just another stone in the sacred temple of God, rather, he’s the cornerstone. He’s the centerpiece. He’s the key to the whole thing, and without him the temple cannot stand. And everyone who falls upon him will be broken to pieces so that by the grace of God they can be rebuilt into his image.

But everyone who rejects him, everyone who dismisses or demeans or demonizes the cornerstone, on them Jesus will fall and crush them. There will be no escape. And as I said a few weeks ago, there is no third way. Either we fall upon Jesus and live, or he will fall upon us and we will endure the wrath of God. “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed, so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” The Lord has spoken, and he will not change his mind, Jesus in the sacred cornerstone for all eternity and time.

In addition to this, Simeon said something to Mary that I think applies to us all. Right there at the beginning of verse 35 he remarked, “and a sword will pierce through your own soul also…” And of course, Simeon wasn’t speaking of a literal sword, rather, he was speaking of the piercing Word of God from which no one can hide. And whether or not Simeon was fully aware of what he was saying, surely the Holy Spirit was using him to communicate that this little child, the baby Jesus, was in fact the final Word of God to which every knee will one day bow and about which every tongue will one day confess that he is the Lord to the glory of God the Father.

This little baby Jesus is in fact the Word about which John wrote in chapter 1 of his Gospel. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” And then in vv 14-18, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.”’) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side [that is, Jesus], he has made him known.” And he is the sword that would one day pierce Mary’s soul and every soul that ever lived.

Jesus is the Word of God about which the author of Hebrews wrote in chapter 4:12-13, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” This is the sword that would one day pierce Mary’s soul and every soul that ever lived.

Finally, Jesus is the Word of God about which John wrote in Revelation 19:11-16, “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”

Beloved, Jesus did not come to this earth simply to be an adorable baby or an admirable adult or a great religious leaders amongst other great religious leaders. To the contrary, Jesus is utterly unique and in a category all by himself, and he came to be the Word of God that pierces and exposes every soul. He came to be the final Word to which no one will be able to talk back, and which no one will be able to oppose or suppress. He came to be the fountain of life, pouring mercy upon everyone who believes. He came to be the arbiter of justice and wrath for everyone who refuses to humble themselves before the mighty mercy of God that’s poured out and spread abroad in him.

To this day, Jesus is appointed for the rise and fall of many, as a sign to be opposed, for he will expose the secret thoughts of many hearts, and a sword will pierce our own souls also. Therefore, the question for us is this—what will we do with Jesus? Will we fall upon him and receive life? Or will he fall upon us and pronounce over us the righteous and inescapable wrath of God? Beloved, Christmas is not a time simply to remember a little baby and then move on with our lives. Rather, it’s a time to see his glory, to believe his message, to receive his life, and to be transformed into his image.

So what will you do with Jesus?